Collecting sports memorabilia is one of the most unique hobbies that a person can start at a very young age. Whether the item is a picture of Michael Jordan going up for a dunk or a ticket to a NBA game, these are memories that will forever remain in us and later on turn us into fans of the player, the team and the game as well. As we continue to watch with amazement the highlights of each game, we cannot help our desire to savor and remember the moment and triumph our favorite athlete is experiencing.

Autograph collection became a hobby for most of us in to help remember the triumphant moments of our favorite star’s career. Collecting autographed basketballs is no exception. It is one of the most unique ways to obtain an autograph from your favorite star.

The first thing you have to do is find places that sell autographed basketballs. General sporting goods stores and online auction websites may have collectors item like these autographed basketball but authenticity has always been an issue with these. You can also try writing to your favorite players or team to ask for an autographed ball or you could send one for them to sign. They may not be able to answer your request right away or not at all but it’s definitely worth a try. On the other hand, you can personally go to a stadium before the game starts so that you can see the players practicing. It is the best time for you to politely toss and respectfully ask them to sign your ball.

Preserving an autographed basketball is a process that requires an area for placement and continued preservation. You must always consider the ink that was used to sign the ball because this might wear off or rub off. Sunlight and rubbing off are the two leading concerns for any collector of signed basketballs but sunlight is a major threat since rubbing can be controlled by reducing and as much as possible eliminating contact with the basketball. Controlling these incidences involves careful selection of the area where you want the basketball placed to avoid sunlight and glare from the trophy case.

One of the best ways to store your autographed ball is to put it in an acrylic or glass display case which can be bought in a sports memorabilia shop or even in an online auction websites ranging from $25 to $300. It is preferred mostly by collectors because it is durable and clear. It can keep your item in an untouched condition and a great way to showcase your treasured possession.

When cleaning the ball, remove the acrylic or glass case and take the ball off the stand. Be careful not to have contact with the autographed section. You can put on a pair of winter or latex gloves before you remove the dust to avoid sweat, wet hands, and oil getting in contact with the ball. You can use a dry cloth or a feather duster when cleaning the ball. Carefully move the cloth around the ball and be very careful when cleaning the autographed section.

Basketball stars have the ability to give excitement to their fans from an autographed basketball card just like most movie stars do with photos. A signed basketball card will become a collection focal point for many fans. Sports cards with messages and signatures are considered as cherished mementos and some would consider it as a long term financial investment. Collecting these cards involves knowledge, patience and timing. You must consider the quality of the item or card you want your favorite athlete to sign.

Fans can obtain a signed basketball card from their favorite athlete personally or through writing a letter of request politely to their team. Some players may be happy signing autographs for their fans because it’s their way of appreciating their support. In the interest of time, some players may change their signing habits. Some players in the midst of a bad season may show some signs of distance with their fans and change the way they sign autographs. Nevertheless, the majority of basketball stars can be quite accommodating and friendly which makes this hobby more fun.

Some teams may often offer autographs for free during games, sports conventions and autograph signings in their community. Most teams have their own fan appreciation day where they will be given a chance to enjoy the day with the stars and some will sign autographs for them. After which, you can ask for a certification or a document of appraisal for autographed goods. Autographed basketball cards have few advantages over some other ways when collecting these autographs. Most of these cards nowadays should be certified to be authentic by the card company because it is often important, especially if you are going to resell the card in the future. There are organizations that assess the autographed items for authenticity while providing a score for the signed card. It is also important as it is hard to prove the voracity of an individual’s claim.

Online auction websites also offer autographed cards and other memorabilia items. Make sure to ask the dealers questions about the card to solve your worries and put your mind at ease. Preliminary questions should determine how the autograph was obtained and the transaction history of the card. As collectors, you should also ask for certificates of authenticity on the cards. Before confirming the sale, seek advice from card pricing guides online, other dealers or book stores. Collectors may use these guides to create a price for their sports card purchases.

Owning autographed basketball cards is a cool way to have a bit of basketball history. Collecting them can be fun, exciting and profitable pastime for fans and investors alike.

If you are an avid fan of the NBA you are most likely also be an avid collector of different memorabilia. The most popular memorabilia are those that have an autograph or signature from basketball’s top players. Some of the most expensive memorabilia is sold from specialty stores and sometimes there are concerns and issues regarding their authenticity. As a result, collecting autographs through the mail (or, TTM as it is commonly known amongst collections) became one of the most popular and least expensive ways to have get the signature of your favorite NBA player.

These NBA athletes are most of the time accommodating and friendly to their fans. One of the best places to catch your favorite athlete is through the office of their team which doesn’t change address much. This is the easiest way of making sure that the mail reaches its destination. Acquiring basketball autographs through the mail is indeed fun and cost-effective pastime available to anyone.

Most NBA stars are snowed under and flooded with autograph requests while they are in the pinnacle of their profession. They receive hundreds of requests everyday and it would be difficult for them to respond to the request fast or in a timely manner. Hence, when collecting autographs from basketball stars, PATIENCE is the keyword. When you send a letter of request, make sure that you enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) in order to accommodate the return mailing. If you are sending your own item like balls, trading cards or photos, make sure that your envelope or box is large enough to ensure a safe and fast delivery.

Here are some tips when asking for an autograph through mail:

• You can write a brief letter to a player, asking him to sign your item. It would be nice if you could mention things about him or team that you admire and like the most.
• Be polite all the time. Refer to them as “Sir” or “Mr.” and don’t forget to use magic words such as “please” and “thank you” throughout the letter.
• Enclose an item where you want your favorite players to sign in. Never enclose expensive items because it might not reach its destination.
• Make sure that your address is correct when attaching a SASE.
• Be patient! Some players will get to your request slower than others because of their schedule and some won’t write back to you at all. But if you are polite and diligent enough, you will surely get responses. You just have to be patient and understanding sometimes.

Collecting autographs has never been this fun. Ggoing through your mail and checking for your returned envelope will bring thrills and excitement all year long.

I’ve recently become something of an avid basketball autograph collector so I’ve started this site, and its corresponding blog, as a means of detailing my growing collection and giving hints to others who share my interest.

My main focus, as a collector, has been on autographs from players who are or were members of the Cleveland Cavaliers. My love for the Cavs goes all the way back to the Mark Price and Brad Daugherty days of the late 80′s and early 90′s. Of course, now that LeBron James is on the scene my interest in the Cavs is at an all-time high. You can see a photo to the right of some basketball cards I recently added to my collection. They’re hanging inside a frame on my office wall.

But I understand that not everyone is as die-hard of a Cavs fan as I am so I’ll also focus on other famous basketball players here on the blog. And, of course, the main site here has a comprehensive list of every player who ever played a second in the NBA as well.

So come back in the future to search for autographs of your favorite players from the past and present. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping this blog updated with tips and tricks about collecting basketball autographs.