ASM
Autograph Baseball Grading
Graded autographed baseballs are a popular category for serious baseball collectors. How is a graded baseball different from a graded collectible?
In addition to the autograph being graded, the condition of the baseball itself is also graded.
As shown above, your autographed baseball will be issued three separate grades. A Certificate or Letter of Authenticity, which includes the unique serial number as well as the grade information, is issued with all autographed baseballs authenticated and graded.
Grading Standards
Sweet Spot versus Side Panel Autographs
The location of the autograph will have no bearing on the grade of the autograph. Yes, it is true that many collectors prefer the aesthetics of a ball signed on the Sweet Spot versus the Side Panel; however, ASM will not factor this characteristic into the overall grade of the signature and ball. On the other hand, Sweet Spot signatures do tend to sell for a premium in the market but, once again, ASM is not making judgments based on market values – the grade is based strictly on condition and signature strength. A label of SS (Sweet Spot) or SP (Side Panel) will accompany the grade/authentication and it will be registered in our database as such.
The one way that placement may affect the grade is when the location, whether the autograph is on the sweet spot or side panel, is placed in a poor location for display. For example, an autograph that is signed on the sweet spot but severely off-center side-to-side or top-to-bottom may hinder the grade. The lack of eye appeal can affect the grade of the autograph and/or the overall grade.
Personalized versus Non-personalized Autographs
Much like the above-mentioned issue of Sweet Spot versus Side Panel autographs, ASM will not view this issue as a factor in the grading process. So, in reality, you could have a scenario where a "To Bob, Sincerely, Babe Ruth" autograph grades a "10" and just a "Babe Ruth" autograph also grades a "10". Some collectors prefer non-personalized autographs and some are indifferent about them but this issue has no relevance to the ASM grading process. ASM is focused on condition, not content.
When it comes to grading an autographed ball that contains a salutation, inscription or notation, ASM will approach it as a whole with an emphasis on the actual signature and eye appeal. For example, let's say that a ball was signed "To Johnny, Merry Christmas, Babe Ruth." If the "Babe Ruth" portion is extremely strong but the inscription exhibits more flaws, the autograph still has a chance of reaching a relatively high-grade since more weight is given to the signature itself than the inscription. This approach would include Stat Balls (where players fill the panels with their various achievements) as well.
The Issue of Ball Varieties
It is very commonplace for an Official League ball to sell for more than, for example, a non-league ball. There are various types of balls that are used to acquire signatures but, as a ASM policy, we have decided not to factor the type of ball into the overall grade. In other words, ASM will not make any decisions based on market values or rarity. So, in turn, it is very possible to receive a ASM grade of "9" on a Youth League baseball and a "7" on an Official League ball because ASM is focused entirely on the condition of the item.
This is really no different than the approach applied to ASM card grading. A collector may own a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and a 1968 Topps Mickey Mantle. Both cards can achieve the ASM Gem Mint 10 grade even though there is a huge disparity in market value, with the 1952 Topps Mantle worth multiple times the 1968 example due to age, rarity, demand, etc. In the end, all balls will be graded independently of one another – just as cards are.
The Issue of Retracing
ASM will not grade any autograph that has been deemed retraced by a party other than the original signer at the time of the original signing. For example, if a pen is running low on ink or working improperly, some signers will go back and retrace over the beginning of the autograph to make it uniformly bold. This is a somewhat rare occurrence but retraced autographs, by the original signer at the time of the original signing, may be graded but it will become precluded from achieving any grade above "8" and that would only be acceptable if the tracing was minimal – limited to a portion no greater than approximately 5-10% of the autograph.
The Issue of Restoration/Enhancement
At ASM, once our experts have determined that a baseball has been enhanced or restored in any way, the item will be deemed ineligible for grading. This policy is in place because any changes made to the baseball will impact its integrity and authenticity. In some cases, even the most minute changes can affect the grade of an autograph. ASM does not condone the restoration or enhancement of autographed items and, as such, any item that has been altered in any way will not be eligible for grading.
In summary, ASM will not factor market values, rarity, or personal preferences into the grading process. The focus is solely on the condition and strength of the autograph. Any autograph that has been altered or restored will not be eligible for grading. ASM will provide a detailed report of the condition and grade of the autograph, accompanied by clear, high-resolution images. This will provide collectors with the information they need to make informed decisions about their autographed items.