Need A Little Help Here - 3x5's and More

[akleinb611]

I know that there are websites and facebook pages devoted to helping collectors identify incomprehensible signatures. A few years ago, I asked my fellow collectors on this site to help out with some team sheets I had, and I believe a good time was had by all.

One thing every collector of signed 3x5's will agree with is the fact that dealers and other sources are not consistent about writing the player's name on the back. That, coupled with the ever-deteriorating handwriting of the general population, means that a certain percentage of signed index cards, as well as some other signed stuff, will go in that bin many of us have labled "who IS this?"

I've finally resolved to scan all the stuff I have that I can't identify, and what I'd like to do is to post all of them in this thread. I would be VERY greatful if anyone out there can help me to figure out to whom these signatures belong. Some of the signatures are little more than squiggles; others are signatures that I'm sure you'll find easy to figure out. I expect to smack my forehead on multiple occasions, wondering how I missed the ID.

I'm a one-sport guy - I know baseball, but I don't know much about football, basketball or ice hockey. I'm fairly certain some small percentage of these signatures belong to players in those sports. A fair number of the 3x5's include a uniform number, and it's my observation that it's more common for players in the other sports to do that. We'll see.

Finally, whay I'm hoping for is that you folks out there will actually recognize the signatures, based on your own collections and experiences. I don't want to sound snarky, but I don't really need suggestions such as "the second name looks like it start with a W." I know how to do that. I'm hoping for more of a "I have this guy in my own collection. It's so and so."

The first dozen or so scans are photographic collectibles that I can't figure out. After that, there are lots of 3x5's. So, so many 3x5's... I'll number them as "Unknown #" and you can tell me which ones look familiar. I'll post a few every day.

Thanks very much in advance! Here are unknowns 1 to 4.

Alan Kleinberger

[Brick442]

Looks like, in order, Derrick May, Bill Freehan, Storm Davis and Reggie Jefferson.

[akleinb611]

Wow. That didn't take long.

How about "Unknowns 5 through 8"?

Alan

[Bigdaddy]

1 and 3 are John Marzano and Greg Gagne.

[Brick442]

2. Tim Van Egmond and 4. Stan Javier

[akleinb611]

Again, many thanks for the quick and accurate help.

It may take a few extra days for me to get to the index cards (for those who can't wait), because I've found some more photos I can't identify. Here are six more. As before, any help is very much appreciated.

Alan

[Brick442]

1. Jeff Kaiser
2. Ron Davis
3. George Pfister (bullpen coach)
4. Paul Stuffel
5. Manny Trillo
6. Tony Scott

Glad to help!
-Mike

[akleinb611]

Mike:

You. Are. The. Man.

Not quitting while I'm ahead, here are a few more. Some of the sigs are a bit smeary. I think the guy who signed only with his initials is Cecil Fielder.

You don't have to rush on any of these.

Thanks again!

Alan

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Stan Javier
Ron Karkovice
John Christensen
Jerry White
Cliff Johnson
Steve Trout

[akleinb611]

I am not worthy of the love I'm getting.

Of course, I've been collecting autographs for more than forty years and I'm starting to feel like a fool...but I did ask for this.

Here are some more. The guy in the Mets cap has a readable name, but I think he never made it to the majors. There may be other minor leaguers lurking about, later on.

Alan

[Steve D]

1. Joe Just
2. Mike Krukow
3. Jeff Treadway
5. Brian Ostrosser


Steve

[Steve D]

With #4, the best I can do is say he appears to be wearing the NY Giants 1949-1957 uniform. I can not find anyone with "mi" in their last name, and with a first name of either Bill or William.

Also, it appears that your scan cuts off the last part of his name. Could you post a scan of the full photo; that might help.

Steve

[Brick442]

The Giant is William James “Pete” Milne

[akleinb611]

The speed with which you guys are figuring these names out is astonishing. And a bit embarrassing for me. I only thought I was good at this.

More photos later today. Then, we get to the real hardcore stuff- the dreaded index cards!!

