Author Archive
As a player the great Mickey Mantle’s accomplishments on the baseball field are many; and that got him a first ballot vote into the Hall of fame. Mantle did so much and meant so much to so many fans as a player he is still discussed over 40 years after his retirement. Although his great career is the obvious reason why Mickey Mantle autographed baseballs are worth what they are, there are actually more reasons why there's still more demand than supply.
Mantle was one of the first baseball players who signed for pay at baseball card shows. He was an immensely popular guest, especially on the east coast where the kids who had grown up watching him play, got a chance to reconnect when Mantle first began appearing in the early 1980s. Mantle also had a contract with Upper Deck in which he had to sign a good amount of memorabilia.
Ever since those days, Mantle’s autographs were worth more than any other players’ autographs. Show promoters saw the incredible demand and Mantle raised his prices. He signed thousands of items, of course, but it didn't quench the thirst of baseball fans in general and New York Yankees collectors in particular. Many fans became sports collectors because of Mantle.
The demand for his autograph continued to rise and it has not really stopped. Mantle was successful as a player on the field and charismatic enough off it to generate legions of fans. All those things put together made him a likeable person, and a baseball hero. Even if it was eventually discovered that Mantle was a flawed hero with a drinking problem and a nasty streak, it never really hurt his popularity.
If you want to obtain a Mickey Mantle autographed baseball, it's not difficult. Just be sure to purchase one that's been authenticated by a reputable source like PSA/DNA.
 2 Comments »
Have you ever wondered what it is that makes signed baseballs worth a certain amount of money? How one baseball can go from costing you $20 or even getting it for free, but end up costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars? If you have been a baseball collector or are a prospective collector, these questions will certainly come to your mind at one point or another. A lot of times people get autographed baseballs from “no-name” players and they never think that the ball will be worth anything. A lot of times people get autographs from “hot shot” players or prospects that are supposed to end up being in the hall of fame and they think these balls will be worth a lot of money in the future. The thing is, it is hard to really say what a ball will end up being worth in the future because, well, no one can predict the future.
There can be a few factors that determine the value of a signed ball and those are usually the performance of the athlete. But, there are other factors that can be involved when it comes to these values and they can be easy to overlook. Sometimes beginning collectors overlook these factors and end up getting rid of baseballs that could end up being worth a lot of money in the future.
These factors include milestones of, either individual players, teams, ballparks, or even the MLB itself. Whether the ball is an official MLB ball and if it was the type of ball used during that player’s time, has a lot to do with it. Believe it or not, there are people out there who sell fake MLB balls, so be on the look out for those. The condition of the ball, meaning the physical condition, has to be either good or original. Remember, just because the ball has scuffs does not mean that the ball is not worth anything, the scuffs could be from when the player hit the ball or something similar, making the ball actually worth more.
Additional factors include where the player signs the ball, the “sweet” spot of the ball is the best place to get a ball signed. Believe it or not, there are players who refuse to sign on the sweet spot, either for superstition reasons or because they have an exclusive autograph contract with a memorabilia company that won't let them sign there for anyone else.
With regard to vintage signed baseballs, whether a player lived a long time also factors in, especially with regard to Hall of Fame players. Those who lived a long time ago and died relatively young, like Christy Mathewson, are among the most valuable autographs in existence because there simply aren't that many out there, as one of our earlier posts proved.
Although these may not be the only factors that determine the value of a signed ball, they are definitely some important ones that you should look out for if you plan to continue to collect signed baseballs.
30 Comments »
Although it can be very fun and satisfying to buy and collect autographed baseballs, if you have received an autograph personally from a baseball player, you know that there is something special that goes with that. I am not saying that buying autographed baseballs is not special, but what I am saying is that there is a bit more of excitement when you get the autograph personally, no one can take that experience from you. I have received a few autographs throughout my experience as a baseball collector and I would like to share my first autograph that I ever received.
It came from a special player that I admire not only as a player but also as a person, Bengie Molina. It happened during a Giants “Fan Fest,” which I was so excited to attend. It was my goal to get his autograph for a while, but I had a hard time getting one in the past. As soon as I arrived to the Fan Fest all my hope turned into disappointment as the line to get his autograph was about as long as the distance from home plate all the way to the center field wall. There was no way that if I stood in line I was going to get his autograph. So then I thought to myself, how could I make myself stand out so that perhaps Bengie can notice me?
