Let's see your ugliest autograph

[gregr2]

I picked this up just because I thought it was horrible. I'd like to see what else folks have this fits the bill.

img097.jpg

[Wrightfan85]

Jim Rice plus HOF game plus signing for free in public equals:

[djson1]

I always reference this signed rookie card of Ryne Sandburg when I talk about ugly signatures and sloppy signers. I got this one circa 1984/85 at a card show. I actually paid for this crap. Not only was the ink in his pen dry, he decided to skip on his full name. In fact, I don't remember anybody behind me in line, so I don't know why the sloppy rushed signature. I've never liked him after this. I remember Reggie Jackson had a similar "R-J" sloppy signature, but at least he was in a rush. Sandberg was sitting pretty bored at the signing table when he did this to my card.

[Rays & Mariners]

Manny Ramirez, looks more like a math equation.

Eric

[Scott Garner]

Here are the signatures of perfect game pitcher Phillip Humber and double no-hit pitcher Homer Bailey on their no-hit tickets.

I would say these are pretty terrible, but this disease is sadly ubiquitous amongst virtually all modern players...

[Mr. Zipper]

You'd think that Humber would make a little more effort in signing his name on a ticket for his perfect game. Especially considering this was a paid signing I presume.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

You'd think that Humber would make a little more effort in signing his name on a ticket for his perfect game. Especially considering this was a paid signing I presume.

Steve,
I would agree with you, and yes, it was a paid signing. Sadly, I believe that this is literally as good as it gets with these modern players...

[gregr2]

Eric - that Manny does look like a math equation!!

[packs]

Here's what Yu Darvish looks like. Not sure if I'm even holding it the right way:

[gregr2]

Originally Posted by packs

here's what yu darvish looks like. Not sure if i'm even holding it the right way:

lol

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by packs

Here's what Yu Darvish looks like. Not sure if I'm even holding it the right way:

Boy, that really is a hot mess! Wow!

[theshleps]

i believe the Darvish is upside down but not 100% sure

[packs]

Here's another good one. This is Chris Sale's signature:

[mcgwirecom]

Pete Incaviglia

[thenavarro]

I've gotten Darvish several times and you ARE holding it upside down

Mike

[packs]

Thanks, Mike. He's a toughie in more ways than one.

[MikeKam]

Ichiro's autograph is pretty "weird"

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

I would say these are pretty terrible, but this disease is sadly ubiquitous amongst virtually all modern players...

I found a binder buried in a closet last week that contained maybe a thousand autographs that I collected as a kid, so all are 30 years old or more.

I hesitate to say that I could read ALL of them, but I could definitely read the vast majority of them.

Below is one of the least readable.

Doug

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

I found a binder buried in a closet last week that contained maybe a thousand autographs that I collected as a kid, so all are 30 years old or more.

I hesitate to say that I could read ALL of them, but I could definitely read the vast majority of them.

Below is one of the least readable.

Doug

Interesting. Illegible, unless you are a Basketball Hall of Fame collector then you would instantly recognize the signature of George Mikan. I find that many signatures can be challenging until you see them a few times. Once you recognize it you don't think about it. I am sure there are at least a few on here that would agree.

Here is one that I got TTM. It is not someone who has been asked for his signature much as he competed in Field Hockey for the U.S. at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia where the team finished 11th. Granted, he was about 90 years old when he signed this two years ago, but I still had to do a Scooby-Doo when I saw it (turn head slightly and make the sound he always made). His name is Kurt Ucko.

[71buc]

Originally Posted by packs

Here's what Yu Darvish looks like. Not sure if I'm even holding it the right way:

Must be a combination of Persian and Japanese

Originally Posted by MikeKam

Ichiro's autograph is pretty "weird"

sure is

[SikSyko]

Here is a few that I have the links for here at work.

Not really ugly but not a name.


Miguel Sano







Norman Reedus (from a paid signing)


I could go on with a lot more.

[gregr2]

Love the double star!! LOL

[1880nonsports]

really enjoyed seeing these - not sure why :-) If I owned them I'd be pretty disappointed as an autograph collector - I'd like that it inherently represents a moment in time that the player themselves signed it - the "connection" - but obviously it's also about the visual appeal of the autograph. Sometimes these autographs seem to suggest a lack of pride or maybe it's just a reflection of a society self absorbed and moving so quickly that reason is lost. Two stars, an inverted abacus, a pictograph - yesh.

