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Posted By: davidcycleback

My language was muddy and could be interpreted two ways. I meant when the signature is a hand signature. On Tom Seaver's million dollar Player's contract, Seaver's handwritten signature is his. Tom put his signature on the contract because he wanted to ensure he got the million dollar, and the Reds made sure it was Tom who signed 'Tom Seaver' because they wanted to ensure they got his services. Likely witnesses from both sides watched Tom sign his name.

My main point was that, for autograph collectors, there's a difference between a player's fan photo signature TTM and on an important legal document. Mickey Mantle might have the ball boy sign Mickey's name on the team baseball, but Mickey would sign a lucrative advertising contract himself. Neither Mickey's lawyer nor the advertising company would allow a 'clubhouse' Mantle signature on that contract. Both sides know it would be hard to enforce a contract with the 'Mickey Mantle' written by a 9 year old ball boy, or even Mickey's legal aged cleaning lady.