Thoughts on Mike Schmidt Home Run Ball

[nycsports]

Looking for thoughts on a recent eBay auction: A Mike Schmidt, 1988 Home Run ball (10th of season, which would have been #540 of his career). Ball was said to have be sold in a Lew Lipset, 2003 auction, and comes with a LOA from umpire Durwood Merrill.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170587404937&nma=true&rt=nc&si=GRP5%252FLPrSmy9fdTFeH0WQITCB80%253D

While looking up past auction results, I noticed that a different ball, listed as Mike Schmidt's 540th career home run was sold in 2006. That ball ALSO came with a Durwood Merrill LOA.

http://sports.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=46061&Lot_No=10269&src=pr

Which is the real 540th HR ball?

Thanks!
Matt

[David]

All I can offer on the matter is that the mentioned Lew Lipset is a reputable and well known dealer/auctioneer. Wrote the Encyclopedia of Baseball cards, which is a standard guide.