Let's see your most artistic autograph
 

Seeing the recent threads on ugly signatures got me thinking that there has to be some players with care and good penmanship and even a bit of flair.

I have seen some beautiful signatures from the prewar era ( about all I've seen are at least legible) but I would like to see some more modern examples. Maybe mid 60's and on.

I don't have any pictures but I would submit HOFer's Goose Gosage and Andre Dawson as well as Frank Malzone. All have a nice flair to their signatures.
Drew

Agree on Andre Dawson

Attachment 143724

While Gehringer and Ruth are obvious, this is one of my all-time favorites. You know that Don spent HOURS as a kid working on this...

Don't have a scan handy, but anyone who has seen Gene Lillard's autograph knows that he wins this contest hands down.

I'll have to find a scan of mine but I've always been fascinated with Duffy Lewis' signature.

I find this vintage autograph that I own of HOF Lefty Grove to be particularly artistic.

That Lefty Grove is really nice, I'm going to have to pick one of those up.

I've got a "10" of Lillard's but too lazy to pull it out and scan. Here are a couple I found on the web, a vintage example and the evolution to his marvelous work of art signature:

(Note the OP DID say he wanted to see some post 1960s arty sigs. Don't forget everyone in America was taught penmanship until around the 1980s.)

Here are a few I like

Can't argue w Carl. GORGEOUS. One of my favorite items, that I got not long back from Dave's Presale shop:)

Scott,

That Grove is a beauty-I have one, not quite as ornate.

I've always been a fan of Duffy Lewis' signature:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse9b20298.png

I hate to say it
 

but Nolan Ryan has one hell of a nice signature!!

I don't own this, but it sure is purty!

Max Baer:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...0autograph.jpg

The signatures aren't special but the subject matter is definitely artistic:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...n%20signed.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...ize/Newmar.jpg

Happy Felton.

Earl Whitehill's is cool too...

http://www.autographcity.com/images/87411.jpg

That Julie Newmar picture makes me want to watch a few old Batman shows. I have to root for catwoman. Out of all the women that played that role she was by far the hottest. Nobody could beat Batgirl though.

Alberto Juantorena Cuban Olympic gold medalist

the most prolific signers are always forgotten - the ones that spent the most time with the fans, like Stan Musial.

Thanks Greg and Andrew!
As soon as I saw this Grove, I knew it was "special".
Lefty really applied the "good one" to this album page with all of the flair and flourish. This one came by way of Jim Stinson, BTW.

I totally agree about Carl Erskine.
Not only is he one of the classiest guys in the hobby, his penmanship has genuine flair!

Joe Munson
 

If I get the chance I will post my Joe Munson's. He would do his own full color illustrations with his autographs. I have at least three and each one is different and very creative. I love them.

Tom C

Unlike their tiny T206 cousins, T201s leave lots of room for players to sign their names, giving them a little more freedom to be colorful and showy.

This one is one of my favorites too. Ted's got some flair here:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps6f29db1b.jpg

I'll sneak in a hoops auto.

New scans, not using Photbucket anymore.

https://live.staticflickr.com/4265/3...97d15df56c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/4247/3...a5307e1c9c.jpg

Pat Neshek
 

Pat Neshek, who is an avid autograph collector himself, has got to have the best
looking signature among modern players. You can actually read it!

It looks like Avisail Garcia wrote a paragraph.

This isn't the actual autograph I own but I do have a signed vintage photo from him. Johnny Rutherford a multiple Indy 500 winner and genuinely personable guy has one of the best signatures in the world of sports.

http://www.autographwarehouse.com/im...ordJohnny1.JPG

I cannot post pictures of these two signatures as my computer died on me and I have to post from my tablet. Maybe one of you guys could post the pictures if you have the time. The first would be Fred Wenz of the Phillies. His signature can be seen on card 92 of the 1971 Topps set. The next and my personal favorite would have to be Richard Petty. He must have spent months if not years designing his signature.

I would agree on Richard Petty. Quite a nice signature. I once read an article where he stated that he learned how to hold the pen a certain way so that he could sign for quite a long time without getting tired. There are a few race car drivers with signatures that stand out. Along with Petty and Rutherford, Jackie Stewart also has a great signature.

Kyle Petty's is very nice also. That and his Yanni hairstyle make this piece irresistible.

Not my Koosman but I have a few. I thought his was always artistic. Current player whose autograph I like the best is Michael Cuddyer. He writes out his entire name and it is readable

I used to see Fred "Fireball" Wenz all the time. He was born in Bound Brook, NJ and owns or owned Garden Oaks Specialties, also in Bound Brook, a business selling outdoor sheds, playsets, pond supplies and the like. Was there every weekend when my kids were growing up and we had a little fish pond in the yard. Fred is a very good guy but I didn't realize he had such a neat signature. Talked baseball with him a few times but never got his autograph.

Art Thomason who played briefly for the Cleveland Naps.


http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...omasonauto.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...masonauto2.jpg

Can someone post a Joe Adcock? Great looking signature.

Not the best scan of an Adcock, but it's all I've got.

I think some of you are misinterpreting "artistic" to mean "legible". Just because most signatures today are complete crap, does not make the average legible signature from the past "artistic".

