Sign(ings) of the Times
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum collected its first artifact in 1937, which was the Doubleday Baseball. At that time, the Museum’s charge was to “establish, equip, maintain and operate a repository to collect, classify, preserve and protect records relics, articles and other things of historic interest connected with or pertaining to the origin, development and growth of baseball.”
This charge continues today, particularly in the acquisition of baseballs.
The Doubleday Baseball began the long standing tradition of collecting baseballs at the Museum. Today, the Hall’s permanent collection contains more than 7,000 baseballs that are either single signed, team signed or unsigned but represent various leagues that are no longer in existence. All baseballs acquired by the Museum are donated and the majority of them represent record setting events such as no-hitters, first pitches at new stadiums or All-Star and World Series games.
Other baseballs represent the Negro Leagues, Women’s League, Minor Leagues, Little League and any aspect of baseball that will tell a compelling historical story in the museum’s exhibition program. The collection also contains single signed baseballs from the majority of those Major League players elected to the Hall of Fame. These particular baseballs are utilized in print and video shoots as well as for research purposes.
The Hall stores the baseball collection in acid-free boxes in a consistent temperature and humidity away from any source of light in an environmentally controlled storage area. Constantly fluctuating temperature and humidity and any type of light will damage a signature over time and render the autograph almost invisible. Attics and basements are not ideal storage areas for any type of material unless the room is climate-controlled. It’s all about the environmental conditions in your storage area. Leather is an organic material that needs to “breathe” so special conditions need to be maintained for proper storage.
Regarding baseballs, the most frequently asked question is “how do I keep my autographs on baseballs from fading?” This is a big dilemma for anyone who has an autographed baseball collection. The answer to this question is that you can’t prevent the fading process but you can slow it down.
It is important to remember that the minute the pen tip touches the leather of a baseball, the breakdown process of the signature begins to occur. The ink settles into the leather and begins to disperse on contact so the pen you use, the container that you utilize to store the ball and the environmental conditions where the ball is stored are all important. The adhesives used in the core of the baseball will also break down so it is vital that collectors care for their objects, especially if they wish to pass them along to future generations of their family or if they acquired the baseball as an investment piece.
Acid-free pens are the best writing implement to use for autographs. They can be purchased at any art supply store, as artists use these types of pens for sketching and drawing. Acid-free boxes should be used to store your autographed baseballs, so that they are out of the light, away from dust and in a breathable container. There are a number of sources to acquire acid-free boxes and pens and an internet search of “archival supplies’ will provide some guidance.
Specific containers are made for a variety of baseball memorabilia, including archival material such as tickets, photographs, programs, magazines, cards and films and video and audio tapes, along with three-dimensional material such as bats, caps, baseballs, gloves, uniforms, spikes and buttons and pins. Custom-sized boxes can also be produced to meet your specific needs, particularly for larger items such as trophies.
Collectors of autographed baseballs often wish to display their pieces on mantles or near windows in living rooms, dens, offices or special memorabilia rooms. The challenge that the collectors face is that, although the baseballs are readily accessible for visitors to see, the risk of having these collectibles damaged by light and improper conditions is very high. Most living spaces do not have state-of-the-art HVAC systems that can control and maintain very specific conditions on a 24-7 schedule for 365 days a year. The best advice is to store these pieces out of the light until they need to be viewed and then return them to their dark and environmentally controlled long-term storage area. If a baseball must be handled, use white cotton gloves, as the oils in our fingers will leave a residue on the surface.
Owning baseball memorabilia is an enjoyable hobby that comes with responsibility. The present and future condition of these pieces rests with those who presently maintain the handling and storage. Decisions made today will impact the condition of the piece down the road. Every collector needs to consider the long-term ramifications regarding the future condition of their prized possessions.
Enjoy your memorabilia in moderation! Treat these pieces with respect and they will continue to educate future generations about the joys of collecting and the beauty of our National Pastime.
Sue Mackay is the director of collections at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Preserve and Protect
Tips for maintaining your autographed baseballs
- • Provide an acid-free pen when requesting an autograph.
- • Place the autographed piece in an acid-free container.
- • Place the acid-free container in an environmentally controlled space.
- • Keep the autographed piece away from any source of light.
- • Assess condition periodically. Know your humidity, temperature and light levels.
- • If you must handle the piece, wear white cotton gloves and handle carefully.
