Overview

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  Collecting baseball cards is a traditional American hobby with thousands of enthusiasts who range widely in age and income. Some collectors spend large amounts of money collecting rare and valuable cards, while others are content to collect cards from a favorite team or player. For any collector, framing select baseball cards is a way to decorate the home and show dedication to the hobby.
  
  

Archival Framing

• For extremely valuable baseball cards, the prospect of framing can be a risk. Certain framing methods can damage the card over time, cutting down its value. Cards can fade from sunlight and deteriorate because of the natural acid in cardboard or tape used in the framing process.
  
  Use an archival framing method with cotton backing and mat board, along with archival artist's tape, which will stick to the back of the card and peel away cleanly without any residue. Alternatively, consider cutting windows in thick mat board and resting the cards in place without any adhesive.
  
  For any type of archival baseball card frame, use glass or acrylic glazing that filters harmful UV light. This glazing costs more but will protect your valuable collectibles for years to come.
  
  

Team Sets

• Baseball cards can give collectors a chance to relive a particular team or season by collecting the complete set of cards for that team. This also opens the door for displaying the cards in a creative grouping. Mounting the cards on a large baseball diamond background is one way to do this, with each player's card mounted near that player's position on the field.
  
  For a larger team grouping, consider using a poster from the team's stadium as a backdrop. Mount the poster first to a rigid board, then mount each card to the surface of the image, either by position or in a grid pattern.
  
  

Shadow Boxes

• Baseball cards usually are flat and end up in two-dimensional frames. However, you also can add baseball cards to shadow boxes that also contain baseballs, ticket stubs or other baseball memorabilia. Baseball cards that accompany autographed programs or scorecards can add interest to an otherwise simple frame, and a card also can be a way of incorporating a player's image into a bat, ball or glove on display in your home.
  
  To frame a baseball card in a shadow box, place the card in a Lucite case. This will give you space to glue or screw the case into the shadow box before inserting the card.