Sandy Koufax?

[ahs430]

I know it is BGS authentic, but auto looks funny to me.

[Bigdaddy]

Someone ruined a worn, but still intact, Koufax RC.

[shelly]

[Scott Garner]

Terrible Koufax forgery. No way.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

This question has been posted elsewhere online. As I said there, I vote authentic (likely a free IP autograph). Even in that condition, the card has too much value unsigned for someone to put such an atypical forgery on it. There are characteristics present which look right to me. Koufax is smart, and if anyone is familiar with their own autograph value as a commodity, it's him. It's the same thing as with Gretzky's IP scrawls. He'll sign his RC (and other items) for free IP, but you receive that terrible scrawl. Although Koufax will give a nicer free autograph on other items he knows to be worth less, it doesn't surprise me that he'd do something like this. It's certainly not the first time.

(The former first owner of the signed card later came forward stating that it indeed was an IP consignment which he later slabbed and sold. It's since changed hands at least a couple of times.)

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I also mentioned elsewhere that although I feel it's genuine, I'd prefer to render an inconclusive opinion on this if I was to be independently authenticating it. Thus far, aside from Beckett, I'm seemingly the only person on the side of "authentic", to include a couple of people right here whose knowledge on the subject is not to be taken lightly. Their opinions don't sway my own feelings about the signature, but I really wouldn't want to have to defend this position over and over again. Experience dictates this is the type of item that you'd never hear the end about. It's pretty rare that I'd take such a stance. I'd rather just refund someone's submission money back to them rather than deal with the same headache time and time again. There are easier ways to make $100 or however much this costs these days. A polarizing piece, that's for sure.

[tlake22]

I purchased this card from the original owner a few years back.

[packs]

I don't know when the original owner got it signed but I wouldn't be surprised if it was at Spring Training a few years ago when Koufax was a regular again. I believe it was a brief return but I did manage to get my own ball signed.

When I posted it, people thought it was a forgery too until I said I handed the ball to him myself and it's the most authentic Koufax I'm personally aware of:

[theshleps]

As the owner of 100+ Koufax of course the first impression was it's bad. I did get him IP at spring training in a book and it is not like his show autographs but much nicer than this one. That being said any forger could do a much better job than that with little practice so I definitely think it could be real. Maybe yes, maybe no, but I'd never buy it

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I also mentioned elsewhere that although I feel it's genuine, I'd prefer to render an inconclusive opinion on this if I was to be independently authenticating it. Thus far, aside from Beckett, I'm seemingly the only person on the side of "authentic", to include a couple of people right here whose knowledge on the subject is not to be taken lightly. Their opinions don't sway my own feelings about the signature, but I really wouldn't want to have to defend this position over and over again. Experience dictates this is the type of item that you'd never hear the end about. It's pretty rare that I'd take such a stance. I'd rather just refund someone's submission money back to them rather than deal with the same headache time and time again. There are easier ways to make $100 or however much this costs these days. A polarizing piece, that's for sure.

My philosophy is this...even if proven to be an in person auto, if I have it in my collection and even a little doubt creeps in every time I look at it, then I'm not going to enjoy it in my collection. I'd rather spend more and get a typical Koufax auto. Opinions vary and that's where the polarization comes in. I'd be happy to have it though if I was the one that got it in person.

[shelly]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't know when the original owner got it signed but I wouldn't be surprised if it was at Spring Training a few years ago when Koufax was a regular again. I believe it was a brief return but I did manage to get my own ball signed.

When I posted it, people thought it was a forgery too until I said I handed the ball to him myself and it's the most authentic Koufax I'm personally aware of:

I would have said yes to this in a second. Nothing like the card.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by mr2686

I'd be happy to have it though if I was the one that got it in person.

If he signed my RC like this IP, I'd be at a crossroads of constantly being angry that I received such a trashy signature, and always angry at myself for letting it happen. What else should you expect from a guy who charges more than a used Toyota to sign this item at paid signings?