Autographed Baseball featuring Whitey Ford
Sports Memorabilia / Mixed Media (Collectable Baseball) • Whitey Ford (American, 1928–2020) and potentially other unidentified signatures
Style & Movement
Americana / Sports Memorabilia
Medium & Technique
Ink signature on leather-covered wound core; red cotton stitching.
Creation Period
Late 20th to early 21st Century (Active signing period for the subjects)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 2.86–2.94 inches in diameter (standard MLB regulation size); Spherical.
Subject Description
A regulation baseball featuring the handwritten signature of New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford on the sweet spot. A secondary signature is partially visible to the right.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Fair; visible smudging and fading of the primary signature.
Estimated Market Value
$50 - $150 (Unauthenticated)
Auction Estimate
$75 - $250 (If professionally authenticated and all signatures identified)
Provenance History
Likely acquired via an in-person signing event, fan mail, or a sports memorabilia auction/dealer.
Art Historical Significance
A cultural artifact representing mid-20th-century American sports history and the legacy of the New York Yankees dynasty.
Notable Features
Features the signature of a Hall of Fame pitcher ('The Chairman of the Board'); multi-signed status could significantly impact value depending on the secondary signers.
Condition Issues
Fading/toning of the ink, minor surface scuffs on the leather, and handling oils causing slight discoloration.
Conservation Recommendations
Store in a UV-protected acrylic display cube. Maintain a stable humidity environment to prevent leather cracking or ink bleeding.