Hey guys, big basketball guy here, but have been venturing into baseball recently. I know these are questions that it is better to ask before buying something, but I had little time to decide on this one.
My buddy has an auction website and I decided to check it out about 15 minutes before the auctions were closing. Not much time to make choices, but I ended up winning this baseball.
I know about a dozen names on here, but I am not well versed in signed baseballs. Is the amount of fading on here normal for 1974? Obviously I wish it was more vibrant, but I'd love to avoid additional wear to it. I assume sunlight is my biggest enemy here. Assuming no light, will it continue to fade? The autograph I am most worried about is the Satchel Paige. Let's say I put this in the darkest spot on earth, will it be much more faded in say, 15 years?
Also, this was marketed as a 1974 NL allstar game signed ball. Obviously some of these guys didn't play in the game, so would this effect any sort of validity to you? It has a Beckett LOA, but it is an interesting group once you get past the guys who played in the 1974 game.
These are the players - Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, Yogi Berra, Joe Morgan, Billy Williams, Tom Seaver, Phil Niekro, Joe Torre, Hank Aaron, Willies Stargell, Johnny Bench, Satchel Paige, Steve Blass, Bob Bailey, Wayn Guisti, Pete Rose, Bill Robinson, Sparky Lyle, Richie Zisk, Richie Hebner, Nellie King, Dock Ellis, Al Oliver, Ken Brett, Danny Murtaugh, Gene Clines, Bob Skinner and Manny Sanguillen.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'd love for this ball to last and hold onto this for decades, but I'm really hoping it lasts
