Autographed Baseball Preservation

Getting a baseball autographed is a lot different than having a piece of paper, photo or baseball card signed and that’s why autographed baseball preservation is key to keeping your item as nice as the day you received it.

The first thing to keep in mind is that while Sharpie markers have become popular for signing, don’t use one if you’re getting a baseball signed. Baseballs signed with a nice ballpoint pen have proven to hold up best over time. Because of its nature as a marker, the Sharpie signed ball will often fade or “melt” over time, leaving your autograph with shadows and an unsightly appearance that will greatly impact the value.

Important step number two when preserving autographed baseballs is one that’s often overlooked: avoid a lot of handling of the baseball with your bare hands, especially if they’re not clean. Even clean hands, though, contain oil from your skin that can fade the signature over time if you take it out and juggle it or carry it around

If you’ve got a signed baseball that’s faded, is it OK to trace over the autograph? NO! Never re-trace an autograph. It’s especially important with older baseballs, because one with signatures that have faded or aren’t as sharp as they once were, is still worth more than one that has been traced over. Most grading companies will reject any baseballs that have been tampered with.

Keep your autographed baseballs in protective display cases and don’t allow direct sunlight to hit them. UV rays will yellow the ball and cause major damage over a long period of time. A little natural light in the room is fine, but don’t let them get a tan.

The best temperature to store them in is 65 to 70 degrees with humidity of about 50%. Of course, some of our homes will be slightly warmer, but it’s best not to keep them in a very warm, humid room.

Follow these steps for autographed baseball preservation and your collection will maintain its value and its appearance for many years.