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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 Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Duke Snider photo with a worthless COA from GAI. Pure garbage.

Forged Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams photo. Laughable forgeries.

Forged Mantle, DiMaggio and Williams photo with a worthless COA from GAI. Look at this garbage.

Ugly and laughable forged Mickey Mantle with a worthless COA from GAI. I've observed hundreds of this-style forgery over the years.

Mass-produced forged Mantle, DiMaggio, Mays and Snider photo with a worthless COA from GAI. Ugly.

Forged and mass-produced Mickey Mantle. Ugly and laughable.

Forged Mantle, Williams and DiMaggio photo with a worthless COA from GAI. Horrid-looking forgeries.

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 frank johnson on August 26, 2012 at 3:03pm

I will admit to me this looks genuine. Glad I found this site. You guys have really educated me. And saved me money. Seems like Ebay is a place to dump your junk and get away with it.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on August 26, 2012 at 3:29pm

Frank, the above type of forgery is meant to have the appearance of being authentic. In my opinion, 80% of those that collect autographs, buy and own forgeries. That type of forgery easily fools the casual autograph collector.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on September 6, 2012 at 4:19pm

I just noticed another one of these (The Mike Baker Collection) Mickey Mantle forgeries with a GAI cert (Mike Baker). This one is listed by Ebay seller santoaugustine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110948007091

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on September 8, 2012 at 1:35pm

Here's yet another Mickey Mantle forgery certed by GAI (The Mike Baker Collection). This forgery has been produced in the thousands. This garbage will continue to infect the hobby forever.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Auto-Signed-8X10-Lithograph-P...

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on September 19, 2012 at 1:22pm

This crap continues to show up on Ebay. Another Mickey Mantle forgery (The Mike Baker Collection, as I call it) with a cert from GAI. Thousands of these forgeries will haunt and continue to infect the hobby forever.

This one is listed by Ebay seller rimemorabilia.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-signed-autographed-RARE-8x10-...

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Permalink Reply by Steel on September 20, 2012 at 2:11pm

Christopher, what do you think of this Mantle ball?? Thanks a lot.

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on September 20, 2012 at 3:46pm

I'm not Christopher but I would own that ball in a heartbeat. its perfect.

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Permalink Reply by CEE GEE on September 20, 2012 at 4:50pm

Agreed...that ball is authentic...and quite nice I may add..

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on October 2, 2012 at 3:20pm

I just found this Mickey Mantle forgery on a bat listed by Ebay seller jeffmollie.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180987178568...

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on October 5, 2012 at 4:17pm

Here's a horrific Roberto Clemente forgery certed by the old GAI. Look at this mess of a forgery.

We've already exposed hundreds of Jeter forgeries slabbed by GAI.

Ebay seller uncle_bills_treasures writes "GAI is one of the top authenticators in the hobby and their authenticated autographs are highly respected in the hobby. " What a joke!!!!!

And the seller has this mess listed for $2,000.00!!!! Seriously?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180989211513?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2...

I wonder how many thousands of Jeter, Clemente, Favre, Walter Payton, etc. forgeries were slabbed and certed by GAI!!!!!!!! Here's another example of a Derek Jeter GAI certed forgery.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on October 7, 2012 at 2:53pm

Here's another set of Mantle, Mays, Snider and DiMaggio set of forgeries certed by the old GAI. As we all know, GAI (with Mike Baker's name on the certs) certed thousands upon thousands of forgeries.

Ebay seller allinperson writes YOU ARE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE BEST AUTOGRAPHED PIECES OF BASEBALL HISTORY I HAVE EVER SEEN.

Seriously!!!???

www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-JOE-DIMAGGIO-WILLIE-MAYS-SNIDER-SIGN...

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Permalink Reply by Null on October 30, 2012 at 2:38pm

Wow just read through all of this, and it definitely is an interesting read. Basically don't trust GAI COA EVER!!!

I just wish I had the eye that Chris/Cee Gee, others on here have for these forgeries. Many of the examples I definitely would've been fooled by. Guess it just comes with time...