Let me see your early career autographs!
 

I recently got interested in collecting early career/rookie autographs of players. Just think its something different because even if a player is still alive and signing, those early versions of there signatures are at least a little more scarce. I have these three so far and would love to see what other people have.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...pscnq7obl9.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...psiz5rcita.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...psdbwkv6ev.jpg

Vintage rookie era sigs
 

I too love the rookie era/vintage playing days signatures. I have been weening down my personal collection, but attached are a few of my favorites (rookie Mays, rookie era Ted Williams, and a 1941 Ted Williams).

My early Mick sig.

One of my early Mantles.
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaudkmni8.jpg

Cool sigs. The show that Gwynn signed that cachet was run by my father and his partner. Tony told us it was his first show ever.

Here is the flyer, which was signed that day. I actually have a second copy of it as well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...5-10150925.jpg

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...psk0nohx7t.jpg

Willie Stargell during first two weeks in majors.

Tom C

That's really interesting. I was trying to find info on that show but had no luck. Thanks for sharing

Two for my favorite Mantles:

The first is an approximately 5*7 candid photo taken by a fan (and signed by Mickey) in 1951.

The second is a 1951 GPC. Great thing about it, the next afternoon, Mickey would go on to hit his first big league home run!

Incredible Jon. Wow!

Here's an early Jim Palmer which is for sale incidentally :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pssymo3b2n.png

Early Musial from '42

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...pstwxphxbf.jpg

Early Doby from '47

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...psbneq9g7s.jpg

Mick
 

One of my early Mick's

An early Brock
 

This has to be from '62 or '63. It has Ken Hubbs on the reverse. It was obtained at a Cubs/.45's game.

I posted this one a while back in another thread... a Mick sig my dad got in person in Enid, OK back in 1950 when Mickey's visiting Joplin Miners were in town. My dad was definitely tracking the local hero by that point and sought him out specifically.
Attachment 199166Attachment 199167

Here's a few more that I wonder about---
A signed Gwynn rookie that's dated. It was an eBay pick up and I'm not sure it was signed that day? but thought it was cool regardless.
Attachment 199170

Also curious what folks/the experts here may think about the Snider, Aaron? Neither were sold as being early sigs, but they just looked older to me.
Attachment 199171Attachment 199172

And finally this Williams and Koufax, though I realize it's possibly just the style pens that make me curious.
Attachment 199173Attachment 199174

A few of my early Ted's
 

Album page most likely signed during spring training 1938

A few of my Ted's
 

Album page cut circa 1939-40

A few of my Ted's cont...
 

Circa 1940 burke

Few of my Ted's cont...
 

Circa 1939 snapshot. Snapshot is dated by the original owner August 1, 1939. I think it was signed in either late 39 or early 40. One of my faves. Also used as An exemplar in the Psa autograph facts site....

The pride of my collection: postcard marked June 19, 1908 sent by Walter Johnson to his friend Johnny in California. This was signed during his second major league season and between games against Cleveland and Detroit:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...psf959772d.jpg

Rookie season signature of Roberto Clemente:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...sweetspot2.jpg

Card Zach Wheat sent to his mother. Zach is on the right.

Cool stuff everyone. Early auto of my favorite-

1955 Spring Training Game Pirates vs Yankees.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...nteautobig.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...ementeauto.jpg

1948 Duke Snider
early 1950's Willie Mays
1940 Ted Williams
1973 Mike Schmidt

Spectacular Mantle.

I'm no expert, but you can compare your Snider to my 1948 below.

Love that Mays Scott! Is that Schmidt on a '73 Phillies ball?

Steve, that ball has some '73 Phillies and some '72 Giants.

Its a nice looking ball.The signatures look really bold!

Scott,
Looks like I got the Reese from the same scrapbook as your Snider. Picked it up last year from Dave's resale shop. Put it in this display.
Drew

Thanks for the Snider comparison Scott, and nice sigs! To me, it looks like Snider's sig stayed pretty much the same throughout, to which I say "wow". Conversely, I'm amazed at how much my sig has evolved over the years, when looking at my safe deposit box sign in sheet. I have dozens and dozens of sigs over that have morphed (gotten sloppier and sloppier) over 7-8 years.

In looking at other rookie era Williams sigs, seems mine is prob not an older one.

