Baseball Hall of Fame Says "No" to Slabs.

[David Atkatz]

https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...iYxCsoDQN5e0hQ

[perezfan]

Would love to see this thread moved over to the main Card Forum. Would probably get more responses and a better debate over there.

[David Atkatz]

True, Mark. But the point--and the reason that it's here (see Snapolit1's "Signed Gehrig paycheck wanted" thread)--is that the same holds for anything encased in the "authenticator's" plastic; autographs, artifacts, photos, baseballs, etc.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...iYxCsoDQN5e0hQ

Super-fascinating. Can you imagine if a T206 Wagner or other Million dollar card got damaged BECAUSE of a slab?

So many lawsuits.

"Watch out for light, heat and humidity"

Apparently the same things that make beer skunked are the same things that can damage your collectibles. Mylar is the equivalent to an aluminum can for beer.

[perezfan]

Probably a dumb question, but will ask it anyway....

All the mylar products I have seen are soft (bendable) plastic. I use mylar sleeves for protecting vintage photos and tickets. But is mylar available in rigid form?

In other words... could they manufacture ball cubes and card slabs in mylar? Too expensive? Not even possible? I don't give a damn about "professional" grading or the current crop of TPAs (which seem incompetent at best/corrupt at worst).

But seems like an opportunity exists for a company that would utilize mylar in rigid form for display purposes, if nothing else.

[David Atkatz]

Mylar is pretty rigid. I use 4 mil mylar sleeves for all my autographs and artifacts. They are pretty stiff--definitely don't allow the paper inside to bend.
As you say, I have not seen mylar thick enough to make ball cubes--perhaps it would be too expensive.
I store my baseballs in acid-free cardboard boxes, with mylar lids. (As does the HoF.)

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Mylar is pretty rigid. I use 4 mil mylar sleeves for all my autographs and artifacts. They are pretty stiff--definitely don't allow the paper inside to bend.
As you say, I have not seen mylar thick enough to make ball cubes--perhaps it would be too expensive.
I store my baseballs in acid-free cardboard boxes, with mylar lids. (As does the HoF.)

Nice storage solution for vintage baseballs. Oh, and by the way... pretty nice baseball you've got there as well.

[mr2686]

I know there are some that don't want to go the extra mile (time/expense) for archival storage and display, but as David wrote in a previous thread "it's our job to protect these artifacts while we own them, and before we pass them on".
I personally feel that the hobby becomes even more enjoyable thinking as a custodian rather than an owner.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/c...iYxCsoDQN5e0hQ

Very interesting reading and some good points about storing in Mylar.

Agree the conversation would be better if this was moved to the main page for more eyes to see.

Could they use Mylar to slab everything in? If so what cost.

Long term preservation makes great sense and I never knew there were museum standards

[David Atkatz]

Feel free to copy the URL, and start a thread on the card side, Jeffrey. I'm not a card collector, so I feel it would be inappropriate coming from me.