#23 David Robinson - 1997-98 Topps Chrome REFRACTOR 'Topps 40' (Spurs)

Team Autographed / Signed Baseballs

Team signed baseballs were the thing well before single-signed balls exploded on the market.
What is a "Team Signed Baseball" ???
Simple answer: A ball with XXX signatures of a certain team for a certain year. What is difficult is the XXX. Baseball tons of roster moves make it nearly impossible to "Get Them All".

Generally, team signed baseballs from early 1900's had 10 to 15 signatures, the 1940's that jumped to 18 to 25. Joyce Sports Research Collection (Notre Dame) says "signatures must include only members of a specific team from a specific year, and there must be some approximation of completeness."

Not concrete but to me a "team ball" MUST have ALL the team's STARS (unless a rookie or in season trade) and in today's market at least 20, preferably more, and the manager.

Determining Age of Team Signed Balls
"Official" league balls have stamped signatures of current league presidents on the "sweet spot". Starting 1934/1935 balls were produced by Spalding (NL) and Reach (AL). Rawlings took over in 1977/78. Have a possible team roster at hand, ESPN & baseball-reference.com have great sites), decipher a few signatures then solve the puzzle.

Team Signed Baseballs Values
Pricing team signed baseballs is difficult due to subjectivity and factors involved suce as: Signatures placement, quality, strength, number of autographs, stars, age, team significance, and eye appeal considering fading, whiteness, scuffs, shellacking, staining, overall wear...

Team autographed baseballs on official league balls get higher values. They are "official", made better, preserve better and even help in dating especially with balls signed at "Reunion" baseball card shows which brought together great teams of the past.

Facsimile Autographed Balls
1960's/1970's machine-printed "autographed" team baseballs were sold at stadium gift shops for around $1.95. Easy to identify as all signatures were uniform in ink, color, size and look. "Facsimile" signatures are also often found on baseball cards.

Autographed/Signed Team Baseball inventory

1976 Popsicle Football Teams
Cards checklist

There is one card for each NFL team in the 1976 Popsicle football card set PLUS a variation of the New York Giants. The Giants changed logos in 1976, but Popsicle didn't know so one card shows team's 1975 helmet and the corrected shows the 1976 helmet.

The cards are like thin plastic credit cards and held up well as apparently they came one per box of Popsicles.

1976 Popsicle Football Teams cards checklist & prices

1955 / 1959 / 1960 Armour Hot Dog Coins
Checklist & Values

As a kid I loved shopping with mom hoping to find my next favorite food - the one with baseball cards !!! In 1955,1959 & 1960, kids could enjoy hot dogs with their cards thanks to Armour's coins in 1955, 1959 & 1960.

The 1-1/2 inch plastic coins, almost the same each year, came in many colors with several rare and perhaps even 1-of-1, making a "master" set almost impossible. Add in the variations and you can imagine the task.

See sportscollectorsdaily for great 1955,1959 & 1960 Armour baseball coins article.

Click for complete
1955/1959/1960 Armour Baseball Coins
Checklist & Values

#23 David Robinson - 1997-98 Topps Chrome REFRACTOR 'Topps 40' (Spurs)

Team Autographed / Signed Baseballs

1976 Popsicle Football Teams Cards checklist

1955 / 1959 / 1960 Armour Hot Dog Coins Checklist & Values

1976 Popsicle Football Teams
Cards checklist

1955 / 1959 / 1960 Armour Hot Dog Coins
Checklist & Values