Types of Signed Collectables

The best thing about signed collectables is that you’ve got plenty of options for what to collect and how to do it.  There are some variations of the theme based on the particular sport you’re collecting, but here are some options.

Baseball Autographs

You can buy a baseball autographed by a Hall of Famer.  You can purchase a team signed baseball.  Signed collectables from baseball can also include jerseys, bats, 8×10 or larger photos, baseball cards or programs.  Generally, flat items are going to be cheaper.  They’re easier for the athlete to sign and don’t have the premium attached to them that other items do when sports memorabilia companies enter into a contractual agreement with a player.  However, some prefer to make a splash with a larger framed autographed piece like a signed jersey or signed baseball collection you can display on shelves.

Football Autographs

Autographed footballs, of course, are very popular and they lend themselves to autographs better than baseballs because of their size.  Despite the pebble grain, a good Sharpie signature on a football (silver ink looks great, by the way) is a thing of beauty.  You can also buy footballs with special white panels to add multiple signatures (it is hard to buy a team-signed football because it’s difficult to write small on them.  Signed NFL jerseys are another hit with collectors.  You can buy jerseys with the signature on to the numerals.  Autographed helmets look great, too—full size or the newer mini helmets designed to hold just one or two autographs.  The mini helmets require a smaller shipping charge, of course.

Basketball Autographs

Signed basketballs are probably the most popular item in this category.  They’re great for individual signatures or for teams, since only about a dozen to 15 names are necessary.  Black Sharpie on an orange ball looks great.  Blue or another dark color works too.  Many collectors also like signed NBA jerseys because they are usually colorful and look great framed without taking up a huge part of your wall.  Again, 8×10 autographs are colorful, easy to store and very inexpensive signed collectables.

Hockey Autographs

NHL players are usually very generous when it comes to autographs.  You can have them sign a hockey stick, a photo, a jersey or even a hockey puck.  Signed pucks can easily be displayed and look great with a light or gold colored Sharpie signature on the top.  They usually answer their fan mail so signed hockey cards are easy to collect and very cheap.  Buying autographs from hockey via eBay or Amazon.com is easy and usually very inexpensive.

Be sure to do your homework and make plans when adding to your signed collectable collection.  It’s no fun having items you don’t have room to store, but it’s a lot of fun when you know what you’re buying is authentic.