Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. An Aquarius – if you believe in astrology – he was certainly “original,” “friendly” and “charitable,” but could also be “disobedient” and “rebellious” which made him unique in…
Autographs
Want a breakdown of the various signature styles of Mickey Mantle throughout his career, or a profile on some of the scarcest autographs in the hobby? Here’s where you would start.
Black History Month: Recognizing Sports Pioneers
With apologies to the late Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., perhaps no other African American in U.S. history made a bigger impact on the country’s social fabric than the late Jackie Robinson. And with February hailed as “Black History…
Tips for Building a Heisman Trophy Autograph Collection
“About four years ago, I started my quest to assemble every Heisman winner’s autograph in index card form and to have them authenticated by PSA/DNA.” – Jeff Taladay One of the greatest truths in our hobby is that collections can…
Autographed Cards and the PSA Set Registry
Autographed cards have been steadily growing in popularity in recent years. Once just a child’s novelty, signed trading cards, particularly vintage and key examples, have become a legitimate hobby category that is enjoyed by many high-end collectors. For more than…
Inscriptions Can Turn Autographed Cards into Historical Markers
There was a time in our hobby when inscriptions on autographs were much different than they are now. First of all, they were not represented by an additional charge at autograph signings. Second, they typically came in the form…
PSA’s Kevin Keating Appears on Episode of ‘American Pickers’
Kevin Keating is PSA’s principal autograph authenticator. He evaluates and inspects thousands of autographs every year on behalf of PSA and routinely offers his services on the road. Recently, Keating was invited to appear on an episode of “American…
Autograph Collecting 101
When it comes to acquiring athletes’ signatures, there are plenty of ways to go about the pursuit. After several decades of collecting autographs, I’ve discovered that honesty and politeness can go a long way. By honesty, I mean ask…
Gridiron Glory: The Lost Art of Signing
Throughout 30 years of covering, researching and writing about this great hobby, I’ve discovered one indisputable truth. The level of penmanship practiced by professional athletes has waned considerably. Is the habit of signing one’s name a lost art? Maybe…
Three PSA-Authenticated Items Lead the Way at Auction
Robert Edward Auctions (REA) completed its 2018 Fall event this past weekend and some impressive figures were recorded. Three of the auction’s top-selling lots included baseball-related gems that were each authenticated and graded by PSA. From a T206 Ty…
Perfect Penmanship: Recognizing Six Quality Autographs
There have been countless lists compiled surrounding baseball autographs. Many of them have to do with the highest prices realized at auctions, while others focus on the popularity of the players themselves. But what I’d like to do with…