Ted Williams Autograph Authentication Help

[shelly]

The one thing for sure in the story is that Ted did not sign this.

[TyrusRCobb]

Shelly, I'm new to collecting. What makes you think the signature isn't authentic?

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by TyrusRCobb

Shelly, I'm new to collecting. What makes you think the signature isn't authentic?

What makes you think it's authentic?

[TyrusRCobb]

Originally Posted by thetruthisoutthere

What makes you think it's authentic?

Shelly, I did my best to compare the auto to other authenticated autos and to my untrained eye it appeared correct. I'm in no way challenging your opinion. As I said, I'm very new to collecting and would simply like to know how you came to your opinion so that I can avoid making the same mistake in the future.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Reads to me like you're trying to convince yourself that your Ted Williams autographed baseball is authentic.

Is it because you want to believe it is authentic?

What exemplars did you use to compare it to?

[thetruthisoutthere]

The ball is dated "1941." Correct?

Doesn't something stand out immediately about the autograph?

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by thetruthisoutthere

The ball is dated "1941." Correct?

Doesn't something stand out immediately about the autograph?

Mark, if you read my original post (above) I was trying to hint to the OP that the ballpoint pen is a dead giveaway. It's the first thing I noticed when looking at that ball.

Also, in my years of observing the buying habits of autograph (forgeries) buyers, there is no doubt in my mind that a high percentage of autograph buyers are well aware that they are buying an autograph that is at best questionable, and with the price being right, they want to believe (for bragging rights, too) that what they now own is authentic.

[JimStinson]

The Ball is not even close , Prove it to yourself. It appears that the writing was applied AFTER the ball was aged , shellacked, buttered, glazed or whatever that shine is on it , look at it under magnification, it will be ON TOP of that, then consider this in 1951 Ball point pens were relatively new and messy , they would throw off globs of ink, (spotting) easily visible around where the signature is. Look under a magnifying glass and you'll see what I'm talking about. My GUESS is that the ball might have been used in the game, a fan catches a foul ball and writes the name of his hero and the date he caught it on the ball years later

[JimStinson]

1941 ?????? Forget it , its ball point

[TyrusRCobb]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

The Ball is not even close , Prove it to yourself. It appears that the writing was applied AFTER the ball was aged , shellacked, buttered, glazed or whatever that shine is on it , look at it under magnification, it will be ON TOP of that, then consider this in 1951 Ball point pens were relatively new and messy , they would throw off globs of ink, (spotting) easily visible around where the signature is. Look under a magnifying glass and you'll see what I'm talking about. My GUESS is that the ball might have been used in the game, a fan catches a foul ball and writes the name of his hero and the date he caught it on the ball years later

Oh. Wow. The ball point pen. That should have been glaringly obvious! Clearly, I have a WHOLE LOT to learn about collecting!

[TyrusRCobb]

Originally Posted by thetruthisoutthere

Reads to me like you're trying to convince yourself that your Ted Williams autographed baseball is authentic.

Is it because you want to believe it is authentic?

What exemplars did you use to compare it to?

I'm not trying to convince myself that it's authentic. I'm trying to learn how to spot the difference between a fake and a genuine signature. As I've stated a few times, I very new to collecting and am simply looking to learn.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by TyrusRCobb

I'm not trying to convince myself that it's authentic. I'm trying to learn how to spot the difference between a fake and a genuine signature. As I've stated a few times, I very new to collecting and am simply looking to learn.

It's not going to happen overnight.

I hope that baseball gets destroyed.

By the way, what convinced you to purchase that baseball? Was it the BS story, the autograph itself or the fact that the baseball was dated?

[TyrusRCobb]

Alright folks, I've gotten one nay on the auto. Any more opinions? I'm very new, having only purchased 6 balls total. Any help you can offer, especially in the way of pointing out why this might or might not be authentic would be really, really appreciated.