An Obvious Fake Mickey Mantle Signed Ball

[JimStinson]

It's gone now. POOF. After looking at the seller's page and history the signature was SO bad that it could have just been a case of someone not knowing anything about autographs and possibly tracing over a real signature thinking it would enhance the value. Or some innocent misguided attempt at selling a baseball. I've traveled all over the country buying autographs and have hundreds of stories just like that one in which the seller believes 100% the autograph is genuine.
One in particular comes to mind. I had an appointment to meet with a gentleman and his daughter in Florida who had an "in-person" signed BABE RUTH baseball that was in pristine condition. Well into his 80's his daughter brought him to see me pushing his wheelchair with him clutching a box that held the baseball. Before handing it to me he told a long and detailed story about when he met "The Babe" exactly when and where and what a thrill it was to shake his hand and eventually get his autograph. The story lasted all of about 30 minutes. When he finally handed me the ball it was indeed pristine but was clearly signed by Babe Ruth's wife. I tried to tell him as delicately as I could that it was signed by Claire. With each sentence he seemed to get angrier even SHOUTING expletives and insisting he watched Babe Ruth sign it. I was waiting for him to jump out of his wheelchair and take a swing at me. While I am reasonably certain he did MEET Babe Ruth and 100% certain he believed it was authentic it simply wasn't. Point being sometimes people not in the hobby and with no knowledge of autographs make innocent mistakes.
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Always BUYING vintage Autographs
jim@stinsonsports.com