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Is everything from GAI fake?

I was thinking recently about the amount of fakes that are authenticated by GAI, so I went through my items and located 5 pieces authenticated by them. I looked up the corresponding number on their website (what's left of it anyway) and found that two items aren't even listed. The database shows no item exists. Two of the three items I know are legit as they were from a private Willie Mays signing a few years back and included the Say Hey authentication plus the MLB authentication. The other three I believe are bad. Two are Stan Musial 8x10's and one is Bart Starr 8x10.

What I find interesting is that you would assume that people who have legitimate authentic photo's used the GAI service. There should be a quantity that are real! But, it appears that almost everything I come across is FAKE! Did they authenticate anything real, or did they have a network set up where they had people produce known forgeries and then they authenticated them? It seems to be the latter. I wish I could remember who I bought these three from and contact them. You wouldn't think they would spend their time on Musial and Starr. Any opinions on this?

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Permalink Reply by Steve on July 20, 2011 at 11:31pm

You are busted by those who know your game. Just like you were busted on other autograph sites and left them to come here. they still talk about you over there. Referring others to beware of you. Word of mouth is pretty quick. Yes, I know who you are, I have a really good memory, but others who have never met you should be able to get a look at you.

Permalink Reply by Fuddjcal on June 9, 2011 at 8:44am

GAI, much like Stat (TTA), Birdsack, AAU, and Moral Less....EVERYTHING with their certification should be considered a forgery IMHO. Then and only then can you go back over it with your knowledge of the signature to see if it passes mustard. You will occasionally find the GAI needle in a haystack, if you look hard enough. The Baker GAI cert has been used more than a 2$ hooker for forgeries, so the chances are slim and none. Regarding the other fellas...Their chances are NILL, unless it's a sting and stickers are being removed. (LOL) That's the only real Mantle I've been able to find with any of the others certification, which I just find HILARIOUS, rather than the "Ah ha" moment MoralLess and Sharpie were looking for. With no preconceived notions or any agendas, Fudd is just calling them as I see them. I've said it before, that you have a better chance of winning a game of Pick-up Styx using your butt cheeks, than to find an authentic Mantle certed by one of the above.

I'm looking for that ONE Authentic Mantle with any of these certs mentioned above and when I find it, I'll be posting it right here for all to see! I hope I live that long. Good luck to you in your search for what you enjoy collecting.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on June 9, 2011 at 8:49am

you have a better chance of winning a game of Pick-up Styx using your butt cheeks, than to find an authentic Mantle certed by one of the above.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on June 10, 2011 at 4:44am

Fuddjcal, my friend, you always crack me up.

I have yet to see anything from "The Mike Baker Collection (as I call them)" that I would say is authentic/genuine.

There are a small group of people responsible for the thousands of Mantle, DiMaggio, Williams, Mays, etc. forgeries that flooded the hobby the last few years. Those people know who they are.

As far as I know, Baker has never responded to questions about this mess. Remember, his name is on all of those certs.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on June 9, 2011 at 1:03pm

Steve, I moved this to the Autograph Authentication Services Category.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on June 9, 2011 at 2:04pm

Early GAI was much more likely to be genuine than later, but it still wasn't at the level of PSA/DNA, or JSA, which was established a few years after GAI.

But think about it: If a dealer or auction house uses third-party authentication, why would they use any general autograph authentication service besides PSA/DNA or JSA? Can you name one general authenticator whose autographs typically bring in the same ballpark? Most bring pennies on the dollar...right?

So why send anything that would pass PSA or JSA to anyone else?

In fact, as the uncertified Mickey Mantle signed photo Mr. Zipper just paid $150 for shows, a good autograph without certification is worth more than the other services' authenticated ones. You can buy Mantle SPs with STAT, TTA, Morales, GAI and other certifications for $25 all day long.

I think Steve Sipe of GAI's successor, Global Authority, is trying hard, but he's faced with the same situation: Why would anybody who knows the scoop send autographs that would pass PSA/DNA or JSA to them? Sure the cost of the service is less, but clearly genuine uncertified autographs go for more than even GA's. Except for NASCAR, which has maintained good marketability with Brandon Mysinger. But I haven't checked the value of GA's NASCAR compared to PSA or JSA to find out which ones sell for more.

GA apparently gets lots of questionable submissions, because even this successor company seems to authenticate a much higher percentage of questionable items.

Brandon, if you don't mind me asking, do you use Global Authority for most of the autographs you sell that aren't NASCAR?

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Permalink Reply by Steve on June 9, 2011 at 2:39pm

Steve, I understand what you are saying. I was looking at it as if the owner of the item didn't know the status of the different companies and would possibly look online and see they can get an authentication cheaper from GAI. My certs either have Mike Baker or both Baker and Priddy on them. Either way, it isn't good for the consumer.

