Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

[Swoboda4]

MLB.com/auctions has sold the Alcides Escobar 2015 World Series game 1 inside-the-park home run baseball for $19,200. A game changer in which a new type of buyer (not a collector, not a dealer) has basically defined what is the most coveted type collectible: a baseball. More high sells are on the way for baseballs from this postseason.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14056031/alcides-escobar-park-hr-baseball-kansas-city-royals-world-series-sells-19000

[yanks12025]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

How do you know a collector didn't buy it.

[Swoboda4]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

It's my belief that it's not an everyday collector unless its someone like Stephen Wong. I always wondered why a rich person couldn't just buy everything and never noticed them doing it, until now. They're definitely not a collector we know from here. Would you agree there are too many astronomically high bids on baseballs( Syndegaard game 3 first pitch realized $9,020, Matz first pitch for game 4 is currently active at $1,125)? I spoke to a few Forum members who came up with celebrities and extremely wealthy people who are probably propelling the prices. But what's particularly interesting is that they chose the baseball as their item of choice (Jerseys are also in the mix but not primary targets). Again, I find what's happening remarkable and that MLB auctions now have placed themselves as a primary location where we have to look when considering items, especially current items who authenticity is 99.999% without question. An interesting year in collecting to say the least.

[beachpetrol]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

Its amazing what a 4-base error game used baseball will go for these days.

[Buccaneer Madden]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

Its amazing what a 4-base error game used baseball will go for these days.

Two years from now nobody will care one bit about that ball. Not like it was the first one ever in a WS nor is it even a super popular player. Instant hype and that's all.

[lengthwise1]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

The Syndegaard first pitch of game 3 went for 9k

[metsbats]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

Interesting that when you click on the bid history you are directed back the ball auction page. If this happening to you guys?

[metsbats]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

Two years from now nobody will care one bit about that ball. Not like it was the first one ever in a WS nor is it even a super popular player. Instant hype and that's all.

So true!

[metsbats]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

I think this has been commonplace with balls if you look at the 86 WS mookie ball which was brought by Charlie Sheen for 93k, Todd McFarland paying 3 million for McGwire's 70th home run ball as examples. Rich folk with money will always be able to outbid the common joe collectors and raise the prices to unrealistic astronomical levels.

Of course there are the Stephen Wong class of collectors who are out there and are not members of this forum and have always been around.

While we may be the game used universe site there are plenty of collectors who are in a world to themselves.

[Swoboda4]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

David yes to both. There's that other class who only jumps on the World Series stuff and correct you can't check the bidder list like other completed auctions. But I'm intrigued, and reminded that it's the baseball these folks go after.

[MLB~NUT]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

Cat fix stupid...

[volunteer]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

It's my belief that it's not an everyday collector unless its someone like Stephen Wong. I always wondered why a rich person couldn't just buy everything and never noticed them doing it, until now. They're definitely not a collector we know from here. Would you agree there are too many astronomically high bids on baseballs( Syndegaard game 3 first pitch realized $9,020, Matz first pitch for game 4 is currently active at $1,125)? I spoke to a few Forum members who came up with celebrities and extremely wealthy people who are probably propelling the prices. But what's particularly interesting is that they chose the baseball as their item of choice (Jerseys are also in the mix but not primary targets). Again, I find what's happening remarkable and that MLB auctions now have placed themselves as a primary location where we have to look when considering items, especially current items who authenticity is 99.999% without question. An interesting year in collecting to say the least.

Ever watch American Greed? Every other white collar criminal on there has a stash of collectibles. They spend it soon as they can get it LOL.

[Juicyfruit66]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

it's incredible someone paid that much for what will never be remembered as anything..they could have had a wall full of game used superstar bats and jerseys but chose a ball that looks like every other ball.

[metsbats]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

The fact of the matter is even though these balls look like each other (though I cannot really agree because the level of use on it will varying) what they are paying for is what the ball did in play just as a bat collector would pay a premium for what it was used for too. This 19k ball is not only a home run ball but an inside the park home run which is rare and has not happened in a WS game since 1929. Also the ball was THE first pitch of the 2015 World Series.

[yanks12025]

Re: Game Changer:Escobar inside-the-park ball sells for 19K

The fact of the matter is even though these balls look like each other (though I cannot really agree because the level of use on it will varying) what they are paying for is what the ball did in play just as a bat collector would pay a premium for what it was used for too. This 19k ball is not only a home run ball but an inside the park home run which is rare and has not happened in a WS game since 1929. Also the ball was THE first pitch of the 2015 World Series.

It wasn't the first pitch of the World Series. The royals were home. But still this ball is a part of history has you said and won't be forgot in two years like people have said. As stated it hadn't happened since 1929. And if some rich person wants to pay that much, then let them. It's their MONEY not yours.