Alan

[akleinb611]

Okay, I'm back home. Getting closer to the end of the photo parade.

As always, any and all help is appreciated.

Alan

[Michael B]

First one is Baskeball Hall of Famer "Laddie" Gale. Led the University of Oregon to the first Division 1 national championship. Played professionally for the Detroit Eagles of the NBL prior to WWII. I believe I met him at the HOF during induction week in the early 1990's. He was also a very good TTM signer.

[Steve D]

#2 is Ray Prim (1943, 1945, 1946 Chicago Cubs)
#3 is Frank "Skeeter" Scalzi (1939 NY Giants)
#4 is Andy Pilney (1936 Boston Braves)
#5 is Mike Schooler (1988-1992 Seattle Mariners)

Steve

[akleinb611]

Well, that brings us up to date on everyone except that last photo (the Texas Rangers guy). Here are the last of my unidentified photos. And no, I have no explanation for the guy in the swimwear in the last photo. I don't wanna know.

As always, your participation in this little ID exercise is much appreciated.

Tomorrow, we start on the illegible index cards. Expert a fair number of football, basketball, ice hockey, Olympic signs and maybe some non-sports celebrities. As you can probably guess, I buy a lot of bulk lots without any idea of what I'm getting. Hope some of you are enjoying this as much as I am.

Alan

[Steve D]

#2 is Rey Sanchez, and #3 is Steve "Bye Bye" Balboni.

Steve

[mainemule]

#4 Dave Frost, pitcher, late 70s/early 80s, mostly for Angels

#1 Jeff Tackett, catcher , Orioles, early 90s

[akleinb611]

OK, here we are. To bring us up to date, all but two of the thirty-something photos I've posted in the last week have been identified. The only two mysteries are set forth below.

Now, to the index cards. As we all know, dealers have a habit of not always writing the player's name on the back - and that can generate some big mysteries. What will follow is a parade of index cards I haven't been able to figure out. Some may not be baseball - I suspect a lot of the guys who include their uniform number are football or hockey - and there may be a couple of actor or Olympians in the mix. In a few cases, I can make out the name perfectly well - but I have no idea of who the person is!

Here's my first batch.

Alan

[bobw]

The Ranger photo looks like Rich Donnelly

#1 John Skorupan FB
#2 Jerry Tubbs FB
#5 Jim Gosger BB

[Michael B]

First index card - John Skorupan linebacker Bills and Giants 1973-1980

Third index card - Hockey HOFer Stan Mikita

[akleinb611]

You guys are the best.

Still hoping for an ID for the guy in the shorts.

With index card #4 still unknown, here's another batch. Again, I'm betting we get ID's from many different sports.

Alan

[dgo71]

2. John Trautwein
5. Mike Trujillo
6. Darold Knowles

[mainemule]

#13 John Valentin, Red Sox infielder 1990s

[Bigdaddy]

I think the guy in the bathing suit is Uncle Larry. Don't leave your wallet laying around when he's near.

[Steve D]

#42 is John Trautwein (1988 Boston Red Sox)

Steve

[Steve D]

The one below #13 John Valentin, is Mike Trujillo (baseball - Red Sox, Mariners and Tigers from 1985 through 1989).
Below #42 John Trautwein, is Bill Stoneman (baseball - Expos, Cubs and Angels from 1967 through 1974).
Darold Knowles was also baseball; he played for seven teams from 1965 through 1980)

Steve

[akleinb611]

Okay, it's a new day with a new batch of 3x5's.

Once again, many thanks to everyone who's pitched in and identified these frustrating signatures. I think you'll agree that some of them are real doozies.

Also, if it's a baseball player, you don't have to specify. I know who Darold Knowles is. I just didn't recognize his signature, in this case owing to the thick and horrible felt tip pen someone gave him to sign with. Players from other sports, I appreciate clarification.

It will probably keep things from getting too confusing if you refer to a signature by the post number followed by the number within that post. For example, the only two index cards that now remain unidentified are post 21, signature 4, and 24-1.

