Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>Ed</b><p>My father, as a teen in the 40's, went to a lot of Yankees games. I recently found in his book collection, "Proud to be a Yankee", by DiMaggio, signed in the 40's. The signature looks slightly different than his retirement signatures, which I know exist in abundance. Still, the familiar dot over the "o" is present, and there is no reason for me to doubt its authenticity. Is there any premium on Joe D. autographs that were signed when he was actually playing?

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>If you can tell the difference, a youthful signature is more desirable. Take someone like Cy Young, who lived into his late 80's. His later signatures show a vey shaky hand.

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>If you can tell the difference, a youthful signature is more desirable. Take someone like Cy Young, who lived into his late 80's. His later signatures show a very shaky hand.<br /><br />Sorry about the double post- something strange happened on my computer.

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>no problem

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>no problem <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>All other things equivalent (what signed on, condition, etc), the earlier a player's signature the more valuable. <br /><br />The youngest player signature I owned was Ken Hubb's high school chemistry class homework-- though this might be a case of the signature's value lowering due to being too young. I got the homework along with the family business' advertising calendar picturing an about 13 year old Ken in baseball uniform and his brother in football uniform. This had to be the earliest baseball advertising item of Ken.

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>Alan</b><p>One of the reputable autograph auction houses (listed in <a href="http://www.auctionreport.com" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.auctionreport.com</a> (am I allowed to provide a link ????) CURRENTLY has a few different Joe Dimaggio autographed photos (baseball uniform, street clothes, etc,...)<br /><br />The one with him in street clothes is still only at the minimum bid !!!<br /><br />Alan

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>Corey R. Shanus</b><p>All things being equal, I would certainly prefer an autograph signed when the player was active as opposed to after he had retired, and I strongly suspect it would have a greater value as well. For example, suppose there are two single-signed Babe Ruth baseballs (identical in terms of condition of the ball, authenticity and darkness of the signature) up for auction, one proven to be signed in 1927, the other in 1946? I'd be shocked if the one from 1927 didn't sell for considerably more.

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>1927 was Ruth's most famous season, so that may not be a good example. But I think we all prefer something from a person's prime than from his old age. That's just human nature.

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>Alan</b><p>A fellow Jewish player collector has a game used Hank Greenberg jersey, but it's from the old-timers all-star game in the 1970's or early 1980's. That's much far less valuable then a gamer from his playing days, of course.<br /><br />Alan

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>Jason L</b><p>Is his work graded?<br />That must be an interesting item!

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Ken Hubbs's 1964 Topps card has his obituary on the back (or at least "In Memorium"). The only other card I can think of like that is the T205 Joss. Does anyone know if there are any others?

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>Ken got a 'pass' or 'okay' or whatever was the grade from the teacher on his homework. As I recall, the homework was on atomic orbitals or something on that order. It was a perforated tear out home work page from a textbook that Ken filled out and wrote his name at top. If I recall correctly he was a junior in high school.

Joe D. : vintage vs. retirement autograph
 

Posted By: <b>Alan</b><p>Here are some really nice Joe Dimaggio autographs at the link below if you're interested as I mentioned earlier in a post. I have no allegience with the auction house whatsoever.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rrauction.com/browse.cfm?SearchCrit=dimaggio" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.rrauction.com/browse.cfm?SearchCrit=dimaggio</a><br /><br />Alan