Holding a Piece of History

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to get in some game-used bats from Cal Ripken Jr.’s personal collection. This was the first time in a long time that Ironclad had gotten the opportunity to offer these bats to our customers. The age of each bat varied as they ranged from Cal’s entire career; from the early 80’s to the early 00’s.

Cal Ripken Jr. Game-Used Bat

One of the most interesting things about these game used bats were the differences with each bat. While each bat had cracks, checking and ball imprints, no two bats were the same. This made each bat making each bat a truly “one of a kind” collectable. For example, with Cal’s batting practice bats, Cal would tape the barrel in order to prevent checking and so that he could get more use out of each bat.  Another bat we received was a bat that Cal had used during the 2000-2001 seasons. The bat had a large crack going all the way through the handle, making it safe to assume Cal was jammed on an inside pitch at some point during these seasons.

It’s the specific use with each bat that makes them so special. After having the opportunity to see bats like these really makes you think about the best part about collecting memorabilia; the opportunity to own a piece of history.

A few Ripken game model bats still remain for purchase. Each bat comes with a COA from Ironclad Authentics that is signed by Cal himself. Check out www.ironcladauthentics.com or click the link below to view the entire collection.

http://www.ironcladauthentics.com/Game-Used-Product-Type-Baseball/b/3613835011

Getting it Signed - Public Signing

After covering private signings last week, I thought that it might be a good idea to go over public signings this week. Public signings are often done at trade shows, memorabilia stores, or conventions. These signings are often very popular because it gives collectors the rare opportunity to get an autograph from their favorite athlete in person. Many times the athlete is willing to take a picture with the collector as well, although this depends on the athlete and promoter.

One drawback to attending a public signing is the long lines you may have to wait in. If you want to get your item authenticated at the show, it often costs an additional fee and requires you to stand in another line. When getting the autograph for someone as a gift, it's often easier (and many times cheaper!) to checkout some authentic pre-signed autographs from a reputable dealer such as www.ironcladauthentics.com.

To find out about public signings happening in the future, a good web site to checkout is www.mab-celebrity.com. If you’re not in the area of any of these signings, mail-order is typically an option for most public signings.

Getting it Signed – Private Signing

One of the most common ways to get an autograph signed by your favorite pro athlete is through a private signing. These signings, often conducted by a memorabilia store or company, give fans the opportunity to mail in their items to be signed. A good place to find out about these signings is to checkout www.signingshotline.com or a website from a reputable memorabilia company, such as www.ironcladauthentics.com . To stay on top of upcoming signings, it’s always a good idea to join the mailing list of your favorite memorabilia dealer.

If you’re thinking about sending in an item, here are a few things to remember:

1. Label your item

Whatever the item, you have to make sure to include some important information on how you would like the item signed. This includes where you would like the item signed, what inscriptions to include (if you paid for them), and what kind of pen to use. What usually works best is to use a post-it note on the item to show where you want the signature.

2. Package you item well for shipping

Nothing stinks more than receiving your item bent or damaged during the shipping process. Make sure that your item is well packaged when sending it in! Shipping insurance is always a good idea also when shipping an expensive item.

3. Include your invoice and information

Just to make sure there is no confusion, always include an invoice and shipping information with your item. Most of the time companies doing the private signing will have hundreds of items sent in. Having your information with your item makes it easier for the person organizing the signing and makes it so that there is less of a chance that your item will be lost.

Buying Sports Memorabilia on Ebay

One of the most popular platforms to buy and sell memorabilia on is Ebay. Although Ebay is a great way to find just about anything, there are a few things you should be aware of before making your bid.

The first thing you need to do before bidding is to do some research on the item you’re looking at. Have an idea of the price range that the item typically goes for and what item/signature is supposed to look like. A simple Google search is an easy way to do this. This will help you avoid phony items and deals that are “too good to be true”.

The next thing you need to check is the description of the item. Make sure that the description of the item matches the picture. If the description doesn’t fit the picture, it’s probably a good idea to message the seller or not bid at all. It is also important to check the sellers return policy in case there is some issue with the item and you need to return it.

Another thing to look at is the type of authentication the item has. As I’ve written before, a COA is only as good as the company it is written by. If the item doesn’t come with a COA, or the COA is from a company you’ve never heard of, there is a good chance that the item isn’t real.

One last thing to check is the seller’s feedback rating. Buying from a respected seller usually leads to better results than buying from someone who has a ton of negative feedback. Please be aware that just because someone’s seller rating is good, it doesn’t mean that there items are real. The COA is always the most important.