AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALLS

The most I ever received from selling signed baseballs was at Shammy Delude's Estate Auction in 1994. The signatures of Babe Ruth and Connie Mack fetched $2,650 each!

Remember Jimmy Wiley? Jimmy was both a jock and reverted to the hobby of collecting signed baseballs while wintering in Florida.Jim amasses an incredible collection over the years..over 600 to be exact. Each Winter he'd go to Spring training and employ kids to take baseballs and get each signed by a player. He admitted to paying $5.00 for a signed ball. Clearly his collection was to "kill for!" Jim ahd enthusiasm and verve as I worked with him preparing for an auction. Sons Ben and Josh also helped us out.

I learned one important thing: Only Hall of Fame signatures brought a premium! The remaining sold for a fraction.
THAT WAS IN 1990 BEFORE THE CRASH OF BASEBALL CARDS AND BASEBALL COLLECTIBLES..

Yesterday I spent about an hour refreshing my warm memories of "LaFenway."  I focused on eviewing the mammouth stoe of baseball: Twins' Enterprise on Yawkey Way. Here's what I found on our top of autographed Major League balls:

       PLAYER                                        CURRENT SALARY

 

 

 

North Brookfield implied by G.M.Cohan

 

The Potvins/Seton Hall Men

Fenway 1912

 

Me 1999

 

 

 

Principal M. D. Leach

 

Vietnam

 

Doctor Bill Gross -SLU roomate

• David Ortiz - $400
• Yaz $350
• Pedro Martinez
• $300
• J.D. Martinez $200                                   $23,750,000
• Tim Wakefield $100
• Fred Lynn $100
• Johnny Pesky $100
• Bobby Doerr $100
• Jason Veritek $150
• Used game ball $20
• David Price $150                                       $30 million
•  Rafael Devers $150                                  $564,500
• Andrew Benitendi $200                             $620,500

Baseball autographs may be obtained for free. Visiting PLAYERS AT THEIR HOTELS..SENDING PLAYER CARDS WITH A SASE TO THE PARK..IN-PERSON, SIGNING AT THE PARKING AREA. ETC.
I wouldn't buy any baseball thinking it is going to appreciate based on my baseball wisdom! Your money.. do what you want!


Being aggressive and to the point and beseeching a favorite player can get pleasing results! I know as I have been there and done that with Ben and Josh!

The heavy hitters in the Majors, because of Free Agency, have the owners "picked off at first!"

The entire Fenway payroll is $228,333,860.00. FENWAY PARK's Seat prices have soared in the past decade. Parking seems to begin at $40.a car or truck. No more free Kellogg Cereal seats in the Bleachers.! Take the Commuter rails and save hundreds!

Notice the proliferation of big ads on the GREEN MONSTER WALLS and all around the permitted of Fenway. Park tours are $20 each. Booze..beer can be $7/8  bottle. And the beat goes on.

The Fenway traditions are priceless.I have probably attended close to 100 games over my life of 76 years. As a boy I delighted in making the annual trip to Fenway with Police Chief Leo L. DeLude and Principal Marin D Leach. Morton Triggs photogaphs reveal such a wonderful annual treat."Red" Mahoney was one BNB boy who moved to Boson in the 50s.

Big sausage balloons were sold by the hucksters. The peanut man outside the main entry was present for decades.

I weaken this time of year as I admit of being a fanatic. Have attended World Series in St. Louis 1964, 1968 and 1987 just can't be equaled by any other life's experiences. Toronto, Atlanta and Fenway are the other parks attended.

 

Col. R.L. Potvin

ving

The excitement is not on the field but in the surrounds. Everybody is anticipating a trophy. Nobody thinks about the dark days of Winter lying ahead.

It's all in priorities I guess. No matter what, Fenway franks and a beer just can't be beat. The ambience beneath the stands is unto itself. The aroma of  the moment.

Forgetting all realities of my blog, the excitement of being there cannot be equaled regardless of prices. If we want to dance we must pay the fiddler!

PLAY BALL!

Robert L...a fan since 1952. OMG