ROMLB vs TRUMP Baseballs

[IzzyFranchise]

So obviously if you wanna get autographs on a ball, Rawlings Official Major League baseballs are the ones you get signed. Esp if you ever want to sell them or whatever....I know that's all I've ever gotten signed. However, they can get expensive, even if you buy bulk. Even more so if you send them TTM and don't get them back.

but..what about if you are just a big autograph collector and want to cut costs?

Now, I've seen on some of the boards guys use these TRUMP baseballs. I haven't heard anything majorly bad about them, only that they are not THE official baseballs used.

IF i got some of these, id use them for my "whatever" auto's...like guys that sign for free, guys i loved from childhood that weren't a big deal, etc etc etc

The TRUMP baseballs are about 1/3 the cost of ROMLB's. But do any of you know more about them? do they hold autographs well? do they fade or run?

I just wanna know what you guys think.

[RockiesFan33]

I'm no longer using them. Some pens hold up really well, but I've had a few that have faded. All of the ones that faded for me were signed in black ink, for what that's worth.

[IzzyFranchise]

I only have baseballs signed in Blue and always use Bic Ball Point. I also only have ROMLB's in my collection but have noticed ore and more people mentioning these TRUMP balls.

Do you think the Trump balls are the issue or the black ink?

[Sawks14]

I only have baseballs signed in Blue and always use Bic Ball Point. I also only have ROMLB's in my collection but have noticed ore and more people mentioning these TRUMP balls.

Do you think the Trump balls are the issue or the black ink?

IDK for a fact but I'd say its the ball. I have a couple old ROALB/RONLBs signed by Eddie Mathews, Enos Slaughter, and Rick Ferrell all in black ink and they're holding up pretty well. The inks have that "aged" kind of look like they've been there a while(because they have) but they're bold and solid so black ink may not be as good as blue but its not a game ender. I also have a 2001 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia issue Enos Slaughter signed ROMLB in black ink that looks aged but solid as hell.

It all depends on the ball and the leather. Back to the league balls they were made in different places. When made in Haiti they treated the leather with poor water and that is why many of the Haiti balls tan like crazy. After that they moved manufacturing of the balls to Costa Rica. Some of the early league balls made in C.R. tan but the bulk of them are better quality than the Haitian made balls all because in Haiti they pulled water from a poor quality well.

ROMLB are the gold standard. There is no way to get around the cost of them if you want the cream of the crop auto supplies. The Trumps are probably a distant second and if you want to save money are probably the best option. That said you're not getting a ROMLB. It all depends how much each level of quality is worth to you.

I haven't routinely sent balls for autos in a long time because I didn't want to lose quality but didn't want to pay the crazy costs. The last ball I bought/got signed was a ROMLB in Cooperstown because Juan Marichal was signing and inscribing for $40. I picked up the ball for $15 at Target. Well I was going to get Reggie Jackson on a ball too so I bought one in Cooperstown for $12(ended up getting him to sign my multisigned HOF book). By the end of the day I found a little shop selling ROMLB for $10 and HOF ROMLB for $13. Your best bet is trying to find a little shop like that.

[indyreds]

I would agree that should I be getting a huge name or paying a fee I would buy the ofiicial MLB baseball. It is even better to stumble across the old National and American League baseballs for HOF guys. I stickly use the Trump baseballs for minor league IPs and lesser named guys. I can pick up a dozen Trump baseballs delivered for $45 or you can get three Official MLB Baseballs for the same price. Please do the math it is 4 baseballs to one! At less than $4 a baseball it seems almost easier than messing with cards when going to a game and they look nicer. I have made some real mistakes in the past with those OMLB3 baseballs and team logo baseballs that faded really bad. The Trump baseballs seem to be holding up well for me so far. I do only get autos with a blue ballpoint on my baseballs as well.

[IzzyFranchise]

IDK for a fact but I'd say its the ball. I have a couple old ROALB/RONLBs signed by Eddie Mathews, Enos Slaughter, and Rick Ferrell all in black ink and they're holding up pretty well. The inks have that "aged" kind of look like they've been there a while(because they have) but they're bold and solid so black ink may not be as good as blue but its not a game ender. I also have a 2001 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia issue Enos Slaughter signed ROMLB in black ink that looks aged but solid as hell.

It all depends on the ball and the leather. Back to the league balls they were made in different places. When made in Haiti they treated the leather with poor water and that is why many of the Haiti balls tan like crazy. After that they moved manufacturing of the balls to Costa Rica. Some of the early league balls made in C.R. tan but the bulk of them are better quality than the Haitian made balls all because in Haiti they pulled water from a poor quality well.

ROMLB are the gold standard. There is no way to get around the cost of them if you want the cream of the crop auto supplies. The Trumps are probably a distant second and if you want to save money are probably the best option. That said you're not getting a ROMLB. It all depends how much each level of quality is worth to you.

I haven't routinely sent balls for autos in a long time because I didn't want to lose quality but didn't want to pay the crazy costs. The last ball I bought/got signed was a ROMLB in Cooperstown because Juan Marichal was signing and inscribing for $40. I picked up the ball for $15 at Target. Well I was going to get Reggie Jackson on a ball too so I bought one in Cooperstown for $12(ended up getting him to sign my multisigned HOF book). By the end of the day I found a little shop selling ROMLB for $10 and HOF ROMLB for $13. Your best bet is trying to find a little shop like that.

The cost is understood by all. I found them at a real good price online and just ordered a bunch of ROMLB's because I have a real nice IP auto opportunity coming up and i want to be prepared.

I just got back from Cooperstown, went this past weekend. i too saw the store that had em for $10 each. I'm kicking myself for not picking up a few.

I may give the Trump balls a shot for a few autos just to check em out ya know? It def won't be used to big time guys or HOFers.

I have a ton of auto'd balls...all in blue ink, all on ROMLB so i know the deal..i just want to minimize the cost of my favorite hobby...is that so much to ask?! lol

[propete23]

I got 3 dozen trump balls 2 years ago, and headed down to Phillies camp in Clearwater. I also had a dozen ROMLB balls if I ran into some big names. Needless to say, Charlie Manuel, Howard, Utley they are all on the ROMLB balls. Domonic Brown, Michael Taylor, Mickey Morandini, etc. are on the trumps. I have noticed a few of the Trumps fading in just the two years. IDK, but I like spending 3-4 bucks on a minor leaguer instead of the 10-15 for a ROMLB. Now, I wish that I had gotten the Kyle Drabek, and Domonic Brown on a ROMLB, but who knew!!!

[CRJSr9]

i like romlb....

[the305]

another one of the members on this forum posted to take the trump balls and scrub them down with a Mr Clean Magic eraser before getting it auto'd... Sounds like hoopla but it WORKS... nothing matches a ROMLB but rubbing the trump will help keep the auto from fading as noticeably

[gysot]

I know the preferred ball in the Rawlings Official Major League ball (ROMLB), but what about other Rawlings balls? There has to be a half dozen or so. I saw at a local store an Official League ball for like 3-5 bucks. Are other Rawlings balls good to use? Do they hold sigs good without fading?

Thanks