I knew Tony and Clara as well (actually, most of the Go-Go Sox era coaching staff and their wives were either close friends or at least acquaintances). I'm guessing Tony had suffered a bad fall when you were about to see him: Clara wrote me about it. He was unable to use his hands to sign after that. Nobody has ever heard this until now, but Clara was ghost signing all the mail requests. I believe this was 1994. You would never be able to tell their handwriting apart; I have never in my life seen someone so ably mimic another person's autograph, let alone a lady in her 80's. Of course, they've all routinely passed TPA inspection to this day. I wouldn't blame anyone for not spotting it, as she was truly that adept at his signature. I even have a letter she typed me on a manual typewriter detailing all of this.
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