Newport Beach, CA -- Great baseball hitters have more in common than the ability to swing the lumber: Most also have a great John Hancock.

That's according to professional autograph authenticator Joe Orlando, who says sluggers like Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle have the best-looking autographs of all sports stars.

He figures the batters' hand-eye coordination had some influence on their pretty penmanship, but also, the numerous times they have signed for fans helped them "perfect the art of signing."

Orlando gives Babe Ruth the nod as the best-looking signature because his writing has clean lines and round loops.

On the other hand, he says the all-time best pitchers generally have mediocre signatures -- such as Chicago Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux, whose autograph "looks like squiggle marks."

However, Orlando admits he has no "write answer" as to why these great athletes are so far apart when it comes to putting pen to paper.

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