[Michael B]

That Trevor Steinburg signature is pathetic. I was in Montreal in 1984 for an Expos/I don't recall series and the NHL draft. I got Steinburg along with Kirk Muller, Peter Svoboda and others as they were drafted. I remember Steinburg had a letter perfect cursive signature.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by gregr2

Love the double star!! LOL

+1

[SikSyko]

Originally Posted by gregr2

Love the double star!! LOL

I bought it because that it as different, odd, bad and cool all at the same time. It was under $5 so why not add something like that to my collection.

I have some autos that are much worse then them that I will post.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Maurice Clarrett is pretty awful. I will post one later.

[Exhibitman]

Wow, some of those really stink on ice. This one isn't quite as bad but it definitely has potential:

[6-4-3memorabilia]

I have a Greg Maddux on a 1989 Topps card that is so ugly. I always stayed away from Maddux autos because they looked so bad but I gave in about 8 months ago and got one knowing he was going to be in the HOF this year

[Gary Dunaier]

There's a store I frequent that has a box of autograph cards and jersey cards for $3 apiece, and I get a perverse kick out of going through them and picking out the autograph cards with the worst signatures. The other day I got three cards that were just, essentially, initialed by the player.

I have to wonder if the athletes sign their contracts, checks, and other legal paperwork the same way they sign their trading cards.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Wow, some of those really stink on ice. This one isn't quite as bad but it definitely has potential:

I would probably give him a pass on this one. Some people have a difficult time signing over themselves. It looks like the case here. He signs so big (bad eyesight?) that he cannot squeeze his signature across the card and he signs himself into a corner so to speek.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

These are the ugliest ones I own.


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[almostdone]

Originally Posted by I Only Smoke 4 the Cards

These are the ugliest ones I own.


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The funny thing is there aren't even the same.
Drew

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by almostdone

The funny thing is there aren't even the same.
Drew

I noticed that as well. I wonder if he had someone else sign some of the stickers.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

I have to wonder if the athletes sign their contracts, checks, and other legal paperwork the same way they sign their trading cards.

One of my rock star employers has a very attractive signature for when he signs an autograph for a fan, and a scrawl for when he signs legal documents.

Generally speaking, in my experience, if the fan signature is a scrawl, then the legal document signature is the same, or even worse.

Doug

[callou2131]

Here is a Jaromir Jagr IP, A Christine Michael Card, and the last one isnt mine it is a PSA certified Meg Ryan baseball. Bryce Harpers sig lately looks pretty much like a B with a line.

[Scott Garner]

That "Meg Ryan" baseball is hysterical!
How can you authenticate that piece of crap? Pleeeze...

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

That "Meg Ryan" baseball is hysterical!
How can you authenticate that piece of crap? Pleeeze...

Somebody paid a fee for that certification...

[Michael B]

If I did not know better I would swear that baseball was a JSA certified signature of Cheetah the Monkey!!!!!!!!!!

[yanksfan09]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

That "Meg Ryan" baseball is hysterical!
How can you authenticate that piece of crap? Pleeeze...

Completely no way to "authenticate" that. Unless PSA watched her "sign" it. Even then there's no way you can even call it a signature with a straight face. Whoever put that line on the ball only defaced a cheap baseball. This is definitely one of the most ridiculous things I've seen if it is PSA authenticated. If I owned that ball it would be used for catch and batting practice.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

Completely no way to "authenticate" that. Unless PSA watched her "sign" it. Even then there's no way you can even call it a signature with a straight face. Whoever put that line on the ball only defaced a cheap baseball. This is definitely one of the most ridiculous things I've seen if it is PSA authenticated. If I owned that ball it would be used for catch and batting practice.

I've heard about this one before.


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[djson1]

OK...just saw this one and had to share. I hope he doesn't become a HOFer...can you imagine the forgeries?

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

I have Circle Heart Circle on my fantasy team and I think he will be a HOFer.

[djson1]

Originally Posted by I Only Smoke 4 the Cards

I have Circle Heart Circle on my fantasy team and I think he will be a HOFer.

Ok, well, he definitely has good stats and if he gradually improves his numbers, he could be headed to the hall.

I'm just saying, it would be so easy to forge his signature on all mediums. TPAs authenticating 'circle' 'heart' 'circle'..haha

[Bigdaddy]

Not mine, but I have one just like it. He was a real trendsetter for today's signers:

[SikSyko]

One time when I was hounding a hockey team one of the players (not going to say his name) just scribbled on the stuff he was signing. I said I did not want an autograph that looked like that in my collection and he came back with, you don't want my scribble in your collection with the biggest smile on his face. I did get him years later where you can almost make out his name.

The auto was just circles at the time.

I will add some more scans of the really bad autos I have now that most of my collection is scanned.

[dapro]

Another recent Ichiro auto.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by dapro

Another recent Ichiro auto.

I cut him some slack because he is from Japan.