Values of Team Autographed/Signed Baseballs
The value of Autographed Team Balls depends on several items
including:
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Autographed/Signed Team Baseball inventory
* The Team or Players * Baseballs signed by more popular teams like the Yankees or Mets tend to be more valuable. Also balls with autographs from popular Hall of Famers increase the value. Some team balls like the 1970's Cincinatti Reds or early Yankees balls have numerous Hall-of-Famers. * Condition of Baseball & Signatures * * Number of Autographs * For a ball to be considered a AUTOGRAPHED TEAM BALL it needs to have the autographs of the Manager (often on the sweet spot), all starters and a good number of other players. Obviously, the more autographs the better. * Authentication * Unfortunately in todays world, it's often best to be sure. Companies like PSA/DBA and UDA (Upper Deck Authenticated), JSA (James Spence) & Beckett provide authentication and Certificates of Authenticity (COA) thet can greatly increase a ball's value. Unfortunately, the cost for verification of team balls often is higher than the cost of the balls themselves. * Significance * Autographed team baseballs from pennant winners and championship teams tend to have much higher values. |
Grade/Condition Centering, corner wear, photo clarity, edges, creases, print flaws ... all combine to determine a card's condition or grade. Along with rarity/scarcity it is the major factor in a card's value.
Graded Card As values increased the condition of cards and the determination of fakes and alterations became increasingly more important. Various companies became "graders" of your cards. For a fee they would grade your card (usually on a 1 to 10 scale) and then placed in a sealed plastic holder with labelling of the vital information.
From past experiences, most people are NOT HAPPY with the grades they receive. To keep values up, graders can be extremely picky. Things you don't see, they do so don't be surprized when the NEAR MINT card you send in ends up with an EX or EX/MINT grade.
There are TOO many grading companies - if you do, do choose carefully. PSA / SGC / GAI / BGS are some of the many companies. It is good to know that getting a card graded by a company that people do not recognize or respect will usually just cost you time and money and not help you in any way.