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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 Cyrkin, Admin on February 17, 2012 at 9:44am

I thought he offered to discuss things here. Let me find his post.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on February 17, 2012 at 9:47am

You're right...he said to call him if you want to talk. I think that's fine, too. Cee Gee, Mr Zipper, Chris...why don't you give Steve a call. He emailed me the other day suggesting we go to lunch but we haven't made plans yet.

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Permalink Reply by DB on February 19, 2012 at 8:55am

actually, I'm surprised he showed up at all after I noticed a statement you made in another thread;

"GA, GAI, PAAS, ACE, STAT, TTA, Christopher Morales, Don Frangipani, AAU/Drew Max and Frank Garo are very likely to be fake"

With all the acronyms I am presuming you are speaking of GA as in Global Authentics LLC -vs- something else. Thus, are you also saying that Brandon's NASCAR work that he does for GA fall into this category?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on February 19, 2012 at 9:11am

I think Brandon's NASCAR authentication for GA is well regarded. But it's only a tiny part of what GA authenticates.

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 18, 2012 at 6:41pm

Couldn't resist....

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Permalink Reply by Steve on January 18, 2012 at 7:12pm

Bingo!

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Permalink Reply by Jason D on March 21, 2012 at 8:11pm

Looks like everyone has the very bad Mariano Rivera autographs. Here is one from a well known company that is selling a ton of bad autographs from their website.

http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/sports-products/mariano-rivera-sig...

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Permalink Reply by DB on March 22, 2012 at 12:48am

and half off at a mere $350.00 that site should have it's own thread!

the sad part is having everything tainted that is just fine with the hoardes of fake material due to incompetence and revenue pressure exerted according to Mike Baker.

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Permalink Reply by Bronson A on March 25, 2012 at 2:16am

New member here, but I can assure you all I've read through the 15+ pages of discussion and am well aware of where everyone stands. I need your help now, guys. I have posted my Julius Erving/Kareem Abdul Jabbar dual autograph photo (Julius Erving Auto shown...sorry for the framing cutoff) authenticated by none other than the infamous GAI. Any tips on the authenticity of the autograph(s)?

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Permalink Reply by Bronson A on March 25, 2012 at 2:20am

Here is the Kareem Abdul Jabbar autograph...After some pretty thorough browsing online, I'm going with the odds on this one, and guessing my dual autograph photo is a fake thanks to the tainted work of GAI, but I thought I'd get a few more opinions...

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Permalink Reply by DB on March 25, 2012 at 4:03am

here is one that line's up somewhat with your Jabbar that is PSA'd. There are simlarities and some differences to lean in likely or not likely directions. Based on a few keys I'd be leaning in the not likely direction. The 1st 2008 and 2nd one 2011

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Permalink Reply by Bronson A on March 25, 2012 at 11:14am

Thanks for your input, DB...The GAI certification is from 2007, so it definitely has the potential to be "not likely genuine". What is your take on the Erving autograph?