A ball signed by Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx brought the largest price from a collection of baseball autographs sold for a total of $336,000 in an auction Saturday in Indianapolis.The figure includes the “buyer’s premium,” a percentage paid on top of the winning bid.

he Foxx baseball, the first of 225 pieces auctioned, sold for $35,250.
The collection belonged to Chuck Brown of Indianapolis, whose grandfather, George S. Hipp, gathered the signatures, mostly by making requests by mail. Hipp, who died in 1982, lived in Broad Ripple.
“I’m completely overwhelmed,” said Brown, 44. “I’m glad it’s over with. I’m thrilled such a significant percentage went to individual collectors rather than people who wanted to turn around and resell.”
Other top sellers were baseballs signed by Hall of Famers Mel Ott ($18,800) and Honus Wagner ($16,450).
A group of 491 autographs on index cards sold for $18,800. Among the signatures was that of Eddie Gaedel, the 3-foot, 7-inch man who had one major league plate appearance in 1951, as a stunt by St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck. Gaedel walked before being replaced by a pinch runner.

Posted: 10|10|05 at 8:51 am. Filed under: US News.