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Neophyte Needs Advice About 1958 World Series Program With 66 Autographs

   I just need to start out with the disclaimer that I'm not a dealer or much of a collector. My aquisitions stopped in the 1980's, and I've never purchased an autograph. Just collected them very casually starting as a kid.

   I have a number of Milwaukee Braves autographs from the late 1950's and early 60's. My Great Aunt managed the team's office, and I went to a lot of games with her. I have a program from a World Series game I attended in 1958 with my family that has the signatures of every player of both the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Braves. I collected the signatures with my Aunt, over the course of  two games. I was 8. These are the autographs on it:

 

New York Yankees Players

  • Hank Bauer
  • Yogi Berra
  • Andy Carey
  • Murray Dickson
  • Art Ditmar
  • Ryan Duren
  • Whitey Ford
  • Elston Howard
  • Darrell Johnson
  • Tony Kubek
  • Johnny Kucks
  • Don Larsen
  • Jerry Lumpe
  • Mickey Mantle
  • Duke Maas
  • Gil McDougald
  • Zack Monroe
  • Bob Richardson
  • Bob Shantz
  • Norm Siebern
  • Bill Skowron
  • Enos Slaughter
  • Tom Sturdivant
  • Marv Throneberry
  • Virgil Trucks
  • Bob Turley
New York Yankees Coaching Staff
  • Casey Stengel
  • Ralph Houk

 

Milwaukee Braves Players

  • Hank Aaron
  • Joe Adcock
  • Billy Bruton
  • Bob Buhl
  • Lou Burdette
  • Gene Conley
  • Wes Covington
  • Del Crandall
  • Harry Hanebrink
  • Joey Jay
  • Johnny Logan
  • Felix Mantilla
  • Eddie Mathews
  • Don McMahon
  • Andy Pafko
  • Juan Pizarro
  • Humberto Robinson
  • Del Rice
  • Bob Rush
  • Red Schoendienst
  • Warren Spahn
  • Frank Torre
  • Bob Trowbridge
  • Carl Willey
  • Casey Wise


Braves (Not Playing in the Game)

  • Mel Roach
  • Ed Haas
  • Ernie Johnson
  • Robert Taylor
  • John Lang
  • Joe Koppe
  • Bob Roselli


Equipment Managers

  • Joe Taylor
  • Tommie Ferguson

Trainer

  • Robert “Doc” Feron

   Okay, here's my situation. I was ready to sell my Braves memorabilia last year—I need to give up my home and move into assisted living—so I checked into selling the program through an online auction house. I sent the item to them for an Autumn of 2010 auction, and was expecting a great outcome-but it was returned to me because all of the signatures couldn't be authenticated. I was stunned because I remember collecting them myself. The authenticity of the Yankees signatures, and almost all of the Brave's players was not in question, just a few of the Braves who were not playing in the Series-but were pictured in the program. What a buzzkill! My Aunt must have had someone in the club house finish them off so I'd have "every" signature.

   Finally getting to my question: So, what do I do with it now? Do I dismantle the program and sell pages individually (it's in great shape, by the way)? Cut it up? I know it would be a shame, but I don't have any autograph commerce experience, and I don't know what's a reasonable way to market the good 60 or so signatures. I don't have authentication for the individual signatures that the auction house confirmed were good (and can't afford to get it). 

   If you have any advice, I'd love to hear it. You can see scans I made of the pages and a good description at  my niece's website:
http://www.nowhousestudio.com/1958-World-Series-Program.html

   My sincerest gratitude for any input you have for me!

 

   Mark

 

Tags: 1958, aaron, braves, casey, duke, game, maas, mantle, program, series, More…stengel, world, yankees

Views: 857

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Replies to This Discussion

Well, I'm 61 -fairly newly disabled-and only have one older Brother and Niece left in my family. They've encouraged me to sell anything of mine that I can. My major interest is art, and I have a small collection of Mid Century prints and paintings that I'm going to try to never give up. My autographs just don't have any sentimental value to me or anyone close to me.

 

Sorry to hear about your disability. I definitely think it's smart to only keep what you really love if you're moving into assisted living. Too many different people may enter your place and things sometimes disappear.

Hopefully members here can help you get the most you can safely.

I'm still fairly independent. I'm purging while I can still make all the decisions about what stays and goes myself. My friends tease me about my "clutter" and being a hoarder-but it's all in fun. I just have a lot of interests! 
Well, I just put the program on Craigslist: New York this morning (Sunday 4/3) with a link to my Niece's website. I also added an update about the authenticity of the signatures. If it turns out that anyone is interested in buying it, I'll post it on Ebay with a BUY IT NOW feature as the sales vehicle. I'd be concerned about the safety of most other methods of transaction.

This is a wonderful historical document. Whatever you do, DON'T cut it up. It has far more historical and financial value as a whole.

 

I don't understand why PSA or JSA wouldn't issue a certification and simply note which signatures are clubhouse signed.  Perhaps I am misreading it, but my interpretation that the maximum certification cost for a multi-signed item is $250. Paying $250 to certify this is well worth it and will increase your return many fold.

 

Probably your best course of action is to consign to a major auction house and let them take care of evetrything. They get their 20% cut, but it's probably worth it.

 

Regarding Craigslist... be careful. Most serious collectors assume everything on Craigslist is fake or some other type of scam. Plus, you can be inviting some unsavory characters into your house.

 

Good luck!

Just posted my 1958 World Series Program on Ebay this week. Maybe I'll connect with an interested collector or enthusiast without having to send it away to a third party. If not-then a third party it is!

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