Home run record ball may go cheap

By RACHEL KONRAD - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds may break Hank Aaron’s home run record this season, but sports memorabilia experts doubt his 756th homer ball will break auction records.

Heritage Auction Galleries said Sunday it would pay $1 million for the baseball Bonds is expected to hit this summer to set a new career home run record. But executives acknowledged that the company was willing to part with seven figures in part because of all the publicity surrounding the milestone.

Had it not been for the Heritage offer, however, the ball would probably be worth $400,000 to $500,000, said rare collectibles appraiser David Kohler.

‘‘There’s a lot of interest, but it’s not the same as it used to be,’’ said Kohler, whose company auctioned a signed 1923 Babe Ruth bat for $1.25 million in 2004. ‘‘There’s not a hysteria around baseball like a few years ago.’’

The highest price ever paid for baseball memorabilia was $3 million, set in 1999 for Mark McGwire’s record single-season home run ball.

Collectors and appraisers say baseball memorabilia prices have stagnated or declined since a widespread federal inquiry into steroid use in 2003, which included a guilty plea from Bonds’ personal trainer.

Stefan Tesoriero, chief executive for Miami-based SportsMemorabilia.com, said Bonds’ role in the steroid scandal makes the value of his record-setting ball hard to predict.

‘‘Should Barry be convicted of something, we might see this become an infamous piece of memorabilia with cult appeal, and that could severely inflate the value,’’ Tesoriero said. ‘‘Or maybe not.’’

Generally, memorabilia about beloved sports stars fetches more than that of talented athletes with attitude problems, he said. Ruth items are perennial best sellers; those of surly tempered Ty Cobb are harder to sell.

Bonds is particularly polarizing. Sports memorabilia seller Steven Kindborg says his Bonds’ enthusiasts break down along generational lines.

‘‘It’s an old school-new school thing,’’ said Kindborg, owner of New York-based Key Man Collectibles. ‘‘An old-school fan won’t recognize Barry Bonds’ record. Personally, I wouldn’t spend a dollar on his rookie card, but 30-and-under folks don’t care. They’re the ones spending the money in the online auctions.’’