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Wrestling Autographs

by Tom Vasko
(Franklin, VA)

Nature Boy Buddy Rogers Autograph

My mom was a die-hard wrestling fan in the early fifties and was a regular at the wrestling matches in Cleveland, OH. Several of her poems were featured in the magazine ... Wrestling As You Like It.

She wrote to NY promoter Bill Johnston so many times that they were on first name basis.(LOL) Anyway, we were cleaning our family estate when I found her autograph book, which I had been searching for for several years.

The book has all of the GREAT wrestlers from her generation and some other celebrities, including Cleveland Indians baseball players. The wrestlers are... Gorgeous George, Nature Boy Buddy Rogers, Luther Lindsey, Bill Miller, Don Eagle and many that I haven't determined yet.

I could not find a Buddy Rogers or Gorgeous George on eBay. I want to sell the collection, but, because it's mixed with other autographs, should I sell them one at a time or as a whole collection? I sell sports autographs on eBay, but I'm not sure how to do this. Your opinion is appreciated. On the Gorgeous George, she has the bobby pin with the autograph. She always sat in the front row.

Tom Vasko
tv1vasko@verizon.net

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Mar 19, 2010
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Thanks for identifying
by: Anonymous

WoW!

Thanks again. It sounds like Yukon Eric had a sad ending just like Don Eagle. I knew Killer Kowalski, but didn't realize it was the same one as her autograph. I was a BIG wrestling fan in the 70's and some of the wrestlers from that generation made it to mine like Johnny Valentine and some others. It was the mid atlantic wrestling.

Mar 19, 2010
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Autographs
by: Anonymous

Joe Scarpello was a pro wrestler. He had a career that lasted the better part of three decades. Scarpello is a $10 autograph.

Yukon Eric was one of the biggest names in wrestling in the 1940s and 1950s. He was a huge draw, very colorful. He did a Canadian lumberman gimmick that was pretty close to the personality of the real man (Eric Holmback). He lost an ear during a botched worked wrestling move. The guy who took his ear off was Wladek Kowalski (the W. Kowalski that you have). Yukon Eric died at around 40 years old. He was always a loner, and he became despondent after a divorce - then committed suicide. Yukon Eric's autograph is worth between $25 - $50.

After taking off Eric's ear, Kowalaski became an even bigger heel and began calling himself "Killer" Kowalski. He was a top wrestler from the 1950s to the late 1970s. After retiring, he opened a wrestling school. One of his students was the WWE's Triple H. His autograph is worth $10 - $15.

"Wild Bill" could be Wild Bill Longson. He won the NWA World Wrestling Championship three times in the 1940s. The NWA Title was the most prestigious title in wrestling in that era. Of course it was awarded, not won - but it was certainly the biggest honor in wrestling. His autograph is worth $20 - $40. Since he worked heel most of his career, he didn't sign many autographs at the matches.

Fran Kip Laine - Maybe Frankie Laine? The voice behind "Rawhide."

That's all I recognize.

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Mar 19, 2010
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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Joe Scarpello was a pro wrestler. He had a career that lasted the better part of three decades. Scarpello is a $10 autograph. Yukon Eric was one of the biggest names in wrestling in the 1940s and 1950s. He was a huge draw, very colorful. He did a Canadian lumberman gimmick that was pretty close to the personality of the real man (Eric Holmback). He lost an ear during a botched worked wrestling move. The guy who took his ear off was Wladek Kowalski (the W. Kowalski that you have). Yukon Eric died at around 40 years old. He was always a loner, and he became despondent after a divorce - then committed suicide. Yukon Eric's autograph is worth between $25 - $50. After taking off Eric's ear, Kowalaski became an even bigger heel and began calling himself "Killer" Kowalski. He was a top wrestler from the 1950s to the late 1970s. After retiring, he opened a wrestling school. One of his students was the WWE's Triple H. His autograph is worth $10 - $15. "Wild Bill" could be Wild Bill Longson. He won the NWA World Wrestling Championship three times in the 1940s. The NWA Title was the most prestigious title in wrestling in that era. Of course it was awarded, not won - but it was certainly the biggest honor in wrestling. His autograph is worth $20 - $40. Since he worked heel most of his career, he didn't sign many autographs at the matches. Fran Kip Laine - Maybe Frankie Laine? The voice behind "Rawhide." That's all I recognize.

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Mar 18, 2010
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More Names
by: By Tom

Here you go Bill and thanks for taking so much time.
Jim Grange #12, David Rogers, Jim Malone, Yukon Eric, Wild Bill ??, Angela Trindade, W. Kowalski,? Preece, Bill Johnston, Frances Bolten, Toni Spauding, Bill Callahan, Dane Clark, Ace Rose, Curt Massey, Jess Barker, Ivan Bull, Delmars Franklin, Joe Scarpello, Jill Warren, Fran Kip Laine & Red Haley! Some of the spelling may be off but do your best. Thanks again,

Tom

Mar 18, 2010
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Wrestling Autographs
by: Bill

Let me have the names and I will tell you if they are worth mentioning.

I knew that you would get a lot of interest. I just think $1000 is going to be pushing the envelope on an eBay auction, with primarily wrestling autographs. You might get offers.

That is a nice Cleveland Indian page, but the wrestling collectors aren't going to care about it. That might be one that you want to try to sell separately if you can separate it from the album without hurting any others.

Btw, you misspelled Rocca as Rocco.

Mar 18, 2010
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WRESTLING AUTOGRAPHS
by: BY TOM

Thanks Bill!

