Quote Originally Posted by coxfan View Post
Thanks for the comments, Andrew. My impression is that clubs specify what they want and the authenticators comply. Based on my own surveys, I think marketing and a sense of the historic are the governing factors on what the club requests from the authenticator.

I've seen games in which only 6 balls were authenticated; up to as many as 55 from an important game with each described for its last use. I recently bought a ball from Washington's win over the Braves on 5-26-12. It appeared the club wanted only balls either pitched by Strasburg or to Harper which were then thrown out of play.; plus the game's final out and a Harper HR retrieved by security. Each of these balls (about 12 total) was authenticated with its last use in the game.
That's interesting based on what you have seen and it's very complicated since there is a request list for each game and the game would have to cooperate to get that ball someone wants as the umpire decides generally what balls come out of play unless it is a historic moment like a 1st hit or 3,000th hit or some other special moment.

Then also consider that the 3rd out balls are usually tossed into the crowd by the last player that touched it.

We've been fortunate to get what I consider to be the ultimate "The Home Run ball" and then next is the Strikeout ball. We already have requests for games that are months away!

On the other hand since the beginning of last season, we still have not received a ball thrown by the Orioles closer Jim Johnson. Still waiting!