1957 Milwaukee Braves signed ball - authentic?

[EtherealSOC]

Hello all,

Can you help me judge if this ball - for sale locally - is authentic? I know it is hard to judge vintage autographs using pictures, but any insight helps. My thoughts are they appear to be in varying width and ink color which is a bonus and might indicate they are not stamped.

The ball is on sale for $300 which seems like a bargain for a 50's championship team with Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Warren Spahn.

What do you all think?

PS: PSA/DNA charges $10 even to evaluate photos and give a quick opinion. Personally I think it's a shame that they can't offer this service for free due to the massive problem that counterfeiting represents to the hobby. That's my two cents, anyway. -E

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[iowa49erfan]

Really hard to tell with the flash on the case.

I'd try the PSA quick look to see what they come back with.

What is the seller listing as a COA for it?

[EtherealSOC]

They don't have a COA. Claims to have owned it for over 25 years and it was given as a gift...

[iowa49erfan]

Yeah, it's hard when it comes to that. You know you want to trust someone but at the same time it's hard to do.

I'd definitely take advantage of the PSA/DNA if you're serious about purchasing.

[Chuck-17]

Yeah, it's hard when it comes to that. You know you want to trust someone but at the same time it's hard to do.

I'd definitely take advantage of the PSA/DNA if you're serious about purchasing.

I agree 100%. If you are willing to buy that ball it is probably worth spending a few dollars to get an expert opinion.

[TheRoseBull]

I agree. 10$ to get a quick opinion.. best way to go.

[xpress34]

Etheral -

I hate to be the 'Nay Sayer' here, but based on the photos, I'm about 95% positive that you are looking at a pre-print Stadium Souvenir Ball.

It is very much Vintage as teams don't usually re-do previous teams and such and I don't know of anyone who has ever tried to forge pre-prints - although some can command a pretty penny. Especially when they are nice and clean like this one.

TWO tale tell signs from what I can see:

1) NO Brand Label - Spalding or Reach should be a Spalding for National League in 1957. Also, NO 'Official National League Ball' Stamp or League President (should be William Harridge for that era).

2) Notice how a few of the signatures go into the stitching but the ink isn't on the threads? That's because the panels are PRE Stamped before they are stitched together. In Picture #3 for example, the 'J' in Joe goes directly through a stich hole, but there is no 'bump' or interruption in the line as you would expect when the pen hit the thread.

Again, sorry to be the 'downer' here, but I don't like seeing people spending their hard earned money on bad items.

- Chris

P.S. - If you go back and look for the things I just mentioned, then I also saved you the $10 you would spend on a Quick Opinion!!!

[nebboy]

Love to have seen balls maker mark to see it is a from correct time frame, also all sigs seem to be from same pin. Thanks for the look keep us posted

[Fisk-Factor75]

I agree with Xpress....I was thinking the same thing before I read his post.

[al032184]

Another way you can tell a pre-print, everyone has written their name to be completely legible