Northern Kentucky man finds baseball with Babe Ruth autograph

[Louis Cypher]

Posted on Thu, Aug. 19, 2004

The Cincinnati Enquirer

Associated Press


FLORENCE, Ky. - A northern Kentucky sports memorabilia collector has stumbled upon a valuable find - a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth.

Rich Tiberi, 41, of Taylor Mill, bought a box of six unidentified, autographed baseballs for $250 at Plant Collectibles in Florence last month. The sets were distributed by Houston-based Tristar Productions during the last year.

The first baseball Tiberi pulled out of its foil packaging displayed a gold-stamped Ruth signature.

The senior vice president at Fifth Third Bank in Florence confirmed its authenticity. The American League baseball, dating to 1927-1934, is worth more than $10,000.

Tiberi wanted to keep it, so the Tristar Productions officially presented it to him Wednesday at Planet Collectibles. Tristar's Mandy Fuerst said the chances of finding the Ruth signature were about one in 40,000.

Tiberi's ball also has the autographs of Hall of Famers Tony Lazzeri and Lou Gehrig.

"I've seen them go for $18,000 to $19,000 on eBay, but I have no desire to sell it," Tiberi said. "I don't do it for any reason other than for the pleasure of it."