What is the hobby come to?

[Rawlings]

I hate to bring up a bad topic, but there's another interesting take on these types of reproductions. Say they weren't signed at all, but just meant to be reproductions of that era of baseball, unsigned?

They look pretty good to me as knockoffs of old Reachballs. I am trying to collect official vintage baseballs, unsigned, and these could certainly fill some gaps in my collection that would be difficult to afford otherwise. Would that be wrong? They're using trademarks that I'm sure are still the property of some company, Spalding most likely. But that probably wouldn't be a problem is these were made privately in minimal amounts and not made available to the public?

So anyway, I have a great baseball display that's missing some early 1900s balls, and I want to get some reproductions to add to it. But I don't want to support something that others could use to take advantage of the hobby. You could probably resell those unsigned versions to an average collector and they'd never know the difference either, unfortunately.

I'm interested in reproductions like that - if and only if - there is a full-proof way to ensure people will always know they're reprints. Perhaps lazer engraving the sweetspot or some other permanent mark on a side panel?

In the end I'd prefer the real thing and would pay much more for the real thing if I could.

[henson1855]

The baseball itself is a sure giveaway,these balls are made on modern Rawlings balls,a far cry from a hundred year old Ban Johnson ball,It amazes me how people get all worked up,that 'Someone might pass these off as originals' are you kidding? If someone cannot tell the difference and is suckered then they need to find a new hobby or at the very least do some research.That being said these balls do display nice ,collect what you want to collect,if you need a filler so be it,my Plank,Waddell,Joss,and Keeler single signed balls he did for me look great,at least until I can buy the originals...I am not holding my breath.