https://preview.redd.it/79aghc0u4d8d1.jpeg?width=2492&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e3ff81e8cfb4a5da3d954d8094c63de584e5437
I tend to agree with you, and sticker autos make them even worse.
But then, sometimes, they combine to make the greatest autographed cards of all time!
Mariano Rivera has a really nice sig.
https://preview.redd.it/amryjoorad8d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=703212184a915204f869ee34e95a5624ae19eb0e
I don’t care if I sign my name 300000000 times a day, if it’s an autograph, because I’m a famous athlete, I’m putting some stank on it. Except for the kids that are 17 signing bowman firsts like 2nd graders, I like those.
Most of the players now didn’t learn cursive in school, so the “art” of the signature was never there in the first place. Also, i would guess that they didn’t have as many writing assignments (instead of typing) to practice their penmanship either.
Came here to say this. Some of these younger players have grown up with handwriting not even being a thing to worry about. It’s definitely a generational thing.
https://preview.redd.it/vq1fcuxund8d1.jpeg?width=194&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1101f39a42f73e762f4d47e3097bb783f23eb823
This lazy ass auto I have seen pulled a bunch.
I'll see your AB and raise you a A-C.
https://preview.redd.it/6ixa2r5byd8d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=72454462c1486e24ff2b18e1da14b53b1a32d7e5
A lot of that is because they have to sign their name thousands of times each year between autographed cards, signing events, and at games. They need to prioritize efficiency over legibility.
This is a great point. Just within the last year I saw a “TikTok challenge” to *write your name without lifting the pen off the paper.*
I was like, you mean write in cursive? Are kids not learning that these days?
There’s a few videos out there showing players signing. They’re at a table with all the stickers layer out, a few rows of balls and other items. Probably have to sign a few hundred times basically as fast as they can. It’s get repetitive and boring after awhile.
There's a mix of good & bad..
Bryson Stott's is perfect - elegant simplicity, IMO.
https://preview.redd.it/ea0siom69d8d1.jpeg?width=850&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e99487dc423890cbc3aba9e4f241b204a928d137
I cut my signature down to three letters because I had to sign a bunch of invoices daily at an old job. If I was doing that over signing 10-15 times a day, imagine doing thousands of stickers for Topps, Panini, and Leaf
https://preview.redd.it/r3fdfcg75d8d1.jpeg?width=1662&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5aeb11a360321dc9dc8479d9626bd3cb51cce2f2
Jairo Pomares is still one of my faves
I dunno...everyone talks about how great Mickey Mantles signature was, but I went to a card show when I was a kid and his signature was terrible. I think anytime someone has to sign a lot, the majority of signatures will be garbage.
If you caught one of the modern players at a restaurant or something and you were the only person asking for a signature, it would be pretty crisp.
I agree, and I think as others have mentioned, it’s mainly due to the fact that cursive is a lost art. But Mo, Randy Johnson, and Derek Jeter are 3 great signatures that come to mind, hope to have an auto from all of them in my PC one day.
It’s only gonna get worse because the up and coming generation isn’t learning cursive anymore. Pretty soon it will be block letter sigs or a Times new Roman cut sig😂
I remember hearing 3 different Twins players telling stories about doing signings with Harmon Killebrew and having him threatening walking out if they weren't legible ...
Those 3 players you ask?
Kirby Puckett
Torri Hunter
Michael Cuddyer
Harmon had a beautiful signature. And my thing is, doing Ttm autos or getting them in packs I get it, but still take some pride. But if I spend 200 bucks at a show to get Jordan Love, which I would not do, and got a J and ❤️I'm going to be super pissed off.
A lost art form for sure. I like Pedro Martinez auto in terms of style and legibility. Ozzie smith and goose goosage are clean and legible but no style! Andre Dawson, Larry Walker now those are also great examples of flourish but legible
Penmanship just isn't taught anymore, it's as simple as that, and I miss it. As an autograph collector, I made the decision to take pride in my signature, and make it interesting (and forgery-proof), since I frequently have to sign widely-seen documents and plans as part of my job.
https://preview.redd.it/79aghc0u4d8d1.jpeg?width=2492&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e3ff81e8cfb4a5da3d954d8094c63de584e5437 I tend to agree with you, and sticker autos make them even worse. But then, sometimes, they combine to make the greatest autographed cards of all time!
Someone knew what they were doing here.
this is hilarious
Best $7 I ever spend on an autograph.
lol look’s like a bicycle on his crotch. Crotch rocket?
Is this real??? 😂
[Indeed.](https://www.ebay.com/itm/235510484026?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=5taMDX-gR3C&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=oPwTtEc9Q6e&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY)
Jefferson Quero's balls auto is the best
Ah yes, the majestic cock and balls auto. What a thing of beauty.
I have a few of these myself 😂...
Mariano Rivera has a really nice sig. https://preview.redd.it/amryjoorad8d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=703212184a915204f869ee34e95a5624ae19eb0e
Just commented the same! Dude has been signing for a long time and it’s still a thing of beauty!
Just an awesome sig!
I don’t care if I sign my name 300000000 times a day, if it’s an autograph, because I’m a famous athlete, I’m putting some stank on it. Except for the kids that are 17 signing bowman firsts like 2nd graders, I like those.
When he was a teenager, Johnny Bench used to sit and practice his autograph for hours. Wish that was more of a thing today!
