Gold Finished Baseball Appraisal

Bartolo Colon Autographed Gold-Finished Commemorative Baseball

This item is a regulation-sized baseball featuring a distinctive metallic gold-colored finish across the leather or synthetic surface. The ball is prominently signed by Major League Baseball pitcher Bartolo Colon in blue felt-tip marker on a 'sweet spot' panel adjacent to the stitching. The signature is bold and fluid, showing the characteristic looping 'B' and 'C' of the athlete's handwriting. The construction of the ball includes traditional raised red stitching, which provides a sharp color contrast against the gold background. The gold finish appears at least partially reflective, suggesting a commemorative or trophy-style manufacture rather than a standard game-used ball. Physically, the item exhibits some minor textural irregularities in the gold coating, including small scuffs and a slight dulling of the finish in high-contact areas, typical of handled memorabilia. There are no significant leather tears or missing stitches visible. Given Bartolo Colon's lengthy career spanning from 1997 to 2018, this item likely dates from the latter part of his career or retirement era, celebrating his status as a fan favorite and Cy Young Award winner. The quality of the autograph is high, with no significant fading or bleed into the material.