Village has a hot Babe on its hands -- for sale

Village has a hot Babe on its hands -- for sale

February 14, 2004

BY DAN ROZEK Suntimes Reporter

CHICAGO - Police in north suburban Lindenhurst might
never solve the mystery of how a 1933 Babe Ruth
baseball card ended up in their evidence locker, but
they could make some money off the who-dunit.

The card likely will be sold as unclaimed property, and
some card appraisers estimate its sale could fetch
Lindenhurst $2,000 to $4,000.

That's not bad for something that Lindenhurst officials
don't really want.

The baseball card was taken in as evidence about seven
years ago while Lindenhurst police investigated whether
the card had been stolen and then resold to a local
sports card shop. Several claims were made over the
years for the card -- issued by the long-defunct Goudey
Gum Co. -- but none was ever verified, Chief Jack
McKeever said.

In the meantime, the local card shop went bust, and
because no one could determine who the original seller
was, police simply held onto the card, McKeever said.

"We would have been happy to get rid of it,'' he said.

It's been nearly five years since the last attempt to
claim the card and police, tired of having the card
lying around, decided to sell it as unclaimed property.
Lindenhurst officials gave their permission this week
to auction the card, which shows signs of wear and tear
that officials expect will reduce its value.

The village likely will have the card appraised, then
possibly sell it online on eBay, Lindenhurst
Administrator Jim Stevens said.

Depending on the condition of the card, it could fetch
$2,000 to $4,000 when the village sells it, said Steve
Gold, owner of AU Sports in Skokie. The card would
bring substantially less if it's seriously scuffed, he
said. A pristine Babe Ruth card could sell for $20,000
or more, Gold estimated.

"It's not a really rare card, but it is Babe Ruth. He's
still a name,'' Gold said.

Given the tangled history of the card, McKeever
wouldn't be surprised if publicity surrounding the
card's sale brings another new twist to the mystery.

"It wouldn't shock me if someone came forward and had a
claim on it,'' McKeever said, adding: "I don't know if
they could prove it.''
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LP
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