Cobb presented the ball to his secretary, Miss Lou LaPointe. According to Hunt's note in the sale catalog, ten of the 11 players posed for a famous photograph taken on stage at that event. Missing was Ty Cobb, who reportedly was purposely late to express his contempt for Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who had questioned Cobb's integrity. That photograph is one of the two most famous sports photographs, and autographed baseballs are strong partly because, on baseballs, forged signatures are pretty easy to spot. A strong price was paid for a Tour of Japan All-Star team autographed baseball, slightly soiled, with signatures of 12 members of the tour, including Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Mack, Averill, and O'Doul, which came from the family of Captain James F. Patrick, the captain of the Empress of Russia , the ship that carried the American team back from Japan.
Some autographed baseballs cost a fraction as much and brought as much pleasure to their buyers.
He was the governor of New York. I think I got a bonus. Ephemera continues to bring unpredictable prices. Baseball cards are now graded like coins and receive certificates like Stradivarius violins. Professional Sports Authenticator in Newport Beach, California, has made a business of grading cards, making sure they have not been trimmed with a laser or, heaven forbid, forged.