So what's my autograph.... Cassius Clay.... worth?

[Jack from Charlotte]

My dad took me to the Miami Beach Auditorium to watch Cassius Clay spar 3 guys right before he fought Sonny Liston, in Feb, 1964. It was for my 14th birthday. After the exhibition, Clay stayed in the ring and was being interviewed and then signed a few autographs. Amazing how few people were there trying for an autograph, as I recall. My Dad and I went down and I got his autograph on the back of my Dad's business card. Clay's parents were sitting right there in the front row. Also, one of the 3 guys he sparred was his brother, Rudy.

About 2 weeks later Clay shocked the world by defeating Listen and winning the title. About 3 days later Clay became Muhammad Ali and never signed another autograph.... Cassius Clay.

So what's my Cassius Clay autograph worth, these days.

[H2O Man]

1. At the Hall of Fame

weekend, you might get $100 to $150 for it, depending on the condition it's in.

On edit: He became "Cassius X" the day after the Liston fight. The name "Muhammad Ali" came shortly after that.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Priceless.

[Auggie]

3. A friend of mine in Sports Memorabilia says it's all about authentication

Can you authenticate the autograph?

[Jack from Charlotte]

4. Don't really care..... It's not for sale. It's as much a memory of my father as it is of Ali.....

But, I'm curious.... what constitutes authentication? My Dad died in 1969 and I doubt Ali remembers.

Ali: "Yea. I remember the red haired kid and his Dad. I signed the back of his Dad's business card. Worked for an insurance company, I think."

Saw Ali again at college about 6-7 years later. Our student Union invited and paid him to speak when he was suspended from fighting for not accepting the draft due to his religious beliefs.

[Auggie]

5. Guessing that authentication can be a photo of him signing the business card

My friend said that's one way.

That's quite an autograph you have there. Sounds priceless to me too.

[H2O Man]

6. There are a few ways.

One could involve what the autograph is on.

Recently, there was a bust that involved a former heavyweight contender who was signing Ali's name to photographs that a business was selling. Hard to believe, considering the great guys that OJ was just busted with.

At the Hall of Fame, one fellow was selling a photo that Sonny Liston wrote a wonderful paragraph on before signing. My son and I mentioned to the guy that Sonny was not able to write much more than his name. It didn't bother him to be selling what he knew was fake.

It's likely that no human being has signed more autographs than Ali. The one that you have is a treasure, because of the combined history -- Cassius Clay's and your's. It is worth more to you than it could be to anyone who deals in autographs.