autographed bats, your opinion

[baker85]

I am attending the show in oaks this weekend. Im getting johnny bench on a bat. Im hoping to get some feedback .

Black or blonde bat?
Which color sharpie for either color?
Thoughts on red or gold for the black bat?

Thanks

[39special]

For a black bat I would use gold or silver.

[Klrdds]

When I collected autographed bats I always used the regular / blonde bats with a blue sharpie. Red sharpie I would not be sure about since I know it will fade more rapidly than blue or black sharpie on photos and 3x5s over time and with exposure to light . Also silver ink in most cases is not sharpie but a form of "paint " that takes a while to dry when I got it on photos before.
Other bat collectors may know better. I am basing my opinion on collecting hundreds of flats and photos and only 15-20 bats.

[baker85]

Any difference in longevity between gold or silver?

[oldballgame]

I have found the gold to be more streaky and does fade in my opinion. Always go with silver

[Klrdds]

For black bats always use silver.

[earlywynnfan]

Blue tends to fade on natural bats, too. I think silver on black looks the best and lasts the longest, but you run a bigger risk of smearing.

[Kzoo]

Always use a black sharpie on blonde bats, blue fades really bad over time.

[eastonfalcon19]

Blonde bat with blue sharpie.

[Bigdaddy]

I think Johnny always used a blonde bat, so that's what I'd go with. Blue stands out more on the bats, while black will look more like the etched images that are already on it.

[t206blogcom]

Blonde bat, blue sharpie.

[Scott Garner]

I think Johnny always used a blonde bat, so that's what I'd go with. Blue stands out more on the bats, while black will look more like the etched images that are already on it.

+1

[Scott Garner]

Always use a black sharpie on blonde bats, blue fades really bad over time.

Matt,
I have blonde bats that have been signed for 20-30 years in blue Sharpie that show no fading whatsoever. The key is to not display these items away from direct sunlight and UV light, FWIW...

[murphusa]

blue on a blonde bat

[MacDice]

Personally unless you get a game model bat, I wouldn't get a bat signed. I don't like the generic Rawlings Big Stick that has block lettering unless it is a team piece. I have even got some player specific store model bats from the 1960's that look great when signed that didn't cost much money.

[Maddog]

Agree with the above.
All my black bats are signed with silver sharpie or paint pen and all blond bats signed in blue. I do have an earlier one with black signatures but find the blue stands out much better.