Posts Tagged “autographs”
A lot of us like to think that baseball players owe us something or that they should give autographs to us fans at every moment. After all if there were no fans there would be no baseball players, or at least they would not make the amounts of money they do. We are the ones that go to the games, buy clothes, buy food and drinks during the games, etc. But, just because we fans make the sport of pro baseball such a big money enterprise doesn't mean that they owe us anything. Spending our money and time on baseball is a personal choice. Yet it's important to respect players, managers and coaches when requesting their autographs.
We have to remember that baseball players are human just like us and we must treat them like we'd treat a friend or neighbor, even if we don't always get it back quite as fully. You cannot get mad and curse out a player for not signing your baseball, because you really don’t know the reason why they are denying you. Like I said, they are humans and they also have bad days, you never know what could be going on in their lives at that particular time when you ask for an autograph. They could be suffering from a loss in the family, have a physical ailment, be going through a divorce, or something even more simple like being in a hurry to go pick up their children at school. On the field, they have pre-game duties that must come first.
My advice to you is that you respect baseball players just like you would respect any other person you care about. Sometimes players notice the fact that you are respecting them, and seeing that, can get them to sign one of your baseballs. And, if that is not the case, if they do not sign your ball, just move on. The point is to keep the fun in collecting baseballs!
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Posted by: admin in Articles, tags: autographed baseball collection, autographs, baseball, Bengie Molina, collecting, Esmil Rogers, Giants, Kurt Suzuki, memorabilia, Pablo Sandoval
by Greg Johnson
As collectors, we usually become excited when we look at our collection and we remember the story that goes with each item. We usually have specific items that we are proud of, for different reasons. I always am interested in hearing what other people’s collections look like, even if their collection is barely getting started. If you are a new collector or a veteran you know what I am talking about. There is an excitement to hearing the stories about certain baseballs that that were added to your stash.
I must say that the first autographed baseball I ever received will never be forgotten, not only because it was my first, but because Bengie Molina picked me out when there were thousands of people in line. I also have a Tim Lincecum ball which I won’t forget because he was pretty humble about it and he hung up his phone just to come sign. Edgar Renteria reminds me of how many times it took me to get his autograph but also of how durable he has been, playing for many years and being the MVP for the 2010 World Series. My favorite player of all, Buster Posey signed a ball for me. I have been following him since he was drafted by the Giants, and I was lucky enough to get his autograph, another humble and nice person who deserves Rookie of the Year in my opinion.
Matt Cain is another nice person that I was able to get, and one of my favorite players out there. He took the time to sign after doing a bullpen session. Pablo Sandoval also signed one of my baseballs, and he also picked me out of a big crowd waiting for autographs. Although I must say, I was with my girlfriend and I think he signed it more for her than for me! Baseball players are known for stuff like that.
If it’s not obvious enough, I am a huge Giants fan and most of my autographed baseballs are from Giants players. I don’t limit myself to just Giants players, though, because I am just a big baseball fanatic. And, when the chance comes, I am always trying to get other players. I happen to have a Carlos Gonzalez signed ball. I really like this guy as a player and I think he will be a great player for years to come. He was nice enough to come all the way from right field, where he was shagging balls, and he signed for me when I was on the left field wall.
A guy you may have never heard about, but probably the nicest guy in baseball that I have met, Esmil Rogers a prospect from the Rockies organization. I can probably say that he is the one baseball player that I have held the longest conversation with; I was probably talking to him for a good 30 minutes. Finally, I also have a Kurt Suzuki signed bat. I am really proud of that piece of memorabilia. I always wanted a game-used bat and Kurt was nice enough to make it happen for me.
You have heard a little bit about my small, but yet memorable collection. I would like to hear your stories about you collection. Feel free to leave comments and share your stories with the rest of us.
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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.
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The easy part may be to know what type of pen to use when getting your baseball autographed, or how to properly store your autographed baseballs. But what about the hard part? How do you get a baseball player to actually sign a baseball for you? How do you set yourself apart from other fans in order to get the attention of your favorite baseball player that you admire?
Let's get some tips on how to increase your chances. If you are a beginning collector of autographed baseballs these tips will be very helpful, matter of fact, they might help the collector who already has some experience.
First, you should come to the ballpark two hours before the first pitch. The gates usually open two hours before the game begins and the players are usually on the field at that time. The best thing is that at that time, there are very few fans and thus your chances for an autograph increase by a lot. If you can find an area where other autograph collectors are congregating, join them. Or, look around the park for an area where there aren't any fans but players are hanging out such as the outfield.
Smile, be polite but proactive, and be creative if you must in attracting the attention of players. Those who willingly sign autographs know what you want, but it never hurts to bring a creative sign or a special item relating to that player's career. He'll appreciate your effort.
Second, figure out where the players parking lot is, and at about 30 minutes after the game, again, when the crowd is gone, try to see if you can catch any players leaving so you can get an autograph.
