DIY Network

Protecting and Displaying Collectibles From "Special Presentation" episode MLR-S

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Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Figure E Figure F Figure G Figure H Figure I Figure J Figure K

Greg McMichael welcomes Tony Cocchi, who has been collecting baseball memorabilia for more than 30 years. He shares some tips for making sure that your baseball collections stay in tiptop condition.

• Collectible baseball equipment such as bats and gloves are very popular and readily available to most collectors. Keep in mind that if you're having a bat autographed, you should have it signed with black -- not blue -- permanent marker. Black is more durable than blue, which tends to fade.
  
  
  
  Where gloves are concerned, avoid having them cleaned -- the dirt and wear are an important part of their value (figure A).
  
  
  
  
• Baseball cards are classic collectibles; there are two schools of thought concerning autographed cards, however. Some experts (the purists) believe that autographs devalue a card; the other camp (of which Cocchi is a member) says that a card autographed by a baseball star can only increase in value over one with no signature (figure B).
  
  
  
  Remember that more expensive cards should be protected by placing them in nicer holders -- for instance, screw-down models that hold the cards rigid and are unlikely to fall apart. The less expensive cards, however, can be adequately protected by being placed in acid-free sleeve-type holders -- you should also protect valuable baseball magazines by placing them in acid-free sleeves (figure C).
  
  
  
  
• Team pictures with autographed mats should have a second, larger mat added to protect the first (figure D). And if the picture is framed with glass, be sure the glass doesn't touch the autographs -- it will contribute to their deterioration.
  
  
  
  
• Baseballs should be signed with a regular ballpoint pen, not a permanent marker, which can bleed into the horsehide. Also, light can fade autographs, so keep them out of the light as much as possible.

  There are two types of baseball protectors available: round and cube (figure E). Which type you use is strictly up to you.
  
  
  
  

• World Series rings (figure F) and trophies are notoriously hard to come by, so keep them in glass cases where children -- and dust -- can't touch them.
  
  
  
  
• Team jerseys should be professionally cleaned before being displayed. Whether (and where) you wish to have them sign of not is a matter of personal preference; Cocchi says he prefers to have them signed on the front, once again with black permanent marker.

• A popcorn popper (figure H) that's worthy of the ballpark! The base is built of galvanized fenceposts (like the bat rack), and the top is 1/2" beveled glass.
  
  
  
  
• Team-inspired glassware (figure I), in case anyone forgets who to root for!
  
  
  
  
• Pillows and throws (figure J) for those cold-weather games.

RESOURCES :

Hardball Warehouse
Hardball Warehouse
Duluth, GA 30096
Phone: 678-957-0885
Fax: 678-957-0887
Email: info@hardballwarehouse.com
Website: www.hardballwarehouse.com