Ichiro Question

[Sivart31]

Is it possible to tell if any of his signatures are authentic? It seems like everything is just a wild string of incoherent pen strokes. I'm looking to get a reasonably priced card, but I'm reluctant to buy since his signature varies so wildly.

Any thoughts on this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ichiro-Suzuk...wAAOSwzgBY4EJS

or this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ichiro-Signe...kAAOSwwpdW8d0d

To me, they both look like a three year old scribbled on a baseball card, but then again, the PSA/JSA examples look like that too!

[packs]

I couldn't get the links to work but here's my Japanese rookie. I have no doubt about its authenticity:

[Sivart31]

Thanks - when was this signed? This is surprisingly more coherent (and quite visually appealing) than more recently examples. It's a Marlins card, so it was signed in the last year most likely.

[packs]

Not sure when it was signed but probably after he came to America. I also have this Ichiro American rookie:

[Sivart31]

Thanks - I'm just wondering if any of the ebay options could be authentic. I really don't know how 90% of ip contemporary autographs can be authenticated as most of them are totally indecipherable.

[Kco]

The first card listed is not even remotely close. The second card is closer, but still not authentic in my opinion, I've got one IP and two sit downs of ichiro and even his IP has some distinct markers which aren't there in either of these examples. His authentic auto resembles organized chaos, similar to Jeter. Very hard for a forger to get right. You can find plenty of sub $200 authentic Ichiro cards.

[Sivart31]

Thanks - I'm trying to find a non-slabbed, but authentic signature. So far all the non-slabbed sigs I've found are dubious at best.

[Kco]

Chances are you'll be able to find some soon, he signed a LOT at ST this year. A few Facebook groups dedicated to autographs and collecting have had many posts offering Ichiro items ranging from $120-200 over the pat month. You'll likely see more items pop up over the coming weeks. Autographs 101 has an abundance of IP autograph collectors so it may make sense to take a peak and see if there is anything that you like.

[theshleps]

I have close to 50 Ichiro, about half IP. I only got 3 myself but traded with my friends who were there and got them too for vintage guys they needed. You can get to know his autograph well as there is a pattern to it and I agree that I rarely see a non slabbed one on ebay that does not look suspicious.

[Sivart31]

Yea, i've really been struggling to find something unslabbed that looks even close. It just seems silly to pay 200 plus for a slabbed piece that I intend to break and display in my own way anyway.

[packs]

If slabbed gives you peace of mind it may be worth the additional price. I might alone but I think once Ichiro retires and moves back to Japan he'll be one of the toughest HOFers to get.

[theshleps]

Yea. If I were in the market for an Ichiro and didn't know the seller and it was to be on a card I'd go with one from Mill Creek and cough up the extra $. Even some of the slabbed ones I've seen look iffy at times. And during those transition times between his early and later signatures it can be very tough to tell
You can usually send in the card you want signed to them too as I wanted some BBM cards signed and did it that way, along with a shikishi