Signed HR Ball question

[Browncow75]

Hey Guys,
Im new to the non-card side of collecting, and wanted to get some opinions on a piece. A local BBC dealer (here in St. Louis) has an autographed Pujols ball that is supposed to be his record setting 14th HR in April from last season. I am a HUGE Pujols collector, and the ball has a mlb.com authentication hologram sticker, but there is no letter (to my knowledge) to go with it. He is asking a reasonable price for it ($200 more that a typical Pujols auto'd game used ball) so I thought about pulling the trigger. What is your opinion? Is there a way to be sure its the real 14th HR ball with a MLB hologram? As far as I am concerned, he is a very reputable dealer as well. Thanks all!

Brandon

[Lordstan]

Brandon,
I guess my question is what provenance does this item have to justify the extra.
The dealer may be very reputable, but if you go to re-sell the ball in the future, how are you going to prove to the next person the significance. Without proof, you will not be able to justify any sort of extra value, except that it is game used.
If the money isn't an issue for you, you may enjoy the ball and it's special meaning. Just don't expect to sell it to the next person, as a special ball, without independent proof.
Good luck with your decision,
Mark

[whitehse]

go to this website and put your cert number in. It will authenticate where the ball came from!!

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/authentication/index.jsp

[whitehse]

The MLB cert is as good as gold and with the MLB website to look up the cert you should be able to prove authentication when it comes time to sell if need be! Hopefully the MLB cert matches up to the event your guy is saying the ball is from!

[Browncow75]

Hey Andrew,
Just curious how MLB can authenticate a HR ball, if the ball isnt specificly marked prior to its use in a game, like with the Bonds HR ball? Do they just take the submitting owners' word on its provenance and then assign it their cert? Thanks!

Brandon

[whitehse]

MLB has an authenticator at every game for occasions such as this. If it was a milestone home run I can pretty much guess the authenticator was waiting for it and was on the spot shortly after the ball landed.

[Lordstan]

Andrew,
Great info.
I had no idea they did this. It certainly makes sense.
Geez, they can figure this out, but we still have the DH in baseball. I guess they can't get it right every time.
Mark

[Browncow75]

Wow, That is good info. I might just have to buy it afterall! I will let you guys know what I find out!

[Scott Garner]

Yes, but.....
Brandon,
With alot of these MLB.com balls the authentification may revolve around the ball being "from the game" that a player hit a particular HR. Make sure the provenance is specific about the ball being "the actual HR ball", which of course is a completely differerent thing, IMHO. If the verbage surrounding the provenance is specific it sounds like it would be a great addition to your Pujols collection.
Good collecting!

[Browncow75]

I finally got back over to the shop that has the Pujols ball. I looked up the MLB authentication #, and you guys who said to be wary were correct! It is a ball used in that game, not the actual 14th HR ball. I am going to pass on it, even though he offered it to me for $100 less than the original asking proce. Thanks for the help guys, you definitely saved me some money!

Brandon