Yastrzemski Thoughts Appreciated

[YazFenway08]

But first , a quick back story…

I got a small collection of signed early 60s Red Sox photos in a recent Leland’s auction. I wanted them because they are all personalized to former Red Sox Dave Hillman…a really cool guy that I got to talk with a few times and with whom I shared some unique path-crossing in our common hometown.

Dave played a couple years with the Sox and departed them after the ‘61 season…Yaz’ first.

All of the personalized autos are similar to the ones pictured…and, to me, seem to really be of the bon voyage/happy trails variety…Dave was well liked and these look like parting sentiments…no real question in my mind that they are original and authentic.

My question is about the Yaz auto pictured. The photo is clearly of a young Yaz. It is personalized to “Dave” and it appears to be authentic ink on the photo.

But it does not look anything like even early Yaz signature examples I have seen. I just think it would be a little odd for a rookie to have a secretary or clubhouse person sign this when all his teammates pretty clearly went to the trouble. I guess it is possible that these were sent after Dave retired, but that seems a bit less likely to me. Sturduvant was only a Red Sox in 1960 and I think spring training ‘61…wertz played a half season in Boston in ‘61.

Is there any chance this is an authentic rookie year Yaz auto?

Thanks for any thoughts and for wading through my ramble.
Mike

[Smanzari]

I think its Real but could have a tough time proving unless its authenticated.

PSA has a few Examples on their AutographFacts Page for him that seem to be from the time period and share a very large bit of characteristics, most notably the "Y" and the "Z"

[YazFenway08]

Thanks Stefan. I checked those PSA exemplars and, like you, thought I saw some similarities….but just enough differences to confuse me.

I certainly didn’t buy the photo lot because of the Yaz alone…just think it would be super cool if it really is an authentic rookie era signature…I don’t have one of those. It seems very “deliberate” …like I would imagine a rookie signing or a clubhouse attendant…and it just seems odd that a rookie would have a clubhouse person sign this for him…but maybe

[YazFenway08]

Bonus question: does anybody recognize the photo issue for these? The Yaz is different than all the others. They do t match the Jay photo packs of team issued packs for the early 60s when I try to match them up via TCDB

[Smanzari]

I could be wrong, but this piece is pretty neat so I did some digging - it looks like the Red Sox Issued some 8x10s in 1961(-ish). IDK if they were sold as photo packs or in the gift shop, but this particular photo looks to be from his rookie year and has been used in some modern "things" (you'll see what I mean if you AI-Search it on Google)

[frankbmd]

How does Carl remember how to spell his name?