What to use for signing a baseball

soxfan401 · 04-14-2011, 08:51 AM

Hi everyone! I had a question that I was hoping for some opinions on.

What is the best pen to use for signing a baseball? I am heading to Fenway this weekend and won some on filed time during batting practice and was hoping that my son and I could get a few autos while we were there. We have the baseballs, but I am not sure what pen is best to use.

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance!

WoodyThaKid13 · 04-14-2011, 09:01 AM

regular bic round stic is what i use. they are the best i believe. that is if you have OMLB.

tehchamp · 04-14-2011, 09:03 AM

First, and foremost, do NOT use a sharpie.
Use a blue, ballpoint pen.

John91C · 04-14-2011, 09:08 AM

Lately I've been using the Staedtler Fine Permanent Marker

Again, use ROMLB and not those cheap China baseballs...

Here are a few examples...

Joe Montana (in-person signing):

From a recent signing: William Shatner (in-person):

Willie Mays uses only these pens due to his bad eyesight...the blue really stands out!

soxfan401 · 04-14-2011, 09:42 AM

Thanks for the replies everyone! Yes they are the official MLB balls that I will be using, and no sharpies, I have seen them bleed myself. So the good old bic round stick is good for this? That is great news! Thanks again for all the quick responses! I knew this was the place to check :-)
John91C:
I do like the way those signitures pop with the iblue ink, but I am nervous about them bleeding like the sharpies. Have you had any signs of that happening?

dthimesch · 04-14-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John91C

Lately I've been using the Staedtler Fine Permanent Marker

Again, use ROMLB and not those cheap China baseballs...

Here are a few examples...

Joe Montana (in-person signing):

From a recent signing: William Shatner (in-person):

Willie Mays uses only these pens due to his bad eyesight...the blue really stands out!

Wow the blue really does stand out with those markers. Is there any examples of what happens with that marker over time on baseballs? Any bleeding or fading?

enginedown · 04-14-2011, 12:14 PM

My 2 favorites:

Uni-Ball Gel Impact 1.0mm Bold (blue)
Uni-Ball Jet Stream 1.0mm Bold (blue)

John91C · 04-14-2011, 08:11 PM

So far the last 5 years I've had no problems with the Willie Mays ball...usually sharpies will bleed by this time. Staedtler uses some special ink to make most of the colors colorfast (prevents fading), etc...

I've used the Uni-Ball Jet Stream (Ball point pen) Bold Blue and when you get it on a baseball it looks really really bad...very streaky and the ink is not solid.

dthimesch · 04-14-2011, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John91C

So far the last 5 years I've had no problems with the Willie Mays ball...usually sharpies will bleed by this time. Staedtler uses some special ink to make most of the colors colorfast (prevents fading), etc...

I've used the Uni-Ball Jet Stream (Ball point pen) Bold Blue and when you get it on a baseball it looks really really bad...very streaky and the ink is not solid.

That's awesome thanks John. I'm going to pick a couple of those up and try them.

cj52racers · 04-14-2011, 08:41 PM

The Staedtlers are very good for this. They do not fade and they are very bright. Perfect for baseballs.

BengalsJayhawks · 04-15-2011, 04:29 PM

I just picked up a Rawlings Official ball for a Mike Leake signing this next weekend. I really like the way those Staedtlers markers look and I'd like to get one. Is there any special place I need to go to get one or could I just run up to Walmart and find one?

tehchamp · 04-15-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengalsJayhawks

I just picked up a Rawlings Official ball for a Mike Leake signing this next weekend. I really like the way those Staedtlers markers look and I'd like to get one. Is there any special place I need to go to get one or could I just run up to Walmart and find one?

You might find one at Wal-Mart, they are more likely to be found at craft stores though like Hobby Lobby I think since they are more of a specialty pen/marker.

dthimesch · 04-15-2011, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengalsJayhawks

I just picked up a Rawlings Official ball for a Mike Leake signing this next weekend. I really like the way those Staedtlers markers look and I'd like to get one. Is there any special place I need to go to get one or could I just run up to Walmart and find one?

I am sure you can get them at like Office Max or Office Depot also if you have one of those around.

BengalsJayhawks · 04-15-2011, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the replies. Ill head up to one of those stores this weekend.

John91C · 04-15-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengalsJayhawks

I just picked up a Rawlings Official ball for a Mike Leake signing this next weekend. I really like the way those Staedtlers markers look and I'd like to get one. Is there any special place I need to go to get one or could I just run up to Walmart and find one?