Doug

This falls within the artistic range of a signature. I have one of those hardback books of sheet music that you could buy in the late Barnes and Nobles. I carry it when I go to shows to get signed if I don't have more than an album or my rock book. Most of the musicians have no clue and sign as if it were a blank sheet of paper. This person actually got it. His name is Peter Knight and he plays in the English folk rock group Steeleye Span. Very popular in the U.K and Europe in the late 1960's and 1970's, but not a real big following here.

It most certainly does!

http://goldinauctions.com/ItemImages.../7853b_lg.jpeg
Eric Davis has a nice one.

Joe Munson
 

Joe often signed this way

Liberace
 

As one would expect. :D

Just found this thread Love it!
 

Here's one from my collection that is particularly beautiful.
It's actually one of the examples PSA has showcased of Reds autograph which I thought was cool. https://www.psacard.com/autographfac...hoendienst/446

Hey Lucas...I've got that same early career dated 1949 signature on my '48 Bowman Schoendienst RC! Very cool.

https://www.sportscollectors.net/photos/477425.jpg

Not sure if he had already been mentioned, but I have always loved Hy Vandenberg's signature. I have this one, which he signed when he was 79 years old. Pretty amazing penmanship.

I have never seen Red inscribe something so early. That is wicked cool, Very nice piece.

'Ol Satch and Sandy
 

This circa 1940 AP of Satchel Paige is one of my favorite autographs.
Classic and classy like the man himself. ;):cool:

Mid-1950's era Sandy Koufax signatures are another personal favorite of mine as well...

Some outstanding items here fellows, keep them coming. Maybe not the most artistic but like the unusual autoes as well. Here`s a couple that I enjoy. Mrs Joe Jackson actually enclosing a note regarding Joe`s passing and signing her own name. An "Arnold Gandil" as opposed to "Chick" and William Herschell Cobb, Ty`s father, who himself had some interesting history.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a0e609d4_c.jpgMrs Joe Jackson Note by Hugh Murphy, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f3d25ed7_c.jpgArnold "Chick" Gandil, Ring leader of 1919 Black Sox by Hugh Murphy, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...10079778_c.jpgWilliam Herschell Cobb Autograph by Hugh Murphy, on Flickr

Very beautiful pieces and unique. I think there is a difference between just plain legible and truly artistic. I was looking at some 2022 Bowman Autographed cards and they are just straight garbage. I don’t know how you authenticate a squiggly line and people line up to pay four figures for that squiggly line.


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Love the flair from Walt Disney on this check....

Mr. Hockey always had a nice one up until his last few years. Always signed Gordon out of respect for his mother.

A few favorites…

Eddie Collins

https://photos.imageevent.com/docpat...dLetterE_1.jpg

Roberto Clemente

https://photos.imageevent.com/docpat...to1Closeup.jpg

Pete Rose Rookie Year

https://photos.imageevent.com/docpat...260B88940.jpeg

"Chief" Meyers drawing an Indian head with the letters CHIEF...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e996ea43_c.jpg

"Moose" McCormick stamping a moose head with his...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4984bc72_c.jpg

Not mine but I always thought Dom DiMaggio had a sweet signature

If "artistic" can be replaced by "cool," then this Reggie Bar wrapper (unfortunately signed in ballpoint pen) fits the bill...

Attachment 516273

A few more for me.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...af7a5e5f_z.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c9acf554_z.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1cb88513_z.jpg

.

That Chief Meyers takes the cake for me.

McCormick reminds me of Virgil Trucks stamping a red fire truck in the middle of his signature.

Vintage Steve Garvey had a great flowing signature. It has gotten quite sloppy in general now though.

I have a number of very early Garv signatures that are before the mid 70s trademark flair style, but can't find a good one on google at this time. Here is what I consider close to his prime 70s flair era

Old timers took pride in their signatures. (wow, sorry they are so big)

I've always liked Burt Blyleven's auto:https://www.collectorfocus.com/image.../blyleven-bert

Slightly off topic. Julie's father, Don Newmeyer, was my golf instructor in college. She stopped by once or twice while we were out on a course. My drive went all over the place because I couldn't keep my eye on the ball.......

1952 Topps Gil Hodges
 

Signed for me in Vero Beach, FL in the 1960's. What a gentleman!

https://photos.imageevent.com/joejo2...n_20200904.jpg


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Soslan Andiyev - Soviet wrestler, gold medalist 1976, 1980 Olympics
Attachment 517621

Rex Beach - well known author and silver medalist in water polo 1904 Olympic
Attachment 517622

Luigi Beccali - Italian runner gold medalist 1500m 1932 Olympics
Attachment 517623

Surya Bonaly - French figure skater.
Attachment 517624

Frank Brewin - field hockey India
Attachment 517625

Mike Bruner - U.S. swimmer.
Attachment 517626

Phillipe Candeloro - French figure skater
Attachment 517627

Dwight Davis - U.S. tennis 1904 Olympics. Founder of the Davis Cup. Secretary of War. One of the most consistent signatures I have run across.
Attachment 517628

Gertrude Ederle - First woman to swim the English Channel also an Olympic swimmer
Attachment 517629

Kim Rhode - U.S. shooter. Competed in every Olympics from 1996 to 2016. One of only two Olympians to win an medal in an individual sport in 6 Olympics. This was signed when she was 17.
Attachment 517630

There are so many to choose from. Kind of amazed Roger hasn't been mentioned. This example isn't even the nicest one out there!