Autograph Hell

I had the pleasure of meeting Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, AKA "Mr. Cub" and getting his autograph.  It was something I will never forget. RIP Ernie Banks Ernie Banks' family has announced that the Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer died after suffering a heart attack. Banks, a two-time National League MVP who spent his entire major league career with the Cubs, died Friday at age 83. "Let's play two!" the late Ernie Banks was fond of saying. And he'd have happily played three or more games per day if he could. Nobody represented his city or team more joyously, or more admirably, than Mr. Cub did. Ernie Banks died Friday at age 83, Michael Wilbon writes . The cause of his death was not announced until Sunday, when family attorney Mark Bogen revealed at a news conference that Banks died from the heart attack just seven days before his 84th birthday. Banks' wife, Liz Banks, also was in attendance. "It is certainly a sad day f...

MILWAUKEE (WITI) — Collecting sports memorabilia is big business these days — but how do you know if you’re getting the real deal? Before you buy a fake, FOX6′s Contact 6 says it’s important to know what can happen.    Baseball is America’s popular past-time, and like most sports, baseball has generated a memorabilia business worth billions. “I consider myself very knowledgeable about what a real one and a fake one is,” Mark Mench said. Mench has been an autograph collector for 30 years, and is very confident he can spot a fake. However, his batting average took a hit recently. “A Steve Prefontaine autograph you almost never see. So, he advertised for things that almost everyone would be interested in who collects what I collect,” Mench said. The “he” Mench is referring to is Carl Myer. “The way he fooled me is because – how he spoke. He knew dealers, he knew the business, he knew basically everything I knew about autographs and I`ve collected 30 ...

Here is an interesting article about how interest in Bull's autographed memorabilia is on the rise!  Do any of you have signed Bulls memorabilia?  If not, do you have a favorite ball team that is the basis of your collection?  Tell me about it in the comments! Jason Azul could probably run a Bu...

If you are like me, you've collected autographs for years and have built up quite a collection.  I have albums upon albums full of my coveted autographed pictures, and closets full of autographed books and memorabilia.  I love it.  I was recently asked what my most prized autograph is and I had to think about that for a while.  That is a hard question because each one has a story and is special in its own way.  I love my autographed picture with President Reagan but I also love my signed boxing gloves my Mohammed Ali!   Tell me what your most coveted autograph is!

Autograph authentication is in such bad odor that people who do it don't like the term.  Journalist Rocky Landsverk reported in an article in the April 29, 2005, issue of Sports Collectors Digest; "One thing I've learned about the ongoing 'Authenticating Authenticators' series is that it has a bad name," Landsverk wrote.  "virtually every 'authenticator' I've interviewed said they shouldn't be called authenticators." What do these purported experts want to be called?  According to Landsverk they prefer "verifiers" or "examiners."  Here's what's up: the people who pass judgement on the genuineness of autographs want a job title that doesn't go too far.  In their minds, the most comfortable title carries the message: "Hey, I looked at this autograph sure, but don't hold me to my findings on whether it's the real McCoy or not." This spin effort, not only with job titles but with the r...

Here are a few steps you can take to help recognize a pre-printed autograph.  These tips do require you to have the autograph in your possession.   1. The signature will appear to be below the surface of the glossy portion of the photo and it will often appear very ‘flat’. 2. To test this, hold the photo at an angle very close to a bright source of light. A real autograph is on surface of the photo and should reflect differently than the rest of the surface. It will be very obvious when it is a legitimate autograph signed on top of the photo. A preprint will blend right in with the surface of the photo because it is actually part of the photo and the glossy reflection will be the same in the background of the photo as well as where the autograph is printed. You may have to move the photo around to get the right angle and notice the difference in reflection but with a little practice you'll become adept at this in no time. 3. Since the au...