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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 DB on November 22, 2011 at 4:09pm

looks like EBay heard us....

This listing (220897917277) has been removed, or this item is not available

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Permalink Reply by Doug Canfield on February 28, 2012 at 5:15pm

Just a question about this GAI hoard. Did the real bad stuff become evident after a certain number GVxxxxxx since the certs are numerically rising. Is the poor authentication throughout the companies history or did it spike after a certain point. No matter what, the reputation is shot but I was curious. Wake up little Suzy.

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Permalink Reply by Steve on March 4, 2012 at 10:27am

I have already seen items authenticated by GA and being sold on Ebay by worlwidegraphs that were bad. These were items he couldn't get through PSA or JSA.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on July 6, 2012 at 4:34am

This GAI certed crap with Mike Baker's name (The Mike Baker Collection) on the GAI cert is still all over the place. This horrific set of forgeries of Mantle/Williams will infect the hobby forever. These forgeries were produced in the thousands.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ted-Williams-Mickey-Mantle-AUTOGRAPHED-Phot...

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on July 12, 2012 at 4:06am

Another typical GAI certed Mickey Mantle forgery. This forgery was produced in the thousands and usually has Mike Baker's name on the cert. Who continues to buy this obviously bad crap!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261064884049...

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Permalink Reply by DB on July 12, 2012 at 4:32am

Although a rhetorical question - simply; the Uninformed, flea market mindset or the Informed Seller who could care less - as after all GAI was an approved EBAY seller for a long time thus - if it's certified it must be authentic.

U should make an offer of a $1.00

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Permalink Reply by T M EVANS on July 12, 2012 at 7:21am

Ended and gone to the trash!!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on July 12, 2012 at 6:23am

Did the Mick ever sign one of these poses? All I have ever seen on this pose are fakes.

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Permalink Reply by T M EVANS on July 12, 2012 at 7:18am

Item ended and has been pulled. Did not know Mike Baker was such a #GFD@*&^ Fraud. and to think I paid good money from another dealer..thanks for the heads up!!

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on July 12, 2012 at 11:41am

TM, I "Thank you" for doing the right thing. You asked me "Did I have to post your photo?" Yes I did. That's what we do here. That's what I do. I've been investigating forgeries and doing videos on forgeries for a long, long time and we are sick of it.

In the past I tried to inform sellers and buyers of the forgeries they were either selling or buying, and their replies were always defensive. I no longer go that route. I will continue to post examples of forgeries for as long as it is necessary.

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Permalink Reply by T M EVANS on July 12, 2012 at 12:18pm

I am on you side not defensive at all. ..thats for sure and did the right thing.Dont destroy my reputation. Only asking to please remove links and pics to my ebay page. I dont think thats to much to ask...thanks