Perhaps no other collectible carries the history of the autograph. Dating back generations, it's one of the most personal pieces of sports memorabilia you can find.
No two are exactly alike and the chase for Hall of Fame autographs or some other kind of theme makes creating and building a collection a lot of fun. You can get autographs on any number of items-from trading cards to photos to balls and game-used jerseys.
Before sports autographs were really worth anything from a monetary standpoint, about the only danger was that an exceptionally popular athlete might use a 'ghost signer', someone charged with the task of signing the player's autograph for him. Some athletes just didn't like to sign and besides, what kid would know the difference?
Today, were have autograph authenticators who are so good they can tell a ghost signer from the real rare sports autograph-even decades after the object in question was signed. It's all opinion of course, but the best authenticators-- like James Spence or PSA/DNA-have thousands of 'exemplars' on file and have studied the signatures of the most commonly requested players to determine what's likely genuine from what is non-genuine.
With superstar autographs commanding such high prices these days, it's probably vital to have any signed item with significant value authenticated. You'll get a letter of authenticity (LOA), but it isn't free. Prices vary depending on the signer's stature and other factors. Some authenticators offer a 'quick autograph opinion' that allows the customer to submit the autograph's image via e-mail and get a rapid response to whether the signature is likely valid. No LOA is issued, just the opinion. It's a cheaper option Karate Kid autographs that carries less risk on the part of the collector.
Serious autograph collectors chase ultra-rare signatures from the major sports. Never buy a rare sports autograph without consulting an expert in the field or at least doing your own research. Look for known authentic examples of the player's signature and utilize message boards on various websites.
A rare autograph might take the form of a player who simply didn't sign much for some reason, but had some kind of impact on the game. Players who spent only a short period of time in the pro ranks or those who played in an era before the autograph was popular, say the 19th century, are often sought-after by team collectors. Other players who may have met a tragic end, such as Christy Mathewson, Ken Hubbs or football's Ernie Davis, are considered rare simply because they didn't have time to sign a lot of autographs before their deaths at a relatively young age.
