"Vast Majority of HOF Autographs Are Fake"

[HolyGrail]

That's the claim of an author of a reference guide I interviewed for my latest Forbes post. He gives you plenty of genuine examples as well as fake.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidsei...aph-forgeries/

[CamaroCPA]

Very interesting. Thanks for the read.

FYI, you misspelled your source's last name several times throughout the article.

[gregr2]

Interesting, thanks for posting.

[Horsehide Historian]

Great insight into the collector's world and admitted mishaps along the way. I have read other articles on balls and memorabilia that were forgeries with the intent of making money, as well as the pieces that were signed by clubhouse kids or others like Yankee clubhouse attendant Pete Sheehy or Dodgers' "Chain smoking" Charlie "The Brow" DiGiovanna. To me, the two forgeries are vastly different from one another.

I am particularly intrigued by the old forgeries. Even though they may not be authentic to who the signature portrays (much less worth the "authentic" money), I think they are historically important--especially if it can be presumed or proved that someone like Pete Sheehy did the signing.

[Runscott]

There are those who feel that there is no such thing as 'clubhouse' - autographs are either real or forgeries. That thinking probably is the result of auction houses selling balls that have a forged 'Ruth' crammed onto them, as 'authentic' except for a 'clubhouse' Ruth.

Most clubhouse signatures don't look very much like the real thing - if it looks like an attempt was made to copy the signature but it isn't real, then there were probably shenanigans going on and AH's (and/or TPA's) that call such stuff 'clubhouse' should be called out for it.

[djson1]

Originally Posted by Runscott

There are those who feel that there is no such thing as 'clubhouse' - autographs are either real or forgeries. That thinking probably is the result of auction houses selling balls that have a forged 'Ruth' crammed onto them, as 'authentic' except for a 'clubhouse' Ruth.

Most clubhouse signatures don't look very much like the real thing - if it looks like an attempt was made to copy the signature but it isn't real, then there were probably shenanigans going on and AH's (and/or TPA's) that call such stuff 'clubhouse' should be called out for it.

+++1

Totally agree and think the term "clubhouse" is way over-used and abused. Plus, how do we ever know it was really "clubhouse" (not that it makes it less of a forgery) versus some scumbag adding a forged signature at home (his/her evil lab)?

I also think "secretarial" is misused so that a perceived malicious intent to deceive does not affect the rest of the signed item. No, a forgery is a forgery. Many times I will just stay clear of a team ball that has one "clubhouse" signature because it makes me feel like something has been tainted with (although I must admit that I have bought a few with clubhouse sigs if I felt like the others were really genuine).

[khkco4bls]

exactly the reason why I don't deal with autographs

[David Atkatz]

An actual "clubhouse" signature or a "secretarial" signature is not a forgery. It is a proxy. Proxy signatures are made with the knowledge, consent and authorization of the would-be signer. Forgeries are not.