For a true baseball fan, there is nothing like a piece of game-used baseball equipment. More than a baseball card or other forms of printed memorabilia, a game-used item offers collectors a direct connection to a favorite player or that famous, one-for-the-ages game. Unlike the card, it was there.

Some objects are collectible categories in their own right, such as game-used gloves, bats, baseballs, and jerseys. But other game-used collectibles are more modest, such as a wrist band from the dugout, with the player’s number scrawled on it with a Sharpie, or a pair of batting gloves, with their residues of dirt, pine tar, and sweat. This stuff has seen serious action—it’s as close to being in the game as a fan can get.

There are several approaches to collecting game-used baseball equipment. You can focus on a team, trying to acquire items for each player in a starting lineup—the Florida Marlins...

Because game-used items are used, they will not be in pristine shape. In fact, signs of wear can be indications of authenticity. A game-used bat, for example, will often have rack marks on it, indicating the mild wear that comes with a bat’s storage. Cleat marks in a bat—caused when a player knocks a bat against his shoes to dislodge mud or dirt from between his cleats—are another potential sign that a bat’s claimed pedigree is credible.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

How To Build a Killer Baseball Collection: Scouting the Minors With Dave Bloomer

Like most people my age, when I was growing up, baseball memorabilia meant baseball cards. The great thing about baseball cards at… [more]

The Secrets of Collecting Baseball, From Cards to Signed Bats and Balls

I played baseball, basketball, and ran track from the time I was eight years old all the way through high school. Like the other k… [more]

Hitting a Home Run with Baseball Cards

I started collecting in 1986. If you’re in Boston and you’re a baseball fan, the Red Sox may take over your life. They take over y… [more]

Now Batting, National Baseball Hall of Fame Curator Tom Shieber

The Baseball Hall of Fame officially opened in 1939, so we’re coming up on our 70th anniversary. If you include baseball cards, we… [more]

19th-Century Tobacco Cards

Dave Campbell contacted me after reading a post on The Baseball Card blog. He's been collecting baseball cards non-stop since 1981… [more]

▼ Expand this section

Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Old Cardboard

Old Cardboard

Check out this well-organized collection of 500 sets of baseball cards, each over 50 years old. Browsable by type a… [read review or visit site]

The Baseball Card Blog

The Baseball Card Blog

Ben Henry's lively vintage baseball card blog, started in January 2006, offers hundreds of great posts on (and pict… [read review or visit site]

Cardboard Junkie

Cardboard Junkie

Dave Campbell's in-depth blog on old baseball (and some football) cards lives up to it's motto: 'do cards, not drug… [read review or visit site]

Baseball Cards 1887-1914

Baseball Cards 1887-1914

Roll up your socks for this Library of Congress collection showcasing hundreds of players on colorful early basebal… [read review or visit site]

Baseball Hall of Fame

Baseball Hall of Fame

A home run for baseball collectors, this site features special online exhibits, ranging from a baseball-uniforms da… [read review or visit site]



