Resellers are already trying to cash in on Pope Francis’ passing, with a rare piece of memorabilia hitting the auction block.
A baseball autographed by the late pontiff is now up for grabs, and it’s expected to rake in over five figures. Pope Francis, who died Monday at 88 from a stroke and heart failure, signed a Rawlings MLB baseball years ago, simply inscribing “Francisco” in black felt-tip pen. That ball will soon find a new owner thanks to RR Auction, where it’s projected to sell for at least $15,000. RR is certain the ball will fetch five figures, given that another Pope Francis signed baseball sold for $17,125 in 2022.
The item comes from Randy L. Kaplan, a government affairs specialist in New York, who worked with the Vatican to get both Francis and Pope Benedict XVI to sign baseballs. Kaplan, who began collecting autographed baseballs from world leaders in 1996 with Bill Clinton, now boasts over 450 signed balls. The winning bidder will also receive Kaplan’s correspondence with Vatican officials as part of the deal.
The auction ends on May 14th. In the hours following Francis’ death, the baseball attracted seven bids, though that number is expected to rise throughout the week.
