Anyone collect signed checks?

[Scott Garner]

Here are five no-hit pitcher personal checks that I recently added that are noteworthy:

- HOF Negro League great Leon Day- Pitched an Opening Day no-hitter on 5/5/46
- KC Packers Federal League pitcher Alex Miles Main- Pitched a no hitter on 8/16/15 against the Buffalo Blues-
- Negro League pitching great Chet Brewer pitched a combo no-hitter with Alfred "Army" Cooper against the Chicago American Giants on 6/29/29
- Cincinnati Reds Ewell "The Whip" Blackwell pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Braves on 6/18/47
- Toronto Blue Jays RHP Dave Stieb no-hits the Cleveland Indians on 9/2/90

Some genuine toughees here...

[uga1980]

Great additions Scott! Congrats.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by uga1980

Great additions Scott! Congrats.

Thanks Jon!

[ocjack]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Here are five new no-hit pitcher personal checks that I added recently that are noteworthy:

- HOF Negro League great Leon Day- Pitched an Opening Day no-hitter on 5/5/46
- KC Packers Federal League pitcher Alex Miles Main- Pitched a no hitter on 8/16/15 against the Buffalo Blues-
- Negro League pitching great Chet Brewer pitched a combo no-hitter with Alfred "Army" Cooper against the Chicago American Giants on 6/29/29
- Cincinnati Reds Ewell "The Whip" Blackwell pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Braves on 6/18/47
- Toronto Blue Jays RHP Dave Stieb no-hits the Cleveland Indians on 9/2/90

Some genuine toughees here...

Would love to know the story behind Blackwell's check for 1-cent. lol

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by ocjack

Would love to know the story behind Blackwell's check for 1-cent. lol

OC Jack,
This was actually a common practice by guys that collect checks.
Send a request to the player for a signed check, letting them know that's what you collect and have them make it out for 1-cent.
I have checks in my collection from a few collectors that did the same thing.

That being said, a lot of this predated all of the fraud and identity theft that goes on today, which would prevent a player from ever agreeing to do this.

[ocjack]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

OC Jack,
This was actually a common practice by guys that collect checks.
Send a request to the player for a signed check, letting them know that's what you collect and have them make it out for 1-cent.
I have checks in my collection from a few collectors that did the same thing.

That being said, a lot of this predated all of the fraud and identity theft that goes on today, which would prevent a player from ever agreeing to do this.

Thanks Scott. That makes sense. It's also interesting that some of the checks don't have the micr-encoding that is placed on the lower right of the check when it is cashed. Great collection.

[homerunhitter]

I feel like with all the fake autographs out there in the hobby (mostly on eBay) that signed checks are as close as one can get to a 100% authentic autograph. Anyone think the same?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

I feel like with all the fake autographs out there in the hobby (mostly on eBay) that signed checks are as close as one can get to a 100% authentic autograph. Anyone think the same?

If you are apprehensive and find yourself second guessing your self-authenticating prowess, then yes (which is fine, by the way). It's definitely better to be cautious, but there is so much signed material out there, authentic or otherwise, that it would be a travesty to limit oneself to checks. Not to mention that there simply aren't cancelled checks readily available for many, many players. It is a wonderful medium, though.

ETA: Don't forget that checks aren't foolproof. Forgers have been replicating them for centuries. In more modern times, there are enough problems with fake Ruth checks, for example, that you really need to do your research before purchasing one if you don't feel confident in relying on your own knowledge.

[uga1980]

I recently added some difficult names from a check perspective.

Bob Ewing
Gus Dorner
Lewis "King" Brockett
Ivan Howard
Alex Pearson
LaRue Kirby
Rollie Zeider

[kevtermeg]

Great checks! Each of these are truly 1 of 1. I continue to add HOF checks to my collection. Up to about 110 different HOFers.