Does this Ted Williams look real?

Tedw9

I have a hard time believing this Ted signature is real. What do you all think?

Sox Signed Ball

VitoCo1972

No - the W isn't right.

Tedw9

To me, it looks like it was signed by a shaky hand or a kid. Ted's signature was flowing, that shows a lot of hesitation.

crbatt

Doesn't look quite right to me, but I'm not an expert.

VitoCo1972

Well, Ted's signature DID change a lot during the last 4-5 years of his life. Up until the early 90's it was, as you say, very flowing, and easy to discern. When he got older and sick, it got a little shakier, but the W in Williams never looked like that. Also, there are crazy stories around that his son John Henry Williams became an expert at signing Ted's name and he was signing a lot of the Green Diamond stickered stuff toward the end - which is why you should never take a Green Diamond item as authentic without 3rd party authentication as well.

jay0791

no way

looks like a diffeent pen did it also.

but I am no expert..even though I have 5 known good ted sigs

WinPitcher

No and I have never seen Ted Williams sign anywhere but the sweet spot.

Does not look at all like the one I have.


Steve

StanTheManMusial

During Ted's declining health, he was not able to sign baseballs very well. I seen a Ted Williams in person signed ball from 2000, and it looked very similar to this one. I would be curious as to when the seller claims this ball was signed, because I would guess it's a 1999-2001 signature.

perkdog

I have a ball signed from him that dates back to 1960, my father got it at his baseball camp in person so I know its 100% legit- it doesnt look anything like that.

WinPitcher

Tim makes a good point. Even so, I'd pass on that.

Steve

MooseDog

The question is really this...

Would you want a horrible autograph like that, or an earlier, more "normal" example.