[header] How to preserve an autograph on a baseball [title] Allow the ink to dry. [step] After receiving an autograph on a baseball, make sure nothing touches the ink for at least 1 hour. [title] Avoid excessive handling of an autographed baseball. 
[step] Repeatedly touching, gripping and handling your signed baseball can result in smearing the ink of the autograph, even after it has dried. Oil emitted from your hands onto the baseball can fade the autograph.