Third but not least, most teams hold signing events for fans so stay on the lookout for those so you can attend them. If I could recommend one event it would “Fan Fest,” which usually every team has and the events are made so that the fans can interact with players. If you arrive early, you will most likely get at least a few autographs. Be prepared for a long wait, however and some you'll have to pay for...especially if you're chasing superstars like Albert Pujols.
But if you want to save yourself some time or if you don't live near a big league city, you can always purchase a ball signed by your favorite player. After all, the balls that are sold in the links here at Signature Baseballs are just as authentic as the ones you would get in person. You'll build your collection quickly and without a lot of hassle.
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Legendary Auctions will conduct its next sports memorabilia sale in September.
Among the items up for bid will be a Hall of Famers Single Signed Baseballs Collection (56) Including Campanella, DiMaggio and Mantle autographed baseballs.
This collection of 56 single signed OAL, ONL, and OML balls each bears either a blue or black ballpoint autograph from a Hall of Fame inductee. The spheres are moderately toned to white examples, with the scriptings averaging “7-9”. Signed baseballs include: Aaron, Campanella, DiMaggio (“HOF 55”), Drysdale, Koufax, Mantle, and Musial. Minimum bid $1,500.
1934 Tour of Japan Vintage Signed Baseball (16 Signatures) Including Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx and Berg. The autographed baseball boasts sixteen black ink "Tour" signatures averaging about "5-8" in terms of strength and clarity. The ball's sweet spot is occupied by Babe Ruth ("6"). On other panels are Cascarella (Joe), Frank O'Doul ("7"), Lou Gehrig ("7-8"), Whitehill (Earl), Connie Mack ("7"), Moe Berg ("7"), Rabbit Warstler, Doc Ebling (trainer), John Quinn (umpire), Clint Brown, Eric McNair, Frankie Hayes, Jimmie Foxx ("8"), Lefty Gomez and Earl Averill. Minimum bid $1,000.
1914 New York Giants Team Signed Ball (10 Signatures) Including Mathewson, McGraw and Thorpe. Signature highlights on this unofficial “National League” ball include Christy Mathewson, John McGraw, Jim Thorpe and Chief Myers (signed “J.T. Myers”). All have significant fading, with Mathewson rating “2-3” strength, Myers projecting “2”, and McGraw and Thorpe assessing “1-2”. Most of the other names have faded into obscurity. Finding Mathewson's signature on a team ball—let alone acquiring the ball—can constitute a lifelong quest for the most ardent collector. Minimum bid $1,000.
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Most collectors prefer their autographed baseballs in three forms:
- Single-signed baseball
- Team-signed baseball
- "Theme" baseball
The single signed baseball is popular with collectors for its simplicity. The player signs his name on the 'sweet spot', the narrow area between the seams. They're easy to display, clean and neat with one singular focus. Many collect autographed balls from Baseball Hall of Famers in this fashion.
The team-signed baseball is a bit more complicated, but somewhat of a rare treasure, especially if you're looking at one from decades ago. Team balls are those signed by all members of a certain team. Collectors of Yankees memorabilia, then, would gravitate toward a certain memorable edition of that club, likely a World Series winner. World Series championship team-signed balls are among the most valuable in the hobby. Others favor All-Star team balls or just collect signed balls from every year of their favorite team. With team-signed baseballs, one must guard against "clubhouse" signatures. Many times, baseballs would get passed around the lockerroom and the more famous athletes would have a clubhouse attendant or batboy sign their name to the ball because of the tedium involved for a popular player. It sounds disappointing and it is-but it's also reality. Fifty years ago, autographs really didn't have much monetary value and players who were asked to sign hundreds per day just simply didn't want to be bothered. Good autograph authenticators can tell the difference. PSA/DNA or James Spence Authentications are two good authenticators, but there are others.
Theme balls are fun. Autographed baseballs can be created by picking a certain milestone or other theme and adding signatures to it when possible. You can try to collect a baseball signed by pitchers who have won 300 games, pitched no-hitters or perfect games or won Cy Young Awards. You can chase 500-home run club members, MVPs, batting champions or Rookies of the Year. Obviously, if your theme includes a deceased player, you'll have to find a single-signed ball from that player and then add the living players to it. You could start with a modified theme, however. Something like "Perfect Game pitchers from the 1980s through today" would probably work.
It's good practice to check out authentic autographed baseballs on eBay to see what's availalable and get ideas for building your collection.
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The sports memorabilia market has its share of fakes but these days it's actually much safer to buy a signed baseball than ever before and know with some certainty that it's real.
The internet has created the opportunity for non-genuine signatures to thrive in the marketplace, but it's also afforded buyers with a remarkable number of tools to help ensure authenticity.
