Walter Johnson 3x5 cut?? Help please....

[mainemule]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

Welcome! I still spend time on FCB but am constantly blown away by the knowledge and collections of people here; and the focus is definitely different.

Thanks Jeff, I recognize your name from FCB

I had in the back of my mind that this place was maybe a more seasoned or experienced audience to look at an older piece (like this auto).

I'm hopeful to get some other opinions on the cut as I need to make a decision whether to purchase this early next week.

Best to you, Scott

[btcarfagno]

This is a WaJo that I had about a year ago if it helps.

[mainemule]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

This is a WaJo that I had about a year ago if it helps.

Thank you!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by mainemule

Thanks Jeff, I recognize your name from FCB

I had in the back of my mind that this place was maybe a more seasoned or experienced audience to look at an older piece (like this auto).

I'm hopeful to get some other opinions on the cut as I need to make a decision whether to purchase this early next week.

Best to you, Scott

Welcome to the forum, Scott. As far as our ages, I think I like seasoned better than old. Many of us are well seasoned. For a Big Train auto you can always get his grandson's thoughts as he posts mainly on the card and memorabilia sections. ...if I can ever help with anything board related just shoot me a PM, I am usually around. Take care and happy collecting.

[mr2686]

I'm really curious about this one now. I hope that some of our experienced WaJo collectors will chime in here.

[mainemule]

Originally Posted by Leon

Welcome to the forum, Scott. As far as our ages, I think I like seasoned better than old. Many of us are well seasoned. For a Big Train auto you can always get his grandson's thoughts as he posts mainly on the card and memorabilia sections. ...if I can ever help with anything board related just shoot me a PM, I am usually around. Take care and happy collecting.

Thank you Leon! I tried to choose my words carefully

That's amazing that the Big Train's grandson is on this board. I'd love to have him give this a once over, though after thorough review of the PSA DNA on-line exemplars, I'm 90/10 going to pass on this item.

All the best.....

[T206Collector]

While I am okay with elements of it, I don't like the severe angles on the "J" and I don't like the "W" or the "r" in his first name.

[mainemule]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

While I am okay with elements of it, I don't like the severe angles on the "J" and I don't like the "W" or the "r" in his first name.

Thank you for your feedback. That's about the way I felt as well. Cheers, Scott

[Duluth Eskimo]

I think a lot of people are hesitant to comment on this auto. I am uncomfortable with it and that is a reason I did not bid on it. I do not believe it will pass PSA and there are others that the seller was selling or has sold that I do not believe would pass. I find it ironic that he has a bunch of Hollywood signatures then a number of very tough HOFers on cuts on 3x5’s.

When there are few comments on something, the silence is deafening.

BTW, i am not for or against PSA but hitching your wagon to a company may not be the best way to accumulate an incredible collection. You are going to get a number of anti authenticator comments on the board going forward, but I do think they serve a purpose for the industry. I just don’t think you should solely rely on them as the end all.

It’s always good to have another advanced collector on Net54 so welcome. Take care, Jason

[tazdmb]

Agree with everyone else here-
1) Welcome to the boards, I hope you share your collection with others here, you will find a wealth of knowledge here.
2) Many people here (myself included) are reluctant to give opinions, unless they feel very certain either for or against. Fortunately, there are a lot of very smart people on these boards that can quickly identify the good from the bad.
3) Personally, I have moved my BBHOF collection away from cuts and have virtually none in my collection. I once had a Pop Lloyd cut that everyone thought was good-but PSA failed, so I pretty much never bought another cut again. That being said, I still have many regrets selling it.

I look forward to more of your posts!

Frank

[mainemule]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

I think a lot of people are hesitant to comment on this auto. I am uncomfortable with it and that is a reason I did not bid on it. I do not believe it will pass PSA and there are others that the seller was selling or has sold that I do not believe would pass. I find it ironic that he has a bunch of Hollywood signatures then a number of very tough HOFers on cuts on 3x5’s.

When there are few comments on something, the silence is deafening.

BTW, i am not for or against PSA but hitching your wagon to a company may not be the best way to accumulate an incredible collection. You are going to get a number of anti authenticator comments on the board going forward, but I do think they serve a purpose for the industry. I just don’t think you should solely rely on them as the end all.

It’s always good to have another advanced collector on Net54 so welcome. Take care, Jason

Thanks for the thoughtful post Jason. I decided I wanted to securely and permanently protect my collection so that is why I went the PSA route. I do shy from cuts but have had to go that route with a couple of more difficult signatures. My collection, my preference

I appreciate the welcome and hope to try and check things out here more frequently.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

I think a lot of people are hesitant to comment on this auto. I am uncomfortable with it and that is a reason I did not bid on it. I do not believe it will pass PSA and there are others that the seller was selling or has sold that I do not believe would pass. I find it ironic that he has a bunch of Hollywood signatures then a number of very tough HOFers on cuts on 3x5’s.

When there are few comments on something, the silence is deafening.

BTW, i am not for or against PSA but hitching your wagon to a company may not be the best way to accumulate an incredible collection. You are going to get a number of anti authenticator comments on the board going forward, but I do think they serve a purpose for the industry. I just don’t think you should solely rely on them as the end all.

It’s always good to have another advanced collector on Net54 so welcome. Take care, Jason

I like cold cuts better than autograph cuts. Cold Cuts don't leave a bad taste in your mouth like 95% of all autograph cuts. I'd pass.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by mainemule

Thank you Leon! I tried to choose my words carefully

That's amazing that the Big Train's grandson is on this board. I'd love to have him give this a once over, though after thorough review of the PSA DNA on-line exemplars, I'm 90/10 going to pass on this item.

All the best.....

