Who signed the first secretarial or clubhouse signature?

[frankbmd]

1-Jesse 3.jpg

Twenty-five years ago i visited Cooperstown and portrayed myself as a descendant of Jess Burkett. They granted me access, as a relative to the HOF library. They brought out the Burkett file for my review. Honestly there wasn't much in it. They did allow me to xerox a copy of several items however.

The letter above was one of the items I copied. The letter itself is a copy as the original that is in the Hermann file. It appears to be handwritten and in the same hand as the signature, but what do I know.

The question I raise is that of the history of secretarial and/or clubhouse autographs. When did these practices begin? Was anybody besieging Burkett with autograph requests during his time in Worcester following his playing career.

1-Burkett Trimmed.jpg

He also returned as a coach of the Giants in 1921. Was he besieged by autograph requests upon returning to New York?

I don't expect anyone knows for sure, but when did this form of signature (by other than the name signed) enter the baseball autograph market?