You’re at a major league baseball game, hunkered down in the cheap seats out in left field. It’s late in the game, and the batter is making his third trip to the plate. He’s hit deep to left in his first two at bats, each time driving the fielder almost to the warning track. Here’s another windup, another pitch, another swing, and another crack!

As it did in previous innings, the ball heads your way, but this time it does not appear to move at all. It seems stationary, just getting bigger and bigger, until you realize that it’s heading straight for you. You’ve brought your glove, which you haven’t done in years, and before you know it, your instincts from little league have kicked in, there’s a ball in your mitt, your hand is stinging like crazy, and everyone in the bleachers is suddenly your best friend.

Because you have defied the odds by actually catching a home-run ball at a professional baseball game, you owe it to yourself to stick around a bit longer and wait at the clubhou...

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?

▼ 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: Baseball

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 113 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Yankees Alex Rodriguez Signed Authentic Oml Baseball Autographed Psa/dnaAutographed Signed Baseball Roger Maris Mickey Mantle Ny Yankees 1976 Jsa Loa BbHuge Signed Baseball Card Collection 4,650+ Hofs Stars 1950-2012 A&g HeritageHof Multi Signed 500 Hr Home Run Club Baseball Mickey Mantle Ted Williams PsaMickey Mantle Signed/inscribed Oal Baseball Psa/dna 8 Upper Deck AutographMickey Mantle-roger Maris-warren Spahn-ernie Banks Signed Oal Baseball Psa/dnaMickey Mantle Signed 1951 Baseball 16 Others Rookie Yankees Red Sox Jsa Hofers1971 A.l. All-stars Thurman Munson-billy Martin-yastrzemski Signed Baseball JsaRoger Maris Autographed BaseballMickey Mantle Psa/dna Signed / Autographed Baseball Auto Autograph Mickey Mantle Uda Autographed Baseball Mickey Mantle Signed And Mounted Autographed No.7 Baseball Ball Jsa Loa # X78142Ny Yankees Derek Jeter Game Used Worn 2012 Baseball Jersey Signed Steiner LoaMickey Mantle / Bob Gibson / Lonborg Psa/dna Signed / Autographed Baseball Auto Complete Baseball Collection For Sale Mantle /ruth 9 Team Signed Bats Joe Dimaggio Signed/inscribed Oal Baseball Psa/dna 6.5 Auto Autograph500 Homerun Club Signed Baseball W Mantle/ Ted Williams/ Aaron/ Mays Autograph +Jsa Certified1969 Ny Yankee Team Signed Ball (thurman Munson)Mickey Mantle Autographed Signed, Ted Williams ,frank Robinson ,yastrzemski BallMickey Mantle New York Yankees Autographed Official Rawlings A/l BaseballMickey Mantle Autographed BaseballMickey Mantle #7 Uda Upper Deck Authenticated Autographed Ball With BagMickey Mantle Signed Autographed BaseballMickey Mantle Autographed BaseballJsa Certified1969 Ny Yankee Team Signed Ball (thurman Munson)1956 Team Signed Autographed St Louis Cardinals Baseball JsaTed Williams Signed Autographed Baseball1965 New York Team Signed Yankee Baseball Psa/dna 24 SignaturesA Bobby Brown Official American League Baseball, Signed By Mickey Mantle In BlnAutographed Mickey Mantle BaseballMickey Mantle Signed Upper Deck Bobby Brown Baseball Inscr."no 7" Rare!Mickey Mantle Hand Signed Autographed Baseball Official 1994 World Series BallMickey Mantle Autographed Official Bobby Brown Al BaseballDerek Jeter Steiner Very Rare Autographed Gold Glove Rawlings Baseball L@@k NrYankees Derek Jeter Signed Authentic Oml Baseball Steiner Holo/coa & MlbN.y. Yankees Signed Baseball Page,w.pipp Dimaggio,rizzuto,dickey,gomez,hoyt/jsaMiguel Cabrera Signed 2012 Al Mvp Triple Crown Baseball Ball Le 12/12 Tigers MvpAdrian Peterson Autographed Nfl Authentic Game BallMariano Rivera Psa/dna Licensed Authenticated Signed Major League Game BaseballHal Reniff Autographed Official American League Baseball W/inscription JsaJoe Dimaggio Psa/dna Signed / Autographed Baseball Auto Autograph Lee McphailTed Williams Signed Autographed Bobby Brown Al Baseball Psa/dna 8.5 W/9 Letter!Ted Williams Signed Baseball Jsa/loa Auto Redemption From 2013 Heroes Of SportDerek Jeter 3000 Hits Autographed Mlb Baseball Steiner Sports CoaBryce Harper Signed Baseball With Coa From Psa/dnaMickey Mantle Autographed Baseball Auto Signed Ball Mick Hall Of FamerBaltimore Orioles Team Signed Baseball 1969Mike Trout Autographed Baseball Jsa AuthenticatedDerek Jeter Autographed Signed Mlb Baseball W/ Steiner Coa CardMariano Rivera " Exit Sandman 9-21-08 " Single Signed Baseball Auto Steiner Coa Edd Roush Single Signed Ball2004 Albert Pujols Autographed World Series Baseball With Coa Sandy Koufax Signed American League Baseball Jsa Full Loa Rare Sharp$$Carl Yastrzemski Signed Autographed 6xs Inscribed Stat Ball Psa/dna 9Mariano Rivera Signed Romlb Baseball Sandman Inscription Steiner Authentic1961 St. Louis Cardinals Team Signed Baseball-musial,flood,gibson,boyer-psa12 Psa/dna Duke Snider Autographed/signed Ball Lot1964 World Series Champion St Louis Cardinals Autographed BaseballTed Williams Psa/dna Signed 1982 Tcma Baseball Card #1 Auto, Rare! Mint 9Joe Dimaggio Autographed Signed New York Yankees Mlb Baseball Mint/coa And Case