Best ball and pen for autographs

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

Use Bic or Papermate in blue. Or a small/fine tip blue staedtler, those actually look amazing and don't fade (ball signed with a staedtler).

Brent - that looks fantastic. I'm glad this subject came up, as I had several baseballs I needed signed by Mariners players but I skipped taking them to Fanfest because I couldn't decide what kind of pen to use. I'll have a staedtler ready for the next opportunity.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Brent - that looks fantastic. I'm glad this subject came up, as I had several baseballs I needed signed by Mariners players but I skipped taking them to Fanfest because I couldn't decide what kind of pen to use. I'll have a staedtler ready for the next opportunity.

I was thoroughly impressed with how well it turned out. It will be hard switching back to a pen now. I just don't know what will happen years down the road to the ink but should be fine hopefully.


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[egri]

To the OP: definitely use a Rawlings Official MLB ball. Should cost about $15-20 at your local sporting goods store. A few years ago I went down to Ft. Myers for ST and had Johnny Pesky sign a rubber "Red Sox Spring Training" baseball; now the signature is almost invisible.

Have any of you tried the Pilot pens on baseballs? I haven't, but I've heard they are an improvement over ballpoint for normal writing, so I was wondering if they held up for baseballs as well.

[gregr2]

Originally Posted by egri

To the OP: definitely use a Rawlings Official MLB ball. Should cost about $15-20 at your local sporting goods store. A few years ago I went down to Ft. Myers for ST and had Johnny Pesky sign a rubber "Red Sox Spring Training" baseball; now the signature is almost invisible.

Have any of you tried the Pilot pens on baseballs? I haven't, but I've heard they are an improvement over ballpoint for normal writing, so I was wondering if they held up for baseballs as well.

Thanks, I am definitely going with the official MLB balls. Lots of different suggestions on the pen so I'm still evaluating that.

[djson1]

Are there any suggestions as to which are best silver/gold/metallic ink pens for the black baseballs? These pens tend to smear easily and I was wondering if there were some that were better than others in drying faster and the appearance on black baseballs.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by djson1

Are there any suggestions as to which are best silver/gold/metallic ink pens for the black baseballs? These pens tend to smear easily and I was wondering if there were some that were better than others in drying faster and the appearance on black baseballs.

Staedtler is the best "marker" for signatures period. The majority of sports card companies use them for cards and other items. The ink seriously will dry after its signed on almost any medium.

The best thing to do is just go buy a ball and test out 5 or so different pens and scribble on the ball and see which is most appealing to you.


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[Runscott]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

The best thing to do is just go buy a ball and test out 5 or so different pens and scribble on the ball and see which is most appealing to you.

You can get scrap leather easily enough. I only mention this because I was looking for baseballs to do my 'baked shellac over steel pen ink' testing, and someone suggested I use scrap leather instead. You can nail it to something round if that helps.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

I was thoroughly impressed with how well it turned out. It will be hard switching back to a pen now. I just don't know what will happen years down the road to the ink but should be fine hopefully.

What kind of pen is the Staedtler? I see they have rollerballs, "fineliners," "pigment liners" and ballpoints. I didn't see any markers on the Staedtler web site that looked close.