Real or fake Clemente? Help me out, have heard both ways.

[peachyjays]

Recently my grandfather gave me all his sports stuff from way back as a gift, and it turned out to be some pretty cool stuff. He had an 8x10 team photo signed by Jim Pagliaroni, and Roberto Clemente. I've went to a ton of shops in my area all of which told me it was real. Then I went to a very large, respected shop in the area who told me it was a secretarial signature, and that Roberto himself didn't sign it but someone else did for him. I find it hard to believe my grandfather would get something like that, but who knows. Let me know what you guys think! Bottom left, wait for it to load or go here http://imgur.com/O3nsM.jpg . Thanks!

[TBTwinsFan]

Best bet: JSA or PSA

[dherm360]

I'm no expert, looks pretty good. I would get it authenticated

[Riggs]

get it authenticated for sure, if you plan on selling it. if you plan on keeping it for your own personal collection, then dont waste your money on the authentication. If you think its legit & happy with it.. wouldnt worry about what anyone at the shops told ya either becouse, there not experts..

[peachyjays]

Thanks, the weird part was he gave me an old baseball with the same two signatures on it, and the person who told me the sig on the photo was fake, said the signature on the ball was real. So I'm guessing he got them at the same time. Thanks for the opinions, keep them coming!

[TBTwinsFan]

If you plan on keeping them and it really bothers you, have PSA do a quick look at it, it costs $10.

[Indian71]

Thanks, the weird part was he gave me an old baseball with the same two signatures on it, and the person who told me the sig on the photo was fake, said the signature on the ball was real. So I'm guessing he got them at the same time. Thanks for the opinions, keep them coming!

who knows? It could be that the guy was just telling you the sig was fake so that if you gave it to him, he could turn around and make a huge profit. If it was at a game, then i wouldn't think your grandfather would have Mr. Clemente's secretary sign a baseball. Just my two-cents...

[lizard-jd]

If it was from your grandfather, the first thing I would try to find out is if he got it IP vs. TTM. There wasn't a whole lot of TTM going on in the 1960's and much less in the later part of the 1950's. Below is a scan of one of my own personal Jim Pagliaroni cards auto'ed that I got him to sign in 2008. Some sigs change over time as players get older and their fingers just don't work the same. All the Clemente sigs I ever saw were not written real neat. Good luck!

[indyreds]

No one has stated this, but I would definately try to keep the items both together. There are very few things that I would suggest getting authenticated, but should you be at a show where PSA was I would get those done. Clemente will always be a sports icon!