Preserving an auto on a ball

[matfanofold]

Even if that does work, doesn't that defeat the purpose of having a nice auto ball if you can't ever see it?

Absolutely, but I think we were talking preservation, not presentation.

 

[SINFULONE]

One of these is from 03 I think and the other is early 2007.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Sports Cards by Freedom Card Board.com

How does the Musial made in China ball look now?

 

[brian26]

I've never tried it, but I've heard rubbing a ball down with baby powder, wraping in that thin paper they come in, and keeping in a dry, dark, climate controled place will preserve an auto for a long time...

Of course, then, what fun is it to have an auto ball if you can't display it or look at it? Instead, it's locked away somewhere where light, air and temperature can't affect it. I rather just put the ball on a shelf in a cube. If it yellows a bit over 10 years, so be it.

 

[brian26]

I went to a signing a couple weeks ago, and sure enough some guy in line right behind me had those cheap crappy made in China balls to be signed.I wanted to tell him to take them back, but at that point it was too late.I guess you live and you learn.

I gave a guy in line for Pujols at winter warm up a 2006 WS Ball to get signed one time because he was going to get a china ball signed we traded and I drew a black sharpie mark through the sweet spot and gave it to a kid. That was a 175 dollar autograph.

Most people at signings are clueless. I see a lot of people waiting in line who has the OMLB in their hands while they wait, playing with the balls, rubbing them up with their sweaty hands. I usually keep the ball in the cube until it gets signed. Oils and sweat from your hands will destroy the ball.

 

[OscarOne]

I know that is not a popular idea, but I am tell you it works great when done right: Krylon spray. You can get it at any Walmart or hardware store. Set the ball down, lightly dust with spray, and let dry. Use the matte finish type...but there are four different variants that work well.

When you are done it does not leave a sheen or residue on the ball...and it will not yellow over time either. I have been doing this for years and I never have balls fade. Drop me a pm and I can send you a list of all the safe brands, and some better directions.

 

[craftysouthpaw]

Unfortunately, with the ROMLB's, it is just a roll of the dice and the factors that determine if you will end up with the spots like on the Martin ball are usually determined long before you buy the ball. They typically stem from something that happens during the manufacturing process - I think related to too much moisture left in the leather but I'm not positive about that. The ratio mentioned of one in ten ending up with issues down the road is probably about right - at least with the ROMLB's. The old AL and NL balls were even worse.

I will say it seems like UD balls have a worse track record than the balls I have but I have no basis to know if that is true or not or just some sort of confirmation bias on my part.

 

[SINFULONE]

Most people at signings are clueless. I see a lot of people waiting in line who has the OMLB in their hands while they wait, playing with the balls, rubbing them up with their sweaty hands. I usually keep the ball in the cube until it gets signed. Oils and sweat from your hands will destroy the ball.

I have seen that too at signings.I always wait until right before the signing table to take them out of the cube as well.

 

[SINFULONE]

Unfortunately, with the ROMLB's, it is just a roll of the dice and the factors that determine if you will end up with the spots like on the Martin ball are usually determined long before you buy the ball. They typically stem from something that happens during the manufacturing process - I think related to too much moisture left in the leather but I'm not positive about that. The ratio mentioned of one in ten ending up with issues down the road is probably about right - at least with the ROMLB's. The old AL and NL balls were even worse.

I will say it seems like UD balls have a worse track record than the balls I have but I have no basis to know if that is true or not or just some sort of confirmation bias on my part.

That is good to know for future reference.Next time I may just go with a signed photo or hat.Out of curiosity, aren't NFL footballs made of leather too?Signatures I've seen seem to hold up better on those.

 

[sportscardtheory]

 

[PujolsCollector]

That is good to know for future reference.Next time I may just go with a signed photo or hat.Out of curiosity, aren't NFL footballs made of leather too?Signatures I've seen seem to hold up better on those.

Yes. But its the same way use the real deal not those autograph panel balls because they are junk. NFL you can get a helmet signed by multiple people and wipe off the scrubs later if you want to sell it.

 

[VandyDan]

I've found genuine leather china balls, the blue ones, to be just fine. It's the synthetic ones with the black that is an issue. It is a touch more porous than OMLBs, but is still leather, and ive had good luck with them, as long as the play puts good pressure on the pen.