Here are some more: (and yes, I know the last one is Bob Seger (or Steger). I simply have no idea who that is!)

Alan

[packs]

Top one looks like Mike Schmidt but not sure.

[bobw]

#1 could be Mike Stanley
#2 looks like Jose Offerman
#4 looks like Bob Johnson the pitcher
#5 looks like Jim Marshall

[dgo71]

Correct on Mike Stanley.

Below Offerman is Sendy Rleal, cup of coffee pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.

[akleinb611]

Last post of the day. Still hoping for an idea on Lou Lowen(?) and Bob Steger (?)

Again, the speed and accuracy of this identifications astonishes me. And after my mystery cards are all posted and (hopefully) identified, I'm wondering if we should leave this thread open. Surely I'm not the only autograph collector with a lot of unknown signatures on hand.

Alan

[bobw]

#1 looks like Jackie Jensen
#3 looks like Charlie Gorin
#4 looks like Denver Lemaster
#5 looks like Jack Kubiszyn

[Brick442]

Guy in the shorts on rocks is 1949 White Sox Dick Lane.

[Steve D]

Originally Posted by Brick442

Guy in the shorts on rocks is 1949 White Sox Dick Lane.

Yep, it's definitely that Dick Lane's signature, but I question if that is really him in the photo. Comparing the photo, with photos I found of him on ebay, and in a google search, it doesn't seem to match.

I wonder if the man in the photo is actually the recipient, and it was simply the only thing he had to get signed at the time.

Steve

[dgo71]

Last 3x5 (#33) is Les Walrond.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I think it looks like Lane, and the age of the man in the photo would also compare well to Lane's age at the time it was likely taken.

I wonder if the Jason it's inscribed to is Jason Stahl, who was a huge TTM collector throughout the entire 1980's and into the late 1990's before selling everything in huge lots in the early days of eBay. The stuff went for an absolute pittance.

[Steve D]

#2 under Jensen is Jim Owens (Phillies, Astros & Reds)


Steve

[akleinb611]

I've been out all day today, so this late evening post is my first of the day. I guess this is for the West Coast and overnight crowd.

By the way, for those speculating if that odd photo of Dick Lane came from a notable old collection that was sold at the turn of the century, my guess is that it may have been. That photo was part of a large lot I got years ago from dealer Bill Corcoran, who may have purchased much of that collection. Bill used to sell me bulk lots of scraps, oddball pieces and off condition stuff, for a very reasonable price. If you're reading this, Bill - hi there!

Alan

[dgo71]

The last one is Dave Schmidt, the Red Sox catcher, not the Orioles/Expos pitcher.

[Steve D]

#1 is Hank Workman (1950 Yankees)
#4 is Joe Landrum (1952 Dodgers)
#5 is George Lerchen (Tigers & Reds, 1952-53)

Steve

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

#3 Windy McCall

[akleinb611]

Thanks to all you guys who stay up much too late (or get up much too early?)

Here are some more. I'm posting eight signatures - I'm either getting cocky or impatient.

Alan

[bobw]

#1 Hy Cohen
#2 Mike Degerick
#7 Ken Boswell

[Bigdaddy]

45-8 is Harold Baines

[akleinb611]

I guess this may be premature, since there are still a few unidentified sigs from the last lot, but here's another group of nine. These ID's have certainly yielded some surprises - but to be fair, Harold Baines' signature would be impossible to decipher without some knowledge of how he signs!

Thanks again, and in advance!

Alan

[Michael B]

Post 48 last one is Stan Cliburn, twin brother of Stew. He played for the Angels in 1980. He is better known as a minor league manager. Over 30 years and 1984 wins after this year with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. I just drove by their stadium and the Bowie Bay Sox Stadium this past Tuesday and will again on Friday.

[dgo71]

Post 48
3. Pat Neshek
4. Matt Young (A's and Mariners pitcher)
5. Denny Harriger
8. Ron Clark