Dear Babe: I have a linen notebook dated 1952 that has signatures in it by Mickey Mantle (twice), Yogi Berra, Billy Martin, Ralph Houk and more. I had it authenticated in 2007. The signatures are in a red booklet that advertises Swan Linen on the cover and the Central Ohio Paper Co. -- Dick Kahler, Colton
It looks like you do indeed have a booklet with autographs from members of the 1952 Yankees team that won it all en route to a record-setting streak of five straight World Series wins from 1949 through 1953. Obviously, the value is limited because the sigs are back-to-back. Mantle is the best of the bunch by a long shot and you have two of them. It looks like the autographed book is worth around $600, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com).
You came close on the names. In addition to the ones mentioned, it looks like you have Phil Rizzuto, Bob Kuzava, Charlie Silvera, Tom Gorman, Jim Brideweser, Joe Collins, Irv Noren, Jim McDonald, Gil McDougald and Bill Miller.
You can go to www.baseball-almanac.com to check out a roster of the 1947 Yankees, which will help you to identify all the signers.
Dear Babe: I have a menu from Toots Shor's New York restaurant dated Friday, Feb. 22, 1952. It is 10-by-13-3/4 inches. The back is a picture of 14 baseball Hall of Famers from an earlier era. Pictured are Fred Clarke, Arlie Latham, Cy Young, George Sisler, Charles "Kid" Nichols, Ty Cobb, Charlie Gehringer, Jimmie Foxx, Mel Ott, Mickey Cochrane, Ed Walsh, Toots Shor, Rogers Hornsby, Pie Traynor and Tris Speaker. -- Ron Cote, Hollis N.H.
Usually we hear from folks with menus from another famous New York restaurant, Jack Dempsey's. This is the type of item that needs to be signed to have any real value. "I would say $25-35 range," said David Kohler, president of www.scpauctions.com. "Cool (item) but no sigs."
Dear Babe: My daughter was saving football cards, and I have a box full of them, including Danny White (No. 429), Cliff Branch (415), Raymond Chester (351) and Archie Manning, (285). -- Rose Villa, Bishop, Calif.
Based on the numbers, it looks like these are 1979 Topps football cards, although you'll have to check them all out. It appears most of the cards you have are commons. Archie Manning lists for $1 in Beckett's annual football card price guide. He was a star for years long before he became known as the father of two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks -- Peyton and Eli.
Dear Babe: I have an autographed picture and puck signed by Maurice Richard on June 7, 1997, with a certificate of authenticity from PSA. The puck is a new official NHL Les Canadiens puck. The picture is an 8-by-10 black-and-white image of Richard holding the Stanley Cup in his No. 9 uniform. -- Ken Nicholas, Murrieta, Calif.
There were plenty of opportunities to get a shot with Richard holding the Cup. Montreal won eight Stanley Cups between 1944 and 1960 while Richard was with the team.
"Richard made many signing appearances prior to his death," said Mike Breeden, a Sports Collectors Digest columnist and autograph expert. "He was somewhat of a regular on the circuit. I'd put both of these items in the $100-$150 range." Beckett Sports Card Monthly's hockey-autograph section lists a signed puck in the $150-$225 range with an autographed 8-by-10 photo listed at $125-$200.
(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. Babe Waxpak is a feature of The Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif.)
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