Thanks to Power Sports Memorabilia and to Dennis Rodman for the cool auto....
Inside a Larry Bird Autograph Signing: Why These Are the Good Times for Collectors
Last night, I got back from another Larry Bird autograph signing, and it really hit me just how special these signings are—and why collectors should appreciate them while they last.
Larry is turning 69 this year, and while he still signs regularly, the reality is simple: he’s not going to sign forever. That makes every signing feel a little more meaningful, both for us and for collectors who trust us with their items.
These are the good times.
Why Larry Bird Autographs Are So Special
Larry Bird remains one of the most popular autographs in all of sports memorabilia. Not just because of who he is—but because of how he signs.
-
Clean, consistent handwriting
-
Full signatures every time
-
Careful placement on items
-
Genuine concern for how pieces look when finished
A lot of athletes don’t care once the pen hits the item. Larry absolutely does.
That’s why his autograph holds long-term value—and why demand for his signings continues to be strong.
Limited Customization, Still High Demand
Larry doesn’t currently do inscriptions, which limits customization, but collectors still get creative with what they send in:
-
Cards (always popular)
-
Photos
-
Indiana State magazines
-
Unique flat items that display well
Because he won’t sign forever, we try to change things up and offer different options when possible—so collectors can own something unique, not just another standard piece.
Traveling to the Signing: Why I Chose to Drive
This signing took place just south of Indianapolis. Normally, that’s an easy flight—but the signing moved to a Monday, which complicates things.
Monday signings mean:
-
Items arrive Friday
-
Sit at a hotel all weekend
-
More risk than I’m comfortable with
So instead of flying and renting a car, I decided to drive the 7.5 hours each way.
Honestly? Not a bad decision.
The Benefits of Driving to Autograph Signings
Driving has some underrated advantages:
-
I control the schedule
-
I bring my own food (chicken and rice always come with me)
-
No airport stress
-
No questionable hotel food
Plus, I got to take a different route through Southern Indiana, which was surprisingly beautiful.
I passed through:
-
Bloomington (Indiana University)
-
Brazil, Indiana (where David Goggins lived for a time)
Seeing back roads and small towns beats staring at the same interstate scenery every time.
What Larry Bird Is Like at a Signing
If you’ve never met Larry Bird, here’s the truth:
-
He’s quiet
-
He’s professional
-
He’s not rude at all
-
He’s there to sign—and he signs immediately
No small talk. No delays. When it’s time to sign, he signs.
He also knows exactly where to place his autograph on nearly every item. He’s signed these pieces thousands of times, and it shows.
Larry Actually Cares About Your Item
One moment that stood out:
-
A collector requested a very thin gold paint pen
-
Larry stopped mid-signature because he thought the pen was defective
-
Once he realized it was intentional, he continued
Another time:
-
A collector requested photo proof
-
Larry noticed I hadn’t taken the photo yet
-
He slid the item back toward himself so I could get the shot
That tells you everything you need to know.
Why Transparency Matters With Athletes
Larry is very particular about counts:
-
Basketballs
-
Cards
-
Magazines
-
Tickets
-
Other items
We handled this signing by item type, not pen color, so he could clearly track what he was signing and what he was being paid for.
Why does this matter?
Because athletes do get burned—often.
I know someone who permanently lost access to Larry Bird signings over six extra autographs. That’s all it took.
We’ve always believed in doing things the right way:
-
Accurate counts
-
Honest payment
-
No shortcuts
That’s how you maintain long-term relationships in this industry.
The Signing Setup (And a Left-Handed Challenge)
We used a new autograph board setup, which worked well overall—but Larry signs left-handed, which creates unique challenges.
Left-handed signers:
-
Turn items at an angle to avoid smudging
-
Require more spacing
-
Can make standard setups awkward
It’s something we’ll continue to fine-tune, especially for left-handed athletes.
Heading Home (And One Last Curveball)
The signing wrapped up efficiently—about 90 minutes total.
On the drive home, I got a call from Natalie (my wife, who many of you talk to on the phone):
She had locked her keys inside the building and couldn’t leave.
So she waited an hour until I got back.
Not ideal—but definitely memorable.
A Busy Stretch of Signings Ahead
This has been one of our busiest stretches ever:
-
Larry Bird
-
Bo Nix
-
Upcoming Chicago trip
-
Over 100 athletes in a single week
-
More major names coming soon
It’s a whirlwind—but it’s also why we do what we do.
Final Thoughts: Why Larry Bird Is Worth It
Larry Bird—and Barry Sanders, in my opinion—are the gold standard:
-
Great autographs
-
Consistency
-
Care
-
Professionalism
Yes, Larry doesn’t do inscriptions right now. He has in the past, but they were extremely expensive, and I’m not sure he enjoys doing them.
Even without inscriptions, his autograph stands on its own.
If you’re thinking about getting something signed by Larry Bird, my advice is simple:
Don’t wait forever.
Learn More
Visit PowersSportsMemorabilia.com
Follow us on Instagram: @PowersAutographs
コメントを残す
コメントは表示される前に承認されます。
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 4967 reviews.
The autographs turned out better than I could have imagined. Was a pleasant experience from sending to receiving back the items. You have a customer for life.
Nice big autograph!
Great autograph on this giant 2XL jersey
Power Sports was very helpful. They will answer any questions throughout the process of getting your Autograph. And they packed very well when they ship it back to you.
Another great looking signature added to my team signed helmet. It is great to get notifications throughout the process and using UPS is great to protect my items.
Nice autograph signed by former NY Mets great. Thanks Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Amazing customer service
Very straight forward process and the item lived up to expectations!
I’ve been holding on to this hat forever!! Finally got the opportunity to get it signed NBA legend Alex English.. Courtesy of Powers Sports!
Everything went smooth from ordering the autograph to receiving my item promptly and Natalie was very helpful and responsive with the questions I had.
Again, PSM did a great job!
Nice autograph by Roger Clemens himself. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Nice autograph by Cal Ripken Jr. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Nice autograph. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Another perfect autograph on my 3000 hit baseball. Always a great experience! Thanks again.
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!!
Once again, Matt and his team delivered a smooth, professional experience in obtaining a Dustin Pedroia autograph (with authentication) to a book already containing a number of Red Sox greats’ signatures. I recommend Powers Spirts Memorabilia highly.
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
The COA was placed exactly where I wanted it and it turned out great. Always an easy experience.
An excellent experience with the team. The ball turned out perfectly. Easy to ship the ball in and it returned after signing without an issue.
Great place to do business with. Thank you!
Fernando Tatis Jr 2019 Topps Baseball Rookie Card RC #410 Graded PSA 9 MINT
😍 such a nice autograph! Thank you!
Thank you for another awesome autograph!
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
Great experience as usual! I’ll definitely be getting more autographs in the future!!
As good as it gets
Smooth transaction
The process was smooth and easy as always.
Awesome!
The color match ink auto looks great! Thanks!
A fantastic addition to the set. Bosh's autograph really pops on this one. Thanks!
This might be the only autograph of this card that has his whole auto on it. Great addition to the collection!
The COA wasn't close to where I asked for it to be placed. I'm not sure how this was missed but it was a bummer when I saw that.
This came back amazing! The autograph was very clean! Thanks!
This completes my set of sketch cards. It's been fun doing this.
This was just the COA. Thanks!
It's awesome to get this one back! Another added to the Collection.
Great job by Powers Sports once again! They were able to secure a great signature from Andy Reid on my trading card, using the exact type pen and the exact location that I requested. Accuracy and quality are their top priority!
I submitted 2 cards to get them signed by Patrick Ewing himself. Thanks Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Your Cart
Your cart is empty.