The
Project
I went shopping awhile ago for an item to build on when I went to the 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. I wanted the project to have several autographs of Hall of Fame members already on it. I enjoy what's called "multi-signed items."
by
Gerald Astor, published January 1, 1988. Nice book,
and I recommend it, but I wasn't so much interested in
the book as I was what was on the first three pages.
Scattered over the first three pages, in blue sharpie, were the autographs of 57 Baseball Hall of Famers. Of these, 25 of the autographs were applied by players who are since deceased. I had never quite seen anything like it before. To me, if everything checked out, this was a fantastic, one-of-a-kind opportunity.
Unknown to the seller, but a sizable research project was launched after I decided to check the item out. I made a few phone calls. I knew some people who had gotten in-person autographs from some of the same players in the book, I had an extensive library of autograph examples of many of the players, I started an email correspondence with the seller in order to check the provenance, and started to develop an estimated value of the item. After much consultation and perhaps 20 hours of research, I came to the conclusion that the item was authentic. It's difficult to fake one or two autographs of famous people, but it can be done well enough to stump expert authenticators. It is exceeding difficult, if not impossible, to accurately duplicate 57 autographs (including little known Hall of Famers) over three pages. Just think, if you scuff one up- you need a whole new book and you've rendered all the others you've done useless. For the most part, counterfeit autographs are one, two, maybe three autographs on a photo or ball. Never 57 autographs that match known authentic examples (bank checks, letters, legal documents, contract signatures for baseball cards, etc.).
The seller, Bob Rothschild, had gotten all of the autographs in-person at baseball card shows during the period 1988 - 1993. Among other things, he collected baseball player (especially Yankee) autographs on Perez Steele cards, baseballs, photos, and HOF players on the subject 50th Anniversary book. Living in central New Jersey at the time, he could easily drive to the signing events in New York and Baltimore. He obtained Mickey Mantle's autograph for $15 (the most he spent on an autograph) and Joe DImaggio and Ted Williams for a bit less than that. He quit collecting HOF player autographs on the book in order to concentrate his time and money on Yankee items. He wound up with a notable Yankee collection. The book stayed dormant for 14 years before he decided to sell it.
A long list of acceptance criteria were met and I put in a bid. The bid I put in was a fair value bid. I didn't try to win with a stealth bid. The opening asking bid was $550. My winning bid was much more than that and, although I raised my leading bid twice during the bidding process (to send a message to my opponent that I was engaged and serious), my initial bid alone was enough to win (barely). The entire bidding was between just two people; myself and one other person who had a long history of bidding on sports items.
Here is a list of
the player autographs on the book and what page they appear
(Note: (d.
'99) = deceased 1999):
Book I, Page 1
(26 players)
Willie Mays; Mickey Mantle (d. '95);
Joe DImaggio (d. '99);
Frank Robinson; Enos Slaughter (d. '02);
Duke Snider; Lefty Gomez (d. '89);
George Kell (d. '09);
Ray Dandridge (d. '94);
Al Kaline; Gaylord Perry; Willie Stargell (d. '01);
Monte Irvin; Johnny Mize (d. '93);
Hank Aaron; Eddie Mathews (d. '01);
Bob Lemon (d. '00);
Early Wynn (d. '99);
Brooks Robinson; Richie Ashburn (d. '97);
Don Drysdale (d. '93);
Sandy Koufax; Billy Williams; Johnny Bench; Bob Feller; Lou Boudreau (d.
'01).
Pee Wee Reese
(d.
'99); Carl Yastrzemski; Phil
RIzzuto (d. '07); Ernie
Banks; Lou Brock; Jim Palmer; Bob Gibson; Billy
Herman (d. '92);
Warren Spahn (d. '03); Ralph
Kiner; Luis Aparicio; Harmon Killebrew; Don Sutton;
Ted Williams (d. '02);
Hoyt Wilhelm (d. '02); Yogi
Berra; Al Barlick (d. '95);
Robin Roberts (d. '10);
Jim "Catfish" Hunter (d. '99);
Luke Appling (d. '91); Red
Schoendienst; Juan Marichal; Whitey Ford; Rick
Ferrell (d. '95); Willie
McCovey; Buck Leonard (d. '97); Steve
Carlton.
Book I, Page 3
(25 players)
Stan Musial; Fergie Jenkins;
Rod Carew; Hal Newhouser (d. '98) - these
were the original four autographs on page 3 as purchased.
Here is the list of player
autographs that I have added.
I added: Robin Yount;
Tom Seaver; Tony Perez; Gary Carter; Jim Bunning;
Carlton Fisk; Joe Morgan; Dennis Eckersley; Wade Boggs;
Orlando Cepeda; Dick Williams; Rollie Fingers; Pete Rose
(not in HOF); Goose Gossage; Ozzie Smith; Eddie Murray;
Earl Weaver; Reggie Jackson; Sparky Anderson; Bruce
Sutter; Mike Schmidt.
I've decided to
start two new copies of the 50th Anniversary for
baseball HOF autographs. By having two books they can be
sent to different locations to get autographs as players
appear all over the place.
Book II, Page
1 (11 players)
Dave Winfield; Paul Molitor;
Rickey Henderson; Jim Rice; Nolan Ryan; Whitey Herzog; Phil
Niekro; Andre Dawson; Cal Ripken, Jr.; Joe Torre (future
HOF); and Randy Johnson (future HOF).
Book II will be going to Chris Potter Sports for his August 18,
2010 signing for Bill Mazeroski.
Book III, Page
1 (8 players)
Randy Johnson (appears again,
long story - future HOF); Ryne Sandberg; Tony Gwynn; Ron
Santo (future HOF); Bob Doerr; Lee Mac Phail; George Brett
and Doug Harvey.
Scheduled to be added to Book III later this year are
Frank Thomas (future HOF - Aug); Craig Biggio (future HOF - Sept); Jeff
Bagwell (future HOF - Sept); Curt Schilling (future HOF
- Sept).
Tommy LaSorda is the only living HOFer that I do not
possess on my HOF book project.
