I could use some suggestions from anyone on the forum who collects or auctions sports memorabilia. I just inherited an old autographed baseball (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Amos Alonzo Stagg) that I need to get a certificate of authenticity for before I consider selling it. It's authentic, to be sure (my deceased uncle got the signatures personally), but I'm not familiar with companies that provide authentication services and are also recognized and accepted in the memorabilia universe. Does anyone have any suggestions for an authentication company? Any suggestions for auction companies that might be able to auction the ball for me if I decide to sell it? (I'd like to avoid E-Bay.)

P.S. If you're wondering what Amos Alonzo Stagg's signature is doing on a baseball next to the signatures of The Bambino and The Iron Horse, well, in addition to being a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame (credited with creating 5-man teams) and the College Football Hall of Fame (winningest coach in college history until Bear Bryant broke his record), Stagg was also a baseball player and coach in his younger days, and was credited with inventing the batting cage. Either way, it's the only baseball of its kind in the world. And no, you can't have it unless you give me a lot of money or break into my safe deposit box. :p ;)

try calling thse guys.

http://www.tradingcardcentral.com/news/2005/04/07_002.php

try calling thse guys.

http://www.tradingcardcentral.com/news/2005/04/07_002.php

Thanks. I have heard of them and they're not too far away from me.

here's a ruth auto on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/BABE-RUTH-AUTOGRAPH-SIGNED-BASEBALL-PSA-DNA_W0QQitemZ5236933917QQcategoryZ27260QQcmdZViewI tem

My Ruth autograph is in about the same condition--not mint, but pretty good considering that it's about 75 years old. Gehrig's is quite faded, but still completely legible. I won't monkey with it or try to have it restored since that might actually de-value the ball rather than enhance it. Stagg's signature is dark, but he signed it when he was in his late 90's (he lived to about 103), so it's somewhat scrawled. The ball itself is aged and cream-colored, but all the stitches are in good shape and much of the original printing by the manufacturer is still legible. I'll be curious to see how much it may bring at auction.