Addie Joss auto?

[CMIZ5290]

Extremely rare autograph, especially when you factor in that he died either 1910 or 1911.....

[michael3322]

"Joss' playing career was cut short when he died suddenly from tuberculous meningitis on April 14, 1911."

Wikipedia

Scott Langert wrote a great SABR-published bio on Joss called King of Pitchers.

Later this year, Joss' writings as a newspaper reporter/columnist will be published as a volume (Addie Joss on Baseball: Collected Newspaper Columns and World Series Reports, 1907-1909).

But the question remains, have Joss-signed cheques or legal documents (or frankly any cut auto) survived and ever made it to the auction block?

Thanks,
Michael

[Fred]

I'd have to figure that IF it's a real Joss signature and someone can really prove this then that thing is going to sell for $$$$$

So, 5 year old Norman gets a post card with his dad's picture on it and he his dad decides to sign it within the next 4 years because he's afraid his son won't recognize him? I don't get it. Why would Joss sign it and comment that it's himself standing on the left? He would have known it was himself and so would his son.

Does anybody else feel this same way?

[nolemmings]

It's not being sold as an autograph. It's offered as Joss' handwriting to his son--someone else added Adrian's identification later.

[tbob]

How did Kevin Keating verify the handwriting was Joss'? What did he compare it to? It could be someone in Cleveland who was a friend of the family who saw Joss' picture and thought that it son would like to see it. I'm skeptical. Hope it's genuine.

[michael3322]

I also wondered how Kevin did the authentication.

A quick Google search produced the following article on Keating on the PSA website: Catching Up with Kevin Keating

Apparently Keating who runs Quality Autographs, graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point with a 4.0 GPA (with a major in Chinese and Far East Studies) and later earned a master's degree from Johns Hopkins.

Unfortunately, Google didn't reveal any other specimens of Joss' handwriting...

[jtschantz]

I have searched long and hard for a Joss autograph with no luck at all. I live in Toledo OH and have visited Addie's grave site (Woodlawn cemetary) and driven by his house (it sold for $800 a few years ago!). A friend of mine visited with his grandaughter for an article he was writing for the Toledo Blade 25 years ago. The grandaughter gave the writer a panoramic picture from the Addie Joss Tribute (all star) game that was originally presented to Addie's wife. I have never been able to find anything that had his signature.