proper way to store & protect autographed baseballs?

DaBigHurt

I've seen people put their baseballs in ballqubes, but always wondered if that was enough protection. I want to prevent the baseballs from yellowing and I doubt ballqubes are airtight. I've seen others wrap their baseballs in a clear plastic as well. I don't plan on displaying the baseballs, but want to keep the signatures fresh and keep the ball from spotting/yellowing.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

RipublicaninMass

Are you crazy??? Send the balls to PSA for encapsulation. Nobody can beat the timeliness, quality, resell value,or authenticity the PSA/DNA can provide. Thank god we have the moder marvals of plastic, and companies like PSA to help us with our storage of soon-to-be just about anything! This is just another reason to send everything feasibly possible to PSA!!

Knuckles

DaBigHurt:

My Mickey Mantle ball has seen the light of day every day since 1995 and it's still snow white. Just be sure to display them in a spot where direct sunlight can't reach them.

Stone193

Most will say, the best way to preserve an baseball is to keep in the dark, dry place. But what good is that?
I agree with Knucks - keep the ball out of direct sun and fluorescent light - in a glass cube, I believe is better since it blocks out the UV spectrum.

Do not handle the ball with your bare hands as much as possible - oils from skin will darken the ball.

There is a year grouping of balls that have been yellowing no matter what - the theory has to do with the tanning process.

Good luck
mike

RedHeart54

<< <i>There is a year grouping of balls that have been yellowing no matter what - the theory has to do with the tanning process. >>



This is from PSA's site:

A Note about Haiti Baseballs - Bobby Brown AL - 1984-1990
There are several ways a collector can protect his autographed ball collection and several ways a ball can deteriorate if not protected properly. There is one note about 1984-1990 Bobby Brown American League baseballs that needs to be explained. The baseballs with "Haiti" placed under the Rawlings logo stamp were made without the use of distilled water, thus, allowing for enzymes to potentially turn the color of the ball over time. You will usually notice yellow/brown soiling on these baseballs due to the flaw in production. While this may not affect every baseball produced with this stamping, it is a key to note.

pandrews

<< <i>Are you crazy??? Send the balls to PSA for encapsulation. Nobody can beat the timeliness, quality, resell value,or authenticity the PSA/DNA can provide. Thank god we have the moder marvals of plastic, and companies like PSA to help us with our storage of soon-to-be just about anything! This is just another reason to send everything feasibly possible to PSA!! >>



yep.. what Ripublican said..

tkd7

<< <i>

<< <i>Are you crazy??? Send the balls to PSA for encapsulation. Nobody can beat the timeliness, quality, resell value,or authenticity the PSA/DNA can provide. Thank god we have the moder marvals of plastic, and companies like PSA to help us with our storage of soon-to-be just about anything! This is just another reason to send everything feasibly possible to PSA!! >>



yep.. what Ripublican said.. >>



On a similar note, I've seen comic books that are professionally graded. Are they encapsulated so all you are doing is collecting books you can't open? Seems crazy.

I'm surprised PSA hasn't gotten to grading programs and yearbooks.

Stone193

On the grading of publications that are holdered:

I was reading where a lot of people who buy "high end" pubs - like Superman comics in high grade - have no interest in opening/handling them - so to holder them and just view the cover is OK - what they do is buy a way lesser grade to open and view the individual pages.

mike