Interestingly, most official minor league balls are made in china.

 

[predatorkj]

I have seen that too at signings.I always wait until right before the signing table to take them out of the cube as well.

Yeah but what sucks is like at the winter caravan when you have three or four people you want on different balls. Luckily it's always in the winter so I am wearing a jacket with pockets. But yeah, keep them paws off that leather!

 

[predatorkj]

Yes. But its the same way use the real deal not those autograph panel balls because they are junk. NFL you can get a helmet signed by multiple people and wipe off the scrubs later if you want to sell it.

Those autograph panel footballs are awesome looking but from what I've seen, they are one of the worst possible things you can get signed. I've seen at least a100 of them over the last three years getting signed. And even though a person may already have multiple autos on it, and they are all already fading quite badly, they still continue to wait 6, 8, 12 hours in line to add another. It's insane , and I honestly feel horrible for them. All that time spent getting something that won't last. I mean he'll, none of this stuff may last. We don't know. But those white panels are guaranteed to fade. Paint seems to hold better on them, but even it seems to slowly fade.

I mentioned it to a few people but after them either not caring or not agreeing that they fade, I just keep my mouth shut and let them do their own thing. They may not fade in silver, though silver just doesn't pop enough on them.

 

[SINFULONE]

Yes. But its the same way use the real deal not those autograph panel balls because they are junk. NFL you can get a helmet signed by multiple people and wipe off the scrubs later if you want to sell it.

I agree, I have seen those autograph panel balls, and to me, they just aren't that attractive looking.I prefer the official NFL footballs as well.Ha, you wiped off scrub signatures off a helmet before?What did you use to clean them off?What does you Musial made in China ball look like now?

 

[SINFULONE]

I've found genuine leather china balls, the blue ones, to be just fine. It's the synthetic ones with the black that is an issue. It is a touch more porous than OMLBs, but is still leather, and ive had good luck with them, as long as the play puts good pressure on the pen.

Interestingly, most official minor league balls are made in china.

Have a scan of what yours look like?

Today I found all my signed ROMLB, and found 4 of them with the ugly spots on them.All of them were in UV cubes too.Has anyone ever tried to treat those spots with anything.I wonder if a touch of bleach on a Q tip would clear them up?

 

[SINFULONE]

Yeah but what sucks is like at the winter caravan when you have three or four people you want on different balls. Luckily it's always in the winter so I am wearing a jacket with pockets. But yeah, keep them paws off that leather!

I know what you mean.One year I had multiple baseballs to be signed by different players, and dropped one of the balls on the floor trying to juggle them all.I guess the key is finding a friend or family memeber with you to help carry some of them if possible.

 

[PujolsCollector]

Two of my Kurt Warner autoed football's. Pics make the panel ball look good but it looks like XXXX in person.
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[Keyser Soze]

Shellac?

 

[predatorkj]

I know what you mean.One year I had multiple baseballs to be signed by different players, and dropped one of the balls on the floor trying to juggle them all.I guess the key is finding a friend or family memeber with you to help carry some of them if possible.

I've also gone this route: get a plastic grocery bag, take all the balls out of the cubes maybe 15 minutes prior and then put them in the bag. Then put the cubes in another plastic grocery bag. Now when you get up there, put the bag with the cubes on the floor and slide it along with your foot. Take one ball out at a time and get it signed. Put it back in the bag facing the auto upwards. Repeat until they are all signed.

What gets to be a ****** is when you got cards and balls and a helmet. Depending on who is there, I may be getting them on different things or adding them to projects like my team helmet. That's when it gets hard.

 

[PujolsCollector]

I've also gone this route: get a plastic grocery bag, take all the balls out of the cubes maybe 15 minutes prior and then put them in the bag. Then put the cubes in another plastic grocery bag. Now when you get up there, put the bag with the cubes on the floor and slide it along with your foot. Take one ball out at a time and get it signed. Put it back in the bag facing the auto upwards. Repeat until they are all signed.

What gets to be a ****** is when you got cards and balls and a helmet. Depending on who is there, I may be getting them on different things or adding them to projects like my team helmet. That's when it gets hard.

Ziplock bags work well for this also. If you dont mind waiting a few seconds afterthe auto dries on the ball