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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!!!

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

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 CJCollector on April 21, 2011 at 5:53pm

That is ugly. The seller of this Mantle/Berra garbage is selling quite a few Mantle forgeries on Ebay.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on April 21, 2011 at 6:27pm

It looks like them. They also appear with Morales, STAT and TTA authentication. Same forgeries, sold lots of places.

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Permalink Reply by DB on April 29, 2011 at 10:30am

as far as prices go - Steiner has the items listed below so when you get a $50.00 mantle that is just what you are getting... These are there retail price and now always the haggle price but if someone can get them down to $50.00, I have my eye on a BMW that I'd like to have you negotiate on my behalf.

QTY	Item Description	Price
1	Mickey Mantle 1964 WS 16x20	$2,000.00
1	Mickey Mantle 11x14 # 7 Inscribed with Bat	$1,299.00
1	Mickey Mantle Face #7 Inscribed 113/1000	$2,200.00
1	Mickey Mantle 18x22 Inscribed #7	$2,299.00
1	Mickey Mantle Kneeling B/W	$2,200.00
1	Mickey Mantle Color	$2,200.00
1	Mickey Mantle/Duke Snider/Willie Mays B/W 8x10	$1,499.00
1	Mickey Mantle Gallo B/W	$999.99
1	Mickey Mantle/Yogi Berra Dual 8x10	$999.99
1	Mickey Mantle/Mays Dual 8x10	$999.99
1	Mickey Mantle Various 8x10's	$799.99
1	Mickey Mantle/Roger Maris Cut Collage	$2,500.00
1	2000 Yankees Team Signed Ball	$2,500.00
1	Mickey Mantle Mini Bat With Artwork Inscribed #7	$2,500.00

QTY	SKU	DESCRIPTION	PRICE
1	MANTBAS000103	Mickey Mantle Signed AL Baseballs JSA	$1,699.00
1	MANTBAS000104	Mickey Mantle Signed AL Baseball UDA	$1,699.00
1	MANTBAS000105	Mickey Mantle AL Baseball Signed/Inscribed # 7 (UDA)	$2,000.00
1	MANTBAS000106	Mickey Mantle AL Baseball Signed/Inscribed HOF 1974	$2,499.00
1	YANKBAS000291	1998 Yankees Team Signed WS Baseball (SSM)	$3,000.00
1	500HBAS000019	500 Homerun Signed Baseball 11 Sigs (JSA)	$3,000.00
1	1986 New York Giants 16x20 Gatorade	1,999.99

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on April 29, 2011 at 10:44am

These prices seem pretty high. You can get a PSA/JSA Mantle 8x10 for $250 - $300, as opposed to $799 (Steiner price). Real Mantles with a detailed scan and no COA usually land around $150.

JSA/PSA ball usually around $400 give or take.

In my view, Steiner's target audience is the upper-middle class and above casual collector. Businessmen who want a signed item for their office, but who is not necessarily a regular collector.

Steiner is higher because they have high overhead and all that Yankee Stadium signage ain't cheap! That said, their email list specials can be pretty good and I've gotten some nice items for fair prices when they have a sale.

But you are correct about $50 Mantles. If it was real, reputable dealers would be buying them all day long and flipping for 5 times the cost.

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Permalink Reply by Steve on May 16, 2011 at 1:47pm

I don't think any of the three Mantle's are good. Usually the C and the K are dead giveaways.

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Permalink Reply by CEE GEE on July 20, 2011 at 5:17am

Heres another horrific forgery of Mantle....spelled wrong and a Marino
"bullpen" special bogus on 2 cleats as well selling on ebay a while back for $100 a pop

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on July 20, 2011 at 5:28am

Gotta love the "Mantel."

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on July 20, 2011 at 5:40am

Oy. Horrible.

By the way, it's not 100%, but a good general rule of thumb is, if a Mantle is signed in silver, be VERY cautious. I'm sure there are a few authentic ones out there, but I can't remember the last time I saw a silver Mantle that was real.

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Permalink Reply by Steve on September 27, 2011 at 7:52pm

I have a Mantle 11x14 signed in silver. It is a b/w photo where he is holding up the home run ball he hit 500 and something feet (can't remember the exact distance). Besides his name, he wrote the distance on the ball. It was at his last show at the Riviera. For some reason, I thought silver would show up nice because of the black and white. Before he signed it he says "are you sure you don't want blue"? After he signed it and the photo had to be tilted a little to see the silver, he says "I don't know why you didn't want the blue". Oh well! Still looks awesome.