Josh Hamilton's 2nd home run ball from 4 home run game on 5/8/2012

[schubert1970]

Good job brother!! Did u get it all auto'd at a signing?? Unreal story with a great ending. I got some Hamilton stuff I'm moving when I get home so you better buy up some on it. hahaha

All in one sitting. Don't know if I'll be able to buy any of your items since the wallet is running light. Just picked up a game used base from the game too. Hope to get Josh to inscribe it too.

[schubert1970]

Got my game used base in the mail today. This was 2nd base used from the 4th inning thru the 9th inning during his 4 home run game.

I've never bought a base before, but since this was also used to set the ALtotal bases record I thought it had some significance.

When I have Josh sign and inscribe this, should I wash off some of the dirt,or can it still be autographed???? Any ideas would be appreciated.

[gnishiyama]

Got my game used base in the mail today. This was 2nd base used from the 4th inning thru the 9th inning during his 4 home run game.

I've never bought a base before, but since this was also used to set the ALtotal bases record I thought it had some significance.

When I have Josh sign and inscribe this, should I wash off some of the dirt,or can it still be autographed???? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Looks like it fits your stool perfectly! Why don't you get it covered up
professionally and use it as your stool!

All jokes aside I would never wash off the dirt. Autos on bases
never come out great no matter what. To me the signature adds value
and the "wow" factor but truthfully it really doesn't do much aesthetically.
Get it signed nice and big, centered somewhere above the middle logo
area.

[emann]

When I have Josh sign and inscribe this, should I wash off some of the dirt,or can it still be autographed???? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Nice base. Honestly, almost all the auto'd bases I've seen in person look bad. The bumpy surface tends to make most player's writing sloppy. If he's got a small, tight signature or handwriting it will look even worse.

I would consider having him sign one of the side jewels as opposed to the top. You could get a full inscription on there in an opaque ink (like a paint pen), something that covers the logo/etc and still be able to display to show the auto (like flat on a desk or table). Or even have him auto the side, less dirt and if he screws it up or you hate it, it won't ruin the base for you.

I'd also suggest not cleaning dirt off, no matter how well you do it, it will probably look unnatural.

I own a couple milestone bases also and did alot of looking into getting specific base signed. In the end I decided that this player's handwriting (and examples of his signed bases I'd seen) would have a pretty high chance of turning out bad, so I kept it unsigned with a photo from the game next to it (which I will probably have him sign at some point).

[schubert1970]

What about having him sign underneath the base? It's a smooth surface and cleaning it would be easy without effecting the looks of it. This was done before the placement of the hologram on the corner.

[cliffjmp33]

Thinking outside the box on the base, but would it be worth finding a photo (either Getty/AP or MLBTV screengrab) from when he is rounding/touching the bag and have Josh sign that?

Just a different idea, feel free to tell me it's a dumb one!

[schubert1970]

Thinking outside the box on the base, but would it be worth finding a photo (either Getty/AP or MLBTV screengrab) from when he is rounding/touching the bag and have Josh sign that?

Just a different idea, feel free to tell me it's a dumb one!

Good idea, I'll see what I can find.

[jshortt]

From personal experience, Hambone knows how to sign a base. I have one from his mlb debut and he knocked it out of the park. Be sure to get a "King Size" black Sharpie (the kind With the grey/silver/chrome, metal barrel) and send that with the base. It has a giant, thick chisel point and for whatever reason, just works on bases. Nice and bold. You won't be disappointed.

-J