Best way to sell signed baseballs
 

I have 20, maybe 30 single signed baseballs and a few autographed yellow HOF plaques. I got most of them in person at card shows and Yankee Fan Festivals in the late 1980's or early 1990's. I am trying to free up some closet space and better focus my collecting interests. I haven't looked at most of these in over 20 years, so I am going to sell them. My question is should I get them authenticated?

The ones I got in person I know are good. The ones I purchased on the secondary market are likely good because when I purchased them, they were cheap autographs so not likely popularly counterfeited. For example, if I purchased a Pee Wee Reese at a card show for $30 where Reese was the autograph guest at the previous show at that location, it is very unlikely that my Reese is bad.

What do you folks think? Nothing crazy just mostly HOFers like Kaline, Aaron, Mize, Gehringer, Reese, Wilhelm, Hunter, Buck Leonard, Judy Johnson, Yogi and Whitey. Should I pay the $25-30 and have them authenticated? I know that would make them easier to sell, but is it worth the expense? I will likely sell some here on BST, but is ebay the best option or are there AH's that would sell HOF's like that?
Thank you very much in advance for any advice,
David

You'd be losing more in authentication fees than you'd have value added to the balls if they're all of that <$100 value.

I would recommend you take pictures and sell on the BST here.

Yea, you're better off selling them on sites like this...avoid the ebay fees...most of your collectors on here are going to be able to tell which is good and which is bad pretty easily...and most won't pay a premium just because its PSA'd. Most of the guys you mentioned have easily discernable autographs.

A good selling technique, including on eBay, is to post big clear photos of the signature. Not only does this allow knowledgeable buyers to examine the signature, but demonstrates your confidence in the signature. And buyers will judge the authenticity of one signature in part by judging the authenticity of your other autographs . . . As a photograph buyer, if an eBayer or auction is selling a rare photograph I'm interested in, I check out what else he is selling. If he is selling other photos that appear to be accurately labelled and knowledgeably described, I'll be more confident in the seller and the first photograph.

Someone recently asked my opinion about the authenticity of a rare photo on eBay. I looked at that auction listing, but, as is my normal procedure, also looked at what else he was offering before giving my opinion. Part of my opinion included that the seller was selling other old, if inexpensive, photos that appeared to be accurately described. If the seller was offering elsewhere a bunch of obvious reprints offered as originals, or even Goudey and T206 reprints offered as originals, I'd have told the questioner to stay far away.

When I sell, I'm of the philosophy that my other lots help sell the one lot.

For money.

I could use a nice Chas Gehringer

This might have gotten a bit better response in the autograph section.

If authenticating them brings you more than the cost to do it, it's an easy decision. Also, as for selling, I would maybe list them with reasonable prices on our BST first. It's free and easy. If it doesn't work out you are only out a few minutes of time. After that, the choices aren't as clear on where to sell but the usual places would probably work for you, AH's or the bay. Good luck