Speaking of the players not sweet spotting balls in person, it's not that they don't want to a lot of the time but it's because star players often have contracts where they can't sweet spot balls for free.
Hey hows it goin!? Was wanting to get tips on sending some baseballs to a few players since im in no position at the moment to meet in person. What would you do basically. Was wanting Shohei Ohtani, and Corbin Carroll. Any info would be appreciated
So I have a Aaron judge baseball where signature is showing bleeding. Several guys have told me it will turn into a blue blob eventually. Do you know this to be true? Is there any way to protect the ball from that happening? A few guys said you can use krylon sealer but I'm afraid lol
Great tips! I politely ask for sweet spot signatures at the ball-park and on most occasions, players kindly grant this request. If not, no harm, no foul. I also like to bring Ziploc sandwich bags with me, in order to store the baseballs until they can be transferred into the Ultra Pro Cubes you mentioned. As you stated, the journey into autograph collecting isn’t cheap and preservation is of the highest importance :)
Great video Jim, I had a baseball that I got at a Rangers game as a give away that Nolan Ryan signed when he was a player here and it is no longer on that ball, it faded right off that plastic ball, and yes they can mess up a baseball card.... I had a card signed by Gary Pettis and he deliberately turned my card up side down and signed it. He must have been in a bad mood that day.
Would any other ball be okay to get signed as long as it's made of genuine leather and not synthetic, or is the MLB ball truly your only real option for baseballs?
Awesome video ... Question, how do you know which pro athletes, from various Sports, will accept a mail-in for their signature ... In other words, how would I find out if they offer this service?
Another thing that surprised me about the video. The Rickey Henderson HOF ball. Id never want a logo ball like that signed on the sweet spot. Most every collector i know wants the auto under the HOF, Gold Glove, World Series or ASG logo. Thats the only time that collectors prefer a side panel autograph. Otherwise you never see the logo when its dispayed. Might as well save the extra few bucks and buy a normal ROMLB if you're going to sweet spot it.
One thing I love about about paid shows and players that charge a fee for ttm autographs, that gives you a chance to get the inscriptions you want and at shows, you are able to get selfies with players too.
What I do is go to NC State baseball game and get baseballs that are the acc ones and are nice and leather china but are got balls and they last if you get them with a blue ballpoint. On that I have some from like 4 years ago and still look good.
I have a baseball my great grandma left me.. i heard a story about her getting a home run baseball but idk if this is a real home run baseball but anyways it has all kinds of signatures from 50 years ago
Thank you Jim! Great video as always 👍🏼 I’d like to see a baseball showcase of your auto’d baseballs and then possibly a TTM video with where you get your cards from and addresses and then how/what you send 👍🏼 You the man!!
I started getting balls signed this last season in person at games, and got some nice players like Hunter Renfroe and Elvis Andrus. Anyways I got basically all my autos this year in sharpie, is that a bad thing?
Yes. I'm coming to you as an experienced collector. Baseballs signed in sharpie are not very valuable. I would recommend getting your baseballs signed in blue pen. I have a Ryne Sandberg auto in sharpie. It hasn't faded but I wish I would have gotten it in blue pen
I been buying the Tristar hidden Treasure Autograph baseballs. Every ball signed is on the sweet spot and in pen. Comes with with a PSA sticker on every ball. So far I pulled a Johnny Bench, Ozzie Smith, Goose Gossage, Al Kline X2, Biggio X2, Daryl Strawberry, The Dark Knight kid from the Mets and a bunch of HOF and current stars. 29 so far.
damn.Gaylord Perry and Ricky Henderson. nice to have. I see what ur saying. ive sent cards through the mail before. Mickey Owen signed a card for me in regular ink pen like ud write on paper with. lol so yeah u take ur chances
One thing id add to this to stay away from, and i see him doing it, is holding the ball with your fingers on the leather. The oils from your hands alone can start to tone the ball. If i have to handle the ball, I use gloves. If i dont have gloves handy, i try to hold them by the laces only. Also, if you are sending balls TTM you can always politely request the sweet spot and send the pen youd like them to use. Better chance of getting what you want. Personally, i dont send ROMLB through the mail unless i know the player will return it. (SCN is the way to go for return %) Even then, you're still going to strike out often. Too expensive to take a chance on never seeing the ball again. $15 ball, $15 in postage.
I use SCF too and you are right how even sending stuff to players with a high success rate, you still aren't going to be successful with every request you send out. I personally would only send out a baseball if it's a player that charges a fee and you know for sure how much they charge to sign baseballs. I only send out cards and they are usually ones that are worth $2 or less. Postage is only 0.55 each way for cards too.
yes, always use blue ballpoint on a baseball....i have an '87 royals team signed ball...some signed in black, and others in blue....the blacks are almost all faded away, and the blues look like they were signed yesterday.
Yeah very good tip the new major league baseball display cases they come with Are absolute garbage Get a very good UV protective case if the players worth it
who pays for baseballs, just go to minor league games or a teams Spring Training practice fields and you can get a shit ton for free, of course some balls aren't as good for a autograph but like I've never paid for a baseball for autographs in like 4 have a lot of autographs on balls And you said they can't mess up signing a baseball card they can, I've gotten an autograph from some minor league players who've signed the wrong card
Talks about collecting, ignores one of the first rules about handling baseballs and only touching it on the laces. Touching it on the leather can lead to spotting because of hand oils
Im assuming you mean you're getting a batting practice or game used ball signed that you got at the game. Problem there is those balls are dirty, and are rubbed down with mud before they are used. They also have oil from peoples hands and gloves. Not the best surface to hold ink. Id stay away from game used balls and buy a new rawlings official game ball.
