Autographed Baseball Buying Guide

By Sean J. O'Rourke

As kids we all grew up dreaming about catching home run balls in the seats routing for our favorite teams. If you're considering adding a true asset to your collection, I highly recommend the following baseballs. All of these authentic Major League balls are accompanied with certificates of authenticity. Products I highly recommend, if you're looking to add a true asset than you've definitely come to the right place.

• Signed Ted Williams Baseball: A man many view as the greatest hitter in baseball history, Ted Williams has hand-signed this official MLB baseball in black ink. Batting .406 in 1941, Williams is to this day the last man to hit above the .400 plateau in a full season. A career .344 hitter, the great Ted Williams retired in 1960 after 19 seasons with the Boston Red Sox. Racking up 521 home runs and 1,839 runs batted in during his illustrious career, Ted Williams was forever enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1966. If you're going to invest in an authentic autographed baseball, I highly recommend this one right here. Included with an Upper Deck Certificate of Authenticity, this Ted Williams autographed baseball is the ultimate centerpiece for the serious baseball collector. Hit one out of the park by adding this hand-signed Ted Williams baseball to your sports room today!

• Signed Alex Rodriguez Baseball: The most complete player in the game today, Yankees third basemen Alex Rodriguez has hand-signed this official Rawlings MLB baseball in blue ink. With three Most Valuable Player awards already in his trophy case, A-Rod is beyond Hall of Fame conversation and as widely considered one of the greatest athletes to ever step foot onto the diamond. On pace to shatter many of baseball's most prestigious records (career home runs, runs, hits), Alex Rodriguez's autographed memorabilia is absolutely essential for the serious sports collector. A lock for the Baseball Hall of Fame when his playing days are over, the value and demand for genuine Alex Rodriguez autographed items should skyrocket in the coming years as he closes in on the most prestigious record in all of sports: Major League Baseball's all-time career home run record. A Hall of Fame centerpiece for your sports collection, this Alex Rodriguez autographed baseball comes with a Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity.

• Signed Mickey Mantle Baseball: One of the most distinctive, sought-after signatures in all of sports, Mickey Mantle has hand-signed this Rawlings MLB baseball in deep black ink. Debuting in 1951, Mantle would spend all 18 seasons of his professional career with the New York Yankees. One of the greatest players in baseball history, Mantle won three American League Most Valuable Player awards and seven World Series Championships playing for the Bronx Bombers. Noted as one of the most potent power hitters in the game, Mantle hit 536 career home runs, some fabled to have soared over 540 feet from home plate. This baseball makes an absolutely perfect centerpiece for your sports collection, and I highly recommend No. 7's autographed baseball. Your Mickey Mantle autographed baseball comes with a Jimmy Spence Certificate of Authenticity.

• Signed Sandy Koufax Baseball: Arguably the greatest pitcher to ever step foot on the diamond, lifelong Dodger Sandy Koufax dominated the Major Leagues during his 12 year career. Despite having arthritis for the better part of his career, Koufax would throw four no-hitters while leading the National League in ERA for five seasons. Winning three Cy Young awards in 1963, '65 and '66, Koufax led the Majors in wins, strikeouts and ERA during each season. In 1963, Koufax not only took home the Cy Young award but also the National League Most Valuable Player award. An absolute essential for the serious baseball collector, this official Rawlings MLB baseball is hand-signed by Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax along with the inscription "3 Cy Youngs.” A dynamite addition for your collection and a must-have for true blue Dodger fans, this autographed Sandy Koufax baseball comes with a Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity.

• Signed Hank Aaron Baseball: One of the most unforgettable scenes in sports history is Hank Aaron rounding the bases accompanied by two white college students moments after hitting his 715th career home run. Truly one of the greatest players in baseball history, Aaron not only broke records on the basepaths but his success broke down many antiquated, racist views as he approached and eventually broke Babe Ruth's career home run record. A 21-time National League All-Star, Aaron retired in 1976 with 755 home runs and a career .305 average. The perfect way to immortalize not only of baseball's all-time greatest talents but a true American hero, this official MLB baseball has been hand-signed by the one and only Hammerin' Hank Aaron in blue ink. An absolute essential for every single serious sports collector, this hand-signed Hank Aaron baseball comes with a Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity. An unforgettable American sports superstar, add the great Hank Aaron to your collection today!