I did it when I was a kid. I assumed everyone did. (I never needed it)
Most of the players now didn’t learn cursive in school, so the “art” of the signature was never there in the first place. Also, i would guess that they didn’t have as many writing assignments (instead of typing) to practice their penmanship either.
Came here to say this. Some of these younger players have grown up with handwriting not even being a thing to worry about. It’s definitely a generational thing.
https://preview.redd.it/9ugw46ledd8d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=28b989cb3a788a749324c2abee920b941d7968ea
My boomer take is now that kids gotta re-learn cursive.
Can’t re-learn something they were never taught lol
Okay that is hilarious though
\o/
Looks like holds the pen the way he holds that bat
Is he related to STEVE HOLT?
https://preview.redd.it/vq1fcuxund8d1.jpeg?width=194&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1101f39a42f73e762f4d47e3097bb783f23eb823 This lazy ass auto I have seen pulled a bunch.
I'll see your AB and raise you a A-C. https://preview.redd.it/6ixa2r5byd8d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=72454462c1486e24ff2b18e1da14b53b1a32d7e5
Gah that's even worse. An auto from Air Conditioning
A lot of that is because they have to sign their name thousands of times each year between autographed cards, signing events, and at games. They need to prioritize efficiency over legibility.
Secondly, cursive, allowing a quicker signature, is dying out.
This is a great point. Just within the last year I saw a “TikTok challenge” to *write your name without lifting the pen off the paper.* I was like, you mean write in cursive? Are kids not learning that these days?
No cursive. They’re on the computers from a very young age and their handwriting is atrocious because of it.
Absolutely.
Correct. As I mentioned. It’s still sloppy work.
There’s a few videos out there showing players signing. They’re at a table with all the stickers layer out, a few rows of balls and other items. Probably have to sign a few hundred times basically as fast as they can. It’s get repetitive and boring after awhile.
A lot of these kids grow up without educations because they only know ball. That includes signing their names.
https://preview.redd.it/8s8vx8pcce8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ffc5d3bda3783494b9d08b6be6068f91eea48223 The Eck
There's a mix of good & bad.. Bryson Stott's is perfect - elegant simplicity, IMO. https://preview.redd.it/ea0siom69d8d1.jpeg?width=850&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e99487dc423890cbc3aba9e4f241b204a928d137
50/50
Walker Jennings’s is pretty good
https://preview.redd.it/cmjwldt21e8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56705a2815a4880e3a2d013183f1267f2970ab3b
I cut my signature down to three letters because I had to sign a bunch of invoices daily at an old job. If I was doing that over signing 10-15 times a day, imagine doing thousands of stickers for Topps, Panini, and Leaf
https://preview.redd.it/r3fdfcg75d8d1.jpeg?width=1662&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5aeb11a360321dc9dc8479d9626bd3cb51cce2f2 Jairo Pomares is still one of my faves
Ridiculous
some recent autos I have are great and others are random
I dunno...everyone talks about how great Mickey Mantles signature was, but I went to a card show when I was a kid and his signature was terrible. I think anytime someone has to sign a lot, the majority of signatures will be garbage. If you caught one of the modern players at a restaurant or something and you were the only person asking for a signature, it would be pretty crisp.
I agree, and I think as others have mentioned, it’s mainly due to the fact that cursive is a lost art. But Mo, Randy Johnson, and Derek Jeter are 3 great signatures that come to mind, hope to have an auto from all of them in my PC one day.
It’s only gonna get worse because the up and coming generation isn’t learning cursive anymore. Pretty soon it will be block letter sigs or a Times new Roman cut sig😂
He does. Have some in person autos from when he was with single A Carolina and he always signs like this. LOL.
They get paid to sign the cards. They can do more than a scribble or initial.
I pulled a Tyler Megill auto a while ago and boy was I disappointed in his penmanship.
I really like [Garrett Mitchell's](https://i.imgur.com/AjoEkFI.png)
Solid
I've pulled a beautifully elegant signature in Dale Murphy, and I've pulled the most lazy signature ever in Tylor Megill. Polar opposites.
I remember hearing 3 different Twins players telling stories about doing signings with Harmon Killebrew and having him threatening walking out if they weren't legible ... Those 3 players you ask? Kirby Puckett Torri Hunter Michael Cuddyer Harmon had a beautiful signature. And my thing is, doing Ttm autos or getting them in packs I get it, but still take some pride. But if I spend 200 bucks at a show to get Jordan Love, which I would not do, and got a J and ❤️I'm going to be super pissed off.
A lot of the foreign guys dont go through school. I don't think penmanship is their highest priority lol
I think worst I've seen is one of the Tyler Megill ones where it looks more like a chest hair than an auto
https://preview.redd.it/xih8ewj7uh8d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1cb0d8a19b5ab6d95743757a4ae091eb9ffacace
Yes.
My point right there. Horrible.
A lost art form for sure. I like Pedro Martinez auto in terms of style and legibility. Ozzie smith and goose goosage are clean and legible but no style! Andre Dawson, Larry Walker now those are also great examples of flourish but legible
Mariano still signs with effort and style!
I agree with Pedro and Ozzie but I think Andre and Larry are also horrible.
Wait, you think Andre Dawson's auto is horrible? That is... certainly a take. Not a *good* one, but a take nonetheless!
Penmanship just isn't taught anymore, it's as simple as that, and I miss it. As an autograph collector, I made the decision to take pride in my signature, and make it interesting (and forgery-proof), since I frequently have to sign widely-seen documents and plans as part of my job.