You will hard pressed to find these in stores...most "art" supply stores might have them. Places like Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc will not carry these. I have to order these online and I usually buy in bulk to get a discount and save on shipping. I think I have 6 dozen of the fine and 6 dozen of the medium in both black and blue, lol. Whatever you do...do not buy broad, they are chisel type (I made the mistake and bought a few this way)

If you can wait about a week (shipping time)...then these are the two stores I hit up...I have no affiliation with them.

Staedtler Lumocolor Permanent Markers - BLICK art materials

Staedtler Lumocolor Permanent Markers

Look online for coupons too...they usually have a 10% off coupon if you just google search their name & coupon...good luck!

Also just like sharpies...store these marker side down and make sure they are "used" meaning write on some paper with them to break up the "new-ness" of the tip...especially the fine ones, makes all the difference with the baseball!

John91C · 04-16-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soxfan401

Hi everyone! I had a question that I was hoping for some opinions on.

What is the best pen to use for signing a baseball? I am heading to Fenway this weekend and won some on filed time during batting practice and was hoping that my son and I could get a few autos while we were there. We have the baseballs, but I am not sure what pen is best to use.

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance!

Here's a couple more baseballs from the Ripken Signing I just attended in Staedtler Fine Blue

04-14-2011, 08:51 AM	#1
soxfan401 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 51	What to use for signing a baseball Hi everyone! I had a question that I was hoping for some opinions on. What is the best pen to use for signing a baseball? I am heading to Fenway this weekend and won some on filed time during batting practice and was hoping that my son and I could get a few autos while we were there. We have the baseballs, but I am not sure what pen is best to use. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance!

04-14-2011, 09:08 AM	#4
John91C Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Deep in the Heart of TEXAS! Posts: 5,630 joyoo	Lately I've been using the Staedtler Fine Permanent Marker Again, use ROMLB and not those cheap China baseballs... Here are a few examples... Joe Montana (in-person signing): From a recent signing: William Shatner (in-person): Willie Mays uses only these pens due to his bad eyesight...the blue really stands out! __________________ Photobucket (not always up to date): http://s160.photobucket.com/albums/t199/John91C/

04-14-2011, 12:14 PM	#7
enginedown Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 379 eatingthefiller	My 2 favorites: Uni-Ball Gel Impact 1.0mm Bold (blue) Uni-Ball Jet Stream 1.0mm Bold (blue) __________________ Always looking for more Mat Latos cards. Here is my full list: http://bit.ly/tw3bdn Please let me know if you have something that isn't crossed off

04-14-2011, 08:11 PM	#8
John91C Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Deep in the Heart of TEXAS! Posts: 5,630 joyoo	So far the last 5 years I've had no problems with the Willie Mays ball...usually sharpies will bleed by this time. Staedtler uses some special ink to make most of the colors colorfast (prevents fading), etc... I've used the Uni-Ball Jet Stream (Ball point pen) Bold Blue and when you get it on a baseball it looks really really bad...very streaky and the ink is not solid. __________________ Photobucket (not always up to date): http://s160.photobucket.com/albums/t199/John91C/

04-14-2011, 08:41 PM	#10
cj52racers Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Lexington KY Posts: 1,418	The Staedtlers are very good for this. They do not fade and they are very bright. Perfect for baseballs. __________________ I collect: Former UK Basketball Players, Colts FB, SF Giants, Colorado Avalanche, and Patrick Roy. Giants, World Champs!

04-14-2011, 09:01 AM	#2
WoodyThaKid13 Banned Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Forked River, NJ Posts: 1,342 woodward_collectibles woodythakid13	regular bic round stic is what i use. they are the best i believe. that is if you have OMLB.

04-14-2011, 09:03 AM	#3
tehchamp Banned Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Stafford, TX Posts: 2,048 tehchamp	First, and foremost, do NOT use a sharpie. Use a blue, ballpoint pen.

04-14-2011, 09:42 AM	#5
soxfan401 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 51	Thanks for the replies everyone! Yes they are the official MLB balls that I will be using, and no sharpies, I have seen them bleed myself. So the good old bic round stick is good for this? That is great news! Thanks again for all the quick responses! I knew this was the place to check :-) John91C: I do like the way those signitures pop with the iblue ink, but I am nervous about them bleeding like the sharpies. Have you had any signs of that happening?

04-15-2011, 04:29 PM	#11
BengalsJayhawks Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 679	I just picked up a Rawlings Official ball for a Mike Leake signing this next weekend. I really like the way those Staedtlers markers look and I'd like to get one. Is there any special place I need to go to get one or could I just run up to Walmart and find one?

04-15-2011, 05:03 PM	#14
BengalsJayhawks Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 679	Thanks for the replies. Ill head up to one of those stores this weekend.