Short of that rosy scenario, one of the best ways to get an autographed baseball that you know to be the real deal (fakes abound) is to attend a baseball memorabilia show attended by players, who will autograph baseballs for a fee—the more legendary or popular the player, the higher the fee. It may seem like a lot of trouble, and you won’t get much more than a nod and a smile from the player since they are often contracted to sign a minimum number of items in a given period of time, but at least you will know the signature on your signed baseball is genuine.

One of the most forged autographs is that of Mickey Mantle. By some estimates, at any given moment as many as 85% of all autographed Mickey Mantle baseballs and other memorabilia being sold online could be forgeries, even ones with Letters or Certificates of Authenticity (LOAs and COAs). In all cases, it’s best to buy from reputable dealers who offer lifetime guarantees if there is ever a question about authenticity.

The placement of an autograph on a baseball is also important. The preferred location is the ball’s sweet spot, which is the narrowest band between the ball’s seams. There is more room for signatures on other parts of a ball, but an autograph on the sweet spot will display better, which is why it is most desired by collectors.

About our sources | Got something to add?