The number of collectors contacting me for help in identifying autographs on a baseball has been progressively growing every year. After I published the 2017 newsletter on this subject, the numbers increased greater. Here are some tips on identifying illegible autographs.

  it has been suggested that players should start printing their name on the opposite side of the baseball. Some players do inscribe their uniform number with the autograph. This can be a useful tool, but If you can't make out any of the letters, it would be a tough, tedious, and time consuming task to find the player.

 If you know the team, the beginning letters of the first or and last name it will be a little easier. If the number is in question, it will add to your research time. Baseball-Reference.com has a great Uniform Search resource where you could find all players to wear a particular number, listed in alphabetical order, and can be narrowed down by years, and team.

  Autographs with inscriptions can quicken your quest. Inscriptions that include dated player milestones are a breeze. Examples: "HOF '73" - Cy Young NL 1995 - Triple Crown '67" - GG (Gold Glove award) "No Hitter with full date" career stats, etc... The autograph pictured here with the inscription "1985 AL ROY" is a slam dunk, 1985 American League Rookie of the Year, Ozzie Guillen.

 Some players add Christian Bible verses. This could be useful, but there are a number of players that do it. If you search "autograph baseball" with the Bible verse such as "John 3:16" you might find the player that signed the baseball. There are also players that are known to add smiley faces. :-)

 A Player might add a nickname to his autograph. Lee Mazzilli "The Italian stallion" - Don Mattingly "Hit Man" - Andre Dawson "The Hawk" - Ernie Banks "Mr. Cub" and so on... Willie Mays often signs "Say Hey" or "Say Hey Kid" - Baseball-Reference.com also has a list of major and minor league nicknames, that might help you identify your autograph.

Then there is the autograph that has no hope of Identifying. Autographs that resemble a toddler's Crayon scribbling on a wall. No clues, no letters that are legible, or inscription. A total mess that can only be identified by a collector that is familiar with the signature. This is why I created a facebook group dedicated to to help identify baseball related autographs.

 The "BASEBALL AUTOGRAPH IDENTIFICATION GUIDE" was also added to the website serving as a database to help identify autographs, so you don't have to be a member of facebook. But it helps.