Post an Autograph and critique it

[Avalanchefan21]

Random idea for a thread, mods can move it if needed..

Post an autograph and everyone can critique it on a scale of 1-10 how good it is
Lets keep it to cards you own (mostly)

I'll start...



7/10 has a cool look to it plus a number
Screen Shot 2025-05-29 at 11.01.42 AM by avs 2621, on Flickr

 

[Avalanchefan21]

lets see how long we can keep this going XD

 

[IrbeFan4Life]

Cal Petersen...2.5/10. An attempt was kinda made. Why 2.5? Somehow, I have seen much worse out there.

 

[quincy]

Fantilli. Adam. Buddy, listen: Nobody gives a fat rat's rump for your SIGNATURE. In fact, nobody wants your signature. They want your *autograph*, and that's different. This looks like the distracted half-assed mess that it is. "Here, now off you bugger." You can do better.

2/10

 

[Avalanchefan21]

This one is 10/10
Classy, iconic, unique, can make out it is "Joe Thornton"

20240411_154915 by avs 2621, on Flickr

 

[GabbyGuy]

Great idea for a thread!

First auto of mine to critique...Wayne Gretzky.

I only have a few Gretzky autographs (4 cards and two non-card items). I am picky on what autographs of his I get. On cards, about 85% are what I call his fast "chicken scratch' auto. Looks like this (not my card):



This auto is fine for most people...and don't get me wrong...I would be perfectly happy to pull a card like this. But I would probably use it though to trade for other cards. His auto cards are high $$ now and great as trade bait. But when I go after a Gretzky auto card for my personal collection, it has to be his more "took his time" auto. But that's just the quirkiness in me.

I picked up this card years ago for one reason...mainly because it is what I would consider a 10/10 "took his time" auto from the Great One. Not his "chicken scratch" auto.



Every hockey collector should have a Wayne auto card in their collection. There are A LOT out there. And they will always hold their value! I haven't picked up a Gretzky auto card in a while...mostly due to the current high prices. I'm just glad I have the ones that I do have.

--Curt

 

[GabbyGuy]

Fantilli. Adam. Buddy, listen: Nobody gives a fat rat's rump for your SIGNATURE. In fact, nobody wants your signature. They want your *autograph*, and that's different. This looks like the distracted half-assed mess that it is. "Here, now off you bugger." You can do better.

2/10
View attachment 19207

One of my pet peeves in the collecting world now...horrible looking autos. You cannot even tell who they are. If they didn't have the player's photo and name on the card now, most likely, you wouldn't know who it was doing the signing!

I blame all the crap "newer" player autos on the fact that the kids these days never learn to "write in cursive" in school anymore. It is a computer world now and writing in cursive is a lost art that is no longer taught. So, unfortunately, the autographs suffer as well.

The best sports card autos are usually all the old-timer players!

--Curt

 

[will-411]

One of my pet peeves in the collecting world now...horrible looking autos. You cannot even tell who they are. If they didn't have the player's photo and name on the card now, most likely, you wouldn't know who it was doing the signing!

I blame all the crap "newer" player autos on the fact that the kids these days never learn to "write in cursive" in school anymore. It is a computer world now and writing in cursive is a lost art that is no longer taught. So, unfortunately, the autographs suffer as well.

The best sports card autos are usually all the old-timer players!

--Curt

With the advent of private prep schools being the avenue many of these young men take to the NHL now, I wish their education would include a sports ethics class that could include discussion on the value of connection with fans and the relationship capital simply having a legible autograph builds with fans. I will also say I believe Ontario is reintroducing cursive back into the curriculum... but that means it'll be 10 years before we see the opportunity for results of that with the athletes.

 

[quincy]

One of my pet peeves in the collecting world now...horrible looking autos. You cannot even tell who they are. If they didn't have the player's photo and name on the card now, most likely, you wouldn't know who it was doing the signing!

I blame all the crap "newer" player autos on the fact that the kids these days never learn to "write in cursive" in school anymore. It is a computer world now and writing in cursive is a lost art that is no longer taught. So, unfortunately, the autographs suffer as well.

The best sports card autos are usually all the old-timer players!

--Curt

While there's lots here with which I agree, I think it's simpler than that: these guys literally do not know the difference. Mervyn Cheechoo - yes, Jonathan's dad - used to frequent my table at Expo, and we'd ALWAYS bust his chops about Jon's auto. "He says "Dad, that's my signature." And I'd tell him "Nobody wants that, they want your autograph." and he doesn't get it."

 

[GabbyGuy]

While there's lots here with which I agree, I think it's simpler than that: these guys literally do not know the difference. Mervyn Cheechoo - yes, Jonathan's dad - used to frequent my table at Expo, and we'd ALWAYS bust his chops about Jon's auto. "He says "Dad, that's my signature." And I'd tell him "Nobody wants that, they want your autograph." and he doesn't get it."

I was waiting for a Cheechoo to be posted. When you mention crap autos, his always comes up.

--Curt

 

[IrbeFan4Life]

Felix Potvin...now this, I will give a good 9/10. It's symmetrical, it appears very artistic, and it looks like he put in an effort into giving you his autograph, and not just a quick sloppy signature, a polar opposite to the first one I showed:

 

[johnse27]

Here is one of my favs as it has a classic old time auto from Mr. Hockey and an auto from the Great One that is a little less crisp! They never make them like the old days! Gordie was a class act!

 

[primetimepawich]

81/82 O-Pee-Chee #148 Larry Murphy RC PSA/DNA Certified Autograph 40.00 by primetimepawich, on Flickr

One of my favorite pickups from last year, I love the clean easily legible signature plus the 3 separate inscriptions.

 

[Avalanchefan21]

One of my favorite players... unique auto, not super ledible but cool nonetheless
7/10

20240904_141922 by avs 2621, on Flickr

 

[GabbyGuy]

Gordie Howe always had readable and beautiful autos. Even when signing odd things. This auto is hard-signed on an actual piece of the boards from the Detroit Olympia arena. Pretty cool card!

I rate it a 9/10 ...for obvious reasons!