Dear Babe: I have been collecting the Baseball Hall of Fame induction bats for decades. The bats are issued by the National Baseball Hall of Fame each year to honor each year's inductees. Each year, the HOF sells 500 during induction weekend; the other 500 are sold to a sold-out subscriber list. I've been a subscriber since the inception of the program.
When the program began a few decades ago, the HOF went back and issued bats from the 1930s-70s to subscribers only. Thus, there are only 500 bats from the original induction class, etc. The HOF sold the 2011 induction bat for $125. Some of them are very difficult to obtain, for example the 1936 (Ruth), the 1973 (Clemente), etc.
That said, I have a complete collection from 1936 to the present -- a collection of 69 (there were a couple of years when no inductees were named; thus no bats). -- Danny House, Lake Elsinore, Calif.
"We have sold the sets in the past for around $8,000,said Mike Heffner, president of www.Lelands.com. "If you break them up and sell them individually, they should go on average for $150 to $200 each."
Robert Lifson, president of www.robertedwardauctions.com, said he doesn't handle the bats, because of their weight. "They are heavy and very difficult to ship relative to value, so we really just don't handle them. That doesn't mean they aren't valuable -- of course they have value but these fall in the category of just a little too heavy and bulky for us (which is the same reason we shy away from baseball pinball machines and stadium seats for example, the shipping is murder relative to value), Lifson said.
Dear Babe: I have an autographed Oakland Raiders cap signed "Jerry Rice 80 that my wife had him to sign about 11 years ago. It is signed on the bill and it is in mint condition. -- Brad Fortier, Redding, Calif.
Rice is a Hall of Famer known for his spectacular years with the 49ers. Rice ended his days with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. He made the Denver Broncos roster in the summer of 2005 He played in four Super Bowls -- three with San Francisco and one with Oakland. He has three rings along with the 1989 MVP award when he caught 11 passes for 215 yards as the 49ers edged the Cincinnati Bengals, 20-16, to win Super Bowl XXIII.
The hat is worth around $50, said Bobby Mintz, vice president of operations for Houston-based www.TristarProductions.com. The value would double to $100 if it was a 49ers hat with the same signature.
Dear Babe: I have framed photos and a letter signed by Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. It is authenticated by Upper Deck and numbered 103/149. There are three color photos -- two of Rice catching footballs and one of Montana with his arms up signaling a touchdown. -- Beany Jansky, Denver.
"I don't know exactly what this is, but it sounds like some kind of limited edition piece UDA did back in the day, said Mike Breeden, a Sports Collectors Digest columnist and autograph expert. "I'm taking this as one piece with the three photos and the letter all framed together. This piece may be a limited edition, but Rice and Montana autographs are anything but. I'd put this at $250-$350.
BABE NOTE: The NFL season is nearing the halfway point with a number of rookies making their presence known. Topps Prime Football features 55 rookies who signed cards for the release. Rookies and veterans signed autographed relic cards. Each 10-pack box promises a signed relic card, an autographed card and two relic cards. The base set has 150 cards.
(Send card questions to Babe Waxpak, PO Box 492397, Redding, CA 96049-2397 or e-mail babewaxpak@charter.net. If possible, include card number, year and brand or a photocopy. Please do not send cards. For Babe Waxpak's blog, see www.scrippsnews.com/waxpak.)
Comments