Show a "rare" variation of a common autograph

[packs]

Lots of people have interesting ideas when it comes to asking a player to sign their name. I've seen some people who collect only full name signatures, etc. Let's see some autographs that aren't "rare" in general but are rare to find.

Here's my Albert Belle, nee Joey Belle, signed rookie as Joey Belle with a "Tribe" inscription. If Albert is ever elected, as I firmly believe he should be, this card with this signature would be a grail to someone:

[parker1b2]

Great card!!! I also believe Albert should be in the HOF.

[Scott Garner]

Hey Packs, I love the Joey Belle autographed card. Definitely scarce.
Cool topic, BTW.
Here is the rarer, more formal version of Lefty Grove's autograph on a circa 1931 album page.

[Mark70Z]

While most of us know that Brooks Robinson signs about everything so his autograph is common. While I like picking up his signed pieces and think he has a pretty nice autograph some people think that it’s a bit sloppy. Maybe not sloppy compared to the newer player autographs, but compared to old school players. While I don’t think his early autograph are altogether “rare” I believe they look a lot different than his current style even though I can see similarities.

[btcarfagno]

Same thing with Willie Stargell. His early signature differs pretty significantly from his later years version. Below is my rookie era signed 1963 along with a post career (not mine) example.

[39special]

The left is a early career Sandberg.The right is how he signs now.

[milkit1]

Neil Armstrong gemini era autograph

armstrong auto gemini photo.jpg

[Kzoo]

Ricky knows that Rickey used to sign a bit differently. They look similar, in some areas, but his earlier signature is pretty close to the facsimile autograph printed on the card.

[Republicaninmass]

Thank you, as this thread made me dig through my stacks


Robin Roberts, know for almost "printing" his signature, certainly didn't begin that way! Here is a mimic to his 51/52 signing style, he got BETTER with age!


Posting from my phone, sorry if it's rotated

[WillowGrove]

I agree with Scott, cool topic (AND I like the Joey Belle too.)

Now I haven't been into autographs for very long but I have not seen Mr. Hartnett sign like this anywhere else.

I read in some old post that some players signed to replicate what was printed on the card - do many find this accurate?

Again, cool topic. Thanks. -peter

[tazdmb]

Originally Posted by WillowGrove

I agree with Scott, cool topic (AND I like the Joey Belle too.)

Now I haven't been into autographs for very long but I have not seen Mr. Hartnett sign like this anywhere else.

I read in some old post that some players signed to replicate what was printed on the card - do many find this accurate?

Again, cool topic. Thanks. -peter

There are checks in the market where he signs his legal name, but that is the first non-check autograph I have seen like that.

[yanksfan09]

Early Jeter and Bonds...

[mcgwirecom]

Early Manny signatures. Totally legible!

[nicker10]

Here are some early ones of Puckett, Pedro, and Griffey

[jb217676]

Signed in 1979 by Raines.

[tazdmb]

Originally Posted by nicker10

Here are some early ones of Puckett, Pedro, and Griffey

Full name Maranville, Full name Veeck. Have other old HOFfull names (Appling, Gehringer, Willie Foster, Judy Johnson...) but not paying Photobucket's ransom.

[jp1216]

2 Unique '89 Fleer Bill Ripken autos.
First one is signed by the photographer Steve Babineau on the back with 'Oops'.
Second one is a Black Box version with an early Bill Ripken auto on the front and Babineau on the back.

[jgmp123]

Joe DiMaggio.....

Top - Rookie Signature
Middle - Signature during the 1941 Streak
Bottom - Most recognized "modern" signature

[nicker10]

Here's a 1933 Dimaggio

[Michael B]

Babe Didrikson - Most people know her Babe Zaharias signature which was quite elaborate. Here are three signatures of her signed at the 1932 Olympics when she was 19 years old. All three are different with the third one being fancy. The Olympic collectors in Europe like this signature rather than her married signature. It sells very well over there.

Mark Spitz - His current signature is rather familiar to most collectors. Here is his present signature and one from 1969 when he was at the University of Indiana.

Tommie Smith - Best known for the raised fist protest at the 1968 Olympics. His signature for many years has been as Tommie Smith. While still at San Jose State he signed his first name as Tommy. Here is a modern version and one from 1966.

[Scott Garner]

Michael,
These are sure great examples of divergent styles of the way a person signs their name.
Re: your Babe Didrickson early exemplars. Have you ever considered that Babe Didrickson was ambidextrous? Your second exemplar appears to have a left handers slant as opposed to the other two which definitely appear to be signed by a right hander.
Just curious...

[roarfrom34]

From an Orioles/Red Sox program from 09/06/78 is an autograph of an 18 year old Cal Ripken Jr., who just finished his first professional season in Rookie Ball @ Bluefield WV, who regularly worked out with the MLB team (since his father was the third base coach):

[Scott Garner]

Unquestionably the much nicer early example of HOF Frank Thomas's 1990 rookie scribe before it became the recent bastardized FT 35 that's his current sig.