Hi Scott,
I am the aforementioned grandson, and want to welcome you to this fabulous forum that provides so much to so many. I'm amazed, but not surprised, at how your little individual item post has generated so much thoughtful commentary ranging from the specific to some of the biggest issues in the hobby. A few thoughts:
1) Whenever I'm asked my opinion of a Johnson autograph, I always preface it with the caveat that I am no expert whatsoever on autographs or autography (if that's a word!). Yes, I've seen a lot of genuine WaJo signatures in my time, but have never attempted to make any kind of study of it. I can't tell you how he makes his "r" or crosses his "t" or anything like that. My totally unscientific method is to take one look, and a fairly quick one at that, then render my distinctly amateur opinion, which I'm happy to do for you. On that basis your cut gets the thumbs down from me. The only specific thing I'd say about it is that it looks too good, if that makes any sense. Just too clean, too practiced, maybe? Oh, and it just doesn't look very old to me, no indication that almost 100 years have passed since he was supposed to have written it. As I said, strictly one amateur's opinion, and doesn't mean that Grandpa didn't do it. And that leads me to my second comment.
2) Because they have set themselves up as the Gods of the hobby--able to smite the mightiest card or autograph with the mere stroke of a pen--the TPAs come in for a lot of criticism, here and elsewhere. And that's healthy, they should be accountable for the great influence they have with their decisions, which are rendered in darkness and never explained. Their mistakes and shortcoming should be exposed and examined in great detail to encourage them to be better. But, in general, I just don't know how you can improve on a system whereby some of the very top experts in the field, with access to an enormous database of exemplars, looks at your autograph with the aid of state of the art technology and tells you whether, in their opinion, it's good or not. They're not infallible, and the best will be the first to tell you that, but to me that's about as good as it gets. I remember well the old days of the hobby, the "wild west" some call it for good reason. Anybody want to go back to that? As for PSA, which you mentioned, they now have two of the very best autograph guys there have ever been in our hobby rendering their professional judgements on the good stuff. How can you beat that? DISCLAIMER: Kevin Keating is one of my very best friends and I did shows with him for many years, and Bill Corcoran is without question one of the most knowledgeable and lovable characters you'll ever meet. I'll give you my car if you can prove to me that either one of those guys ever did anything dishonest. Someone said not to depend on PSA for building your collection, but I would ask why not? As long as those fellas are running it, I don't see how you could do any better. Yes, it's great (and fun) to learn all you can yourself, but if you did nothing else for the next ten years you'd only begin to approach the kind of expertise they will give you for a few bucks a pop.
Wow, didn't mean to go on like this, but it's a slow Tuesday here in the Bat Cave. Enjoy your collecting, and hope to see you around here a lot.
Hank Thomas

[mr2686]

I guess the question, at least to me, is who else authenticates the autographs besides Keating and Corcoran over at PSA. I think we've all heard the horror stories of barely trained "kids" authenticating (or not) over at JSA. I would never have a problem if I knew that a Keating, or Corcoran, etc. were looking at anything I submitted or that had looked at something I wanted to purchase.
With that said, and with another recent thread in mind, it doesn't matter who authenticates an autograph...if I don't personally like it, I don't want it in my collection. Why buy or keep something that you personally have questions about?

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by mr2686

I guess the question, at least to me, is who else authenticates the autographs besides Keating and Corcoran over at PSA. I think we've all heard the horror stories of barely trained "kids" authenticating (or not) over at JSA. I would never have a problem if I knew that a Keating, or Corcoran, etc. were looking at anything I submitted or that had looked at something I wanted to purchase.
With that said, and with another recent thread in mind, it doesn't matter who authenticates an autograph...if I don't personally like it, I don't want it in my collection. Why buy or keep something that you personally have questions about?

Absolutely, the TPAs should be able to explain and justify their basic procedures, their "quality control" so to speak. I do know that as hard as they work and as much traveling as they do, Kevin and Bill must be looking at a hell of a lot of vintage stuff, and I'm sure they are always available to pass final judgement on things others might be on the fence about. I hope I don't come across as sounding like some kind of shill for PSA, I have absolutely nothing to do with them, and have never met Joe Orlando. I just think that TPAs generally have been a good thing for the hobby overall, and it's well known the regard I hold for Keating. But collectors that really know autographs should never give up their own judgements any more than card collectors should blindly accept grading by the TPAs. "Buy the card/autograph, not the slab," seems like good advice in both instances.

[mainemule]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Hi Scott,
I am the aforementioned grandson, and want to welcome you to this fabulous forum that provides so much to so many. I'm amazed, but not surprised, at how your little individual item post has generated so much thoughtful commentary ranging from the specific to some of the biggest issues in the hobby.
Hank Thomas

...without quoting your entire response Hank, thank you for your thoughtful and thorough comments. I really appreciate that you took the time to pen (type ) this insight on this thread.

I should have more thoroughly researched this item. I am pretty savvy on internet research and Ebay but I was eager to get "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" in order to decide whether to complete the purchase or not. Shame on me for not doing my full due diligence, however, I am now checking these forums so maybe I've found a new place to reconnect with fellow vintage hobbyists.

My big excitement in life is tomorrow I am going to the new Yankee Stadium to see the Sox at Yanks. I'm a lifelong Sox fan (age 51) who has seen them in many other parks so this is bucket-list stuff. Also seeing Springsteen on Broadway so it will be a weekend for the ages.

Thanks again Hank! I can only imagine the family stories (and perhaps memorabilia) that belong to you and your family.

All my best......

[mainemule]

.....thanks to all who posted on this last year in this thread. I may not have acknowledged everyone who did post.

This cut is back on Ebay so figured I would share this information.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Walter-John...4AAOSw2Uxc5JF9

Best, Scott