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Posted By: <b>tbob</b><p>Joe Orlando of PSA is announcing that PSA will start grading "rookie autographs," i.e. autographs of players signed during their first season only in the bigs.<br />Will it never end?

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Posted By: <b>Marc S.</b><p>I do not think there is enough reliable data out there to properly differentiate to a particular year when a baseball player signed an autograph. <br /><br />Can <i>anyone</i> out there propertly differentiate for me a Christy Mathewson signature from 1900 compared to 1901 compared to 1902? You can't - it's not possible. The same applies to nearly every Hall of Famer ever. I just cannot even fathom how one could have any confidence in such tomfoolery.

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>My guess is that their announcement is looking to stimulate business by getting credulous people to submit autographed cards of rookie players NOW, when they obviously can be determined to be rookie year autographs. Gee, I wonder if the Palmiero autograph I got his rookie year would be worth more with a "rookie" slab. Somehow, I think not...<br /><br />Interesting how this comes in the wake of them losing Spence...

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p><br />A friend of mine collects Signed Government Postcards and essentially this is the only way to go about 'certifying' a person's premiere year in the league with the postmark matching the debut year. He's actually been doing this for like 20+ years, long after the 'death of concept of the GPC'. He has names like Clemens, Bonds and even more recent guys like up and comers B.J Upton and Jason Bartlett. He also has the most amazing vintage GPC collection including postmarked cards of Mays' first week in the Majors, a stellar Ruth that is personalized to his namesake and a Bobby Thomson signed two days before the 'Shot'.<br /><br />My personal opinion, who cares if Albert Pujols (or anyone) signed something in 2001 (taking a guess at his rookie year) or in 2005. The ultimate sign of a desparate company is a series of gimmicks (do we really need to grade the balls itself?..and no adult humor about this comment) and try and replace Jimmy or do something before I see them slab baseball bats or actual human beings. <br /><br />DJ<br /><br />edited because I misspelled like nine words.

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Posted By: <b>Josh K.</b><p>Speaking of slabbing humans, if you do it in the first year after their birth, Im pretty sure you get a rookie designation.

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Posted By: <b>hrbaker</b><p>How long until we have cards of famous ballplayer's kids ultrasounds?

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Posted By: <b>Jason Schwartz</b><p>I think the next logical step is to sell DNA, sperm, hair, or other "live" collectibles from baseball's all-time greats. There would also be a premium for material acquired during either the rookie year, an MVP/Chalmers year, or the day of death.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Max Weder</b><p>....but Ty Cobb's dentures sold for $7475<br /><br /><a href="http://slam.canoe.ca/BaseballStadiumClosings/sep27_cob.html" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://slam.canoe.ca/BaseballStadiumClosings/sep27_cob.html</a><br /><br />I don't know whether that was with or without the juice...<br /><br /><br />Max

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>I was there in the front row, shaking my head when Ty's chicklets commanded big bucks. Everything sold for WAY too much....hey, it's kind of like Vintage Pre-War trading cards NOW! <br /><br />Slabbing human beings? I'm ready to esnipe Mookie Wilson or Joel Youngblood!<br /><br />DJ

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Posted By: <b>Rhett Yeakley</b><p>In defense of the guy that bought these. From what I have gathered, the guy that bought them is a dentist, and displays them in his office. Kinda wierd I guess, but he obviously thought it would be a cool display item for those coming into his office. I can't imagine somebody paying big bucks for those and putting them in a safe collecting dust.<br />-Rhett

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>Clever dentist. I can think of several humans I'd prefer slabbed. (And several people who would prefer ME slabbed!)<br /><br />Every time I see or hear the name Joe Orlando, I think of Tony Orlando and Dawn...whatever that means.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/jphotos/Dskk.jpg"> <br /><br />Somebody wanted this, till I told him what I paidf for it...

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>Julie,<br /><br />How much for Hazen?<br /><br />DJ

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>and note--this is the less desirable card (not with Chicago).

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Posted By: <b>Doug</b><p>I have only seen one authenticator ever be able to determine what year an autograph was signed, Justin at GAI. But he can only do it with McGwire. I was blown away when I brought in a couple items I had Big Mac sign in front of me and he was able to me exactly what year they were signed. I'm sure that most of the authenticators out there, whether its Jimmy, Steve, Justin, or any of the other authenticators can determine roughly what era a signature is signed. As far as rookie signatures go, in my experience, they sell for less than the current form of a atheletes signature. I think this is because people are more familiar with the current signature and the older signatures look, in some cases, entirely different so they don't feel comfortable buying them.