So what is up with Jim Rice...

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by MooseDog

Actually, we may be splitting hairs here, but an "autograph", defined by "the act of writing with one's own hand" whereas as a "signature" would be defined "the handwritten representation of a person's name".

Yes, I'm quite aware of that. But "writing" is defined as

writ·ing
ˈrīdiNG/
noun
1.
the activity or skill of marking coherent words on paper and composing text.
"parents want schools to concentrate on reading, writing, and arithmetic"
2.
written work, especially with regard to its style or quality.
"the writing is straightforward and accessible"

Thus scribbles are not "writing," and it follows that they are not an "autograph," either.