Now that Prestige and Elite are on shelves, and we have gotten an extended look at Bowman Signature, I have been struck by something that is not a result of design or look of a card that a company can control. For right now, I am confident in saying that although there are some exceptions, this might be the worst class of rookie “give up” signatures in a long time.
Here are the good:
Here are the worst of the worst:
As player attitudes shift towards a more celebrity status, if not only as a direct correlation to the rise of social media and the prominence of the NFL in popular culture, they have been less likely to participate for signings in a way like we used to see. This is also exacerbated by the sheer amount of signatures they are forced to sign at the Rookie Premiere, which a handful of collectors believe is more bad than good. Although I am not one of those people, I do sympathize with how many autographs are necessary, especially for rookies who are included at a higher rate.
Regardless of the amount of signatures the rookies are responsible for, it should not bring quality down to where it is. When you have people like Griffin or even Brandon Weeden, who’s stylistic appeal is relatively unmatched this year, it makes the rest look like they werent even trying.
To make a long story short, no one should ever be Vernand Morency, poster child for give up signatures.
I have two experiences to relate, both of which should shed some light on the player mentality. The further one goes back in history, the more legible the penmanship becomes. However, its obvious that guys like Torii Hunter and Harmon Killebrew are of different generations tied by the love of a beautiful signature
. I had the pleasure of meeting both over the years they spent in Minnesota, and on each occasion I asked about the unmatched quality of their signature. Killebrew stated that a signature reflects the mark of a man, and that the fans should have a good representation each time they get one. He believed in signing the way he did, thousands of times over the years, because he knew his fans appreciated it as his legacy outside of baseball.
Hunter was the same way, having taken direct coaching from Killebrew his rookie season. Each player had signed just as many cards as anyone else, and both still have a signature that you can read each individual character. Hunter just said that Killebrew made an impression on him.
Obviously, the idea that a signature is representative of a personality is a notion that is agreed upon by many, even in a non-sports situation. If someone just doesnt care, they wont sign in a way that is even remotely appealing.
Card companies have stood by the fact that they cannot affect the way a signature looks, and sometimes that they even get done. With the growing number of Primadonnas out there, I guess I am not surprised.
When players make millions of dollars a year, its rare that an autograph contract will mean anything for them. However, for everyone else, the immortilization on a trading card may be the only fanfare they ever receive in a public fashion. Why not make the most of it?
Card companies get to share in the blame with players for lazy signatures. Signing sheets of thousand of stickers contributes to the problem. It’s tough to expect autograph number 713 out of 1,000 to look very good. Also, the player doesn’t even have a card in front of them featuring their “moneymaker” to appreciate, so the autograph means even less to the player.
I used to fantasize about signing my autograph when I became a star athlete and my signature looks darn good. But, if I had to sit down and sign 2,000 TINY stickers I can promise the quality of my signature would take a steep dive.
BTW Kendall and Reuben need to be slapped. Muhammad Ali’s current signature looks better than theirs.
If you look closely, there are also the rookies who start off with an awesome signature and then just completely give up later on in the card season. I know its probably because they just get tired of the amount of signatures asked of them but still.
Here are a couple of examples:
Good Sig
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2008-SAGE-GOLD-SEDRICK-ELLIS-RC-AUTO-200-SAINTS-/250756088400?pt=US_Football&hash=item3a623a4250
Lazy Sig
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2008-SPX-SPECTRUM-RC-AUTO-222-SEDRICK-ELLIS-6-25-/380383606719?pt=US_Football&hash=item5890a137bf
I have also seen a few lazy auto’s so far from Nick Toon who I have been buying alot of singles of so far:
Good Sigs:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-TOPPS-INCEPTION-NICK-TOON-RC-AUTO-/180936083785?pt=US_Football&hash=item2a20a18949
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-SPX-NICK-TOON-JERSEY-AUTO-RC-399-ROOKIE-76-SAINTS-AUTOGRAPH-/120957501821?pt=US_Football&hash=item1c29a1017d
Lazy Sigs:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Prestige-Draft-City-Destinations-Nick-Toon-Rookie-Auto-Autograph-Saints-RC-/150866174374?pt=US_Football&hash=item23205321a6
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICK-TOON-2012-TOPPS-INCEPTION-SAINTS-RARE-JUMBO-ROOKIE-JERSEY-AUTO-RC-H9388-/110919990022?pt=US_Football&hash=item19d358bb06
Chris Rainey is way more lazier than randle and wright he is giving morency a run for his money
Also if a player has a crappy sig, even if they just throw a # sign and their jersey number it makes it look better.
That Morency was funny…Never saw it before…It’s just pure lazy by the athletes b/c they’re getting paid a ton of money for there name…Suck it up and sign 713 as good as 1.
By the way I’m in the handful of collectors who thinks there are just way too many autos. The number one reason I don’t break boxes anymore is b/c of the price. I won’t pay 100$+ anymore to get cards worth around 20 bucks. I would break boxes again if companies stopped all this 2 autos per box shit. I don’t mind paying around 50-60 bucks and not getting any autos b/c I don’t collect undrafted free agent autos.
I collect Tiki Barber. The main reason, besides being a huge Giants fan, is that his signature is clean and looks the same every time. I never see a lazy sig. It looks like he takes his time, where on a sticker or on card.
I have 90+ autos, and there is not a lazy on in the bunch:
http://s467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/Calicokid18/Tiki%20Barber%20Collection/Autos/?start=all
I think there’s 2 reasons that rookie auto’s these days resemble my 3 yr olds hand writing. One if the mass quantity, and therefore lack of caring as they are getting to the final couple of pages of stickers. Another, and this is my unprofressional opinion, is that half these guys are probably borderline illiterate. They’ve been coddled and pampered throughout high school and college and were never forced to do a damn thing on there own.
I’d bet a stack of his auto’s that Morency had no idea how to spell or write is own name, hence the check mark “autograph”.
Thoughts?
You guys do realize that these players didn’t come up with their signatures to sign cards, that’s just how it’s like. Kendall wright and all those players sign the exact same way on contracts, cheques, anything that requires their signature. Who can be bothered to Change what they’ve already been signing like their whole life, into a nice neat complex signature.