Minnesota Fats Autographed Collectables

The second one has a red bar across under the signature that looks like it's from a stamp. If not, what is it from? I'm not trying to discredit you, just curious.
 
Pushout said:
The second one has a red bar across under the signature that looks like it's from a stamp. If not, what is it from? I'm not trying to discredit you, just curious.
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You can see it better in person.

When he signed he made a little swipe under his signature.
 
I have an autographed t shirt I bought from Miz. The t shirt is from his place in Florida. Is it worth anything?
 
Jeff said:
I put a couple of nice, and I believe, rare Fats autographed items on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Minnesota-Fats-Hand-SIgned-Promotion_W0QQitemZ200206843305QQihZ010QQ

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Minnesota-...bition-Ticket_W0QQitemZ200206908180QQihZ010QQ
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The second one is definitely a stamp. The first one is questionable too. Too clean. He could barely write you know. I saw him sign maybe two autographs in 30 years. It was a laborious process for him, thus the stamp. Sorry to burst your bubble. Looks to me like someone copied his signature in the first one.

You can believe it or not. I don't really care, but I knew the man well. Better than most. Please compare the two signatures closely. The stamp is a copy of his actual signature. Remember, he had to learn how to write Minnesota Fats. He couldn't spell either. Someone had to teach him how to write it. Probably George Jansco. He may have had the stamp made for him as well. His real name he could write, Rudy Wanderone, and I saw him sign that one on a hotel food check. He knew how to write that name much better than M. Fats.
 
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kaznj said:
I have an autographed t shirt I bought from Miz. The t shirt is from his place in Florida. Is it worth anything?
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Collectables are worth what someone will pay for them. Has anyone offered money for it?
 
I have been collecting and trading autographs for about 18 years. In my opinion, the second one looks like a stamp. It's too perfect. I could be mistaken.

It looks like the stamp was rolled onto the paper vertically and the side of the stamp hit the paper. Again, I could be wrong.
 
jay helfert said:
The second one is definitely a stamp. The first one is questionable too. Too clean. He could barely write you know. I saw him sign maybe two autographs in 30 years. It was a laborious process for him, thus the stamp. Sorry to burst your bubble. Looks to me like someone copied his signature in the first one.

You can believe or not. I don't really care, but I knew the man well. Better than most. Please compare the two signatures closely. The stamp is a copy of his actual signature. Remember, he had to learn how to write Minnesota Fats. He couldn't spell either. Someone had to teach him how to write it the first few times. Probably George Jansco. He may have had the stamp made for him as well. His real name he could write, Rudy Wanderone, and I saw him sign that one on a hotel food check. He knew how to write that name much better than M. Fats.
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You know that's a bunch of crap.

I personally talked to the guy he gave this to. But you know what, now this bullshit is out there.

This will be my last post on this forum for a while. Unbelievable........
 
Hate to add insult to injury, but the second one looks like a stamp to me also. And Mr. Helfert very likely knows what he is talking about.
 
Jeff said:
You know that's a bunch of crap.

I personally talked to the guy he gave this to. But you know what, now this bullshit is out there.

This will be my last post on this forum for a while. Unbelievable........
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The only crap on here is trying to sell a stamped autograph as the real thing. You got busted and you don't like it. I'd like to bet $10,000 that that second autograph is from a stamp. You heard me right too. I've seen that very stamp many, many times. Fats carried it in his jacket pocket.

Don't make all these AZ'ers into your suckers. And Fats never swiped anything under a real autograph. He was just glad to get all the letters right. :)

You can do whatever you like on eBay but if you bring it here, that's another story. And furthermore, the first one has to be a copy as well. There is no way Fats would sit down and sign a bunch of "Pocket Ads", as you call them.
 
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TX Poolnut said:
I have been collecting and trading autographs for about 18 years. In my opinion, the second one looks like a stamp. It's too perfect. I could be mistaken.

