Caring and storage of your collection is mainly about avoiding excessive handling and exposure to sunlight and maintaining humidity.

HANDLING

The first step, of course, is to wash your hands.  But whether you’re using bare hands or gloves, the primary thing to remember is:  Never Touch The Leather.  Always, always, always handle the ball only with your fingertips and only on the laces.

As an aside, on an episode of Pawn Stars I watched in horror as a self-proclaimed baseball expert manhandled a signed baseball from the 1950s.  He clutched the ball deep in his bare palm, fingers wrapped around it, passed it from one hand to the next…friends, this guy is not an expert.  I’m not saying I am one, I certainly can’t authenticate autographs.  But I know enough not to smear my skin oils all over a collectible baseball, especially if it belongs to somebody else.

Sterile exam gloves such as those sold by medical supply providers are ideal, but you probably don’t have to go that far.  Non-sterile gloves can be found at your local drugstore.  Latex gloves will work just fine as well.

Again, whether you’re using gloves or bare hands, Never Touch The Leather.

DISPLAYING

The best way to store your baseballs is in a dark, cool closet.  However, we don’t spend all the time, money, and love on this stuff just to keep it hidden.  Collections need to be seen.  The only thing a collector enjoys more than amassing his collection is showing it off.

The very least that can be done is to keep the balls away from direct sunlight.  Indirect sunlight will still fade the leather and stamping, it will just take longer, so an interior wall or corner as far away from windows as possible is ideal.

For added protection, use ball cubes with a UV-resistant coating.  Cubes will also keep dust off the baseball, and they’re stackable.

Most lightbulbs are designed to minimize UV emission, so lighting is a lesser concern.  LEDs are the best bet, especially if the lights will be on most of the time.