Some of the most sought after collectibles in the sports memorabilia industry are items that have been game-used. Although typically very expensive, collectors are often willing to dish out thousands in order take home a memento that has been used in a memorable game or by a favorite player. The reason for this game-used craze? It gives collectors the rare opportunity to own a piece of sports history.
Some of the most popular game-used items tend to be game-used baseballs and baseball bats. Many collectors seek out baseballs and bats from milestone games or from their favorite players, such as the bat used when a particular player reached their 1,000 career hit. Others enjoy collecting the more unusual items, such as infield dirt, seats, etc from their favorite stadium.
Recently, Minnesota fans have been able to take home a rare piece of Twins and Vikings history when a massive snowstorm caused the Metrodome roof to collapse. While some would look at the now defective roof as garbage, many Minnesota sports fans have been gathering swatches of the roof and doing different things with them. Ironclad Authentics recently created an exclusive item by having Cal Ripken Jr. sign a few pieces of the roof to commemorate his 3000th hit, which he collected at the Metrodome during the 2000 season.
When collecting game-used artifacts the often debated question is “Should I have that piece signed?” Many collectors believe that by having the game-used item signed it makes it more valuable, while others believe that by altering the game-used items it ruins the historical significance of the item. Those who do get the game-used items signed typically will pay extra to add an inscription to go along with the signature. Popular inscriptions to add tend to be ones that include the date of when the item was used or of a milestone that was reached during the particular game.
Interested in finding a piece of game-used memorabilia? The most important thing to remember is making sure that the item is really game-used. Although it may appear simple to find a piece of game-used memorabilia online, it is often difficult to find one that is truly authentic. Just like autographs, many fake game-used items flood the market, making it difficult for consumers to know what they’re truly buying. Major League Baseball has tried to put a stop this by establishing their very own Authentication Program. With this program, each game-used item is witnessed by an MLB representative and is given a sequentially numbered, tamper-proof hologram. For items that are not authenticated by MLB, it is always important to find out where the item came from and to make sure that it comes from a trusted source. A few companies that carry MLB authenticated game-used items are Ironclad Authentics, Steiner, and Mounted Memories.
