In 1972, autograph shows were but a twinkle in someone's eye. No one contemplated private signings. The only way systematically to obtain autographs was through the mail. On the last day of that year, at just 38, Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash. He was headed to Nicaragua on a humanitarian mission. A few months earlier, the Pirates Hall of Famer collected his final hit, his 3,000th. Heck, in the clubhouse on this last game of the regular season, Clemente, No. 21, even gave his glove to a fan and collector who was celebrating his 21st birthday. By all accounts, Roberto Clemente wasn't a prolific signer, though he'd sign sparingly in visiting hotel lobbies and privately for friends. He'd answer a few autograph requests that greeted him at Wrigley Field, This was 1972. There was no National Sports Collectors Convention, much less talk of "the hobby." Neither was there much of a market. There were fans trying their hand at autograph collecting.

By all accounts, Clemente wasn't that reliable a signer through the mail, at least for his first 15 or so seasons. In fact, collectors struck out frequently, attempting to extract an autograph from him through the mail. During his last two years, however, his generosity through the mail improved dramatically, a shift that has today's collectors and certain authenticators suspicious. The relative scarcity of real Clemente signatures makes him a prime target for forgeries. Indeed, he is among the most forged of players. So says the marketplace and even the FBI.

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