PROVENANCE-IS IT REAL?

by Max Silberman

One of the services we provide, free of charge, at the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society is the tracing of baseball careers (both major and minor leagues). While we do not perform appraisals, engage in the buying and selling of memorabilia or run auctions, many items are presented to us for an informal opinion.

If you look up the word "provenance" in the dictionary, it means "place of origin" or "derivation." However, in the world of sports memorabilia, it means proving that the player actually played or that the autograph is authentic.

Careers are fairly easy to verify. We can provide information about any major leaguer from 1869 to the present and any minor leaguer from l930 on. For those who played semi-pro, appeared in exhibition game, played in the minors before 1930 or just had a tryout, we often can not offer help, much to the disappointment (and sometimes anger) of the person asking the question.

Nearly everyone has a wonderful and fanciful tale to go along with the autographed ball or Grandpa's supposed career. Grandpa played in the major leagues for the A's but all photos and clippings were lost. He doesn't appear in any publications but Aunt Mary's husband Uncle Joe always told stories at Thanksgiving and Christmas about Grandpa and Lefty Grove. Actually, by the time the Society is contacted most folks have exhausted every other means and are grasping for a last bit of hope. Unfortunately it is our sad duty most of the time to deliver the bad news.

These same stories always accompany the autographed ball that Cousin Bill's Uncle Harry got when he mowed the lawn for Connie Mack or that Grandma got Connie Mack to sign when she was a waitress at his favorite restaurant. No matter how compelling these stories are or how realistic they may sound, they still do not constitute provenance which is why the item or items must be examined by a qualified expert.

Many athletes and celebrities who are overwhelmed with autograph requests use a "ghost-signer" and even if they are obtained in a reliable manner, they are signatures of coaches and clubhouse attendants and are neither authentic nor valuable despite the great story that goes with it.

The Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society is pleased to research Uncle Charlie's career but don't be angry with him or us if a little fib became a family legend!