Opinion on Willie Mays?

[David W]

I purchased this week at a local auction a bunch of programs, scorecards, year books etc.... of football, basketball, baseball and hockey loaded, many of them had multiple autographs.

This is a 1973 Mets yearbook, only 1 auto in it, this one.

Is it any good? Did Willie ever use circles to dot the "I's"? Or did some kid have fun in 1973?

All of these items had been in storage for years, based on the musty smell.

Thanks.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Fine and signature style would indicate it was signed when yearbook was issued.

[David W]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Fine and signature style would indicate it was signed when yearbook was issued.

Thanks

[Bpm0014]

It’s neat that you can make out the M A Y S. It became more and more sloppier as time went on. It’s nice to see where it began.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Yep, and notice how dangerously similar some aspects of this version are to the secretarial of the second Mrs. Mays. You can really see that this version was practically her template for certain formations. The circled i's, for example, are something that Willie himself picked up and put down very briefly at times, but she liked them and continued to use with much more frequency. There are other characteristics as well.

[David W]

Thanks Brendan and Billy Cox

[gonefishin]

Great pick up on your items!

This auto looks like it was in his transition period. The thing that kind of gets me is fluidity with the s. It looks kind of unfinished, or forced, not fluid like with other Mays authentic autographs. With that said, I'm no expert, but can't make a decision one way or the other.

I've included an authenticated 50s era autograph for comparison. Hopefully it will help.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

This isn't meant with any ill feeling, but posting a 1950's Mays autograph for comparison to a later example is tantamount to holding a painting from Picasso's Blue Period next to his sculpture outside of Daley Plaza in Chicago to ascertain that both are works of Picasso. That is to say, one is really of no use whatsoever to the other when trying to show that both are from the same man. Out of any player, Mays ranks near the top for the number of times he's changed his autograph style. It's mind-boggling.

Hilariously, Picasso didn't actually build that sculpture himself--you could say it's a secretarial Picasso!

[David W]

Originally Posted by gonefishin

Great pick up on your items!

This auto looks like it was in his transition period. The thing that kind of gets me is fluidity with the s. It looks kind of unfinished, or forced, not fluid like with other Mays authentic autographs. With that said, I'm no expert, but can't make a decision one way or the other.

I've included an authenticated 50s era autograph for comparison. Hopefully it will help.

Thanks