Here I thought that wasn't enough. I am getting a lot of interest and quite a few e-mails. Some one who paid $203.00 for an autographed photo of Gorgeous George wanted me to sell that one separately with the georgie pin. I tried to put the names of all the ones that I thought would get everyones attention but some I just don't know. Could I e-mail you some of the names I left off and maybe you could tell me if they should be listed? Another thing, should I remove baseball and change to entertainment. I definitely want to keep wrestling. Your pretty good at this and your help is appreciated. Thanks again,

Tom

Mar 18, 2010
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Wrestling Autographs
by: Bill

You have a nice book, but I don't think you will get anywhere near $995 for it, especially not in the today's economy. If you'd rather keep it than let it go for anything less than that, that's understandable. It might even be a good idea to keep it for a better price in the future.

It is possible that you have some names that are worth more than some of the ones you listed. I saw "Eddie Cantor" above the Argentina Rocca that usually retails at $50.

Mar 18, 2010
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Wrestling autographs
by: Tom

Hi Bill,

You can just stay on this site and click on wrestling autographs on e-bay.

Tom

Mar 17, 2010
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Wrestling Autographs
by: Bill

How do you have the auction listed? I can't find it.

Mar 17, 2010
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AUTOGRAPH LISTING
by: Anonymous

Thank You! The auction is up now. Can you go on e-bay and see what you think. What do you feel a FAIR price would be? Remember, there are 13 1950 Cleveland Indians and some movie stars. Your opinion is appreciated.

Tom

Mar 16, 2010
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1950's Wrestling Autographs
by: Bill

I really like old autograph books like the one you have. Often, valuable autographs are found in them. Since most of them don't have photos, some of those valuable autographs are never identified because the owner can't figure out who signed them.

It sound like you are having trouble identifying some of the autographs. eBay is probably the best place to sell your autographs and identify the "unknowns" at the same time. List the autographs as "1950's Wrestling Autographs" (add "with Gorgeous George" if there is room). Collectors will find them and most likely recognize the signatures.

The names that you mentioned are some of the biggest wrestling stars of the 1950's. Gorgeous George was the biggest name in pro wrestling for a few years. Practically everybody who bought TVs when they first came on the market watched wrestling, and Gorgeous George was a household name. By the time Buddy Rogers became "Nature Boy," he was one of the top three or four biggest names in wrestling.

Don Eagle was the most popular Indian star of his time, and really no other legitimate (he was a Mohawk from Quebec) Native American wrestler to this day has been as popular as he was. His image was used to market all kinds of trinkets and toys.

Luther Lindsey was one of the most popular African American wrestlers of that era. He was often billed as "Colored Champion" or some variation, and he was one of the first African Americans to work matches against whites. He worked many times against NWA World Champion Lou Thesz. Lindsey had legit wrestling skills, in addition to being a great showman. He was billed under both the names "Lindsay" and "Lindsey."

Usually autograph books have more than one name on the same page or "front and back." This makes it hard to separate the autographs to sell them indvidually. If an autograph is rare and valuable, sometimes it makes since to target that autograph with scissors and harm or destroy other less valuable autographs. But with wrestling autographs this is seldom the case. The entire book is usually worth more and is easier to sell than clipped signatures.

Gorgeous George called the bobby pins that he threw to the crowd "Georgie Pins." Not very many have survived to this day. With a signature the bobby pin should be worth $50 - $75.

The Don Eagle and Buddy Rogers autographs should be worth around $20 each. Luther Lindsay might bring $10. These are best case scenarios. Autographs on photos are more valuable and easier to sell.

If it were my book, I would sell it in one listing and start the bidding at a figure where I would be comfortable letting it go. Include scans of as many autographs as you can.

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Mar 16, 2010
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Submitted by: Bill

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I really like old autograph books like the one you have. Often, valuable autographs are found in them. Since most of them don't have photos, some of those valuable autographs are never identified because the owner can't figure out who signed them. It sound like you are having trouble identifying some of the autographs. eBay is probably the best place to sell your autographs and identify the "unknowns" at the same time. List the autographs as "1950's Wrestling Autographs" (add "with Gorgeous George" if there is room). Collectors will find them and most likely recognize the signatures. The names that you mentioned are some of the biggest wrestling stars of the 1950's. Gorgeous George was the biggest name in pro wrestling for a few years. Practically everybody who bought TVs when they first came on the market watched wrestling, and Gorgeous George was a household name. By the time Buddy Rogers became "Nature Boy," he was one of the top three or four biggest names in wrestling. Don Eagle was the most popular Indian star of his time, and really no other legitimate (he was a Mohawk from Quebec) Native American wrestler to this day has been as popular as he was. His image was used to market all kinds of trinkets and toys. Luther Lindsey was one of the most popular African American wrestlers of that era. He was often billed as "Colored Champion" or some variation, and he was one of the first African Americans to work matches against whites. He worked many times against NWA World Champion Lou Thesz. Lindsey had legit wrestling skills, in addition to being a great showman. He was billed under both the names "Lindsay" and "Lindsey." Usually autograph books have more than one name on the same page or "front and back." This makes it hard to separate the autographs to sell them indvidually. If an autograph is rare and valuable, sometimes it makes since to target that autograph with scissors and harm or destroy other less valuable autographs. But with wrestling autographs this is seldom the case. The entire book is usually worth more and is easier to sell than clipped signatures. Gorgeous George called the bobby pins that he threw to the crowd "Georgie Pins." Not very many have survived to this day. With a signature the bobby pin should be worth $50 - $75. The Don Eagle and Buddy Rogers autographs should be worth around $20 each. Luther Lindsay might bring $10. These are best case scenarios. Autographs on photos are more valuable and easier to sell. If it were my book, I would sell it in one listing and start the bidding at a figure where I would be comfortable letting it go. Include scans of as many autographs as you can.

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