I was looking for help in identifying some baseball signatures...

[sjhentges]

I have this baseball with a bunch of twins players on it and have only identified these so far:

Terry Steinbach
Otis Nixon
Bob Tewksbury
and I believe Scott Aldred?

Let me know if you recognize or know any of these signatures please! I have been attempting to match them in databases but there are far to many players to go through obvoiously. Thanks!

[Ben Grimm]

What I've come up with so far...

Pic 1: Bob Tewksbury

Pic 2: Eddie Guardado
Pic 2: Mike Trombley
Pic 2: Pat Mears
Pic 2: Brent Gates

Pic 3: Greg Swindell
Pic 3: Matt Lawton
Pic 3: Alex Ochoa
Pic 3: Hector Carrasco

Pic 4: Otix Nixon
Pic 4: Mike Morgan
Pic 4: Terry Steinbach

Pic 5: Ron Coomer
Pic 5: Orlando Merced
Pic 5: Scott Stahoviak

[Ben Grimm]

Came up with two more. Only two left, but the bottom auto in pic 3 is tough to see on that angle.

[sjhentges]

Wow you have been a great help.. I took a picture of that signature again so you can see it better.. It's pretty sloppy handwriting either way and its hard to make anything out. Just 2 people to find out!

Photo 19.jpgPhoto 14.jpg

[sjhentges]

If anyone could figure out those last 2, it would be much appreciated!! I can't seem to figure them out at all

[Ben Grimm]

I'm about 90% sure the first missing one is Mike Trombley. I'm about 50/50 with the last one being Hector Carrasco.

[sjhentges]

Thanks! Any idea on the value of a ball like this?

[Ben Grimm]

Thanks! Any idea on the value of a ball like this?

With stuff like this, it could be worth anywhere from $1 to $100. It really depends on timing and finding somebody who really wants what looks to be a 1998 Twins team ball. Unfortunately, balls like this rarely get sig's from top talent on the team - or rather big names. Usually you find what we have here, utility players and bullpen guys.

In my experience, team balls needed to be A: complete, B: from a significant season, or C: a single-player signed ball to carry the most value. Single-signed balls though from marginal players can actually bring the value of the ball down all on its own.

Case in point. My friend owned a collectibles shop in the 90s & early 00s. We used to go out at times and hit some balls out with a group of friends on weekends. We were out of balls, so he went to his shop and got us 20 signed balls that were on sale but simply didn't move. Players like Marty Cordova, Andy Van Slyke, Von Hayes, etc. The balls new in box were $10 - with the autos, they were being sold for $4-$5. The auto actually lessened the value of the brand new ball.

Same goes with groups. If you have say an Albert Pujols signed ball from his rookie year, it would carry a premium. If say it also had guys like Stubby Clapp, Kerry Robinson and Steve Kline on it, the value will drop - at times by maybe 1/2.

There's no way to put a price on what you have, because odds are it's a one-of-one. I doubt anybody has a ball with the same exact sig's in the same exact spots. But still, it requires somebody who wants it. Best way i know is put it on Ebay with a reserve of an honest number. If it sells - great. If not, the highest bid will give you an idea of its overall value at that time.

Not sure if any of this helps. If you got this personally signed, I'd say keep it. Odds are the sentimental value will be worth more than you can get financially in return.