What is the best pen to use when getting a baseball autographed?

Question

Is a traditional sharpie the best or a ball point or something else?

Answer 1

Walter is right. Sharpie's ink can bleed into the baseball and fade over time. But don't just take my words for it, see for yourself what the collectibles experts wrote:

"... In the case of a baseball Blue ball point pen would be most preferred over sharpie which tends to fade quicker or bleed on a baseball. An educated collector will pay less for a sharpie signed baseball, if at all. Sharpie would be most preferred on a bat, or Photo."
Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_find_the_value_of_an_autographed_baseball

"... never use a Sharpie or permanent marker on a baseball. Only use a ballpoint pen, preferably sporting blue ink. Otherwise the ink will start to bleed into the baseball over time and fade. And that just won't do."
Source: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060724&content_id=1573041&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Answer 2

Sharpie works best for most items, but if you're having a baseball autographed use a ball point pen. Over time a Sharpie will "bleed" and the autographed baseball will become nearly unreadable.

Answer 3

You fairly will not use a sharpie on a baseball. A ball factor pen is the quality for that. I decide upon a black pen, however others decide upon blue, anything floats your boat. If it is a minor league ball, it might smear. The quality ball is an ROMLB (essential league ball). To avoid smearing, what you have to do is (critically) bake the ball at 250 levels for half-hour. Put it on whatever so it does not burn. I do this and haven't any disorders, and the smearing in no way occurs. Good success!

Answer 4

Ultra Fine Point Sharpie

Answer 5

Its always a big debate between sharpie or blue pen.... You guys know they sell blue autograph markers made special for getting baseballs signed don't you? And you call yourselves collectors.... What kind of collector judges his collection by value? You're not collectors, you're wanna be dealers. Best answer.

Answer 6

Ball point pen, Sharpies always fade

Answer 7

Definately a sharpie

Answer 8

A normal regular sized sharpie. The ink will sink into the leather of the ball and will not smudge or smear. It is a great permanent marker and it is BLACK. Not some cheesy blue tinted ink.

Answer 9

Ball Pen Baseball

Answer 10

A Sharpie permanent marker. They work everytime on any surface.