Home Run Derby

Personally, I consider a signed baseball to be one of the coolest souvenirs you can get from a baseball game.   I have only one autographed  baseball, signed by Jim Thome.  It’s not certified or anything, but I’m not going to sell it.  It’s a lasting memory.

But mind you, some signed baseballs are better than others.  Ones that have a real personal touch.  Ones that connect a player to a fan, a moment, or even … history.

Let’s take a look at some of the best instances of ink on rawhide leather.

Pete Rose
Cincinnati Reds

I like it when people confront an issue head on … but this one stings a little bit. 

Because after years of denying that he ever bet on baseball, now Pete Rose is selling baseballs at PeteRose.com that undeniably say that he bet on baseball.

For $250.20.

What the heck is with the 20 cents? 
Is that the value of Rose’s fake apology?

Mickey Mantle
New York Yankees

Per Darren Rovell of CNBC …  ”when [Mickey] Mantle wasn’t in his best form, you could get him to write almost anything.”  Like this message from the Mick to Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra.

Be careful what you sign when you’re three sheets to the wind.  Because you might regret it. 

The ball was purchased by the Mantle family (who have denied the authenticity of the ball) earlier this year for $2,750.  That makes me think it was real. 

Either way, it’s real funny.

Roger Maris
New York Yankees

Many years ago, I heard a story on WGN Radio that Roger Maris once signed a ball for a kid with an “X” to see what the boy’s reaction would be – intending to give him a real signature after the kid saw the X and said “Hey, what the heck?”

But Maris never got to see the kid’s face … because he ran off  before  looking at it and Maris never had a chance to change his signature.

Somewhere out there might be a ball with an X on it that’s worth a lot more than anyone would ever pay for it.

Jonathan Papelbon
and the Boston Red Sox Bullpen

Papelbon and the rest of the Red Sox bullpen signed this ball in appreciation for some pictures that a fan threw down to the bullpen one night.  Pictures of said fan’s naked ex-wife.

The lesson of the story – Never let some Masshole take naked pictures of you.  Because they’ll end up hanging in the Red Sox Bullpen.

Read the full story at Roto-World …

Ryan Dempster
Chicago Cubs

The Cubs’ relief pitcher was playing long toss before a game at Wrigley Field when a young lady in the bleachers (shock) wanted the ball from Dempster. 

Dempster, probably hearing about the Red Sox bullpen’s recent exploits, tried to get an eyeful in return and had a risque proposition for her …

“I’ll give you the ball if you take your top off.”

Dempster gave her a ball … but did she lose her halter?  Find out here.

Flash Baylor
Springfield Isotopes

Back when the Simpsons was really on its game back in the second season (1991), Marge Simpson got propositioned by the washed-up former superstar.

Via a baseball. 

Vernon Wells
Toronto Blue Jays

During a game in Cleveland, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells was getting mercilessly heckled by a bunch of fans in the bleachers – one in particular. 

So between innings, he had a gift for the ringleader.

Dear Mr. Dork, Here is your ball.  Can you please tell me what gas station you work at, so when you are pumping my gas, I can yell at you!  Now sit down, shut-up and enjoy the game!  Your favorite centerfielder.

Even though Vernon Wells didn’t actually autograph that ball – it’s lacking a ”Vernon Wells” on it … this is my all time favorite, because Home Run Derby nabbed the first pictures of the ball – sent to us direct by the heckler himself, who also told us his story of the ball.

Jimmy Dugan
Rockford Peaches

In the movie “A League of Their Own,” manager Jimmy Dugan (played by Tom Hanks) signed a baseball with some wonderful advice for a young fan …

“Avoid the Clap.” Now that is good advice.

Sorry I don’t have a picture of that ball … Tom Hanks might not have actually signed one.  But I hope he did.

I’m sure I missed someone’s favorite autographed ball story.
Post em in the comments.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 18th, 2009 at 8:03 am and is filed under Autographs, Balls. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.