Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
Create Your Own Website & Make Money
Site Map
Legal Info
(c) 2004-09 Stats Baseball. All Rights Reserved
Baseball Directory
Memorabilia
Memorabilia
Officially Licensed
Find anything from autographed jerseys to game used memorabilia.
Stats Baseball
Baseball News
MLB Scoreboard
MLB Standings
Baseball Search
All-time Batt Avg, ERA, Hits, Home Runs, RBI, Runs Scored, Saves, Stolen Bases, SO, Wins
ALCS, Cy Young, Gold Gloves, Manager, MVP, NLCS, Rookie, World Series
History, News, Rumors, Database, Hall of Fame, Scoreboard, Standings
3000 Hits, 40 / 40 Club, 500 HR, MLB Records, Perfect Games, Triple Crown
MLB Teams
Baseball Memorabilia
Find 100's of Baseball & MLB Posters & Prints
Baseball Posters
Players, Vintage
Get in Shape and Lose Weight!
Start Your Collection Now!
Start Working for Yourself!
How to Protect an Autograph on a Baseball Bat
By Richard Budnick

Most sports enthusiasts who collect souvenirs are thrilled when they find items that have been autographed by their favorite players. This is especially true when a baseball fan acquires a well-preserved baseball bat with the player's autograph etched into the wood, or written onto the bat.

Besides meaning a lot to the collector who has such an item, the owner usually considers the item priceless. The collector also knows how very difficult it is to preserve an item, especially a vintage bat. In that regard, the list below details what you can do to retain the autographed bat in its most preserved state.

To preserve and protect the bat, lightly spray the autographed area with an aerosol can of hairspray. The lacquer in the hairspray will seal the area but it will not damage the autograph. However, before you attempt to spray your bat, you might want to test the brand of hairspray you're using and spray a similar type of ink on a piece of paper.

After the hairspray has dried and sealed in the autograph on the bat, try to only handle the bat one more time and place it where you'd like it stored. The more you handle a vintage collectible the quicker it will deteriorate. Each time you handle the bat is one more instance of its value decreasing, so try to avoid all handling unless it's absolutely necessary to move the item.

Humidity destroys collectibles, so please remember to keep the autographed bat away from any humidity. Do do not want moisture to affect the ink that was used for the autograph. The quality of the autograph will be affected if the bat is exposed to excessive moisture and humidity. In fact, the wood that the bat is made of could be detrimentally affected also.

Next, you will want to avoid letting any prolonged sunshine penetrate into the bat. The autograph's ink could fade if the bat is exposed to too much sunlight. Another type of light that is not good for vintage bats is fluorescent lighting. Thus, besides storing the bat inside a dark area, display case, or closet, just make sure that it receives indirect light only.

As the owner of an autographed bat, you will probably want to show it off to your friends and family. If you do, it's advisable to only have others admire the bat from a distance, rather than handling it. In order to keep your bat safe, you might need to purchase a baseball bat display case that can be locked. In that way, you will keep your precious bat preserved and protected.

Most display cases are made of wood and rather than a glass enclosure, clear acrylic window panes are used, which actually keeps out approximately 98 percent of any ultraviolet rays. Keeping your autographed bat inside of a display case will make the bat last longer, and since it won't be handled by anyone, you won't have to worry about any smudges, nicks, or accidental spills that could occur.

Finally, when you're ready to look online or visit a local sports memorabilia shop, you can inquire about the autographed bats that they have for sale, such as the ones located at http://www.americaspastime.com/about.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Budnick
BASEBALL MEMORABILIA
FOR GIFTS, COLLECTING & INVESTING
Last Updated: Oct 28, 2009
Featured Article
Stan Musial St. Louis Cardinals - with JFK - Autographed 8x10 Photograph
Stan Musial
with JFK
Stan Musial signed St Louis Cardinals 8x10 photo with John F. Kennedy.
Cal Ripken Jr. Baltimore Orioles Autographed Authentic White Majestic Jersey
Cal Ripken Jr. Baltimore Orioles Autographed Authentic White Majestic Jersey.
2000 New York Yankees Team Signed Bat
2000 Yankees Autographed Bat
NY Yankees-World Champions. The following 29 players have signed this fantastic collectible