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The GAI Mantle, DiMaggio & Ted Williams Hoard—Are They All Forgeries?

A hoard of thousands Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams signed photos have flooded the market over the last few years. All authenticated by Global Authentication Inc., with COAs signed by former GAI executive Mike Baker.

The hoard has driven down prices on these legendary Baseball Hall of Famers by 50-percent or more, and it's not rare to find one for well under $50.

The problem?

Every baseball expert we asked is emphatic that they're forgeries. And they've had that same opinion since the hoard came out of Florida in 2008.

If the experts are right—and I don't doubt that they are—not only are thousands of collectors stuck with these worthless photos. Thousands more have unfairly suffered a catastrophic drop in the value of their genuine Mantles, DiMaggios and Williams due to the flood of fakes.

And as we all know, GAI went bankrupt in 2009 after certing thousands of forgeries of Mantle, Williams, DiMaggio, Koufax, etc.

Why Do So Many Think They're Forgeries? Let's find out!

If you're a regular collector like me, it's hard to tell good Mantles from decent forgeries. DiMaggios and Williams are easier, but I'd never buy without an expert opinion. So I thought it would be a great education for those experienced in these autographs—experts and experienced collectors—to show us why they're so widely considered forgeries.

I've included a few of the GAI authenticated photos to start with. Feel free to upload more. Ask questions, share your knowledge...and help make collecting these Hall of Famers safer for everyone!

Look at all this garbage!!!

Forged and mass-produced Mantle and Williams forgeries. Worthless COA from GAI and Mike Baker.

Forged and mass-produced forged Mickey Mantle photo. Pathetic.

This is one of dozens forged Mickey Mantle business cards that were "authenticated" by GAI and Mike Baker. Pure garbage.

GAI (Mike Baker) "authenticated" hundreds of Mickey Mantle forgeries on the below image.

Laughable Mantle forgery.

Here is a mass-produced set of Mantle and Williams forgeries.

GAI "authenticated" thousands of forgeries before they went bankrupt in 2009.

Tags: authenticate, authentication, baseball., dimaggio, forgeries, gai, genuine, global, hall, joe, More…

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Permalink Reply by Fuddjcal on March 27, 2011 at 2:21pm

is this the quiz from AA DB?

I hate #1 and suspect it is a forgery

I think the middle #2 is authentic, but wouldn't buy it cause I just don't like it

I like #3 and feel it is authentic.

The Lowly collector

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Permalink Reply by DB on March 27, 2011 at 2:31pm

absolutely you had to spoil the surprise YOU LOWLY COLLECTOR ;-)

Regardless of who's involved as it's easy to find the original citations - what's more important is to turn it into a study so we have reall ones to compare against the GAI Handouts, MOrales who wouldn't know a mantle unless JSA certified it first and the rest of the masses...

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on March 25, 2011 at 5:08pm

Brandon, I'VE emailed Mr. Sipe many times in the past about the above type of GAI forgeries and got nowhere.

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Permalink Reply by DB on March 26, 2011 at 1:06am

not to defend this either way as it is what it is but based on the 500 GAI ball thread - I did as well and found him responsive in that particular instance. If memory serves me correctly I followed up with a phone call at some point as a result.

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Permalink Reply by Fuddjcal on March 27, 2011 at 2:12pm

Me too...ZIPPER LIPS Sipe ain't talk'in. He want to associate the name using semantics and have the benefits on e-bay and DO NOTHING about the 100's of fake GAI GLOBAL AUTHORITY LLC INC AUNTHETICS. Him being on the e-bay security team has to be one of the best belly buster laughs I have heard in a long time. Zipper lips deserves ZERO respect. While I do feel he can be an acceptable authenticator, his in-action regarding the fakes and his association with "SECURITY" is a Travesty.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on April 4, 2011 at 7:04am

I wouldn't respond to you either because I'm sure your approach is as such!

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on April 4, 2011 at 7:03am

Yea, it may just be your approach because I have never had anyone else state that he doesn't respond or isn't helpful. I'm not sure but I would at leastr try again if I were you because there is a way to benefit the hobby in some way I'm sure. He undertands the problem fully.

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Permalink Reply by Fuddjcal on March 27, 2011 at 2:17pm

I too would love to see this Brandon...I know I could use more work with the signature, despite being able to see the most obvious forgeries from this "GAI Hoard", the TTA STAt, Birdsack and Morales Mantle' version stick out like sore thumbs. There should not be any help needed with these as one can tell at a first glance in 1 second. Yes, they are that bad.

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Permalink Reply by DANIEL MECUM on March 24, 2011 at 7:37pm

Here it is guys, what do you think? Just bought it from a Card Shop Owner in California.

He said he would refund if it didnt pass any authentication company as he had two more over the years that were all certified through PSA... Would love your thoughts. I am starting to think I got taken...

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on March 24, 2011 at 7:57pm

Daniel, ask the seller of your Williams/DiMaggio signed photo if he will also refund the authentication fees because I guarantee that PSA would not pass it.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on March 25, 2011 at 5:48am

I am no "expert" by any stretch of the imagination, but to my elementary grasp of these signatures, they look bad. There appears to be at least one fundamental flaw in the Williams, and the Dimaggio appears to be slowly drawn and too neat.

I'd return it while you can. Sorry. :-(