It looks like the stamp was rolled onto the paper vertically and the side of the stamp hit the paper. Again, I could be wrong.
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Yup, that's why I questioned it myself. I no longer collect, but did for several years. Fats was known for using a stamp for autographs. I didn't know about the spelling/writing until Jay spoke of it.
 
I also seem to remember him handing out cards (stamp?) that said something like "I got hustled by Minnesota Fats", so he didn't have to give autographs.
 
TXsouthpaw said:
I think i read somewhere that fats used to use a stamp. mightve been in his book.
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Fats had a stamp during the late Johnston City days, how do I know this..a hippie chick asked him for his autograph, probably around 1969 or 70, Fats pulled out his stamp, and the chick said, "if I wanted a stamped autograph I'd a gone to a bank", its the only time I ever saw Fatty not respond, she walked off.
 
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I saw Fats in Madison Wi. at least 3 times and he always used the stamp except for once. That time he signed a table felt for Jerry Brieseth and didn't seem to have any problems with the signature.

By the way that felt had Jimmy Mataya, Joe Balsis, Jimmy Caras, Lou Butera, Dorthy Wise, Irving Crane, Bustamante, Jeff Carter, Mike Lebron and Efrem Reyes and those are the ones I remember as there were many more. Mosconi? Grady Mathews? Mark Wilson? aw hell my brains sore.

As a side note Fats's signed it 4 times larger than anyone else, that was Fat's way, and it sold at Cuenique's auction for $30.

Mark
 
Madcity said:
I saw Fats in Madison Wi. at least 3 times and he always used the stamp except for once. That time he signed a table felt for Jerry Brieseth and didn't seem to have any problems with the signature.

By the way that felt had Jimmy Mataya, Joe Balsis, Jimmy Caras, Lou Butera, Dorthy Wise, Irving Crane, Bustamante, Jeff Carter, Mike Lebron and Efrem Reyes and those are the ones I remember as there were many more. Mosconi? Grady Mathews? Mark Wilson? aw hell my brains sore.

As a side note Fats's signed it 4 times larger than anyone else, that was Fat's way, and it sold at Cuenique's auction for $30.

Mark
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He couldn't very well use a stamp on the felt, could he?

I remember him giving a real autograph to Robert Turner at the Bicycle Club in the early 90's. Robert had to convince him to do it, and finally he did. I don't know how closely you watched him sign that cloth, but he sure didn't sign for Robert in a fluid and easy manner. The way you would expect from someone signing their own name. He still had to take his time.
 
All you guys on AZ are the best.Thanks for taking the time to post your stories and comments..:)
 
Stamp

Fat02.jpg


Ticket

Fat01.jpg
 
Jeff said:
Stamp

Fat02.jpg


Ticket

Fat01.jpg
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He used a few different stamps in his long career. They could get worn out fairly quickly. Please compare either of those signatures with the first one you posted. Quite a difference. The one you posted is a little too long and drawn out, and a little too smooth. It's as if someone tried to make a copy of Fats autograph to put on these ads.

Yes, Fats probably wrote the original autograph that they copied to make the stamp each time. I doubt that he made them in the same place every time.
 
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jay helfert said:
He couldn't very well use a stamp on the felt, could he?

I remember him giving a real autograph to Robert Turner at the Bicycle Club in the early 90's. Robert had to convince him to do it, and finally he did. I don't know how closely you watched him sign that cloth, but he sure didn't sign for Robert in a fluid and easy manner. The way you would expect from someone signing their own name. He still had to take his time.
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Jay no disputes from me as I never saw him sign anything before or after as this was the second time I saw him. This was prior to 1973 and I was surprised to see him sign anything as I was told he was illiterate. Remember I said it was a very big signature and may have been easier for him?

Fats couldn't use the stamp on the felt as it would have been way too small compared to any other signatures.:D Caras, Balsis and Butera had signed the felt before him. Also maybe Mosconi ? Sold for 30 bucks and I wasn't there I'm still crying.
 
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