Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

[jobathenut]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

And where do you think that ball is right now.I can almost guarentee it's laying under his bed,or he thought it's worth alot saying you offered so much for it,so he think if i hang onto it it will be worth more.But what the kid does'nt understand,it's only at it's higest value at the ball park,once you leave the value goes down like a ...never mind,i was going to be naughty.By the way,panthrotc-love the reference to the $$$$$$$$$$ man

I was at the Troc last September for Evan Longoria's first career 3 HR game. I found a kid that caught the 2nd one. Offered him 700$ for the ball on the spot and he said no. Went to 800 and he said no. The kids he was with were raggin him for not selling it. ALways go to the ballpark with a Grand in your pocket. Like Ted DiBiase used to say EVERYBODYS GOT A PRICE

[panthrotc]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

I was at the Troc last September for Evan Longoria's first career 3 HR game. I found a kid that caught the 2nd one. Offered him 700$ for the ball on the spot and he said no. Went to 800 and he said no. The kids he was with were raggin him for not selling it. ALways go to the ballpark with a Grand in your pocket. Like Ted DiBiase used to say EVERYBODYS GOT A PRICE

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

One Andrew Lang is now the proud owner last I heard!

Shocker!

[nationals2k9]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

I paid $80 cash for a Ryan Zimmerman HR ball last summer in Baltimore. Later had Ryan sign it and date it as a HR ball. One Andrew Lang is now the proud owner last I heard!

[jobathenut]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

Sorry sox83cubs84-I missed understood what you wrote there.Funny thing is,why was the mom suspicious,like those kids even cared if the ball was game used or not,and i'm sure all of the balls were thrown under thier beds or played with when they got home with them.And i can't beleive that guy passed on $50 for the ball,my question always is,why?what are you going to do with it.Like i've said,unless i wanted to keep it for myself,(cause a player from my beloved yankees hit it) if anyone came up to me after i caught a ball and offered me anything especially like that $50,i would sell it.I really think that sometimes the people that refuse are doing it just cause you want it,or cause they think its worth something,simply cause you offered money for it.

Jobahtenut...as mentioned, it wasn't a cash deal with the mom...I noticed that she had 4 kids with her and figured giving each one a ball would trump having one ball for 4 kids. She was suspicious, but gave in when her kids began perstering her to trade.

As far as cash, my best offer was $50 for, of all things, a Scott Servais home run on Waveland Avenue that I was going to try to get for a friend who collected him. The owner, a male bus driver, declined.

Dave M.
Chicago area

[both-teams-played-hard]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

A semi-homeless guy ran it down on Waveland Avenue...

And this semi-homeless guy has a wife who is "almost" pregnant.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

Jobahtenut...as mentioned, it wasn't a cash deal with the mom...I noticed that she had 4 kids with her and figured giving each one a ball would trump having one ball for 4 kids. She was suspicious, but gave in when her kids began perstering her to trade.

As far as cash, my best offer was $50 for, of all things, a Scott Servais home run on Waveland Avenue that I was going to try to get for a friend who collected him. The owner, a male bus driver, declined.

Dave M.
Chicago area

[ifirocked]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

The real question for anyone is why Buy a ball from another fan ? For profit ? With the Wright HR ball i bought in 2007 for $60 i bought for myself. Walking out of a game with a HR ball is the top prize. I was at that game, David Wright hit a HR and i have the ball. That is good enough for me. Resale was not on my mind. It's sad when simple joys like a HR ball need 8 layers of paperwork for people to accept it. For me i say if you want a HR ball just go to a game and try to buy it from a fan. You were there, you saw the ball land, you know it's real. If resale is your game best of luck !!

Please note i am not bashing anyone on this post about resale or proof of HR balls.

[jobathenut]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

sox83cubs84-How much did you offer for the ball? I just think the $300 my brother offered was pretty good for a molitor home run ball.You figure getting game used baseballs was not that big of a collectible back then.And to us being kids,we thought that was alot of money and we really thought the guy would go for it,not to mention my brother explained to the guy what a big molly fan he was and how much the ball would mean to him.It takes a real peice of work to not sell the ball after being offered that and being told that.All i know if i was at a game and someone offered me that much money for a ball,(if it was from a player i didnt like) i would have no problem selling it to them,not to mention if i knew they were a fan of the player.

That happened on one of my trades at New Comiskey Park, as my offer to a mom and her 4 kids for a Juan Gonzalez home run (she had 4 kids) was initially rejected by the mom under such pretenses. Fortunately, she gave in when the kids whined about not each having a baseball as opposed to sharing only one.

Dave M.
Chicago area[/quote]

[David]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

For proper authentication at ball parks, one should bring checkbook, notary public and video camera.

[gamer35]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

Joel........Pro's and con's on the issue....

If you go meet someone of Manny's stature, walk up to him and say "Hey Manny! Nice to meet you! I have three of your home-run balls here I'd like you to sign"....Then pull out the pictures, all of the supporting paperwork, ticket stubs....

