Trey

Mearto specialist

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry. Based on the photographs and description provided, the subject of this appraisal is a non-authenticated baseball with an inscription indicating it was the Meusel home run ball from Game 1 of the 1928 World Series, bearing the signatures of Babe Ruth, Bob Meusel, Johnny Grabowski, Tony Lazzeri, Pat Collins, and Tom Zachary. According to the current owner, the piece was acquired via inheritance from the man who caught the ball and was able to get it signed. The ball itself fits the characteristics that would be expected from the authentic piece, but the only provenance provided is photos of the ball itself. Newspaper pieces or other print mentions of the piece from the era would certainly strengthen its provenance, and with the prevalence of forged Ruth signatures on the market, this appraisal is conditional upon the piece being graded and authenticated by a reputable third-party such as PSA. Condition will be a factor on this piece, as it appears to have been handled over the years in a way that some of the signatures are weak. The Ruth signature is certainly the main draw, and it appears consistent with his style in the late 1920s, as do the other signatures on the piece. Comparable Ruth signed game used balls are quite valuable and have hammered at a range of prices. While not as mint a specimen as some commanding the highest prices at auction, if this could be reasonably established to be the World Series home run ball from Meusel, a premium would certainly apply for its significance there. A 1930 Babe Ruth Single Signed Baseball that he hit for his first home run of the season and graded at a PSA/DNA Near Mint 8 sold via Heritage Auctions in 2019 for $66,000, and is arguably the nearest comparable. In consideration of the factors noted, a Fair Market Value (pre-auction estimate) of this piece conditional upon grading and examination by a reputable third-party would be estimated at $50,000 to $75,000.