AN ANTIQUES Roadshow guest was shocked to find out his 13th birthday present is now worth more than a sports car.
The gentleman went to consult the team of experts in Texas about the value of a vintage baseball he was gifted years ago.
Professional appraiser Leila Dunbar was left shocked to see the guest had the ball signed by three different baseball legends.
Turning over the object excitedly, she said: "Well we've got Ruth 31 right here, here's Mantle and it shows Mickey Mantle 1961 on there, and then we flip it around and there is Roger Marris. And did you know what was going on that summer?"
The older man mused: "Oh yes! It was all the news – Mickey Mantle and Roger Marris and their home run duel to break Babe Ruth's record."
Leila replied giving listeners a taste of baseball history, explaining: "That's right. And that's what I love about this baseball.
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"Here you have Babe Ruth who of course broke his own home run record in 1927 – setting it at 60 home runs in a single season – broke his home run record of 1921 where he hit 59 home runs and you fast forward to 1961 and you have the MandM boys."
She marvelled over the rare find, adding: "In all my years in sports, and I've been a sports fan all my life – I've been looking at baseballs for many many years.
"I've never seen a baseball signed by Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Roger Marris let alone a ball signed by Ruth in the hayday of his career in 1931 and Mantle and Marris during the summer that they salted Ruth's homerun record."
The Antiques Roadshow visitor was bowled over to hear that his old birthday present is now worth between £24,000 and £40,000.
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The shocked man exclaimed: "That much? I didn't even anticipate that. I never dreamed of this."
Since then the baseball has only appreciated in value, and in 2023 is now worth the extraordinary sum of £79,800.
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