Show a "rare" variation of a common autograph

[jp1216]

2 Unique '89 Fleer Bill Ripken autos.
First one is signed by the photographer Steve Babineau on the back with 'Oops'.
Second one is a Black Box version with an early Bill Ripken auto on the front and Babineau on the back.

[jgmp123]

Joe DiMaggio.....

Top - Rookie Signature
Middle - Signature during the 1941 Streak
Bottom - Most recognized "modern" signature

[nicker10]

Here's a 1933 Dimaggio

[Michael B]

Babe Didrikson - Most people know her Babe Zaharias signature which was quite elaborate. Here are three signatures of her signed at the 1932 Olympics when she was 19 years old. All three are different with the third one being fancy. The Olympic collectors in Europe like this signature rather than her married signature. It sells very well over there.

Mark Spitz - His current signature is rather familiar to most collectors. Here is his present signature and one from 1969 when he was at the University of Indiana.

Tommie Smith - Best known for the raised fist protest at the 1968 Olympics. His signature for many years has been as Tommie Smith. While still at San Jose State he signed his first name as Tommy. Here is a modern version and one from 1966.

[Scott Garner]

Michael,
These are sure great examples of divergent styles of the way a person signs their name.
Re: your Babe Didrickson early exemplars. Have you ever considered that Babe Didrickson was ambidextrous? Your second exemplar appears to have a left handers slant as opposed to the other two which definitely appear to be signed by a right hander.
Just curious...

[roarfrom34]

From an Orioles/Red Sox program from 09/06/78 is an autograph of an 18 year old Cal Ripken Jr., who just finished his first professional season in Rookie Ball @ Bluefield WV, who regularly worked out with the MLB team (since his father was the third base coach):

[Scott Garner]

Unquestionably the much nicer early example of HOF Frank Thomas's 1990 rookie scribe before it became the recent bastardized FT 35 that's his current sig.

I have a few nice examples of this signature on a ball, 3 x 5 index card and Score rookie card.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Michael,
These are sure great examples of divergent styles of the way a person signs their name.
Re: your Babe Didrickson early exemplars. Have you ever considered that Babe Didrickson was ambidextrous? Your second exemplar appears to have a left handers slant as opposed to the other two which definitely appear to be signed by a right hander.
Just curious...

Scott,

That is possible. The only photo I have seen of her signing autographs she was using her right hand. Another consideration is the situation and venue. The first one was for the daughter of someone with connections, coach or the such, and was signed in the women's section of the Olympic Village. The third signature was at a dinner held for the U.S. Team. There was a menu included on which the person wrote that he got all of the women on the U.S. Team. She may have decided to write a little fancier as all of the other women were. I am not sure of the circumstance of the second signature, but guess it was not as formal a venue as the other two. She did write a bit more, but the writing is plainer. As for the slant, it is not always definitive. I am a lefty and since I write 'crook handed' it could pass for a righty. Interestingly, the middle one was sold to a German Olympic collector when I was in Slovakia in September. I had quite a few signatures of early Olympians including multiples of Georgia Coleman, gold medal diver who died in 1940, and he said the Didrikson was the best one since it was her maiden name and signed at the Olympics and those are harder to find. They also like it when people sign with the name they used when competing.

[TUM301]

Picked up a couple cool Black Sox related auto pieces that you don`t see every day and will try to post soon. 1`st, is a short note written by Joe Jax`s wife in answering a fan`s auto request. She signed almost every one of these but this note informs the fan of her dear Joe`s death a few years prior and is signed "Mrs Joe Jackson". 2`nd being, another B Sox item. This one is from the infamous series "ring leader" Chick Gandil. Have seen a decent amount of "Chick Gandil" even while signing official documents but this one is simply Arnold Gandil. Have come across only one other example as only Arnold so thought this one was worth grabbing. Cool thread..