What causes baseballs to turn yellow?
cubfan89
Posts: 632 ✭✭✭
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.
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mathew
drugs of choice
NHL hall of fame rookies
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!!
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.
1951 Topps Red backs psa 8 only!
1960 Golden Press Presidential set Psa 8 's - Psa 9's
1961 Golden Press psa 9's
1976 Topps baseball psa 9 Stars
1980 Kelloggs baseball Psa 9's - Psa 10's
1988-1989 Fleer Basketball psa 9's
1988-1989 Fleer Stickers psa 9's
1989-1990 Fleer Basketball psa 10's
1992 Coca-Cola Donruss Nolan Ryan 1-26 Psa 10 only Gpa 9.80++ E-mail Newyork00007@aol.com
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
Jeff
Miscut Museum
My Mess
<< <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.
That's what she said!
Cheers,
MrG
TGF Collection
TGF Sports
<< <i>mustard could also turn them yellow. >>
Agreed
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss
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:
<< <i>mustard could also turn them yellow. >>
Yup, someone peeing on them would also turn them yellow.
<< <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!
Donato
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