I sat right across the booth where he was signing items and kept getting his attention, I kept showing him my Bengie Molina shirt that I was wearing and I would ask if he could sign my baseball. He would point at the line of fans like saying, “Come on, there are thousands of people in line here,” but not in a rude way, matter fact he thought it was funny. Again, here I lost hope and I kind of put my head down giving up and then I felt someone tap me on the shoulder.
It was his assistant.
She said “Bengie wants to sign your ball, want to give it to me so I can hand it to him.” And I am sure you know what happened from there. I must tell you I had the biggest smile at the park and I thanked Bengie, and he made a “fist pump” towards me and waved goodbye. The best thing about it was that as I walked away, everyone in line was looking at me like, “who is this guy how did he get an autograph so easy and we are still standing here? If you plan to be collector I am sure you will get to experience something close to this at one point of your collecting “career" if you already haven’t.
It's those unique experiences that are the most fun and your first autograph is always one you'll remember.
No Comments »
by Greg Johnson
It would be nice to be able to say that all of us autographed baseball collectors have had nothing but good experiences, but unfortunately that is not the case. As a collector you will find that you will run into bad experiences and these can happen in different ways. If you collect autographed baseballs for a good amount of time you will most likely buy a fake ball, get one of your balls stolen or damaged, and even run into some baseball players who won't treat you very well when you try to get their autographs.
Regardless of what happens, you have to remember that things like this happen and you must move on. My advice is that you do not let things like this get to you and that you move on with a smile. Personally I have not had many bad experiences but I have ran into some players that have been pretty mean about giving autographs.
Jonathan Sanchez, the Puerto Rican pitcher for the San Francisco Giants that threw a no-hitter in 2009, was actually one of my bad experiences more than once. After his no-hitter, Sanchez was a pretty popular person when it came to people trying to get his autograph. The thing was, I think I tried getting his autograph more than 10 times before then and he always ignored me. There were times when it was just the two of us standing next to each other and he still denied me. I even spoke in Spanish to him and asked him for an autograph and twice he said “mañana,” which means tomorrow.
Now I know sometimes players are busy and or have other things going on that keep them from being able to give autographs, but I doubt that was the case for all of the times that I asked. To me, it is a shame when players hesitate so much for just a simple autograph, I think it is something that they owe to the fans, after all, if there were no fans, they would have no jobs!
Although these experiences can really make a fan lose hope, I never have, and you should not either. We have to accept that not everyone in this world is going to be nice about your hobby as an autographed baseball collector, so get out there and work at it. The nice this is that you can build a collection without setting yourself up for disappointment.
2 Comments »
By Greg Johnson
We all like to hear the “rags to riches,” “from the ground up,” “from nothing to something” stories. It can be satisfying to hear that what was once worth next to nothing eventually came to be something that people value in more than just monetary ways. This can be the case with some of the autographed baseballs that at first seem like they will not be worth much, and for some reason end up increasing in worth. It's true that autographs values can be a 'zero to hero' kind of thing.
Unfortunately the same can be said about autographed balls that at one point are worth a good amount of money, and then eventually loose that value. Regardless, if you are ever going to get rid of one of your signed baseballs, whether you are selling it or giving it away, make sure you know what you are getting rid of before you do it. Also, remember if the player is still in the league there is no telling what can happen and there is still a chance that his autograph goes up value.
Personally, I have stories on both sides of the spectrum, I have held on to balls that were not worth anything and then their value went up, but I have also held on to balls that were once worth more and declined value over the time. In this case, I will tell you about my “feel good” story and perhaps I can influence you to try to keep all the baseballs that you get autographed.
I think I can say that I tried getting Edgar Renteria’s autograph about ten times throughout the seasons of 2009 and 2010. For some reason I never got it because he was always busy and sometimes he just straight denied me. I am not exactly sure why I insisted so much because I was never really a big fan of him but I guess you can say I am persistent.
For some reason towards the end of the 2010 season he gave me an autograph and I put it in my collection. If you were to have checked on Ebay, and looked up an Edgar Renteria signed ball, you would have seen that they were on sale for $20-40 and most of those weren't selling. But autograph values can change like the stock market.
If you watched the 2010 World Series, you know that Renteria was the MVP and just as he did in 1997 with the Florida Marlins, became the series hero. And just like that, in a matter of days, a signed ball by him is worth a little more. Now, if I was someone else trying to make money that would be very convenient for me. I choose to keep all my signed balls whether they are worth money or not, but that is only because to me they have a sentimental value.
