Most sports fans who collect memorabilia get excited 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 on the bat.
In addition to meaning a lot to the collector who owns such an item, the item is generally considered priceless by the owner. The collector also knows how difficult it is to keep an item, especially an antique bat. In that sense, the list below details what he can do to keep the autographed bat in its most preserved state.
To preserve and protect the bat, lightly spray the autographed area with a spray hairspray. The hairspray in the hairspray will seal the area but will not damage the autograph. However, before attempting to spray the bat, you may want to test the brand of hairspray you are using and spray a similar type of ink onto a piece of paper.
After the hairspray has dried and sealed on the bat autograph, try handling the bat just one more time and place it where you would like to keep it. The more you handle an antique collectible, the faster it will deteriorate. Each time you handle the bat is one more instance of its value decreasing, so try to avoid handling it unless you absolutely have to move the object.
Moisture destroys collectibles, so remember to keep your autographed bat away from moisture. I don’t want moisture to affect the ink that was used for the autograph. Autograph quality will suffer if the bat is exposed to excessive moisture and moisture. In fact, the wood from which the bat is made could also be negatively affected.
Next, you’ll want to prevent prolonged sunlight from penetrating the bat. The autograph ink could fade if the bat is exposed to too much sunlight. Another type of light that is not good for old bats is fluorescent lighting. So, in addition to storing your bat inside a dark area, cabinet, or closet, just make sure it gets only indirect light.
As the owner of an autographed bat, you’ll probably want to show it off to your friends and family. If you do, it’s advisable to only have other people admire the bat from a distance, rather than handle it. To keep your bat safe, you may need to purchase a lockable baseball bat display case. In this way, you will keep your precious bat preserved and protected.
Most display cases are made of wood, and instead of a glass enclosure, clear acrylic window panels are used, which actually keep out about 98 percent of ultraviolet rays. Keeping your autographed bat in a display case will make the bat last longer, and since no one will be handling it, you won’t have to worry about stains, nicks, or accidental spills that might occur.