Purchasing autographs on eBay can be a good experience despite those who will try to scare you into not buying. You do need to know how to shop for a ball or other autograph however. Older baseballs that haven't been authenticated can be real, but you will want to do plenty of research and perhaps employ the services of PSA/DNA's 'quick opinion' service before making a commitment to bid. For a minimal fee, the company's experts will examine the signed ball on eBay and render an opinion on whether it's likely genuine or likely non-genuine. This way, you're getting a level of safety.
If you're in the market for a vintage signed ball, be aware that most dealers won't sell autographed items that haven't been authenticated by some of the more highly regarded names in the industry. EBay only allows a certain number of autograph authentication services to be included among its listings. PSA/DNA and James Spence Authentication are two of the better services. If you're buying with their approval, there is no absolute guarantee the autograph is real, but there is a pretty good likelihood. The more reputable companies have an extensive database from which to compare and contrast submissions with those already known to be real. A full authentication letter or opinion should give the buyer a feeling of some comfort.
Of course, some autographed balls aren't worth enough to have someone authenticate them. In that case, check the seller's feedback and see what the provenance of the ball may be. Chances are, the seller isn't selling bogus items if he's not selling items priced at a level that would be worth it to him. Do your homework and see if you can find online examples of the same ball that are real.
Beware of the hot players whose autographs show up on eBay at low prices. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Better to commit to a higher price with authentication that to try and find a bargain.
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Shop for autographs on eBay
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So how do keep your hand-signed baseball in good shape? It does require some care and maybe a small investment on your part.
Let's start with the autograph itself. It's best to have your baseball signed with a ball-point pen, preferably blue on color. While Sharpie markers may be popular with collectors of 8x10 autographs, equipment, jerseys or other items, the Sharpie ink will often absorb into the baseball, damaging the quality of the signature over time. It's a good idea to buy a regulation National or American League baseball than a cheaper, generic ball from a discount store. Official NL and AL baseballs can be found at better sporting goods stores or on eBay. The quality of the baseball will help preserve the quality of the signature.
Be sure your hands are clean when getting the autograph or handling it. It sounds simple enough and some dirt can be gently removed, but it's best not to have to worry about it.
Once you have the ball, buying a display case is a small investment that will protect your ball as long as you own it. There are several different varities; square two-piece acrylic holders and round holders with a plastic or wooden base are two of the most popular. You can usually find them for under $10. Make sure it's a U/V protective case-at least 50%. It also helps prevent the handling of the baseball by you or your visitors which can damage it. It's also a good idea to avoid fluorescent lighting.
If your signatures have already faded or you have a very old baseball with faded signatures, never retrace them to make them stand out. Even a ball with fading signatures will be worth more than one that's been traced.
It's also a good idea to keep your hand-signed baseballs in a temperature-controlled environment. You don't have to invest in an elaborate set-up; just keep it in a room where the temperature remains under 75 degrees most of the time, with lower humidity.
You can see some high quality, authenticated autographed baseballs on eBay
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Over sixty years have passed since Babe Ruth signed his last autograph. A generation has grown up, worked and retired since the Babe died of cancer in 1947. His impact on American sports remains huge and the interest in Ruth memorabilia-like the Babe himself-is larger than life.
Babe Ruth autographed baseballs are still the most coveted by collectors and fans despite the fact that the Bambino likely signed hundreds of thousands of autographs over a 40 year-period. He was besieged everywhere he went and more often than not, he complied.
Ruth was really the first baseball player to be popular enough to have been afforded star treatment by those who wanted a lasting memory in the form of an autograph.
The highest price paid for a Ruth autographed ball was achieved in 2005 when one changed hands privately for $150,000, a tribute to the uncommonly high quality of the baseball and the signature. The ball was graded 9.5 by PSA/DNA
A PSA 8-graded Babe Ruth autographed baseball, preserved in the original box by a retired dentist who received it as a teenage ballplayer in the 1940s, established a new high for the grade when it sold for $81,075 in 2007.
If you're lucky enough to own one, however, don't expect to get that much for it, should you choose to sell. Likewise, don't expect to have to pay that much for one if you'd like to add this 'holy grail' of baseball autographs to your collection. Most Ruth signed balls do show signs of age. A slightly faded signature, a ball that's been treated with shellack or tossed around in the yard by some 1930s kid or one that contains other autographs is worth much less. The best Babe Ruth autographed ball to get is a single-signed version that's been authenticated by one of the more reputable companies in the industry. You'll pay a little more, but it's worth the investment. And yes, Ruth signed balls can be considered an investment. They're not going down in value anytime soon.
The best advice for anyone seeking out a Ruth autograph? Buy the best you can afford. It'll give you more enjoyment and it will be easier to sell for a profit if you choose to do so at a later date.
Keep in mind there are a lot of authentic Babe Ruth autographed baseballs floating around and patience combined with a discerning eye can be the key to owning a ball you'll be proud to show off without having spent too much.
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