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This McCartney ball...ouch!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/THE-BEATLES-PAUL-McCARTNEY-SIGNED-OAL-BASEB...

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on February 12, 2014 at 1:18pm

You are right. JSA is solid on sports items but when it comes to music and entertainment items JSA is a crapshoot at best.

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Permalink Reply by Jason D on February 12, 2014 at 1:27pm

They just don't have the experts is those fields on staff to feel comfortable with their opinions on Music or Celebrity items that's why their resale is far less than PSA/DNA certed music and celebrity items.

Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on February 14, 2014 at 7:39am

I am a JSA consultant for space and aviation items. In the interest of accuracy, the passage about the scoring system is inaccurate. In my experience, at least three people look at space items, myself included. In the past several years, they have sent me all space items with the exception of a handful that I am aware of. I have asked to see everything, but on occasion something slips through the cracks I have not seen.

When they examine a risky/high dollar item at a show, they do the initial exam to ensure it is a live signature, photograph it and will issue a LOA later if it passes. The notion that bad guys slide bad Babe Ruths by "some kid working a show table" is a myth. It doesn't happen. JSA has a very reliable track record when it comes to space and they recognize the need for a space specialist (prior to me they also had another respected space consultant.)

I also consult with SGC, Mike Root and Larry. In my opinion, Mike and Larry both are experienced analysts and have a passion for getting it right. Their track record thus far is quite conservative and from the feedback I have seen on Net54 and elsewhere, SCG is building a reputation for solid authentication.

Getting back to the McCartney ball, I have no opinion. LOL

Steve Zarelli
Zarelli Space Authentication
www.spaceLOA.com

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Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on February 14, 2014 at 7:57am

Just clarifying. So the ball didn't come from outer space? LOL

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Permalink Reply by Jason D on February 14, 2014 at 8:55am

Zipper, When you mentioned the JSA Scoring system that was something I had mentioned. I know they use this scoring system and what they do (atleast at shows) is show the item in question to each authenticator there and they'll sign off on a piece of paper either giving it the thumbs up or down and grade it a number on how confident they are that it is indeed authentic or not. I believe if they say its a +10 that means there's no doubt its authentic and if they say its a 5 then its a 50/50 shot in that particular authenticators opinion that it is authentic. At least that's how they explained it to me.

I agree that at least 2 people would have to look at an item now when it is a specialty item such as a Space item or Music I know they are supposed to shot photos over to their consultants for the third opinion which in my opinion should be the only opinion since they don't specialize in those fields which is why they have the consultants. As far as Space items I have no experience at all so I wont speak on that but when it comes to music and the items should be sent to Roger they don't always do that and its been proven in the past and Roger has even chimed in and said there were items he didn't look at that were no good. I can see a couple slipping through the cracks but that must be one Big crack at this point.

I know that SGC is just getting their wheels turning in the authentication business and I do feel that they are trying to do the right thing and haven't personally seen anything bad certed by them yet. JSA lost a good authenticator when Larry moved on but without Larry at SGC I don't think they would do that well with Authentication, they needed that industry name and they got it with Larry because Mike Root in my opinion doesn't have the experience in authentication to build that company. Mike should stick to grading the cards and leave the signatures to Larry, that's just an honest opinion. I do think they are trying to do the right thing I wont dispute that.

Id like to think that with all of the shows that JSA is doing (sometimes 4-5 every weekend) that they will see the need to hire some qualified authenticators in the future to run these shows around the country because there is no way they are shooting every single signature brought to these 4-5 shows to Jimmy before they sticker them. I know Wade is a solid authenticator but he cant do it all either, they need a few more quality guys or they need to cut down the amount of shows they do every single weekend. you'd be lucky if you see PSA/DNA do 4-5 shows a month I think there is a reason for that and it quality over quantity.

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Permalink Reply by Randy on February 12, 2014 at 5:17am

I would like to hear Roger Epperson's opinion on this autograph as he is a consultant for JSA and I do not believe they would have certifed an autograph of McCartney with this ultimate value without showing it to him for an opinion first. If they didn't, I have no idea why they would list him as a consultant.

Hopefully, he will chime in.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Gillespie on February 12, 2014 at 10:21am

What?!? ( in response to William Farrell that is)

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Permalink Reply by Randy on February 12, 2014 at 5:26am

They do.

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Permalink Reply by Randy on February 12, 2014 at 5:28am

They do.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on February 11, 2014 at 8:33pm

It's rough, but that signature has so many genuine McCartney characteristics that I do think it's genuine.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Gillespie on February 12, 2014 at 10:18am

I am not an expert, nor do I claim to be, but cmon Steve, seriously? No disrespect intended, but I've seen a lot of real and fake Paul signatures, and I don't recall ever seeing any of the characteristics of this ball in any of those. Never saw a P like that, an A, U, L or the M and c's. Nor have I ever seen the line loop around and cross the M. The only thing I could say is similar is that the name is spelled Paul. (If you are referring to the things mentioned on the LOA, height, pressure, slant, then I guess I can't argue that.). All I know is unless JSA saw him sign it, which could be the case, it doesn't say, or there is a video of Paul holding this up and saying, wow, looks like I was drunk when I signed this! Then not only do I agree it SHOULDN'T have been authenticated, but also it is a joke that I personally wouldn't come anywhere near. But that's just me...no disrespect intended. I love the site, and I'm not trying to stir things up our start an argument, but a blanket statement like it has genuine characteristics is baffling to me on this eye sore of a "signed" piece regardless of the authenticator's reputation.