I've had this card since the age of 12. Never had the opportunity until now to get his RC signed. Thanks Matt for making this happen!!
Autograph Signing Tips: Labeling, Inscriptions, and Fixes
If you’ve ever sent items to a big signing and wondered how everything stays organized—this episode is for you.
Today I’m covering three things collectors can control that make a massive difference in results:
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How you label your items
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When inscriptions are worth it (and when they aren’t)
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How bad autographs can sometimes be fixed
And then I’m ending on a positive note with the best autograph signer in the industry, in my experience.
Quick Website Update: Football Signings Hit the Limit
Fun website issue: our site only lets us list 50 signings per sport per page, and football finally maxed out. So we had to create a second football page just to keep listings going.
This is the kind of behind-the-scenes stuff you don’t think about until your website looks at you and says, “Nope, I’m done.”
The Real Challenge of Big Autograph Shows
If we’re doing one athlete—say, a single Larry Bird signing—logistics are easy.
But big shows can have 50–60 athletes (sometimes more). And depending on popularity, we may have 10 to 50 items per athlete.
That means the #1 job becomes simple:
Don’t miss anything.
Not an item. Not an inscription. Not a pen color.
And that’s where collectors can help.
Autograph Signing Tips for Labeling Items (So Nothing Gets Missed)
Here’s the key question to ask yourself:
If someone looks at my item for 1–2 seconds, is the instruction crystal clear?
That’s the standard.
What to include on the note (keep it simple)
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Pen color + type (example: “Blue Sharpie” or “Gold Paint Pen”)
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Any authentication request (if applicable)
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Your name / order number
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Inscription written clearly (if needed)
What NOT to do
Don’t write a long paragraph telling the athlete your life story and then sneak the inscription at the bottom.
If your note says:
“Thank you for everything… my dad and I watched you growing up… you’re the greatest… by the way please write ‘To Tom’…”
That inscription can get missed in the chaos.
The best trick: highlight or circle inscriptions
We’ve started highlighting inscriptions because it makes it instantly obvious:
YES — THIS ITEM HAS AN INSCRIPTION.
If you want perfection, help us make it impossible to miss.
Inscriptions: Awesome… Until the Athlete Hates Doing Them
Inscriptions are fun. They’re the whole point of customizing an item beyond “just a signature.”
And some athletes choose no inscriptions, which is totally fine. Honestly, from a logistics standpoint, it makes everything easier and reduces mistakes.
My biggest pet peeve is when athletes:
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get paid for inscriptions
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agree to do them
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and then complain the entire time
If you hate inscriptions… just don’t do inscriptions.
Or charge more so it’s worth it. But don’t spend a minute complaining when you could’ve already finished the inscription in that same time.
Can You Fix a Bad Autograph? A Lot More Than You Think
Bad autographs happen. Sometimes the pen doesn’t take. Sometimes paint pens spider. Sometimes it smears even if nobody touches it.
Example from today:
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A Marcus Allen mini helmet was requested in silver
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The silver came out awful—smudgy and messy
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So we cleaned it off and re-did it properly
How to fix common issues
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Helmets (paint pen): Goo Gone on a towel can often remove it cleanly
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Chrome/Glossy cards: Alcohol wipes / hand sanitizer wipes can often wipe ink off
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Cardboard vintage cards: Usually not fixable (once it’s on there, it’s on there)
If the surface is glossy, you have options. If it’s old cardboard, you’re basically at the mercy of the moment.
Mini Helmet Warning: Inscriptions Are Tough Now
Modern mini helmets (especially speed-style) have holes everywhere and very little clean space.
Two inscriptions on a mini helmet is already pushing it. Sometimes the best move is:
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move inscriptions to the top
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keep the side clean
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focus on readability over forcing placement
Sometimes we’ll make an executive decision on color/placement if it means the final result looks 10x better.
The Best Autograph Signer in the Industry: Barry Sanders
Let’s end this the right way.
In my experience, the greatest autograph signer—by a mile—is Barry Sanders.
Here’s why:
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Never rushes
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Writes inscriptions cleanly
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Doesn’t complain
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Asks questions like:
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“Do you want it here?”
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“This angle?”
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“Would you prefer it over here?”
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Treats the item like it matters
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Treats the collector like a human being
I’ve never seen Barry give a bad autograph. Ever.
He might spend three minutes doing one helmet with eight inscriptions (which is “slow” compared to other signings), but the final piece looks like a museum display.
That’s why Barry is the GOAT autograph experience.
If you ever get a chance to meet him or add him to your collection—do it.
Final Thoughts
This episode is really about one thing:
The best autographs happen when the prep is clear and the process is respected.
Use these autograph signing tips to get better results:
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Keep labels short and readable
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Highlight inscriptions
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Give athletes space to sign
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Understand what can/can’t be fixed
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Choose athletes who care about quality
Visit: powerssportsmemorabilia.com
Follow: @PowersAutographs
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Great experience. Card was just as described. Excited to have this added to the collection.
Frank Thomas 1990 Topps Signed Baseball Rookie Card #414B Auto Graded Beckett 10
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Fernando Tatis Jr 2019 Topps Baseball Rookie Card RC #410 Graded PSA 9 MINT
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Mr. Powers delivered on my request for this Cal Ripken jr. autograph. It was a nice size clean and perfect signature better than I expected. Mr. Powers team is quick to respond with any concerns you may have and keeps you posted on your item. I will absolutely be getting more signatures through them to finish my collection. I highly recommend Powers Sports to anyone that has any doubts. I use to do send ins with Steiner sports until he sold, to me Powers picked up where they left off and I couldnt be happier. Thank you
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Ronald Acuna Jr 2018 Topps Living Baseball Rookie Card RC #19 Graded PSA 10
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Great experience! I had never gotten any autographs through a signing like this before and I had a number of questions. Someone called me right back & couldn’t have been nicer. The customer service was outstanding every step of the way & I couldn’t be happier with the Reggie Jackson autographed ticket.
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Finally caught the ghost!!!
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