1951 NY Giants Autographed Baseball

[Schauermann]

I would like some advice on how to get a baseball autographed by the 1951 NY Giants authenticated and appraised.

The baseball has been in my family since 1951. My grandfather was a farmer in Oregon and came down with polio in 1950. One of his neighbors was Larry Jansen who was a starting pitcher with the 1951 NY Giants. After the season, Larry Jansen gave my grandfather a baseball signed by the team.

However, the baseball must have been signed early in the year because it has all of the signature (Bobby Thompson, Sal Maglie, Larry Jansen, Leo Durocher, Monte Irvin) except it was not signed by Willie Mays. Willie Mays was a rookie that year and started the year in the minors.

I want to have this baseball authenticated and appraised so that I can properly insure it. I have no intention of ever selling it as it is a family keepsake. Any advice would be appreciated.

[julusnc]

The baseball is worth $300 -$450 range.I sold a 1954 for $625 and it is a more desired team baseball.

[Schauermann]

Re: 1951 Autographed NY Giants Baseball

I am not sure that I would agree with you that the 1954 team is the more desired team. The 1954 team did win the World Series while the 1951 team lost in the World Series. However, the 1951 team is far more famous.

Given the late season comeback on the Brooklyn Dodgers in the standings culminating in the "Shot Heard Round the World" by Bobby Thompson in the ninth inning of the third and final game of the playoff with the Dodgers as well as the recent revelations that the Giants may have been stealing signs in the second half of the season, the 1951 team is more famous.

I would guess that the casual baseball fan would not be able to tell you that the 1954 Giants won the World Series but if you ask the casual baseball fan about the 1951 NY Giants they can tell you about the Shot Heard Round the World.

In fact I would venture to say that the 1951 NY Giants are one of the top five most famous teams in baseball history along with the 1927 Yankees, the 1919 White Sox, the 1961 Yankees, etc.

Anyway - that is all a matter of opinion and speculation on my part and I am not interested in selling the ball anyway so it does not really matter. Thanks for your assistance.

[julusnc]

I am not sure that I would agree with you that the 1954 team is the more desired team. The 1954 team did win the World Series while the 1951 team lost in the World Series. However, the 1951 team is far more famous.

Given the late season comeback on the Brooklyn Dodgers in the standings culminating in the "Shot Heard Round the World" by Bobby Thompson in the ninth inning of the third and final game of the playoff with the Dodgers as well as the recent revelations that the Giants may have been stealing signs in the second half of the season, the 1951 team is more famous.

I would guess that the casual baseball fan would not be able to tell you that the 1954 Giants won the World Series but if you ask the casual baseball fan about the 1951 NY Giants they can tell you about the Shot Heard Round the World.

In fact I would venture to say that the 1951 NY Giants are one of the top five most famous teams in baseball history along with the 1927 Yankees, the 1919 White Sox, the 1961 Yankees, etc.

Anyway - that is all a matter of opinion and speculation on my part and I am not interested in selling the ball anyway so it does not really matter. Thanks for your assistance.

I am giving you an educated opinion since I have actually sold over 100+ vintage team baseballs....A world series champion baseball is far more desired.The only teams of the 1950's that are valued high other than world series winners are New York and Brooklyn baseballs because of the history and the large number of hall of famers on each ball club.

I dont need a history lesson because I know the value.

[KCGHOST]

If you can document the link between Jansen, the ball, and your father that would help the value somewhat, particularly if you can find out exactly when the ball was signed. Missing Willie's signature hurts the value of the ball. I don't know how collectors would view it if you went and got Willie's signature now.

[Schauermann]

RE: 1951 NY Giants Autographed Baseball

Thanks for your help. I have always wondered the same thing regarding adding Willie Mays signature. I have always figured that adding it at this late date would decrease the value of the ball since it would not be an original signature but I really don't know.

[Utter Chaos]

Good luck getting Willie's autograph. Not only would you have to pay close to $200 but I understand he's not the friendliest person in the world. His god-son must be rubbing off on him.

If you do get Willie to sign it, it should probably be done in the same ink as the original signatures (i.e. don't use a sharpie). If the ink looks similiar to the other signatures it may appear that he signed it back in '51 rather than now.

[FrenchyLefebvre]

Thanks for your help. I have always wondered the same thing regarding adding Willie Mays signature. I have always figured that adding it at this late date would decrease the value of the ball since it would not be an original signature but I really don't know.

Hi
This "value" thing is a little perplexing, as it is (still) Willie Mays, himself. What if the family had taken the ball back, say, the next Opening Day ... or three years later for Willie to, belatedly, complete that entire year's team members?

And it's not like you're gonna get Willie McCovey, some other great, or May's offspring on there to "substitute" for the actual Say Hey
I just don't get it :o