Roberto Clemente cut auto - auto experts, please look

yankeeno7 · May 9, 2009 2:06AM

Well, I finally pulled this out of my closet. Ive had this auto for nearly 25 years that I purchased from a private collector. Would like to hear some opinions on it. Personally, I think it looks like a good sig but would like to see additional opinions. And no, its not for sale lol

lsutigers1973 · May 9, 2009 2:24AM

Who is Bobaltu Elwuntu?

Barfvader · May 9, 2009 2:29AM

<< Who is Bobaltu Elwuntu? >>

That's just about what I saw when looking at the first name.

nam812 · May 9, 2009 2:33AM

<< Who is Bobaltu Elwuntu? >>

It's Elwintu, thats an i silly.

Ironmanfan · May 9, 2009 2:56AM

fake

CARDSANDCOINS · May 9, 2009 3:21AM

I say no good

samspop · May 9, 2009 3:32AM

It's close, but the sig looks a little choppy...typically a Clemente sig will flow with more roundness to the letters. Additionally, the "e's" look flat, almost like "w's". There is a chance it could come back authentic, but I would lean towards not. GOOD LUCK with it!!

jimq112 · May 9, 2009 4:54AM

I agree no good.

joestalin · May 9, 2009 4:58AM

Laughable

gumbyfan · May 9, 2009 5:01AM

<< Laughable >>

He's looking for opinions on the signature, not on the Phillies.

BunchOBull · May 9, 2009 5:04AM

So many bad Clemente sigs look just like that one...I wonder if it was one prolific con-artist.

joestalin · May 9, 2009 5:06AM

<< 

<< Laughable >>

He's looking for opinions on the signature, not on the Phillies. >>

Someone tell the Brewers you can't get to the playoffs if you aren't in first place...or are you trying to crawl in as the WC.

JS

yankeeno7 · May 9, 2009 5:55AM

I dont know how prolific forgers were 25 years ago. Also, I thought it was from a very good source. hmmm...well, maybe I'll put it in an auction with an insane reserve for a quick opinion and see what comes back.

iamthegreatcornholio · May 9, 2009 6:15AM

I can't tell. I give up on Clemente. I had 3 PSA/DNA Clemente items - all later turned out to be likely forged. To their credit, they did buy them back from me for what I paid.

yankeeno7 · May 9, 2009 6:53AM

Probably a waste of 7.50 but I put it on ebay and requested a quick opinion. Even though its no guarantee, we'll see how it plays out. Thankfully, I only paid 50 bucks for it 25 years ago LOL

Ironmanfan · May 9, 2009 6:57AM

just goes to show that autograph forgery was still prevelant 25 years ago as well.......(been going on a long time)

BunchOBull · May 9, 2009 6:59AM

<< Probably a waste of 7.50 but I put it on ebay and requested a quick opinion. Even though its no guarantee, we'll see how it plays out. Thankfully, I only paid 50 bucks for it 25 years ago LOL >>

Good luck! I hope it works out for the best, but it looks eerily similar to other Arriba's that I've seen get rejected. In as big of a Clemente fan as I am, I don't study his signature in the least...it is one of the most complex signatures to evaluate and I don't even try.

yankeeno7 · May 9, 2009 7:00AM

Im looking at a couple of flats on ebay that are PSA/DNA and dang, it really is close. But on balls, its not close. Maybe its just me having unrealistic hopes? I mean, it doesnt kill me if its not real but it sure would be nice.

But yet, this one is real? ugghh...how can anyone really tell???

BunchOBull · May 9, 2009 7:11AM

Notice how fluid that is? The signature is almost whimsical, not forced or rigid...that's what I think of when I'm looking at a Bob Clemente signature.

Ironmanfan · May 9, 2009 10:56AM

<< Im looking at a couple of flats on ebay that are PSA/DNA and dang, it really is close. But on balls, its not close. Maybe its just me having unrealistic hopes? I mean, it doesnt kill me if its not real but it sure would be nice.

But yet, this one is real? ugghh...how can anyone really tell???

>>

your "autograph" is nowhere close to this one

yankeeno7 · May 9, 2009 11:01AM

I know its not close to all of them...I was just mentioning that I was looking at a couple of flats that were actually close. It would be foolish to go back and forth with 100 examples that all look different. I am speaking only of psa/dna authenticated, of course.

WinPitcher · May 9, 2009 11:09AM

25 years ago auto forgers were in their hey day.

I have no idea if this one is good or bad.

I only know that 25 years ago I had a shop and the guy

3 or 4 towns over was know to forge autos.

He went to jail and the FBI guy was quoted in the paper as saying

"This guy was so stupid he would forge Babe Ruth's auto with a flair pen"

He was no fantasia forger that is for sure.

Steve

zep33 · May 9, 2009 11:23AM

There are probably many autograph forgers that are just like voice impersonators. 1 guy can do many different sigs

MooseDog · May 9, 2009 1:16PM

WinPitcher is right on...about 25 years ago there was a fellow in NY with the initials RD who discovered he had a flair for forging Hall of Fame signatures, and would buy up old autograph books (for the paper), cards, and Hall of Fame postcards. He was very prolific and much of the old Negro League, 19th century, and early Ruth, Gehrig, Alexander, Johnson, Cobb, etc forgeries are all over the hobby.

Keep in mind that way back then $100-200 was a lot to pay for a Hall of Fame autograph, even a tough one like say Willie Keeler, but affordable so he managed to bilk a lot of people and much of his "work" is still out there.

Thankfully he wasn't quite as good as the Marino gang so a good, experienced authenticator (Richard Simon would spot these faster and better than most of the PSA guys IMO) who was around back then an spot them.

Roberto Clemente cut auto - auto experts, please look

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