Question for those that collect HOF signed 8x10's

[tha-rock]

I have collected HOF on several media in my time including 8x10s, and I have enjoyed collecting all of them, but it makes it tough when you want several different media signed by a HOFer, namely the newer expensive guys like Jeter, and older guys.

The previous poster said he preferred baseballs, but I disagree. Baseballs sometimes tend to develop spots and the signature can bleed into the ball or fade over time. I have almost never seen a sharpie signature fade and only rarely bleed on an 8x10. What I have seen happen to a sharpie signature on a glossy 8x10 is that the photo might stick to the plastic page it is stored in, so be careful about storage. Ballpoint signatures on glossy 8x10s sometimes fade or turn lighter, but ballpoint or fountain pen signatures on non-glossy photos are still clear after 100 years have passed. I have a Hoyt Wilhelm baseball he signed for me in 1983 that is 60% gone, but it has been exposed to a lot of direct incandescent light.

Also there is the storage issue. 100 signed baseballs take up a lot of space, whether you keep them in cubes or in boxes, whereas 100 signed 8x10s will fit in one 3-inch 3 ring binder. When buying or selling, signed baseballs are going to be more expensive to purchase, but should bring a higher price than an 8x10 of the same player when you sell. As has been said many times, collect what you like according to your own tastes and desires.