A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

[Swoboda4]

Collecting postseason baseballs are currently the thing among wealthy fans and some collectors. I'm guilty of going after one after collecting three from the regular season. I soon realized though that collecting more than a few will soon start you on the road to having a lot of baseballs that look basically alike.

[Juicyfruit66]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

I bought one from the first game I ever took my boy to, but other than that I'd rather spend the money on bats...not only do they look different , they actually belonged to the player

[Juicyfruit66]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

Pitch in the dirt

[metsbats]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

I am still going to argue that no two baseballs will look alike. The three balls in your photo Robert clearly prove this. And each one is significant due to what resulted after putting it in play.

[sctizzle]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

I agree that no 2 will look exactly the same and while they are close in resemblance the uniqueness of the specific play create a great keepsake. Mlb has done a very good job in the process and while mistakes happen, it is not often and usually it's something simple like a scoring change took place and the ball was mislabeled or a pitch in the dirt was labeled as a foul to the screen or vice versa.

I have a display case in my sons room that to me is very unique and might be one of a kind based on what I did. There were 15 games played the day he was born--I have one authenticated game used ball from each of those games as well as opening day, Mother's Day, all star, futures star, home run derby, post season and now World Series. To top it off, a family friend had a player sign a ball and date it the day he was born. I love the display and although it's just 21 baseballs that might look the same other than the ones with different logos, as David said, each one tells a story and they all tell the story of the day and year my son was born.

The casual fan at a game would much rather get a game used baseball than a jersey or bat. Baseballs are usually much more affordable and easier for someone to display. Obviously game used collectors would much rather bats, jerseys, etc. but being able to own something specific to a certain play at a game appeals to many more fans.

Scott

[Swoboda4]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

Scott, great idea and my son is the reason I pursued the Syndergaard game three ball. David I agree with your points. Maybe its too early to come to this conclusion but the hologram on baseballs has been around a number of years and I was heading to how little game used baseballs come up for everyday discussion prior to the postseason. They seem to be the item of choice of high bidding fans for the reasons you gave. But if you have a lot of G/U baseballs (think Ball Hawk in a tub full of them) unless you individually (or in Scott's case collectively for a great single reason) display a baseball (Im thinking of framing the WS game 3 ball w/ Syndergaard photo I took) you run the risk of having to get a magnifying glass to check the hologram number-like I had to do before putting the six photos together-and then saying, "Oh yea, this is the ball.....".

[coxfan]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

One advantage to balls over other game-used items is they take less space. My wife and I live in a condo that's greatly located: Right by a large university with a strong athletic program; three blocks from our State Capitol; walking distance from four museums, etc. But the condo's small, so space management is a big deal for us. Especially since we have over 1600 books, etc. Balls can be placed on the edge of bookshelves.

Plus, I don't mainly intend to display the balls, but rather to treat them as artifacts of significant events. I make out an index card on each ball, giving its aignificance (eg contributing to a division title, or helping to set a record). And I have a few from personal events, such as the birthdates of three of my grandsons. I don't have to look frequently at displayed balls to enjoy them, any more than I have to open books frequently to appreciate having rhem in my collection.

[helf35]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

I got into strike out baseballs for Chris Sale and any game he breaks a record or hits a milestone. It lets me still collect without breaking the bank. At his pace jerseys were getting to out of hand for me plus I just don't have the room. That being said I will always prefer bats.

[brianborsch]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

I def hear you on them looking similar but I agree that it is more meaningful to me to have the baseball as an artifact from a significant event. I like collecting the GU hit baseballs more than bats.

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

The downside to balls (for me) is they seem to get mold/dust easily. I might start string them in my wine chiller, just to normalize the humidity.

[Popinjaysnamesir]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

The bulk of my collection is baseballs. While collecting baseballs could result in a collection of identical items, it doesn't have to be that way. There are a number of commemorative baseballs used in games that help tell the story if the game.

My collection is focused on the different leagues that have existed which helps keep them from being identical.

I think I prefer the baseballs because they represent a "moment." The authentication helps identify specifically what the moment is.

Anyway, here's what I've put together. I don't have it displayed in a particularly cool manner.

http://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfOrganizedBaseballTheCollection

[johnsontravis@ymail.com]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

The problem with collecting baseballs is they just aren't very presentable. With a jersey it has the players name on it and a lot of times you can photo match it and get a picture to put next to it. Baseballs are just so small and plain. However, they are affordable compared to just about anything else so that is a plus.

For me I don't like to collect them. I have a couple meaningless ballsbecause they make a nice addition to other items. I also had a home run ball because I wanted one so badly for a while and I have another higher end ball because it goes with one of my other items so I couldn't pass up that opportunity.

For me my favorite balls would have to be ones that have something highly unusual(big scuff/dirt caked on) or a ball that goes with another item(most notably a bat).

[Swoboda4]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

You can make baseballs presentable. I made this cabinet after I saw a photo of Sparky Anderson sitting in front of a cabinet full of signed baseballs. I thought that was great looking, His was stainless steel (I think) and I wanted mine to be dark stained wood. So after a few trips to home Depot and wood staining in the garage I ended up with this. These are just official baseballs and a few from my kids little league. I think if you were to use game used balls and have that player associated with the play sign it will enhance the idea of an autographed baseball. Mind you an important and expensive ball I feel should never be signed as its value is decreased when something is done to it, like an expensive baseball card should never be signed. Now a cabinet full of blank game used balls needs explanation but a cabinet full of signed game used baseballs looks better.

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

Cool display. I'd worry about those "gold" base holders though. Some of them use screws (bolt + nut) to hold the base to the top, and that can actually rust.

[Swoboda4]

Re: A short history on why we don't prefer collecting baseballs

The gold based displays that are open face-forward are "snapped down" into place. The older equatorial "top half" open are the screw downs I think. But you're right about not having the ball come into contact with a screw; and since were dangerously close to a joke I'm changing topics. "Popinjaysthenamesir", the other type of game used baseballs I discovered last year are the ones stamped "practice". The one pictured I caught at Citi Field in 2014 during BP. It was hit by a Yankee and I caught it on the fly (Can I say I got a Yankee out?!), and found it was stamped "practice" on the sweet spot. I'm too old to be knocking kids down but Zack Hample will appreciate my strategy at catching BP baseballs: Get there early stay away from the front row where everyone is crushed side by side; stay in the row behind them free to move laterally. I seem to be slowly making a case FOR collecting baseballs but only the "common" game used BASEballs for autograph.