Collecting Wrestling Autographs

In the old days, fans would crowd the ring apron, pleading with the good guys (insider wrestling jargon: babyface) for an autograph. As time permitted, the good guys obliged. For that reason, the autographs of the bad guys (heels) are usually harder to find than the babyfaces, but the top heels such as Gorgeous George and Baron Leone were mainstream celebrities and were treated as such away from the arenas, where they signed autographs just as the babyfaces did.

I read in one 1950's Texas program that Gorgeous George was offering a signed photo for $1.00 - all proceeds going to charity. There must be hundreds of Gorgeous George signed photos still in existence, but I have seen very few offered on eBay. A good one could sell for as much as a $100. Stars like Antonino Rocca and Mildred Burke are easier to find, but their signed photos could still bring $30 - $40 on eBay, maybe more, depending on the rarity and condition of the photo.

The autographs of the wrestling stars from the early part of the last century are very rare. Though the pioneers were major celebrities in their day, and most of the big names signed thousands of autographs, very few of those autographs survive today. Paper drives and moms on cleaning sprees account for much of the rarity, but another big reason is the rejection of professional wrestling by the general public in the 1940's. In fact, wrestling was in danger of dying before television presented in as more spectacle than sport. Professional wrestling in this country has always been staged, with the winner predetermined, but the general public wasn't aware of the extent until professional wrestling discarded most of the pretense and accented showmanship above skill.

Signatures of Jim Londos are much harder to find than those of Ty Cobb, though they both were equally famous in their day and both lived into old age. A Ty Cobb signed photo would bring over $2,000. A Jim Londos signed photo would bring a fraction of that, and probably very few who saw the photo would recognize the name.

Over the last two decades, many mainstream celebrities have become involved in wrestling to some extent - Pete Rose, Muhammad Ali and Cindi Lauper, to name just a few. But this is nothing new. Wrestling has always welcomed those who made a name for themselves elsewhere, but for a myriad of reasons they could no longer earn an adequate income there. World War II Flying Ace Pappy Boyington and boxing legends Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis worked as wrestling referees. Max Baer and Joe Louis even became wrestlers, but weren't successful.

Louis' story is a particularly sad one. He was a true American hero, but was unfairly presented with an IRS bill he couldn't pay. He got into wrestling as a last resort.

Football stars Bronko Nagurski and Gus Sonnenberg became wrestlers. So did convicted murderer, but later exonerated, Sam Shepard (believe it or not, he sometimes worked under the name Killer Sam Shepard).

Jim Thorpe, believed by many to be the 20th century's greatest all-around athlete, did a stint as a wrestling manager.

World Boxing Champion Primo Carnera became a wrestler after leaving boxing. Carnera became a major wrestling attraction. He made more money in wrestling than he did as a boxer and actor combined. (The mob confiscated most of his boxing money, but also fixed his fights). His autograph often shows up in wrestling memorabilia collections. I have found two Carnera autographs this way.

Other wrestlers left the business for better paying jobs in Hollywood, like Mike Mazurky (played the heavy in dozens of movies), Henry Kulkey (Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea) and Harold Sakata (who wrestled as Tosh Togo and later became Odd Job in the James Bond movie).

Those old wrestling autograph books sometimes have valuable autographs in them beyond wrestling. Find an autograph of Jim Thorpe in the midst of a wrestling memorabilia collection and you've found a very valuable piece.

The stars from the 1960's and the 1970's are very easy to find and, with few exceptions, very cheap - even major stars like Bruno Sammartino and Verne Gagne.

In the mid-80's, Vince McMahon and his WWF, turned wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, and Andre the Giant into mainstream celebrities. Still those autographs are very reasonable. Probably the toughest autograph to find from this period is Andre the Giant. Andre's career began in the early 1970's, and he was a major star for the next twenty years. Andre was a reluctant signer.

He only signed when he felt like it, which wasn't very often. Yet, an autographed Andre the Giant photo sells for around $100 - not a huge price for a major star and a cross-over celebrity.

Modern era stars whose lives were short are harder to find and sell for more. A wrestling stunt killed Owen Hart. He was a mid-range star, but still very popular. His autograph might bring $50.

Chris Benoit was a favorite of many fans, especially those who favor technique over show. Unknown to most fans, Benoit was a tortured soul. In 2007 he ended his own life, after taking the life of his wife and son. Most collectors today aren't going to feel good about having a Benoit autograph in their collection, but eventually a value will be placed on notoriety. Fifty years in the future, Benoit will probably be thought of as Dr. Sam Sheppard is today.

The most economical way to buy the wrestling autographs of recent stars is in "lots" at auction. eBay is the best place to look. Contrary, to what many believe, the vast majority of wrestling autographs on eBay are authentic. It is simply not lucrative enough for a forger to churn out fake wrestling autographs that sell for $5.00 to $10.00, which is the price point for most modern stars.

Many retired stars and some who are still working, hit the fanfest circuit. Usually, just after one of these shows, autographs can be located on eBay for the same price, or even cheaper, than they were sold at the shows.

The time to get started building a wrestling autograph collection is today. It's easy, it's relatively inexpensive and, if you're a fan it's going to be fun. A well assembled collection might be very valuable in the future.

Find Wrestling Autographs on eBay

Gorgeous George

Maurice Tillet

Haystack Calhoun

Freddie Blassie

Andre the Giant

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