Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 16, 2012 at 11:03am

Rich,

I can't speak for JSA because I don't know what's in their exemplar file. But the B looks pretty good, especially considering it was signed on a baseball and not with a Sharpie. The angle is off, spacing is off, but it's on a baseball. And I like the shape of the squiggle he uses for the "arack".

Regarding Obama: If you can forge the B of Barack that well, you can certainly do a simple "O" way better than this one. The curve of the slash in the "O" is going to wrong way compared to almost all I've seen, but again, the "bama" squiggle looks right to me. 

I just think this was signed in pubic, under less than ideal circumstances. 

Lousy? Yes.

Fake? I doubt it.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on August 16, 2012 at 11:24am

Undertand completely.  It's not like Obama signs a bunch of balls at a private signing, so it would be inherently awkward and slow.  Keep in mind, I have the most pedestrian knowledge of Obama's signature.  But slow shaky signatures seem like they'd be darned easy to forge by anyone.  In any case, it seems like a bad example even if authentic.  Even if I was looking for an Obama, I'd have to think I'd pass on this at any price - unless there was some rock solid proof (i.e. a video) of him signing this autograph. 

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on August 16, 2012 at 1:44pm

I have seen Obama signed baseballs that are smooth and flowing. this guy would not, in my opinion, sign something this slowly. but in reality, who really knows? I just thought it was interesting.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 16, 2012 at 2:31pm

It is interesting.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Panagopulos on August 16, 2012 at 10:42am

OMG! I don't see how anyone receiving this ball in the mail, and then using any known exemplars, could possibly  think it even remotely resembles Obama's signature...

I went through about 500 listings each of items of signed items for sale on eBay "certified" by JSA and PSA/DNA last night. I'd say that no more than five percent were non-sports autographs. That says a lot. 

Rich - you have a point, but any 4th grader can mimic Kevin Kostner's signature, too...but not Obama's which is more intricate that most people think. 

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Permalink Reply by Bill Panagopulos on August 16, 2012 at 10:55am

Primer on Obama signatures:

GOOD OBAMA SIGNATURE:

BAD OBAMA SIGNATURE:

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 16, 2012 at 11:04am

This one's a whole different animal. I've seen that before...where's it from?

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on August 16, 2012 at 6:03pm

Look at the GOOD one shown above ( or look at known authentic examples ).. Look at the B.. Notice the extended loop on the top of the B...That is due to the President's left handed penmanship. There are other "left handed" characteristics in his signature too.  I will leave those for the true Obama experts to detail out.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 16, 2012 at 6:08pm

We published some rock-solid Obama autographs with a top B loop that doesn't extend.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on August 16, 2012 at 6:09pm

We need someone who really knows Obama to discuss this.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Panagopulos on August 16, 2012 at 4:41pm

Steve - The "bad" Obama is off some goofy website. I'll send it to eBay seller cards-am-be-us (10927) and see if they can submit it and get it approved for under five bucks. Bet you a bottle of Ole Fugwad that they can!

Maybe the silent Deebee can offer a better bet...

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Permalink Reply by Ted Leong on August 16, 2012 at 7:10pm

Here are two scans with Obama's signature

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