Auto ball or photo?
 

If you guys can only pickup one auto item. You rather get an auto baseball or auto photo? For example, a Mantle piece.

If it was just one item, definitely on a ball in my opinion. If you plan on showing it off, a ball gets more looks and almost anyone, even non basbeall fans, will probably recognize or at least be familiar with a Mickey Mantle autographed ball. But, if you already have a large collection, I can see the draw of wanting autographs on flat items. For some of the groups of things I collect, I prefer them on flats, checks, documents, cuts now as they take up less space.

I've drawn the line on balls and bats to my absolute favorites. Otherwise they take up way too much real estate to store. I basically collect HOFers and a handful of my favorite Yankees. Here is my thinking:

* Favorite players - Baseballs primary and then 8x10s. Sometimes a signed bat if I can't resist and price is right.
* HOFers - plaque postcards

I agree with Steve. I always collected baseballs but after a while you need a lot of room to store them. I go with photos, HOF cards or regular cards now.