Other Great Reference Sites

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 102 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Albert Pujols '10 Game Used Autographed Bat Psa/dna Pujols Foundation Certified Andy Pettitte 2013 Game Used Jersey - Steiner Loa, Hologram, Mlb AuthenticRobinson Cano 2012 Game Used Jersey - Steiner Loa, Mlb Authenticity.Game Worn Used Signed Fregosi Angels 1971 Flannel Jersey Mcauliffe Nolan RyanGame Used Worn Johnny Briggs Philadelphia Phillies 1970 Wilson Jersey Set 2 RareShin-soo Choo 2013 Game Used Mother's Day Pink Bat Cincinnati Reds Mlb Coa 1/1Albert Pujols Game Used Baseball Bat Sam Wilson Sg1 2003 Psa Dna Grade 8 RareMontreal Expos Game Worn / Used Flannel Jersey # 26(2) New York Yankees Yankee Stadium Bleacher Seats Mlb.com SteinerDerek Jeter Autograph Framed Matted Baseball Bat New York Yankees Steiner RareRare 1/1 Autograph Baseball Bat-mickey Mantle, Kell, Kaline, Harwell, MoreAuthentic Vintage Wooden Wrigley Field Seat Chair Chicago Cubs Stadium SeatForbes Field Pirates Stadium Chair Seat 1960 World SeriesYasiel Puig Game Used BatChipper Jones Signed Game Used Batting Glove Atlanta Braves Psa/dna 2012 Rare!Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau Signed/inscribed 2007 Game Used Jersey W/mlb Auth1961-62 Dick Stuart Pittsburgh Pirates Game Used Louisville Slugger BatVtg 1936 Throwback Philadelphia Oakland A's Majestic Authentic Baseball JerseyDerek Jeter Game Used Batting Glove Autograph 3000th Hit Collage Steiner RareAndy Pettitte 2004 Astros Game Worn Home Red Jersey With Astros Coa Yankees1995 Home White Oakland A's Game Used Jersey Danny Tartabull W/ Team Coa Nice!Jeff Bagwell 1996 Gray Astros Autographed Game Worn Road Jersey With Loa2013 Ryan Hanigan Game Used Jersey Cincinnati Reds Mlb Authenticated San Francisco Giants Game Used 1973 Heavy Home Knit JerseyWill Clark Game Used Bat 34 1/2" Black Ls C271 Not CrackedJeff Karstens Game-used Jersey 2006 New York Yankees Steiner LoaGeorge Brett #5 K.c. Royals Mitchell & Ness Jersey Craig Biggio Early 1990s Batting Practice Worn Jersey With Astros Coa GamePhillies Rangers Astros Rockies 2011 Roy Oswalt Game Used Win Home JerseyHarrisburg Senators 15 Simons Game Used Jersey Rawlings Size 44 Road Expos Patch1995 Kevin Jordan Swb Red Barons #34 All Star Game Used JerseyBrian Mccann Signed Game Used Hat - Atlanta Braves - Psa/dna - Stars & StripesMike Trout Angels Signed Game Used 2010 Old Hickory BatCarlos Beltran 2004 Astros Game Worn White Home Jersey With Astros CoaMilwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun Game Used Bat On September 12-17, 2009 Pawtucket Red Sox #35 Game Used Jersey Wilson Size 46Andruw Jones Signed Game Uses Yankees Lot! Shirt,gloves,socks! Braves!japan! CoaRaul Valdes Game Used Signed Baseball Jersey #36 Dominicana 2011caribbean SeriesCalgary Cannons #27 Game Used Jersey Wilson Size 46 RoadAlbany Colonie Yankees Game Used Jersey #24 Wilson Size 44 Home PinstripeSteiner 2007 World Series Le Red Sox Game Used Signed Baseball Was $3,583!Charleston Riverdogs #22 Game Used Jersey Wilson Size 46 Home WhiteGiancarlo Stanton Miami Marlin Game Used Broken BatSwb Scranton Wilkes Barre Red Barons #16 Game Used Jersey Rawlings Size 44Swb Scranton Wilkes Barre Red Barons #5 Game Used Jersey Size 42 RawlingsCarlton Fisk Signed Psa Dna Loa T141 Team Issue 1986-89 Louisville Slugger BatGame Used Jersey Minnesota Twins Kirby Puckett Patch Chris Heintz Autograph 2012 Colt 45 Game Issued Houston Astros Tbtc Jersey -blank Back Not Used Sz 52Tim Federowicz Los Angeles Dodgers Game Worn 2013 St. Patrick's Day Jersey #18Carlos Beltran Game Used Bat,mets,giants ,cardinalsYasiel Puig Los Angeles Dodgers Game Used Mlb Authentic Baseball June 5, 2013Kirby Puckett Signed Mlb Minnesota Twins July 4th Game Used Ball Autograph RareNew York Mets Rookie Matt Harvey Game Used Pitched Ball 2010 Bowman Tom Saffell Pittsburgh Pirates Game Model Baseball Bat S2 35" Louisville SluggerTexas Rangers Rare Allstar Matt Harrison Game Used Throwback. Nr Mlb Hologram1978 Steve Henderson New York Mets Major League Baseball Team Game Used CapGary Lavelle San Francisco Giants Louisville Slugger B267 Pro Game Baseball Bat2003 Minnesota Twins Team Signed Bat 23 Auto's Morneau, Santana, Hunter, Radke Texas Rangers Alexi Ogando Rare 1986 Throwback Jersey. Mlb Hologram NrChris Davis Signed Game Used Max Bat Orioles Rangers