Other players, like Albert Pujols can be decent, but not heralded minor league draft picks and then suddenly explode on the scene to become future Hall of Famers. Pitchers who are an afterthought sometimes find their niche later in a career and eventually put up Cooperstown-worthy numbers like Randy Johnson, who coincidentally is a tough autograph.
The most important point here is that you just never know when a signed ball can go up price unexpected, because it can take a player as little asone at-bat to make history.
No Comments »
How much online shopping do you do on sites like Ebay and Amazon? How convenient do you find that kind of shopping? With Internet shopping becoming so popular there are many people who rarely go out of their houses to obtain things they need or want. Now, as convenient as these places can be for any kind of shopping, if you are a baseball collector you have to be very careful when trying to buy autographed baseballs from places like Ebay and Amazon. However, they're also the best places to find great deals since you'll rarely have to pay full price.
First, there are many sports memorabilia companies that have their ebay stores and these stores can be a legitimate way of shopping for authentic signed baseballs by your favorite players. But, just make sure that before you purchase from any of these stores, that the particular store has a good reputation on ebay. Plus, what better way to determine the store’s authenticity than to read what other buyers like you have to say? If this seller has good rating, and is known for selling autographed memorabilia, chances are pretty high that he or she is selling authentic signature items. That's true for any seller, not those who call themselves "dealers".
If the baseballs that you buy from these places also come with a certificate of authenticity, do your research, make some calls, send some emails and find out if the company issuing the COA is a legit one. It never hurts to just make sure. There are plenty of signed baseballs out there that don't have COAs. Sometimes the cost doesn't justify the expense based on the ball's ultimate value. Sometimes sellers just aren't aware. Utilize the quick opinion services offered by companies like PSA/DNA and Ace Authentication if you just want some peace of mind.
Amazon.com has deals with many of the top memorabilia companies who compete against each other through the largest online seller in the world. Obviously Amazon is vigilant when deciding who to allow to sell through their brand name.
Knowing how to buy autographed baseballs on eBay or Amazon can be the key to building a nice collection without spending a lot of money. Utilize our links to signed baseballs for sale and you can find exactly what you're looking for.
No Comments »
Official Major League Baseballs can often cost $15-25, so collecting autographed baseballs can be expensive, especially if you don’t have much budget for it. Most collectors and dealers insist on dealing only in baseballs that are identical to those used in big league games. So how do you build a nice collection without investing a lot?
Do free MLB authentic baseballs sound good for you? Although it may sound too good to be true it is actually possible. If you want to save yourself some money when it comes to actually getting that Rawlings official ball, there are also some tips you can take so that you can be a collector. And no, it does not involve catching any foul balls or home runs during the actual game. Theh possibilities of that happening are very slim, no matter who you are or where you’re sitting at.
Again, this involves coming to the ballpark when the gate opens, which is two hours before the actual game. As you get to the ballpark, you will see that the players are taking batting practice and this is the perfect time to get yourself one or a few official MLB baseballs for free. If you do things right, you will get more than one, almost guaranteed. Don’t forget to bring a glove because during batting practice the players WILL be hitting balls out of the ballpark and if you set yourself in the right place you should be able to catch at least one.
The home team always does batting practice first, so if this is at your local ballpark and you’re a fan of the team, try to talk to the players and nicely ask for a ball. Call them by first name, speak to them in Spanish (if they are Latin players), or if you know any fact about the player that most people would not know (only good things) talk to them about it, they will be happy to know that you actually know who they are and that you actually follow them.
One more thing, if the visiting team is batting, treat them nice, and they will most likely be willing to give you a real Rawlings MLB baseball as well. That may not be the only way to get a ball but it has a very good chance. If you want to know how to make a device in order to trap some of the balls that are left in the warning track during batting practice, then you might want to read this entry.
If you're not convinced you can get a ball at a game, you can buy official MLB baseballs online at a reduced rate (see below).
No Comments »
If you have ever attended batting practice at any Major League Baseball stadium, then you know that it can be a pretty fun experience. Now, if you are on the other side of that, then you should take one day to head early to the ballpark and enjoy the fun of seeing major league baseball players take their at bats before the game. Not only that, but you will most likely get a chance to mingle with some of the players, which in itself can be a pretty cool experience. If you have not done it before, I know it sounds a little crazy to come to the ballpark two hours before the actual game, but you won’t know what you are missing until you experience it.
