What's so bad about these baseball?

[Thompson96034]

So I whenever people mention the name "OLB3" people intend to freak. What's so bad about the "OLB3", is it something that can be prevented? Thanks!




Nathan

[84c4vette]

just not the same as an omlb they are fine for a persontal collection but to sell or trade they have little value

[deeakay]

I've come to change my mind on the OML3s.
Especially if you don't the ability to invest in the $10 min/ball for ROMLBs.
I changed my mind after I sent my 6 year old's OML3 he got for his birthday. He told me to send it to JJ Hardy for an autograph.
8 days later, c/o ST, Isaac had his JJ Hardy autographed ball and '08 Police Card.

I'm thinking a Fine Point Papermate (Blue or Black) auto on them would hold fine and not bleed or fade; obviously Sharpie and Medium Pt pens will.

I believe the OLB3 balls have their place!

[indyreds]

I have some OML3s in my collection, including a Ryne Sandberg that seem to be holding their autographs just fine.

[RockiesFan33]

OLB3s definitely have a place. They're perfect for playing catch with your son or playing fetch with the dog. No pen should ever come into contact with these awful things.

I will have to upload a picture of the OLB3 I wrote on with 5 or 6 different pens. I used thick and thin sharpies, ballpoints and other markers to see how they'd hold up. Within a matter of a couple weeks, the sharpies were bleeding into the ball. That was last August or September when I did that and now one of the sigs is a complete blur. Honestly, the synthetic cover is not made to hold ink. Plain and simple. Why bother getting a signature on a ball when you know it's going to fade? I suppose you could put a clear poly coat on the ball and that might hold the ink, but rather than do that, just pick up a dozen of those Trump signature balls. They're vibrant white and look great for the same price as those OLB3s. I get fired up just thinking about those stupid balls. I have a Bob Doerr on one and it literally looks like it was never signed. I'm enjoying watching my only Wade Boggs ball bleed into oblivion. I have several deceased players on them as well like Kell and Mickey Vernon. I was psyched to save a few bucks on the balls and now I hate them. Using those balls is easily the worst decision I've made regarding this hobby (other than starting in the first place. Meth would have been a cheaper addiction).

*** END OF RANT ***

[shoemajt]

I've watched a few of mine bleed as well. It looks like you had someone sign a balloon, then blew it up and deflated it a few times. The sigs literally look "blown up".