You Won't Believe How Much This Signed Sports Item Is On Amazon

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When going through baseball memorabilia, and hoping to find valuable items, a collector may watch out for balls, cards, and even photos signed by famous ballplayers — someone like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, or Willie Mays. However, they may not immediately recognize the potential value associated with one particular baseball player: a more forgotten man named Frank Chance. As of mid-June 2025, Chance's autographed baseball was listed on Amazon for a whopping $160,357.49. The signed baseball comes with a certificate of authenticity from the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a respected company that has verified more than 35 million different pieces of sports memorabilia.

So, when looking for valuable baseball cards tucked away in a closet, browsing baseball card shows, and surfing the internet, keep an eye out for the name Frank Chance. Although Chance rarely signed his autographs — and although the signed ball on Amazon claims that this is the only baseball Frank Chance ever signed — people do occasionally come across his signature on forms of documentation, which can help you identify a potential find. 

Born in September 1876, this Fresno, California native started to play professional baseball before today's Major League Baseball (MLB) even existed. Starting with the Chicago Orphans in 1898, Chance initially played as a catcher as well as in the outfield before becoming a first baseman in 1902. Today's MLB formed in 1903, at which point the Orphans then became the Chicago Cubs. Chance continued to play for the Chicago ballclub through 1912, serving as an outstanding hitter and base stealer, leading his team to four pennants in the National League and, between 1906 and 1910, two World Championships. Traded to the New York Yankees, Chance played for them in 1913 and 1914 but didn't perform as well due to severe headaches suffered after repeatedly getting hit in the head. 

For several years, Chance served as a player-manager — a rare occurrence, with only 222 instances of this since 1876, according to Baseball Almanac. If that sounds like a lot, consider that about 21,000 men have played professional baseball since 1876. Chance played in baseball's Deadball Era (1901-1920) when factors favored pitchers, and the typical batting average across teams was .254. However, over Chance's career, he batted .296 with 1,274 hits. He also stole 403 bases and scored 798 runs, landing Chance in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite all of this, there are extremely limited examples of Chance autographing any memorabilia.

When determining what sports collectibles will have value, one key factor to look for is proper documentation to ensure authenticity, which the Amazon listing of Chance's baseball possesses. Buying collectibles online can cost you, especially when fraud occurs, and this can happen even with authentication documents. So, always verify. To avoid buying items with forged Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)documentation, look for the specific documentation number and verify it directly on the PSA site. Plus, PSA now puts certified cards, tickets, and other items into clear, plastic, tamper-evident covers that they solder to seal up. If the edges of the holder appear cloudy, there are cracks, or the plastic feels flexible — the object was more than likely tampered with.

When collectibles like the Chance baseball are up for sale, remember that there is an asking price and a selling price. When monitoring sports memorabilia values, keep an eye on what a collector actually pays for the items. For example, Heritage Auctions sold a 1905 vault-marked bat of Chance's in 2021 for $132,000. Also consider the difference between two often-confused terms: rarity and scarcity. The Chance autographed baseball is rare because few exist, but would be considered scarce if demand for the item exceeds the supply. The sale of Chance's bat for big dollars suggests demand for that particular item, which may or may not spread more broadly across other Chance memorabilia.