What causes baseballs to turn yellow?

cubfan89

I was just wondering if anyone knew what can turn perfectly white baseballs into a weird shade of yellow. I went up to my spare room in closet last night and pulled out the boxs from the closet that I haven't seen in ears. Many signed baseballs, Mantle, Williams and some team signed ones were either totally yellow or had yellow patches all over them. They are basically ruined and worthless now I guess. Over 50 signed baseball that I might as well donate to little leaguers for batting practice.

byronscott4ever

My understanding is oils from hands that have touched them. I have found the same thing unfortunately.

artistlost

Just send them to me then. I would love to own those baseballs yellow or brown...

mathew

waxpack

Could it be heat or moisture maybe. Smoke free home???

jeffcbay

Gees, I wouldn't call them worthless my any means. A sig is a sig! don't give them away man.

mccardguy1

If you are donating I will be willing to take them off your hands!!

As mentioned, the oils from the hands will turn baseballs yellow and thats why its always good to hold baseballs by the seems or of course put them in ball cubes. As to them being worthless.....umm...no. They still do have some good value but not as much as a pefectly white baseball would. Thats why white, single signed baseballs carry such a large premium.

If you want to give them away for batting practice...me and my son as well as his friends play homerun derby every year. We could use some new baseballs!!

yankeeno7

Im not exactly sure but I believe its the breakdown of oils in the leather. The breakdown is caused by sun or humidity.

This is the reason I sold all of my signed baseballs. Too difficult to keep over time and storage. I pretty much collect only signed cards and a few photos.

italianstallionyankees

Those things are as worthless as 1988 donruss cards. I am your man of disposing of those nasty things !

itzagoner

WORTHLESS W/O PICS! SHOW US YOUR BALLS!

cubfan89

Many of them were protected in cubes and were not handled since being signed. The only thing I can think of that someone said is humidity. They were in a closet for many years.

jeffcbay

got pics?

SDSportsFan

I have somewhere around 60 signed baseballs in ballcubes on shelves in my den. I just looked at them, and some are white, some are varying shades of brown, and others have brown splotches on them. All have been displayed the same way together, for 10-20 years.

The way I understand it, it just depends on the quality of the leather in each ball, and how they've been handled. Keep in mind that even if they've been stored in cubes or boxes for many years, they were still handled by human hands before you or I obtained them. They were also handled in the act of being signed. All of this has a cumulative effect over time.

All we can do is try to mitigate the effects.

Steve

billwaltonsbeard

Maybe Moises Alou was handling the balls in question

corvette1340

mustard could also turn them yellow.

Barfvader

I thought of another substance that could make them yellow.

ElToroLoco

<< <i> WORTHLESS W/O PICS! SHOW US YOUR BALLS! >>



Quote of the week! It sounds like it could be many factors that caused your baseballs to turn yellow. If they were stored in a closet,inside boxes, we know it's not light. If you dont smoke, you can rule that out. So the only two things is humidity or the people who previously handles them.

MrG

I had a great answer but I lost WiFi service on the train from Edinburgh to London!

That's what she said!

Cheers,
MrG

JHS5120

<< <i>mustard could also turn them yellow. >>



Agreed

Stone193

Can you tell me which 'era' ball they are? Where manufactured?

This comes up on forums from time to time and one explanation if applicable:

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.

mike

Here's an example of the 'toning' that can happen to a ball - it wasn't even handled much - not sure why this happened - it's not a Haiti ball:

ICE9

<< <i>mustard could also turn them yellow. >>



Yup, someone peeing on them would also turn them yellow.

RipublicaninMass

<< <i>I thought of another substance that could make them yellow. >>



oui oui mousier?



Yup, someone peeing on them would also turn them yellow

THAT could also cause water damage!

Goot

I had the same thing happen to some of mine the last time I went home and looked through them. I was a bit disappointed to say the least

divecchia

Even if they are yellowed or turned brown, they are not worthless. They may not be as valuable as a clean ball, but they have value nonetheless.

Donato

cubfan89

I want to thank everyone for replying. I think Stone193 said it best. The picture of his Griffey ball looks similar to some of mine. They are mainly baseballs from 1982-1996, some Bobby brown, a few W.white's. I can't load photos right now cause my camera broke on Christmas and need to buy a new one. I had no idea this happened to baseballs and it is disheartening to say the least. Does this mean if PSA grades a ball say Mint 9 and encases it, over time the "mint 9" ball could fade and get yellow patches on it? That would defenitly change the grade I'd say..