All of a sudden, they find themselves overwhelmed with becoming put in a position of having to make an on-the-spot decision of whether or not this pile you just dumped in their lap is authentic. There is severe risk in that, because if they cop an attitude (like Barry Bonds does in this circumstance), he may flat out refuse to sign the item with the inscription. Or, he may ask for a bunch more money because of what it is... which to me would be worth it.

But in rare cases, the player may refuse to sign it at all. In that case, you're screwed....even though you know it's real, and you have all the supporting proof. What you have to do is talk to people in line ahead of you that have already had him sign something....get a "feel" of what kind of a mood he's in, etc. Sometimes, it's all about catching the player on a "good day".

I have had a tough go with Willie Mays on a home run bat of his I own, one that came with a lettle (on Giants stationary no less, signed by Willie Mays attesting to the bat's use to hit the identified home run!) but after three attempts, and well over $2,500.00 cash offered to him, I got him to sign (on one occasion) the bat, and a separate occasion to inscribe it! I believe it's the only documented home run bat of Willie's in the hobby.
But that's another story...and man, it was a nerve-racking battle. But in the end, Willie knew the whole time where the bat came from, what it was......he was just holding out for the "cash".

So....to anyone who is made of money, if you really want that one fine piece to add to your collection.....the old addage "everyone has their price" is usually true. Just be prepared to anty-up, because these guys can really catch you off guard if you are presenting them with a piece that has value. They usually know this, and they make you pay! But getting the player, if you can, to add the inscription Joel??.....is priceless. In the end, it's ALWAYS worth it, because you've just added another wonderful piece to this hobby we all love.

Suicide Squeeze, good luck getting the balls signed. 1) Manny rarely makes public appearances. Last I know of was in 2004 right after the World Series in Boston 2) Odds are highly likely that you will get a sloppy MR signature. I have had stuff signed by Manny and its just a sloppy, rushed signature.

I dont know how other collectors feel, but I personally want my game used items unsigned. With Manny items, it is even more important not to have them signed as it detracts from the item.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

Thanks joelsabi-yeah,but he really still gets mad,so when i do it,i have to prepare to be hit by him.And you're right,i bet as soon as my brother left hi,he was regretting doing it.I think he thought cause my brother offered so much,that it was worth something,and it was,to my brother.I can bet you anything the guy does'nt even know where it is now.Where my brother would have treasured it.Unlike what micheal douglas said in the movie "wall street","greed is good"is not always true quote=joelsabi;143140]great story. its always nice to able to have a memory that ribs a brother. i bet the other guy is regretting not taking that $300 now.

[/quote]

That happened on one of my trades at New Comiskey Park, as my offer to a mom and her 4 kids for a Juan Gonzalez home run (she had 4 kids) was initially rejected by the mom under such pretenses. Fortunately, she gave in when the kids whined about not each having a baseball as opposed to sharing only one.

Dave M.
Chicago area

[jobathenut]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

Thanks joelsabi-yeah,but he really still gets mad,so when i do it,i have to prepare to be hit by him.And you're right,i bet as soon as my brother left hi,he was regretting doing it.I think he thought cause my brother offered so much,that it was worth something,and it was,to my brother.I can bet you anything the guy does'nt even know where it is now.Where my brother would have treasured it.Unlike what micheal douglas said in the movie "wall street","greed is good"is not always true quote=joelsabi;143140]great story. its always nice to able to have a memory that ribs a brother. i bet the other guy is regretting not taking that $300 now.[/quote]

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

I said "(check?)" not "check." At least I didn't say credit card.

David,

Gotcha. Wasn't intending to do anything other to let everybody know the "cash" avenue is the way to go.

The best thing is pictures. Properly establish documentation and recording of the event through pictures and written documents....get witnesses. Those types of proof are tough to discredit.

Chris (express34),

Cool items, and yes, you've definately picked the correct hombres to obtain your inscriptions from. Sounds like the model citizen's group in MLB.

That was my main point earlier. In our fine hobby, the higher up the food chain you get in players, the tougher the "inscription" attempt is going to be.....and the more expensive.

Add to that the "event" you are trying to get them to notate, and it can approach downright "impossible" without father-LUCK on your side with some of these guys.

In my case, I am not attempting to have them essentially "authenticate" a game worn item by them for many games, or even a series....but an actual ball they hit out of a park for a specific homerun. That is a stretch on their part to take the leap of faith that what I, as a collector, am presenting to them is real, and most of these superstars don't like to be put on the spot to sign it as such and authenticate it on such short notice and with lack of time to properly review the circumstances, paperwork, and such.

But that is what makes our hobby so fun. On those rare occasions we achieve the goal and get what we set out for, it just makes it that much sweeter when we go home and place another "museum piece" in our display. To me, there is NOTHING like having these little bits and pieces of game used items (with major significance) that tell a story, that are a little part of a major leaguers career, something to illicit a nice conversation with friends and family over the years while having a beer or get-together.

Cheers to our hobby and the athletes (and fans who like the cash ) who make it all possible!

[David]

Re: Purchase Foul or HR Ball in the stands

I said "(check?)" not "check." At least I didn't say credit card.