I was one of those who thought it was a crazy idea to come to the ballpark early, and now, well I go to batting practice to almost every game that I attend. I have had the chance to speak to my favorite players, receive free baseballs, get autographs, and of course look at some amazing home run shots, not to mention catch a few. But if you want to make that experience even better and more fun, before you head to the ballpark give Zack Hample's trick a try. He's collected thousands of official MLB baseballs and writes about it in a blog on MLB.com. In this blog entry you will get the chance to learn how to make a ball-retrieving device with just using a glove, a sharpie, string, and a rubber band. Take your time to do a few practice grabs at home and then head over to the ballpark to try it out. You can end up going home with a few baseballs, you will find that people will try to trade you food, beer, and even money sometimes for the balls that you retrieve. It is a pretty fun experience.
One thing to remember though, be mindful of the fact that some ballparks don’t allow these devices and they may warn you to stop using the glove trick, if they do, simply put it away. Also, some players hate seeing these devices because they think it makes us fans look greedy which is understandable. So just have fun with it, don’t get greedy and give a ball or two to a child so that its obvious that your doing it all in the name of fun. If this turns out to be an experience that you love, don’t forget where you learned about it, signaturebaseballs.com.
1 Comment »
There may be a bunch of different reasons why people like to collect autographed baseballs.
Some may do it because it is their hobby, some because the balls actually hold some sentimental value, some because they want to make some money while doing the collecting, some want to just have their own piece of history in their hands, and some may do it for a mixture of these things. Whatever reason or reasons that you have for being an autographed baseball collector, it is hard to not think about how much each ball or collection of balls is worth in monetary value.
Although it is hard to say exactly how much a ball is or will be worth when it is autographed, there are some basic guidelines you can follow in order to figure out which balls will or are worth the most.
If the purpose for your autographed baseball collection is for monetary value and you want to collect autographs that are eventually worth a good amount of money, there are some tips you can follow to have the highest chance of getting these. If you follow baseball closely, this should not be too hard as you will know the top prospects out there and you can try to get an autograph from them,. These should have the highest chance of being worth a good amount of money in the future based on what will initially be a small investment of money--or even just time. Of course, nothing is guaranteed.
There is one thing you can do which will give you a very high chance of ending up with a valuable autograph. If you get a signed baseball by a star player from the New York Yankees, that baseball has a very high chance of eventually being worth some good money. You may be asking yourself, why are Yankees signed baseballs worth more than other players or teams? And the answer to the question is easy. The Yankees are the most popular baseball franchise out there and they have been known to have the most popular players. The fact that the Yankees are so popular and successful gives place for the concept of supply and demand.
There are always people looking to buy, trade, or sell autographed Yankees’ baseballs and if you happen to have that special ball that everybody wants, chances are that the people will be willing to pay a good price for your ball.
Autographed baseballs from Yankees World Series Championship teams are always extremely popular.
At signaturebaseballs.com we will give you great links to a good variety of Yankee autographed baseballs at a great value. Bargain hunt and you'll see your investment hold or increase its value over time.
No Comments »
You may realize how important it is to make sure that you buy nothing but authentic signed baseballs. In fact, that already may be the first thing on your mind. But, do you happen to know the ways you can make sure that your signed ball is authentic?
There are many companies and individual sellers out there who claim to authenticate signatures and many people that will sell you signed balls with pictures claiming that those pictures were taken at the time the baseballs were signed. But of course, who is to say that the seller is not making copies of that picture and giving them to each one of his customers?
There are solid, reputable companies who do have the resources to authenticate autographs from every era. They have thousands of exemplars, experienced staff and the tools necessary to offer a certificate of authenticity. Knowing who those companies are is key.
Major League Baseball has an authentication program in which they guarantee that certain items are genuine and signed by actual players. They provide the sales outlet for certain sports memorabilia companies who have contracts with star players who sign a specific number of autographs, often for a hefty price. Yet you don't have to pay MLB.com prices to get authentic signed sports memorabilia that's just as solid.
Some of the better names you should look for when shopping for signed baseballs are PSA/DNA, James Spence Authentication (JSA), Steiner Sports, Mounted Memories and Upper Deck Authenticated. If you see a ball that isn't authenticated by one of those companies, it's best to look at the seller's feedback and the circumstances surrounding how the ball was obtained. Some autograph authenticators, including PSA and JSA offer a quick opinion service, where they'll look at a signature online and give you a non-binding opinion as to whether it's likely the autograph is genuine or not.
In the end, if you do your research well, you should be pretty confident that your collection is airtight. If at some point you decide to sell, having reputable COAs will make it much easier.
No Comments »
|
Entries (RSS)