Amazon Buying Guide for Autographed Baseballs: Previously, autographed baseballs were only obtained when you got lucky enough to get it in person from your favorite players. But with increasing security over the years, that opportunity is out of your hands. However, there are multiple sources from where you can purchase autographed baseballs. You just have to look out for few factors so that you don’t fall victim to the fake ones. To guide you through the process, we have curated important tips that you must keep in mind when you buy autographed baseballs.
Look Out for the Baseball Quality
Baseballs from the National or American League should hold more value in comparison to any other low-quality balls. Therefore, when you are purchasing an autographed baseball you should check for that because those are the balls that have been used in games and automatically they are more desirable to collectors.
Focus on the Autograph Placement
Autograph placement in baseball is more crucial than you think. Players usually have a “sweet spot” on the baseball where they place their signature. That’s the most preferable placement for collectors when they are looking for autographed baseballs.
If the autograph is placed on the side, the value is diminished and it is less aesthetically pleasing as well. Therefore, when you are searching for autographed baseballs, make sure that the placement is appealing too.
Do a Market Research
Before purchasing an autographed baseball, research the market to find out the exact value of the item. It’s crucial to compare multiple sources with similar items to ensure that you don’t pay more for the chosen autographed baseball. You can check out the website PSA Card to see the list of autographed baseballs for you to scheme through.
Only Purchase from Certified Companies
You must purchase an autographed baseball from certified companies such as PSA Card or JSA. A certificate of authentication should be provided by a reputable third party. Multiple small-scale companies sell autographed items as well but you should refrain from falling into that trap because their certification does not hold any weight.
Do Not Fall for Sales
If there’s a sale on an autographed baseball, 90 percent of the time you can consider it to be fake. This is another way to distinguish between authentic and fraudulent pieces. If an item is hand-signed by a player, there’s hardly any chance for it to lose its value in terms of price to end up having a huge discount. Of course, the quality of the baseball matters but even then the value of the item itself shouldn’t diminish as long as the player is popular, it is game-used, and it has been signed during successful seasons.
Choose Dealers Who Offer Return Policy
When purchasing autographed baseballs online, make sure that the company that’s selling you the item offers a return policy. So, if you’re not satisfied with the item, you can return it to them for a full refund. This is why understanding the clause of guarantees and warranties is important here.
Also Read: Buying Guide for Babe Ruth Autograph
Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price | Buy Now |
---|---|---|---|---|
Will Clark “89 NLCS MVP” Autographed Baseball | Authenticated through Major League Baseball with a numbered hologram 100 percent authenticity guaranteed Revenue from the sale provides payout opportunity to former players | $$$ | ||
Fernando Tatis Jr Autographed Baseball | Certified by James Spence Authentication Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity along with a JSA sticker It’s a Rawlings Official Game Ball Major League Baseball | $$$ | ||
Fernando Tatis Jr Autographed Baseball | Certified by Steiner Sports Both grading and authentication provided by the reputable Steiner Sports as well The company also creates frames for your favorite players if that’s what you prefer | $$$ | ||
Cal Ripken Jr Signed Baseball | Certified from James Spence Authentication Backed up by authentication from Denver Autographs Includes an inscription that says “2131 & 2632 Consecutive Games” | $$$ | ||
George Springer Autograph Baseball | Certified by Tristar Authentic Obtained from the MLB World Series Comes with a hologram to verify in the Tristar website | $$$ |
1. Will Clark “89 NLCS MVP” Autographed Baseball (B00H7HY4Y2)
Product Description: This is a baseball signed by the former baseman, Will Clark. Throughout his career, he played for Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, St. Loius Cardinals, and San Francisco Giants. If you are a fan of any of these teams, you must look into getting this autographed baseball.
Key Features
Also Read: Becoming a Sports Agent: What Should I Do?
5. George Springer Autograph Baseball (B07FM1LV2Q)
Product Description: Here’s a signed baseball from George Springer, a professional baseball player from the Houston Astros of MLB. Since he’s comparatively new in the game as opposed to the other players featured in this article, it might be cool to add his autographed baseball to your collection especially if you are a Houston Astros fan.
Key Features
Conclusion
The factors mentioned in this article should help you to distinguish between the original and the fake ones. Therefore, make sure to do your research before buying an autographed baseballs or read this guide again for clarification. If you can’t find any with your favourite player’s autograph on it, keep looking. This is because at the end of the day you should have one in your collection that you actually love, and not just the one to display as a possession!