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THE AUTOGRAPH AUTHENTICATOR REPORT

I would like to share with everyone a major problem I have been seeing around Florida for the past few years. For a while you would only see these signature on photos or on multi signed 500 Home Run or 3000 hits baseballs. A year or so ago P.A.A.S. starting receiving these Autographed White Panel Baseballs, "Official League Baseball" , signed in blue ink on the sweet spot. They would be submitted one or two at time, and mostly from collectors that obtained them at local Florida shows or Flea markets. In the last 4-5 months we were receiving these almost exact signed baseballs for autograph authentication from around the country. Last month a local Florida dealer brought in 70 of these pure white single signed baseball for autograph authentication. I held the submission for a few days, so we could document and photograph the signatures for our files. When the dealer returned for his baseballs, I asked him where he had obtained these signed baseballs? He explained with a straight face that he has had them for over 7 years. He said that he waited on lines at autograph shows and sent some of the baseballs to autograph shows around the country to get signed. I then explained to him that they are not authentic and that I have been aware of these forged signatures for years. I also showed him enough proof that he had nothing further to say and admitted that he purchased the baseballs at a Miami Flea market for $10 per baseball. The scary part is he told me that a sports memorabilia dealer friend of his from North Carolina purchased over 300 baseballs and a dozen Muhammad Ali signed gloves. This is becoming a wide spread problem and I have been seeing these same baseballs on many websites and auctions. Please take note of these examples and study the signature patterns. You may notice a few different variations of the same signature, this is done by increasing or decreasing the size and width of the autograph. Besides not being authentic I am sure some of the readers will see some interesting similarities with these signatures. I would like hear some opinions and receive some input. There are additional names and signatures and we will continue to post them.

Thank you for your time,

Michael Frost of P.A.A.S. can be reached at specialagent711@aol.com

Tags: Authentication, Autograph, Frost, Michael, P.A.A.S., PSA/DNA

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Permalink Reply by DB on September 24, 2012 at 2:39pm

Although invited nearly two weeks ago still a noshow! The silence is the best reason to avoid, imo.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 24, 2012 at 3:02pm

I think the obvious is the best reason to avoid.

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Permalink Reply by DB on September 24, 2012 at 3:04pm

perhaps, but I try not to have a public hanging based on one example.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 24, 2012 at 3:29pm

What I meant is judge them on their autographs, not whether they show up. Lots of people don't participate.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on September 12, 2012 at 9:11am

Here's another one of these Mickey Mantle forgeries with a COA from YMC Sports. And the forgeries just keep on coming,,,,,,,,,,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-AUTOGRAPHED-PICTURE-WITH-COA-...

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on September 12, 2012 at 9:23am

Cheap China balls, 4x6 and 5x7 photos....

If that isn't the ultimate tip off, what is? Let's presume for a moment some company did get the Mick to do a private signing in the early 90s. After shelling out big bucks for Mick's fee, would the company have used cheap plastic balls and unpopular, small sized photos to minimize the return on their investment? Of course not!

Without even looking a the signature, common sense would dictate that something is probably wrong with a massive hoard of offsize photos and cheap balls.

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Permalink Reply by Richard S. Simon on September 12, 2012 at 9:48am

Whoever forged these, and we all have some suspicions :) was one cheap ass----. Buying small photos and those crummy baseballs,,, guess that he/they are trying to save some pennies.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on September 12, 2012 at 3:20pm

Absolutely, Richard. The first red flag that caught our eye years ago was the Mantle signed 4X6 photographs. We were saying to ourselves "What the heck is this?"

The Mantle sigs were obvious forgeries, but the fact that thousands were signed on 4X6's immediately caught our eye. And they all had COAs from Christopher Morales and Ted Taylor.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on September 14, 2012 at 8:18pm

The crap continues.

http://atauction.com/iSynApp/auctionDisplay.action?sid=193&auct...

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Permalink Reply by James Sonier on September 24, 2012 at 8:23pm

Good job Mike letting everyone know about these shady items. Always thought you was one of the best in the business. Loved visting your store collectables of the stars when you had it. It was like a museum, so much to look at and alot of unique items. Kudos to you and keep up the good work trying to help keep this hobby clean.