Help with Mays autograph

[robw1959]

Not just no, but heck no! Willie's autograph has always been legible. I wrote to him in the 70's, and the one I got back from Willie looked like it does on some of those Topps cards with the facsimilies on front.

[GrayGhost]

Originally Posted by robw1959

Not just no, but heck no! Willie's autograph has always been legible. I wrote to him in the 70's, and the one I got back from Willie looked like it does on some of those Topps cards with the facsimilies on front.

+1

[rmarks]

Thank you for your responses. I saw Mr. Mays at hotels and also wrote to him in the early and mid 70s. The signatures I received through the mail were all beautifully signed by his wife.

I agree this one does not look like the signatures I obtained in person, but I am also aware that his signature changed significantly over the years and was hoping this might be a very rushed version.

[robw1959]

That's interesting that his wife signed for him. How did you even find this out? She would have to have been a darned good forger to pull off the one I got back from him in the mail. If I can recall, it looked quite a bit like the facsimile on his 1967 regular Topps issue. Even with the fact that his signature did change over the years, this one is just too different from any authentic Mays signature no matter how much it might have changed . . . at least in my opinion. I would go so far as to say Willie would have to have some neurological issues to sign a card like that. I know he just celebrated his 92nd birthday, but I doubt very much that his fine motor skills are shot to that extent.

[rmarks]

Thanks for your response, Rob. I agree with you that the Mays signature on this card isn't close to his known authentic signatures. It was with a group of other signed 1966 cards that appear authentic, so I gave it a glimmer of hope that it was a rushed, ballpark autograph.

I believe his wife started to sign his fan mail in the late 60s through the 80s or so. I stopped actively pursuing autographs in 1975, so I'm not sure when she stopped signing his mail. Her signature looks similar to his, but there are distinct differences. I'm sure if you posted yours, the experts on this board would opine. You might have gotten lucky.

Until I got back into the hobby following a cancer diagnosis, I thought my ttm Mays signatures were authentic. I now believe all of those obtained ttm are secretarial. I was fortunate to have met him at the hotels and got him to sign some of his cards in person. His wife-signature looked close enough to have fooled me for years. I actually like the flow of his wife's signature better that his.

[theshleps]

Look at these 2 IP. I am not sure when then 1963 was signed but he started tom loop the W on this one. If you look at the 53 there are similarities to yours. I'd say possibly ok
Mays 1953 Topps #244.JPG

mays 1963 Topps #300.JPG

[rmarks]

Thank you, Michael, for posting the Mays pictures. Your 53 Topps signed card is the one that was in the back of my head giving me a glimmer of hope that the 66 is good. It came as part of a collection from someone who got cards signed at the ballpark in Atlanta. Most of the others looked good to me, but often rushed leading me to believe that most were signed amongst a crowd or during warm-ups while standing up with card in one hand while signing with the other causing a weak foundation to smoothly and completely sign their names.

Is this a pipe dream, or is there still a glimmer of hope?