With football season coming to an end and basketball season heating up, what better time is there to think about expanding your sports memorabilia collection? Before you start channeling your inner super-collector, however, it is important to make sure that you know exactly how to keep your current and future collectibles in pristine, mint condition. I have researched numerous sports memorabilia collecting websites and put together both a no-fail guide to preserving your priceless collectibles as well as a list of hot players to look for when you decide to add to your collection.
Protecting your Sports Memorabilia Collectibles
* Display Cases. Enough said! If you plan to show off your collection, you cannot properly preserve those valued collectibles without a UV protected acrylic casing. This especially goes for items such as commemorative helmets, baseballs, tennis balls, hockey sticks and bats. For items better suited for framing, makes sure that the frames is made with UV protective acrylic instead of glass. Glass provides no barrier from harmful UV rays that can fade and damage your collectible. Keeping your collectibles out of direct light is always an important step in maintaining the condition of any collectible, but let’s face it, you aren’t going to keep your window shutters closed for the rest of your life just so your authentic Wayne Gretzky Jersey doesn’t face from the light of the sun! Display cases and frames will also you’re your items free of environmental damage such as dust, cigarette smoke, and if you are displaying your collection in a gameroom, the occasional spilled beer. Check out http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/sports-memorabilia/display-cases/ for a variety of different, quality UV-acrylic cases for your sports memorabilia.
* Protect your paper items and photographs by framing them. If you have room and a small enough collection, framing your World Series tickets or autographed Roger Clemens photo is the way to go (in UV protected acrylic, not glass as I said above!). If you did not purchase your collectible already pre-framed, the framing will run between $40 - $50 dollars. While this may seem like a lot, it is most definitely worth it if you want to protect your items from damage. Make sure when having an item framed that acid-free matting paper is used. Acid paper mattes can fade your autographed photos and other delicate items. Autographed photos should also never touch the acrylics. This could cause smudging.
* Use Acid-free, airtight storage boxes and plastic storage sheets if you plan to store your collectibles. If you are a serious collector – or your wife has put a stop to your recent obsessive wall decorating – you can’t always frame every item! Keep items out of humid environments and store them in a cool, dry place.
* If it is a jersey you wish to store, make sure it is kept in a textile conservation box if it not in a protective acrylic case.
* Digitize your collection. The best way to protect your items is to digitize them and upload all certificates and corresponding authentication documents somewhere online. You never know when a natural disaster such as a house fire or flood could destroy your hard earned collection! iTaggit makes it easy to upload photos and accompanying documents of your items to a secure place. You can also value your items, export them to eBay in one click, and should a disaster occur, print out a report for your insurance company. Always prepare for the worst just in case!
Ready to expand your already impressive collection? Here are some players with current or soon to be successful careers to keep an eye out for!
If you are into Baseball Rookies:
Cameron Maybin: Outfield, Florida Marlins
Travis Snider Outfield: Toronto Blue Jays
Colby Rasmus: Outfield, Saint Louis Cardinals
Tommy Hanson: Starting Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
Jordan Zimmerman, Pitcher, Washington Nationals
Andrew McCutchen, Outfield, Pittsburgh Pirates
Dexter Fowler, Outfield, Colorado Rockies
Alcides Escobar, Shortstop, Milwaukee Brewers
Matt Gamel, Third Base, Milwaukee Brewers
Trevor Cahill, Starting Pitcher, Oakland A’s
Dexter Fowler, Outfield, Colorado Rockies
Football
Arizona - RB Chris "Beanie" Wells
Atlanta - S William Moore
Carolina - DE Julius Peppers
Chicago - DT Tommie Harris
Dallas - WR Roy Williams
Detroit - LB Ernie Sims
Green Bay - DE-LB Aaron Kampman
Minnesota - WR Percy Harvin
New Orleans - S Darren Sharper
New York Giants - DE Osi Umenyiora
Philadelphia - QB Donovan McNabb
St. Louis - C Jason Brown
San Francisco - RB Frank Gore
Seattle - T Walter Jones
Tampa Bay - TE Kellen Winslow II
Washington - QB Jason Campbell
Baltimore - QB Joe Flacco
Buffalo - WR Terrell Owens
Cincinnati - WR Chad Ochocinco.
Cleveland - NT Shaun Rogers
Denver - S Brian Dawkins
Houston - CB Dunta Robinson
Indianapolis - DT Fili Moala
Jacksonville - T Tra Thomas
Kansas City - DL Glenn Dorsey
Miami - QB Pat White
New England - QB Tom Brady
New York Jets - LB Bart Scott
Oakland - QB JaMarcus Russell
Pittsburgh - LB Lawrence Timmons
San Diego - LB Shawne Merriman
Tennessee - WR Kenny Britt
Basketball
Deron Williams, Jazz guard
Blake Griffin, Clippers forward
Rasheed Wallace, Celtics forward-center
Ron Artest, Lakers forward
Dwyane Wade, Heat guard
Vince Carter, Magic forward-guard
Richard Jefferson, Spurs forward-guard
Kevin Durant, Thunder forward-guard
LeBron James, Cavaliers forward
Gilbert Arenas, Wizards guard
Soccer
Jozy Altidore, forward, Villarreal (Spain)
Michel Bastos Fernandes, midfielder, Lille (France)
Scott Brown, midfielder, Celtic (Scotland)
Jaime Cordoba, midfielder, America de Cali (Colombia)
Douglas Costa de Souza, midfielder, Gremio (Brazil)
Pedro Tonon Geromel, defender, Cologne (Germany)
Guillaume Hoarau, forward, Paris St-Germain (France)
Keirrison, forward, Coritiba (Brazil)
Marko Marin, midfielder, Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany)
Martin Morel, midfielder, Club Atletico Tigre (Argentina)
Carlos Darwin Quintero, forward, Club Santos Laguna (Mexico)
Rafael Pereira Da Silva, defender, Manchester United (England)
Aaron Ramsey, midfielder, Arsenal (England)
Hockey
Steve Mason
Steven Stamkos
Semyon Varlamov
Carey Price
Justin Pogge
