Your thoughts on this

[softball66]

This ebay auction for a $25,000 Ted Williams signed prototype glove on ebay was posted on the Modern Glove Forum. I added my thoughts to the discussion there but would be interested in seeing what some of our "old heads" think about the glove and its "conjecture" description. I have also sent questions to the seller.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ted-Williams-Autogr ... 43a5538a59

[murphusa]

cheeply made import
autograph? would need to see it in a better picture to be sure

[Number9]

I really have no idea how common that model is, but there is one on ebay right now that is similar. I think the glove could easily pass as a design prototype for the reasons mentioned. The web is stitched differently and the back is more wing-tip in style, but you can see the resemblance. As for the signature, it looks good to me. Here's a link to the auction that I've referenced: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Ted-William ... 20b7ab5b38

And some pics for the archives

Pics from Joe's post....

Prototype1.jpg (126.58 KiB) Viewed 5946 times

Prototype2.jpg (124.48 KiB) Viewed 5946 times

Prototype3.jpg (138.35 KiB) Viewed 5946 times

Pics of the Sears model on ebay...

Sears1.jpg (139.63 KiB) Viewed 5946 times

Sears2.jpg (128.71 KiB) Viewed 5946 times

Sears3.jpg (138.33 KiB) Viewed 5946 times

[mikesglove]

I agree with William that the lack of markings is more indicative of a prototype, similar to the "Willie Mays" Macgregor glove At Hunt's Auctions. When I was collecting baseball cards, the rule of thumb was 90% of autographed items were counterfeit. I don't think that has changed much. It is interesting that William found a similar model on ebay. That is good sleuthing.

[softball66]

I humbly bow to the forensic work on this forum by you gentlemen and scholars. I think you have profiled this glove admirably. Prototype yes, Sears yes, Williams signing, ehhh? I think it would be difficult for Williams to sign it as made because of the contour of the pocket and the wrinkles, maybe signed it before it was assembled? Autograph does look pretty good. But price? That would buy you a fairly decent low end new car. One of my questions to him privately was the background on how he got the glove/history. But he's not addressed that.
Here's our email conversations:>>>

Dear bubbared,

Thanks for writing your thoughts. My wife thought perhaps Ted may have signed the leather before assembling, but I think it's light leather and could have been held down flat. I held in in such a way to try and figure that point out. The glove has very little "thickness" and long term durability is questionable. Unless it's been made by some master jedi glove guru. So glad to hear I may not be completely crazy.
- xenafantics
From: bubbared
To: xenafantics
Subject: Re: Details about item: bubbared sent a message about Ted Williams Autographed Baseball Glove PROTOTYPE?!!!!! #290536524377
Sent Date: Mar-07-11 13:14:37 PST

Dear xenafantics,
Thank you for getting back to me. As you might guess we have some knowledge of baseball gloves and would agree with you on several points.
1. It does appear to be a prototype or experiemental glove of some sort, with the hole for the index finger (an idea that was introduced by Rawligns in 1964 with its fastback glove (holdster). Also unquestionably an unusual web, no stamping of any sort.
Not sure that Williams was ever that involved in glove design (but very active with bats of course) while with Wilson and maybe later with Sears though certainly a possibility with either company.
I've seen or heard of three of four signed Ted Williams' retail models. And, in some case, owners of various retail gloves, marked or unmarked, would get various players to sign the gloves. It has been my experience that players will sign gloves
from other makers than their endorsed gloves, not particularly common but done.
The big puzzler is how Ted was able to sign in the contour pocket of the glove. Most gloves I've seen signed have been on the easier to read, flat portions of the glove. Don't think the sharpie pens came into being until the mid 1960s.
No I don't think the stamping has been bleached off the glove. The leather appears to be like that of the imported (far east-Japan) gloves of the 1960s.
I think the glove is unusual in design and having Williams "signature" makes it more interesting.
Good luck on the glove.
Joe
Joe Phillips
glovecollector@mac.com
On Mar 7, 2011, at 9:21 AM, eBay Member: xenafantics wrote:
Dear bubbared,

Hi, Thanks for your inquiry. No, I have not had the signature authenticated. It's obviously Ted's but I would stand 100% behind the signature. The question is, who else would sign a glove that has no markings whatsoever? Ted was "into" glove making. Please bare with me on this, I know it's a bit of a fantasy but being a person who "makes products", I have a few prototypes of various things I've made and to me, it only makes sense that this glove is a prototype of sorts. If you were Ted Williams, and I was a kid who brought you a glove to sign, would he have signed it? I've looked high and low for Williams signed gloves and I can't find one otherthan game used. Maybe there are Ted Williams endorsed gloves that were signed by Ted somewhere out there, but it's quite suspicious that a "home made" glove would have of all signatures, "Ted Williams". I may have the glove sent in to get PSA'd but I wanted some feedback and I'm not really sure it was something that I wanted to do right away. I can talk about this glove forever. On the negative... who would have a blank glove and why would they put Ted Williams signature on it? FOr the value of a signature? The signature on a glove, is probably $500-1000, but if it's a prototype, then it could be quite a bit more valuable. I believe the glove was "custom" made at the time when Ted went to Sears or was experimenting with a private maker. He was heavy into designing and I've never seen a glove with no markings. Do you think they could have been bleached off so Ted would sign the glove? I don't think he would sign a rawlings,macgregor, wilson(unless he was at wilson) and a Sears, (unless he was at sears at the time.), It's a mystery, thanks for not biting at me on the price and "mystery" part. I really don't want to sell unless I'm more certain or the buyer feels completely comfortable 100%. And they have to be for the price I want. Thanks again for listening. Any comments, please feel free to fill in the holes.
- xenafantics
From: bubbared
To: xenafantics
Subject: Details about item: bubbared sent a message about Ted Williams Autographed Baseball Glove PROTOTYPE?!!!!! #290536524377
Sent Date: Mar-07-11 05:27:35 PST
Dear xenafantics,
Please, if you have the information, what is the background or history on this glove? Have you made an attempt to have the Ted Williams signature authenticated?
- bubbared

[murphusa]

Joe

the Williams autograph is not one of his from the 50's or 60's. It is one from the 90's