Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brian on January 15, 2018 at 1:25pm

Hi Matt,

Any idea on a date when it was signed?  I have attached the example from my collection from the 1950's.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Cordoves on January 15, 2018 at 2:28pm

It is on an older Lee MacPhail ball. My guess would be mid to late 70's. It is just an unusual signature of his I am not familiar with.

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Permalink Reply by Brian on January 15, 2018 at 2:31pm

I am no expert but that D just feels off.  I have not seen another like it.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Cordoves on January 15, 2018 at 2:41pm

It is different, however, look at the exemplar I posted from Autograph Reference Study of Hall of Fame Signatures 1st edition by Robert Poll. Same style D.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on January 15, 2018 at 2:15pm

unusual example but likely authentic

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Permalink Reply by Matt Cordoves on January 15, 2018 at 2:29pm

I agree. I wish it wasn't so toned, but it is not one of his common signatures. Definitely different.

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Permalink Reply by Brian on January 15, 2018 at 2:42pm

Neet read may explain the D 

http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com/yankee_clipper_sigs_changed_w...

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Permalink Reply by Brian on January 15, 2018 at 2:44pm

By the end of the 1960s DiMaggi o’s signature would evolve for the last time. The first part of his signature stayed the same, but the “DiMaggio” portion underwent several changes. The “D” lost the long sweep on the top and came to look like a standard cursive “D.” The “M” in “DiMaggio” also lost its big sweep and loop, looking like a plain “M.” Finally, the “g’s” in “DiMaggio” reverted back to a standard looking lowercase “g” (See Examples 6). DiMaggio’s signature at this point would not change significantly, except occasionally for a slight deviation.

When DiMaggio would do public signings his hand would often get tired, creating several different variations of his modern signature. He usually tried to separate the “i” from the “M” in “DiMaggio,” however, that was the first thing that would change as his signature broke down (See Example 7). The next noticeable change would occur with the “g’s” in “DiMaggio,” often as a signing dragged on, he would stop closing the top loop above the tail (See Example 8). The last letter variation that DiMaggio would change would be in the “D” in “DiMaggio.” The bottom loop in the “D” would disappear and the top sweep would be taller and larger (See Example 9). These changes were collective and progressive following in that order.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Cordoves on January 15, 2018 at 3:31pm

So, I got to looking at another DiMaggio ball in my collection. This one, a Warren Giles ball with Waner, Ruffing, Berra, Ford, and Ashburn among many other signatures. Check out the D on this one. Similar....

Attachments: No photo uploads here

• 20180115_172656.jpg, 3.3 MB
• 20180115_172727.jpg, 3.1 MB

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on January 15, 2018 at 4:10pm

there are several other things to look at with JD signatures, besides the D formation.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Cordoves on January 15, 2018 at 2:50pm

This is a great read Brian!!

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Permalink Reply by Danny Francis on January 15, 2018 at 7:14pm

I think its authentic. With Joe D - I always look for the skip (or light) in the first g. 

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