What is the best way to contact Steve Sipe?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on June 9, 2011 at 3:02pm

Try here:

http://www.globalauthentics.com/

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on June 10, 2011 at 5:57am

Please contact Steve at ssipe@globalauthentics.com

Steve has reported several hundred fake GAI Baker COAs ( it may be just the stickers ) that have been used on both ebay, CC, and other locations. He knows that they are fake because he has the real COAs and stickers in-hand still and he maintains the old GAI database ( I won't tell you how the people picked the #'s to use ) He keeps the COAs and Stickers incase he needs them for proof later.

Thankfully, Sipe has an AMAZING relationship with ebay's fraud division head. If these items come up, he has them removed. The same for any old GAI item that is bad, Just contact him and he will have it removed from ebay. He is not GAI. But he is able to control the bad items that at least hit ebay...WHEN HE IS AWARE OF THEM!

Remember, Mike Baker was /is NOT an authenticator.

Justin Priddy was labeled an authenticator by Baker / Rocchi when they needed one. He is a young guy who single handedly destroyed the company that Rocchi / Baker built after Rocchi left PSA.

This is why I had the Global Authentics Motorsports coa created. I wanted my name on the COA so people would know that I am the responsible expert. Even in the event of a mistake. I want the customer to know who to blame.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on June 10, 2011 at 5:54am

I don't sell non-NASCAR autographs now. If I did, I would not use Global since I work with them. I still collect non-Nascar autographs and because of my relationships in the hobby, I will get opinions from several people if I ever need help with an item. Global would be one of those.

The problem with NASCAR authentications right now is PSA and JSA. I think that they would agree that it is an area of weakness. The problem is not-so-much current authentications ( I would say that their NASAR submissions are lower than ever), It's the older stuff that is showing up in the market now as collector's start to sell their autographs hoping to make money. JB's example of the helmet is one of hundreds that have shown up in the last 2-3 years. about 2 years ago, One seller had over 200 JSA certified signed NASCAR cards. Each one was a 1000% fake.

Fud needs to narrow his very wide and ignorant based statement. I wirked with Rocchi, Baker, and Priddy at GAI. I had to fight them EVERY DAY in order to not only clean up their earlier NASCAR submissions that were bad, but to keep Justin from handing out coas to newly submitted NASCAR forgeries instead of sending them to me. However, I stand 1000% behind every NASCAR authentication That I did for the old GAI company.

As far as Sipe and GA. He is actually bringing in new people as experts. ONLY when they are reccomended by some rather powerful and respected people in the hobby. The sweeping ignorance that some people use when speaking of him is totally wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Fuddjcal on June 11, 2011 at 1:36pm

tell ya what der Fruitcake, when you show me an authentic Mantle from the "Mike Baker Collection" with the very beautiful Global sticker and wonderful looking matching card, I'll narrow "my wide and ignorant based statements." Until then....the play stands as called on the field! It really is no better than MoralLess's, Stat TTA, AAU & Birdsick Operation BullS***

GAI GLOBAL most definitely belongs in the same grouping. No need to narrow that statement, other than, Once upon a time in Fantasyland, GAI WAS Respected. I don't care who is involved now or then. Once credibility has been shot, there is nothing left. I don't think Sipe was passing forgeries, but was complicit in the crime for watching as 1000's of forgeries were and are currently being sold with the GLOBAL name. HE DID NOTHING-HE DOES NOTHING, so don't try to sugarcoat it by thinking he pulled 1 of those 1000’s Fake Mantles sold by the bushel....HE DID NOT. I hope that narrows it down for you. He is Jerk for sitting on his hands in my book and even jerkier for having the “power to pull” from E-bay and not doing a thing but letting the problem Uncle Fester for 3 years…What a great guy that Sipe is. See ya Later Nater Nitz

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on June 15, 2011 at 10:33am

Fudd, you are totally wrong and blinded by your ignorance of what has happened. Steve could easily do nothing with the old GAI items but he does pull them when brought to his attention and warrants. He maintains the old GAI database at the request of ebay ( he could tell you more).

A customer recently submitted duel GA and Upper Deck certified items to PSA's "quick opinion" he was fueled by the Morales / JSA situation. He covered up the upper deck coas and holograms.

Of course, PSA failed each one. Sipe didn't ask for this to be done, a customer did it on their own. I wish Steve would show the results here so we can again try to re-focus how to make each company better without having a Pro PSA slant. Each company can do without that and stand on it's own merrits.

I have agreed with several PSA NASCAR items that have been sent to me by ebay or private collectors. I never authenticate based off the coa shown. That's dirty business. It made JSA look bad even if it was related to Morales. PSA failing duel GA and Upper Deck items based off of the GA coa shown is just as bad and just as dirty.