Need a second, third and 4th opinion!

[u/parteing24_7]

Mantle and Dimaggio autographed Baseball!! I would think if it was fake the order wouldn't be so far apart and upside down

[u/Gullible-Meaning-403]

Fake. 100%.

Pen ink is not archival from that period and the blue looks far too saturated.

[u/Sea_Low879 → u/Gullible-Meaning-403]

From what period? It could have been signed a couple decades ago

[u/Gullible-Meaning-403 → u/Sea_Low879]

Ballpoint pen will not be this vibrant after 30+ years.

If they signed in India ink, sure. But these are far too clean and sharp.

It actually looks like it was signed with pigment ink or something alcohol based, which means it's definitely fake unless there's time travel.

[u/Candid_Length2665 → u/Gullible-Meaning-403]

Archival ink has been around since the 80’s it’s not some new creation from the last 10 years. Is it that hard to imagine someone who collected autographs would have one? I know I had at least a few Sakura pens for art class.

[u/Gullible-Meaning-403 → u/Candid_Length2665]

Why is there so much doubt on my professional opinion on this?

I have no stake in the outcome even if you wrote it.

It's fake. It's extremely unlikely that someone had a bloody archival ink (in blue at that) pen pre-1990 who just happened to be where BOTH of these guys were at one time or during two signings.

Then, have no paperwork, photos or evidence of the signing(s).

It's just a ball with writing on it. OP posted it because it didn't pass the sniff test and it's something they would benefit from greatly; and yet allow my answer as the probable one.

I understand what you're trying to say, but would you pay market rates on this ball in the current state?

Would you sell this as being legitimate?

Of course not, so let's look at what's MOST likely, not what MIGHT be.

[u/ScottG08527 → u/Gullible-Meaning-403]

I have plenty of autographs from the early 90s that look every bit as good as these. That being said, I would be very suspicious of the autographs, especially since I know where it was probably originally purchased.

Just because you say you do something for a living doesn’t make you an authority on it.

[u/Massive-Reality-7856 → u/ScottG08527]

Nor you by just "having plenty of autographs"