I have a few nice examples of this signature on a ball, 3 x 5 index card and Score rookie card.

[rlevy]

Cool to see all these variations. Although Sanford was Koufax's actual first name, he almost always signed Sandy,so I thought I would post a couple of his variations from his normal "Sandy Koufax".
1."Sanford Koufax", signed on the back of his military ID from when he and Don Drysdale served at Fort Dix in the Army reserves during the off-season in 1957.
2. "Mr. & Mrs. Sandy Koufax", signed August 7, 1972, when he and the missus stopped at a motel on the way back to Maine after his HOF induction.
3. "Sanford Koufax", signed on his 1956 contract to play winter ball in Puerto Rico.

Rick[ATTACH][ATTACH]back 50%.jpg[/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[yanksfan09]

early Vlad

[canjond]

Excuse the crappy iPhone picture, but here's something that may be rather unique. When I was about 14 years old, I got to hang out with Warren Spahn for an evening in Cooperstown. After dinner, he told me that he was able to sign his name backwards and upside down. I thought it would be cool, so I asked him to sign a photo for me. So, here it is - the "nerraW nhapS" signed photo!

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Michael,
These are sure great examples of divergent styles of the way a person signs their name.
Re: your Babe Didrickson early exemplars. Have you ever considered that Babe Didrickson was ambidextrous? Your second exemplar appears to have a left handers slant as opposed to the other two which definitely appear to be signed by a right hander.
Just curious...

Scott,

That is possible. The only photo I have seen of her signing autographs she was using her right hand. Another consideration is the situation and venue. The first one was for the daughter of someone with connections, coach or the such, and was signed in the women's section of the Olympic Village. The third signature was at a dinner held for the U.S. Team. There was a menu included on which the person wrote that he got all of the women on the U.S. Team. She may have decided to write a little fancier as all of the other women were. I am not sure of the circumstance of the second signature, but guess it was not as formal a venue as the other two. She did write a bit more, but the writing is plainer. As for the slant, it is not always definitive. I am a lefty and since I write 'crook handed' it could pass for a righty. Interestingly, the middle one was sold to a German Olympic collector when I was in Slovakia in September. I had quite a few signatures of early Olympians including multiples of Georgia Coleman, gold medal diver who died in 1940, and he said the Didrikson was the best one since it was her maiden name and signed at the Olympics and those are harder to find. They also like it when people sign with the name they used when competing.

[TUM301]

Picked up a couple cool Black Sox related auto pieces that you don`t see every day and will try to post soon. 1`st, is a short note written by Joe Jax`s wife in answering a fan`s auto request. She signed almost every one of these but this note informs the fan of her dear Joe`s death a few years prior and is signed "Mrs Joe Jackson". 2`nd being, another B Sox item. This one is from the infamous series "ring leader" Chick Gandil. Have seen a decent amount of "Chick Gandil" even while signing official documents but this one is simply Arnold Gandil. Have come across only one other example as only Arnold so thought this one was worth grabbing. Cool thread..

[yanksfan09]

Theodore...

[Stanesq]

[callou2131]

Dont have a pic right now, But I have a 1989 Curt Schilling auto on a ball with Cal and Billy. Dont see too many Orioles Schilling sigs.

[slidekellyslide]

"Buck Wheat"

[slidekellyslide]

"Henry Greenberg"...not sure if it's rare, but I don't see him signing his first name "Henry" very often.

[slidekellyslide]

Dizzy Dean signing with just his first two initials and last name. Not sure if I've seen anything else signed by him like this.

[esiason14]

This is a great topic....

[theshleps]

Jimmy Foxx with a Y
Foxx 1935 Goudey #64.jpg

[Forever Young]

[Forever Young]

1953 F-M original postcard signed by Roger with his birth name(Maras) before he changed it to Maris.

[Forever Young]

"Barry "L" amar Bonds" with "Lord" within his rookie signature on Rookie card and most unique(ironic) his "say no to drugs" inscription during the 80's campaign.

[bravos4evr]

I have a Hank Aaron signed hat that I know to be genuine (friend got it in person) that is part of the "HAL' signed era for Hank. (Hank has a lot of different sig styles as he as aged, now it's a very messy scribble )

for some reason I can't get the picture up, but it looks almost exactly like this card:

[holybull]

wow....that Greenberg would not happen to be for sale/trade?? thanks, Michael.

[scooter729]

Connie Mack's signature isn't all that rare, but how about C. McGillicuddy, anyone?

[tazdmb]

At least I know who outbid me, nice pickup.

[SullyV]

Neil Armstrong pre-NASA era auto

[Mr. Zipper]

Very nice. Love the full name Armstrongs.

[David Atkatz]

How about a real full-name Armstrong--middle name, too?

[Mr. Zipper]

Show off! You know I love it!!