1972 Willie Mays Autograph

californiacards3 · January 23, 2011 3:17AM

Willie experts

Saw this on Beckett's Autograph mag about 10 years ago.

Pretty sure this is a clubhouse/secretarial autograph

Sent through the mail TTM in 1973

Thoughts Ideas Opinions

Sean1125 · January 23, 2011 3:27AM

The scan is pretty blurry

pdub1819 · January 23, 2011 3:39AM

Doesn't look like any Willie Mays auto that I've ever seen. IMO it does look like WHAT Willie's auto SHOULD look like.

Downtown1974 · January 23, 2011 3:50AM

Yeah, Im with Paul. Never seen one like that before.

Dboneesq · January 23, 2011 3:58AM

<< <i>Yeah, Im with Paul. Never seen one like that before. >>

In agreement ... however, I don't know what he signed like almost 40 years ago. Sorry.

Stone193 · January 23, 2011 4:00AM

I picked this one up from a dealer I trust who gives a lifetime guarantee on their stuff. This card was done by one of our board members.

I've seen this version before - it's probably one of his autos from the 70s - maybe early 80s - which is different from his sig in the 50s/60s and late 80s to 90s+. It looks like he signed Willie Mop.

This is just my take and not based on expertise or professional experience.

scooter729 · January 23, 2011 4:03AM

I obtained several autos from Mays in the mail in the early-mid 80s, and they look just like the original post and Stone's post. Beyond that, I can't say 100% if it's him or a secretarial, but I can state my TTM's (and he did do TTM at the time) look like that.

Downtown1974 · January 23, 2011 4:04AM

Very interesting. Thanks for posting that Mike. The OPs Mays looks good when compared to Mikes.

Ironmanfan · January 23, 2011 4:19AM

I like it actually

pdub1819 · January 23, 2011 4:41AM

<< <i>Very interesting. Thanks for posting that Mike. The OPs Mays looks good when compared to Mikes. >>

I agree! I would love to have that auto instead of one of his newer variations.

otwcards · January 23, 2011 4:50AM

As I've said before, know the subject material. Assumptive conclusions or generalized statements presented as more than just opinion are dangerous.

A word to the wise, if you don't know something as a fact, don't present what you think as fact. It's dangerous to the other people that aren't willing to invest the time to find out the truth and run off and act on misinformation and then come back here several weeks later wondering where they went wrong and look to put the blame on someone else...

Downtown1974 · January 23, 2011 5:03AM

Scott. That is a very good point and I agree to some extent. However, nobody made the assumption on the validity of the OPs card. The only thing I stated was I have never seen that signature before. And that is a fact.
Afterall the OP ended his post with "thoughts, ideas, opinions"
Please dont take this as argumentative. Just curious to your post.
Bob

otwcards · January 23, 2011 5:07AM

<< <i>Scott. That is a very good point and I agree to some extent. However, nobody made the assumption on the validity of the OPs card. The only thing I stated was I have never seen that signature before. And that is a fact.
Afterall the OP ended his post with "thoughts, ideas, opinions"
Please dont take this as argumentative. Just curious to your post.
Bob >>

Bob:

I'm in a mood. It wasn't directed at anyone specifically. I've been reading too many posts lately with people posting stuff that they don't know anything about and stating it as if it is fact. Misinformation is one of the most dangerous things on these boards.

Downtown1974 · January 23, 2011 5:14AM

I hear ya Scott.
Your point is well taken too.

Take care,
Bob

SDSportsFan · January 23, 2011 5:37AM

Personally, I like the OP's autograph. It matches up nicely with an autographed Gateway cover I have from 1979, and with other autographs I've seen.

Probably the biggest change in Willie's autograph came in the late 1970's, when he shortened the "W" to it's current form of looking like a "4".

Steve

yankeeno7 · January 23, 2011 6:46AM

I think you have a 50/50 shot...if its not a real one, I think its a secretarial. I have seen some that look very much like that to be deemed secretarial.

csmtampa · January 23, 2011 7:32AM

His wife signed his mail back in his playing days. The card you posted looks like one she signed.

BunchOBull · January 23, 2011 7:38AM

Definitely an '80s era signature.

californiacards3 · January 23, 2011 11:08AM

Wow what a response. Here it is. I sent this off in the mail when I was 8 or 9 years old. Sent the Giants card to him in NYC as I remember. Wish I had kept the envelope. Anyway I remember seeing a becketts mag about 10 years ago and the secretarial/clubhouse signature looked identical to mine. As you can imaging 30 years later to find out that this happened was disappointing. I dont want to spend the money to get it authenticated if it comes back secr/clubhouse. I just sent in my Mantle that I got personally.

This post generated a lot of traffic thanks guys. I come away thinking it is secretarial still however, some of you have made we want to take a $10 flyer this month on getting it autheticated.

thanks for the interest

Barry

Piggs · January 23, 2011 11:47AM

Like csmtampa I have a signed '69 Mays, bought this at a show last year. I heard later from someone that it wasn't signed by him. Oh well, I thought it was cool. Doug

Stone193 · January 23, 2011 1:11PM

If there's one thing I know practically nothing? Sigs! I have trouble with them and definitely defer to others to include PSA/DNA.

This is an early alleged variations to his sig that was authenticated by PSA/DNA.

It looks quite a bit like the ones that were posted.

I have very little invested in my sig - so I have little axe to grind.

I recommend anyone interested - just google his sig on ebay - PSA/DNA - if people accept their expertise - it's more than I know - that's fer sure.