AUTOGRAPHS

How much do you think this signed baseball from the 1951 Yankees is worth?

My husband and I acquired this special baseball after a death in our family. It’s from the 1951 Yankees and has 24 signatures on it. It has been in a case and all the names are clear and readable. From what I’ve heard from the uncle who passed on about this ball is that it is unique because in 1951 it was Joe DiMaggio’s year that he retired and it was also Mickey Mantle’s rookie year…both of their names are among those signed on this ball. The list of names on the ball is: Bob Kuzava, Ed Lopat, Tom Morgan, Joe Ostrowski, Stubby Overmire, Allie Reynolds, Art Schallock, Spec Shea, Yogi Berra, Ralph Houk, Charlie Silvera, Jim Brideweser, Bobby Brown, Jerry Coleman, Joe Collins, Johnny Hopp, Gil McDougald, Johnny Mize, Phil Rizzuto, Gank Bauer, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Gene Woodling. I also know that in 1951 the Yankees crushed the Giants Cinderella season and won the World Series.
We think we have something special here and plan on getting it appraised.

A lot.

The fact that you have Dimaggio and Mantle on the ball skyrockets the balls value. The ’51 Yankees were in the midst of the Yanks 5 straight WS titles 49-53. Yankees memerobilia always fetches top dollar.

Of course, the quality of the autographs will also determine the value. Are the signatures legible? Is there any smearing of the ink, etc.

In 2005, a professionally graded 1951 Yankees ball sold for 20,000.

http://sports.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=702&Lot_No=19347&type=prte-pr052305b

As for an ungraded ball in decent condition
My estimate : 8,000 – 10,000 dollars at auction.

1952 World Series Game 1: Yankees vs Dodgers