Has anyone started a PC because a player has a nice signature? Or stopped because it looks awful?

TheGriceBoys · Apr 1, 2015

Like the title says, has anyone ever done this, namely with a rookie year player since autographs are so prevalent in our hobby now and those guys sign so much?

For example, at one point last year I considered starting a small and select Nathan MacKinnon PC but when I saw his autograph was absolute garbage, it made me say no, especially in light of the prices for his cards.

Had it been a semi-legible or unique looking signature, I may have dabbled a bit.

On the flip side of things I have seen a few players autographs who just look awesome and thought to myself "Maybe I'll start a autograph PC of them because it's so aesthetically pleasing."

Joe Sakic is one that comes to mind, Ray Bourque is another. Both have unique and eye-catching signatures.

Seems the current guys get beat down with too many strokes of the pen and it shows. Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Taylor Hall, Lundqvist, Stamkos are some I still really really like amongst current guys and I think are exceptions to the rule.

Most of the retired guys are terrific so no one stands out to me much more than another.

Just a fun little thread, have at it if applicable to you.

99goals · Apr 1, 2015

Not for me. I actually can understand how much of a pain it is sign stuff. Not that i do it on their level so I forgive them and I just like having the card. Unless it shows up with a giant X on it, I am comfy.. life is too short to get worked up over a signature. These guys have much better things to do with their lives than sign cards that we collect.

My two cents.

japhi · Apr 1, 2015

Some of the new autos are just embarrassing. I see those Gaudreau autos and just cringe, throw them on a sticker and they make the card worse IMO. Niklas Jenson's is brutal as well, looks like a child marked up a card. I just don't see the appeal of a high end card with a scribble on it.

TheGriceBoys · Apr 1, 2015

99goals said:
Not for me. I actually can understand how much of a pain it is sign stuff. Not that i do it on their level so I forgive them and I just like having the card. Unless it shows up with a giant X on it, I am comfy.. life is too short to get worked up over a signature. These guys have much better things to do with their lives than sign cards that we collect.

My two cents.

Some aren't much better than a giant X so..............:laugh:

I still like a guy who takes some time and puts forth a little effort. I think it speaks volumes about their character and who they are as a person.

I actually read a article once that shows the correlation between a persons signature, how they clean, their grammar, etc and the quality of individual they are, i.e. pride, integrity and morals. It was highly interesting.

Basically said,using the two aforementioned examples, the way you clean a toilet bowl or make your signature legible is the kind of daily commitment you show at your workplace and in your personal life.

SNobles · Apr 1, 2015

I really enjoy some of the autos when people put the effort forward. Even my main PC guy Roy has really relaxed on his auto over the last while. You are hard pressed to find his auto with two legible 3's.

Then you have someone like Gretzky where it is pretty awesome looking every time and most players prior to the lockout have a decent auto. Look a Matt Nieto and Niklas Jensen from last yeat, they are just brutal. Cheechoo from a few years back was just as bad.

Long story but my point is I think an auto is very astatically pleasing but I don't think it is a driving factor for most. Look at Johnny Hockey...not exactly a clean auto but not slowing anyone down.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-15-FLE...917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2edf4f7075

C55 · Apr 1, 2015

Aww Mac's isn't that bad! At least if he signs cleanly and includes his jersey number

RGM81 · Apr 1, 2015

No, but I gravitate towards 2011-12 Carey Price autos much more than I do to 2008-09 Carey Price autos.

blindros88 · Apr 1, 2015

Count me in as someone who is turned off by the quality of the autograph. Not only for starting new collections but with my current one. Some of the autos Lindros did for Panini were absolutely garbage so I didn't buy them.

I have thought about staring collections of several Dallas rookies only to be turned off by their autos. James Neal, Val Nichushkin, and Jamie Been are a few examples. I finally found one I wanted to chase in Alex Chaisson, and sure enough we traded him. Oh well.

clippers00 · Apr 1, 2015

i have not been buying many of doans recent autos. he used to have a really nice sig but now its pretty lame.

capsfan30 · Apr 1, 2015

Yes, actually, I did. I have amassed quite a Bobby Hull collection, but only autos, or auto/mem cards, because I like his auto so much. I haven't had time/resources to add to it lately, however, but I still enjoy looking at it.

BleedxBlue · Apr 1, 2015

Yes I started Kreider but his auto is plain and not appealing so I ou kept his higher end stuff and moved in.

rhcardinals3 · Apr 1, 2015

I do like Bourque's auto. Neely....it can use some work.

mw83krk · Apr 1, 2015

Years ago I bought a bunch of Lukas Kaspar auto rc cards mainly due to his intriguing signature.

3rdlinewinger · Apr 1, 2015

rhcardinals3 said:
I do like Bourque's auto. Neely....it can use some work.

I actually like Neelys auto. Each to their own lol.

coxy15 · Apr 1, 2015

A few years ago now I started collecting some
Iggy's because I like the look of his auto.

Mack · Apr 2, 2015

Absolutely started a mini PC of Jean Beliveau and Maurice Richard because of the amazing auto's and the players.

JokestarWJ · Apr 2, 2015

I have considered several times starting up a auto PC of Hasek and Mike Bossy because of their auto, another player with a beautiful auto is Rod Langway I have a couple of his in my Caps PC. Also like John Tavares auto it looks really clean.

bamlinden · Apr 2, 2015

I've thought about this a few times....

I wish someone would start a killer Jack Johnson PC for the simple reason that his signature is one of the best I've seen in the last 10 years.

He's a guy that takes some time with his auto. I bet it would be a stunning collection.

Interesting topic.

JTBeezer34 · Apr 2, 2015

TheGriceBoys said:
Some aren't much better than a giant X so..............:laugh:

I still like a guy who takes some time and puts forth a little effort. I think it speaks volumes about their character and who they are as a person.

I actually read a article once that shows the correlation between a persons signature, how they clean, their grammar, etc and the quality of individual they are, i.e. pride, integrity and morals. It was highly interesting.

Basically said,using the two aforementioned examples, the way you clean a toilet bowl or make your signature legible is the kind of daily commitment you show at your workplace and in your personal life.

I guess I'm the exception to the rule here. My signature is garbage - and even worse for all the international shipments I do where it's basically just a scribble of my first, middle, and last initial - yet I'm a perfectionist in the work place and very dedicated to doing an above average job. Go figure. :crazy:

To answer the question of the original thread - no to collecting a player due to the auto, but yes, I think if I was on the fence about starting a new collection, how they sign a card would come into play for me.

Leafsfan1967 · Apr 2, 2015

Not looking that good for the future kids either. McDavid reminds me of MacKinnon, and Dylan Strome is basically just a DST 19, which is similar to his brother Ryan's auto. Kids today don't take any pride in their signature. They really should be forced to take a course, and have guy's like Johnny Bower, Ted Lindsay, Gordie Howe, Frank Mahovlich, etc. teach it. Here's our top prospected new kids on the block coming soon to an NHL team near you! Hanifin for the win! Kind of Kadri-like?