OK...Here's a visual question for you baseball fans out there.

  The picture:  http://members.aol.com/mlewisfl/mystery-baseball.jpg

  The two questions:
   1) Who signed this ball?
   2) What is it worth (if anything)?

  Hints:
   1) It is definitely authentic.
   2) I am 99% sure that it is from the pros (major league).
   3) It was given to me by an uncle in approximately 1987.  I believe
it to be from the 86 or 87 season.
   4) He also gave me a ball signed by all of the 1986 Houston Astros
(yes, including Nolan Ryan).  As far as I can tell, this signature
does not match any of those, though, so I don't know if that is
helpful information.  For extra credit, what is the approximate value
of this 1986 Houston Astros ball?

  Thanks for your time!!!

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Request for Question Clarification by cynthia-ga on 18 Mar 2006 23:25 PST

Hi mlewisfl,

For starters, why not list it here?
http://www.celebritydirect.biz/direct/identify.htm

Also, I'll bet these people can help:
http://www.psadna.com/

~~Cynthia

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Clarification of Question by mlewisfl-ga on 24 Mar 2006 09:01 PST

cynthia:

  Thanks much for the links.  If no one can solve it here, I will
certainly give that a try.

ml

Here are a couple of sites that also might help:
http://www.tristarproductions.com/merch/Baseball/Astros.htm#Baseballs
http://ga.eautographedbaseballs.com/
http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/baseball.htm

At least you can get some idea about prices.
I didn't check, but you probably can also ask about your balls on the sites.

I was wondering if the ball pictured was one caught by a fan and later
signed by the homerun batter.

Hmmm, World Series ball signed by 26 players, $1799.  I wonder how
many there are and how long the signing session lasted.

I'm not sure but i think that ball says "Ampicillin 500mg".

frankcorrao:  LOL.

cynthia and myoarin:  Thanks very much for the helpful links.  I see
that I am not the first with such a question.

  I am still hoping someone here will be able to answer the qustion
outright, but if not, I will definitely pursue all of those links.

Thanks again!!!