I felt similar, but what I've done in the meantime is just collect "cheap" autographs at first, in order to minimize my losses just in case I pick a bad one.
I also narrowed my focus to HOF 2nd basemen and been patient in finding ones from sellers that I trust that are willing to back up the items they sell (basically sticking to B/S/T and Richard & Jim's newsletters).
Basically, don't rush out and buy a Ruth, Mantle or Williams until you know what you need to know to feel confident. I feel that is the biggest mistake I see over and over on this board...folks buying high-end autos before they're really "ready" to be buying them. You either need TONS of money (to absorb bad purchases or buy from an expensive auction house) or TONS of patience and knowledge. I dont have tons of money, so I'm just gathering knowledge before I decide to move on to more expensive stuff.
The reason to collect autographs is simple, in my opinion. Unlike a card, this is an object that has actually been handled by the athlete and heightens the sensation of "nearness" to the signer. You really get a sense of their real personality through their autograph and frankly, a ton of that comes through doing the research necessary to confidently buy their autographs.
Honestly, they're a great companion piece to a nice baseball card collection. As long as you're collecting vintage, you probably use your imagination when looking through your cards, and autographs are a cool addition to that...imagining the signer going through fan mail, or being hounded outside a stadium by kids or sitting at a table at a card show plowing through a long line of fans.
Anyhow, good luck. Start small, keep reading, make friends with smart people and enjoy your hobby.
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