Anyone collect signed checks?

[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

[Scott Garner]

Great pickups, Jon! Congrats.
I guessing that both of us must have been dealing with Tim Olsen recently?

[uga1980]

Thanks Scott! Absolutely great pickups from Tim. I was curious where the Miles Main came from... Tim made numerous collectors happy.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by uga1980

Thanks Scott! Absolutely great pickups from Tim. I was curious where the Miles Main came from... Tim made numerous collectors happy.

Absolutely!
It seems like some of the best pickups in the last year have come from other collectors breaking up great collections (Tim recently & Steve S. last year).
In my experience this is almost always how the best items turn up in the hobby...

[homerunhitter]

I still say that signed checks are as close to authentic as possible with so much fake crap out there. Plus they are super cool! Glad to see that so many people collect them! It’s fun to see how many different baseball HOFers everyone has. How many do you have?