Players whose signatures stayed nice (or got better)

[Topnotchsy]

With all the talk about players whose signature quality declines dramatically once reaching the Majors, I thought it would be nice to highlight the players who have maintained a nice signature.

I thought this was really cool and highlights a player whose signature has actually gotten better over time:


Then:

Now:

 

[gracecollector]

I like Mark Grace's post-1995 style much better than the pre-1995 style. Although some disagree with me. Mostly just a switch of the "G," but I like how it looks better. I grant that there are more legible letters in the pre-1995 style, but I like the flow of the later version.

Pre-1995

Post-1995

 

[Hawk8]

I like Mark Grace's post-1995 style much better than the pre-1995 style. Although some disagree with me. Mostly just a switch of the "G," but I like how it looks better. I grant that there are more legible letters in the pre-1995 style, but I like the flow of the later version.

Pre-1995

Post-1995

I like them both! I'm also very happy that Dawson has a nice signature, so many don't

 

[cartersprings]

Kirby Puckett, Michael Cuddyer, and Torii Hunter are the first to come to mind. I'm on my phone but can post pics later when I get home.

 

[gracecollector]

I like them both! I'm also very happy that Dawson has a nice signature, so many don't

Dawson's is one of the best. Do you have an early example from Montreal days? Every modern one I've seen is classy, like him.

 

[refrank]

A lot of the old guard really took pride in their autos; they wanted every fan that got an auto leaving with a first rate sig. Guys like Mantle, Kaline, Lou Boudreau, Gehringer, and hockey greats like Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau, and Maurice Richard.

 

[Brewer Andy]

Griffey Jr is the first to pop in my head. Jeter too for the most part, 2 recent guys which is impressive given the amount of requests those 2 get/got. Most players from the 80s and before didn't seem to let their sigs decline much it seems

 

[Brewer Andy]

Another thought: aside from current players growing up in a "memorabilia era", is there a possible side effect of current generations never really mastering or focusing on cursive writing in school? Hand writing ANYTHING other than scribbles/notes is almost nonexistent with modern tech

 

[Hawk8]

Dawson's is one of the best. Do you have an early example from Montreal days? Every modern one I've seen is classy, like him.

Yes, Dawson had a slightly different signature in the early Expos days, let me see if I can find one and get a scan up.

 

[Hawk8]

Here is a small timeline of Dawson's signature. Although you can't make out all his letters, his signature is very neat, but I never have known what the loop extending below his first name would be, none of his letters should drop down like that.

 

[MrMet]

Here is a small timeline of Dawson's signature. Although you can't make out all his letters, his signature is very neat, but I never have known what the loop extending below his first name would be, none of his letters should drop down like that.

Looks like it should say "Alfie" Dawson, but it is a very nice sig

 

[Hendersonfan]

I remember someone listed one as Clyde Dawson

 

[Matsuicollector]

Can't have a post like this without Mariano



I've also always liked Bernie's sig

 

[nappyd]

Here is a small timeline of Dawson's signature. Although you can't make out all his letters, his signature is very neat, but I never have known what the loop extending below his first name would be, none of his letters should drop down like that.

There's likely one or two very specific cursive writing books that his school had copies of to teach a tail like that growing up, or he learned it at home..


Sent from my SCH-I535 using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[Topnotchsy]

Another thought: aside from current players growing up in a "memorabilia era", is there a possible side effect of current generations never really mastering or focusing on cursive writing in school? Hand writing ANYTHING other than scribbles/notes is almost nonexistent with modern tech

I imagine that that is a major factor.

 

[LWMM]

Here is a small timeline of Dawson's signature. Although you can't make out all his letters, his signature is very neat, but I never have known what the loop extending below his first name would be, none of his letters should drop down like that.

You can tell from the evolution of the signature the the tail is from the 'd' in 'Andre'. It looks like he started out by having a long line in the 'd' cutting downwards, and over time he looped it around to connect it to the 'r'.

Here's another example of where you can only decipher one's current signature by looking at an old one. First scan is from 2011, while the second is from 2001 (2002 card with the facsimile signature from his 2001 contract). The first signature looks like "JG7" (and deciphering the 'G' requires some interpretation). Looking at the 2001 signature, it becomes clear that the '7' is really one half of a bifurcated 's'.

 

[hive17]

The signature in my sig is the first example I thought of.

Oh, and Johnny Cueto of course...

 

[Austin]

Rickey Henderson's signature is still very nice and readable. It looks almost the same now as on his rookie card 34 years ago.

 

[metallicalex777]

I'd put Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers into the ongoing nice looking autographs:

Here is a small timeline of Dawson's signature. Although you can't make out all his letters, his signature is very neat, but I never have known what the loop extending below his first name would be, none of his letters should drop down like that.

I love how Dawson has a great looking auto both certified and IP wise. Here is one of my favorite IP autos as well...picked it up at the LCS last year:

 

[dbacksfan4life]

Michael Cuddyer has a very very nice signature.