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Authenticity is Everything
Ted Williams UDA Signed Bat
First time poster, long time reader. Love the site. Have gotten so much information from the forum over the years. Thanks for the contributions from all.
I am writing in regards to a recently acquired Ted Williams Upper Deck Authenticated Baseball Bat. I have long collected baseball autographs and have a very close relative (grandma!) who has purchased many items for me as gifts over the years. She knows my rules, must be authenticated by a top authentication company (UDA, Steiner, PSA/DNA) and must have all the paperwork.
I have had my eyes on acquiring a UDA bat signed by Teddy Ballgame for a while and she recently surprised me on Father's Day with one. It has matching holograms on the certificate and bat knob and the signature looks good. Here is the issue.
I know from experience that UDA doesn't have all of the holograms on their website. Therefore, I always send an email to them with the hologram number to validate the authenticity. Having that email print-out with them confirming the item is just one more level of comfort and to me adds a little to the value. I have a mid-90's UDA Mantle ball that is beautiful and has all the paperwork, but if you punch in the hologram number on their site, you get nothing. I have an email from UDA confirming its authentic, so I feel much better.
When I emailed UDA with the hologram for the WIlliams Bat, they replied "we cannot confirm authenticity". Their response was very vague, so I also sent them pictures (attached). They replied again "we cannot confirm authenticity". I asked them what they meant, that is, is the hologram fake, or do you simply have incomplete records and therefore legally you can't confirm. They replied "either we can confirm authenticity or we can't, if we can't, we cannot say anything else.
Now, based on my research, there is a very good chance that this bat is authentic, but UDA just does not have good records going back to the 90's. Legally, they can't confirm the authenticity, so they have to take the high road on their response. However, I'd still like your opinions on the situation and if you think the autograph looks good. I may be a little over cautious here.
Here is an article talking about UDA's crappy records:
https://autographsforsaledotcom.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/what-you-n...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Robin Banks on
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Congrats. Its authentic. I once owned a similar bat.
Steiner and UDA needs a cert verification database. Unfortunately, they do not have one.
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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on
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I wouldn't be concerned, the bat is authentic. UDA was not strong with regards to on line verification.
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Permalink Reply by TradeGeek on
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The UD certificates from the 90s are always a problem.
That said, sometimes it can work to your advantage. I have been following 90s UD Michael Jordan signed baseballs. They sell for a good discount when UD won't verify the number, even when they have all the paperwork and original packaging. I've had members here look at them and they are authentic. I figure I will eventually pick one up when an auction price seems low.
Older UD Jordan balls have sold for as little as $300. Newer versions where UD can verify the serial number tend to go for up to $500.
All I care about is that it's authentic. I'll take the discount.
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Cancro on
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Thank you all for your comments. I feel great about the bat now. And yes, my grandmother is an amazingly kind lady. However,she has one simple rule: "I will do anything I can for you as long as you work hard and are a good, humble person who is kind to others". Words to live by....
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Permalink Reply by dcorrado on
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What a great piece. Any idea where your grandmother purchased it?
Do you guys consider JSA to be a quality authenticator?
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dcorrado,
For sports autographs, PSA or JSA is the way to go for 3rd party authentication.
Robin
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