Posted 10 years ago
jdmcme3
(8 items)
After doing some research, I believe this is ball is from 1965 signed by the Houston Astros but I have just assumed that from looking things up online and I have no idea if it's real or not. There are 26 signatures on the ball, 6 of which I believe to be managers or whatever but the baseball itself doesn't have any markings on it or anything like that. Any thoughts or information about it would be greatly appreciated.
I agree Ripley first thing I noticed the even pressure of all signatures just doesn't add up ?
agreed !
well looking at it closely, not in pictures, you can definitely tell that it isn't machine signature, that it was signed with a pen but to me, for the most part, it does all look like the same pen use to sign it all. but surely if someone was going to try a forge something like that, you'd think they'd be smart enough to think of that and use different pens? lol at least i'd think so. you can see some ink bleed on the ball and on the stitching, like it was a fountain pen used and it kinda seems like the ball itself is much older than the signatures, which look old themselves but the ball seems older just from looking at it.. and yea, if i plan to sell it or whatever, then i'd probably talk to an expert for sure but we had just recently found it so i was just posting it to get opinions or information or anything really about it..
It always better to see it in person rather than a photo. So taking it to any sports memorabilia shop should be able to tell right away . It is not a official Baseball but some people do take one they have from home to have signed your ball seems to be stamped with signatures from photos. :-)
http://www.amazon.com/1965-Houston-Astros-Signed-Baseball/dp/B00289M6CG
oh yea i know, i don't plan on selling it either way but if i do plan on it, i will have it sent to be authenticated or whatever. thanks for your guys input though.
yea i've seen that ball, also many of the same signatures using the same pen and another one that recently just sold on ebay too with that one but it was closer to $800 plus a few more online from pics i've seen and compared some of the signatures with the baseball almanac and stuff, but i know nothing about baseball or autographs or anything like that. so when we found the ball, i just started looking some stuff up in my free time. the only things i KNOW is that: 1) the ball doesn't have any markings or logos on it like 'spalding' or any other company, if it did, its no longer visible at all and the stitches are so old they're pink or almost white, and 2) the ball itself is almost cloth-like, it isn't really shiny like a newer ball, so whether or not the signatures end up being a fake or not, its a really old ball, probably like from the 20s or 30s if i had to guess, and 3) whether they are authentic or forged or signed later or whatever, it was signed in pen and not stamped
yea i would like to have it documented or to find out whether it's real or not or anything but they want to charge me $150 to have it tested plus shipping and some fees and all sorts of stuff and i just didn't figure it was worth paying all that and going through it when i'm not planning to sell it anyways lol it can just sit in its little clear case/shell thing on the shelve and i'll pretend its real, doesn't matter to me personally bc it has sentimental value and i'd probably just always keep it but was just curious about it.
It is a old ball your right . And if if you are enjoying it that is what is important . Collecting can be anything we love and enjoy :-)
yea you're right lol
i got it from here, http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1965&t=HOU
from what i read, 1965 was the first year the colts became the astros.. and i have a list of all the names on the ball, idk if that would help decipher anything or not
some of the players are the same from the colts 64 year to the astros 65 year, but some of the names on the ball aren't on the 64 team but are on the 65 which is why i believe it to be the 65 astro's... this is the names that i've gotten off it:
jim owens
robin roberts
claude raymond
jim gentile
joe morgan
don nottebart
dick(richard) turk farrell
lee maye
jim/jimmy wynn
joe gaines
bob lillis
larry dierker
ron taylor
bob aspromonte
eddie kasko
frank thomas
dave giusti
walt bond
ron brand
bob bruce
nelson fox*
jim busby*
luman harris*
clint courtney*
james/jimmy adair*
howard/howie pollet*
Previous posters are correct-- NOT an actual handsigned ball.
It is stamped.
Biggest indicators are visible in photo #2 and #3-- look at the signatures that have gone INTO the stitch holes. Both sides of the hole show a complete line with the hole in the center. This is not possible with a hand signing as the signer would have pressed and RESTARTED the signature after hitting the hole.
Try signing a baseball yourself and you will quickly see what I am talking about.
scott