Nolan Ryan and Johnny Vander Meer pre-rookie era sigs
 

Here are the very early signatures of two players that I collect:

The 1st autograph was signed by HOF'er Nolan Ryan in 1967, the year before his rookie season in 1968 at age 20.

The 2nd autograph was signed by Johnny "Double No-Hit" Vander Meer in 1937, the year before his rookie season in 1938.

Finally, this is an extremely early autograph of Vandy in 1933 when he was in his very 1st professional season with the Dayton Ducks.

Enjoy!

Just picked up this early Joe Montana autograph. 1977 Notre Dame partial team sheet.


http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/a...pscpfiaz7l.jpg

This is the Notre Dame team that won the National Championship.
There are three other good NFL players on that sheet - Bob Golic, Ross Browner and Ken MacAfee. MacAfee and Browner are College Football HOFers. MacAfee went to Brockton High School in Mass. which was the rival of my school Waltham High. He was their best player. Our best player was Fred Smerlas, 14 year NFLer and two years ahead of me in school. Interestingly, MacAfee is an oral surgeon or orthodontist in Waltham.

Brooks Robinson
 

Fairly early Brooksie auto index card. I really like the red inked auto.

Very nice Mark.
Drew

Brooks Auto
 

Thanks Drew!

Congrats again on completing the '54 Red Heart set; just awesome!

Super Mantle auto!! Note the Ruth-like, epsilon "E" in Mickey - a letter form that Mantle only used during 1950 with Joplin!!

Cheers,

Craig

Bruce Sutter
 

Here is a Bruce Sutter signed in the spring of 1978.

http://photos.sportscollectors.net/364133.jpg

I went to high school with Bruce, VERY good guy!!!

Thanks for the input Craig, I'd always figured this one would be the same as his 1951/52 Yankee sigs. I'll have to look at it more closely compared to other early ones.

I have a few of these. Gold ink really pops on this early career auto. Too bad this minor league team no longer exists. Can't wait until Ken Griffey Jr makes it into the Hall.
http://i.imgur.com/vRGGPH0l.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/33PrG0ql.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3IDJwi5l.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4RQNQsSl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/YptrEh8l.jpg

Just got this one in today

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...psyffqikrn.jpg

Early Reggie
 

From the other Sigs in this "book" I believe his to be circa 1970.

Jose Canseco- the Star is from 1986 and is unopened and the Madison Muskies was bought in a lot of about 15 other signed 1983 Muskies off ebay from a seller who was from Madison, WI. and said the cards were signed in the summer of 1983 for him
Barry Bonds- Bought off ebay from a seller from Pittsburgh who got the card signed at a Pittsburgh card show in 1987
Monte Irvin- Signed for a kid who was terminally sick in the early 50's and had total access to locker rooms (the boy died in either 53 or 54)
Frank Thomas- bought off ebay ($5) from seller who was from Birmingham and said he got the card signed at a Birmingham card show in summer of 1990
Al Kaline- Postmarked 1954
Tommy Lasorda- I have no clue if its close to his RC year or not but it looks old
Al Simmons- Dated 1928, so not his Rookie year but kinda early sig. regardless

I love that early Simmons exhibit/auto!

McGwire from 1984 I believe. 1985 at the latest.

That's AMAZING. Love it.

Early Bob Feller autograph on scorecard from a game he won on April 29, 1938

Here are a few that are not baseball. They are all OlympianS who are known for the Olympics and other endeavors.

Bill Russell - One from October, 1956 signed in California on the way to the Olympics. One signed in Melbourne at the Olympics for the manager of the dining hall the U.S. team used. I just received a third one in the mail today from Australia that was signed during the Olympics.

Spencer Haywood - 1968 before the Olympics. He is being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in September.

Jackie Fields - 1924 during the Olympics in Paris. He would become a world champion boxer as a welterweight.

Jesse Owens - 1934 at the AAU Championships in Milwaukee while still a student at Ohio State. You will see this one 'tombed' on ebay at a ridiculous price.

George Foreman - 1968 prior to the Olympics.

Ron Santo &
 

Somewhat early for both players

Heres an earlier career Tom Glavine

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ps7d9ucxmk.jpg

And an early Harmon Killebrew

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...psgiw32zeo.jpg