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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 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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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by DB on November 16, 2012 at 4:28am

when it comes to these three in particular the odds aren't very good. there have been some but they typically come with another COA such as PSA. Saw one just the other day on EBAY that had one of these bb celebs.

As far as other celebs go there are some (how many is anyone's guess) that are just fine. I have a few and they are authentic (although with a GAI sticker - resale can plummet) and there is a 500 baseball thread around here somewhere that was cleared up and based on commentary they were fine as well. Although, as I recall they weren't commanding the $$ that other COAs were for the same celebrity.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on November 25, 2012 at 4:27pm

Here's another Mickey Mantle forgery certed by GAI (The "Mike Baker" Collection as I call it).

Mike Baker's name is on thousands upon thousands of these forgeries certed by GAI.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Autographed-Mickey-Mantle-signed-Print-Beau...

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on November 25, 2012 at 6:54pm

Here's another piece of crap Mickey Mantle forgery with a COA from COA (Mike Baker).

This Mantle forgery is listed by Ebay seller "palmcoastgroomers."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Signed-Framed-Photo-/15095473...

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on December 2, 2012 at 9:50am

Here's another set of Mickey Mantle/Ted Williams forgeries with a COA from GAI (The "Mike Baker" Collection).

These forgeries were produced in the thousands with Mike Baker's name on the GAI cert.

This particular set of forgeries is listed by Ebay seller "joebd147."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICKEY-MANTLE-and-TED-WILLIAMS-GAI-CERTIFIE...

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Permalink Reply by Brian W on December 28, 2012 at 8:12am

I saw this on another site, to me this looks like a Mike Baker special

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 28, 2012 at 8:28am

You got it.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on January 12, 2013 at 7:51am

Here's another set of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio forgeries with a COA from GAI (Mike Baker).

This set of Mickey Mantle & Joe DiMaggio forgeries are listed by EBay seller mintvintage76.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230909504747...

Click on the images to get a closer view.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on January 13, 2013 at 12:14pm

Here's another set of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio forgeries with a COA from GAI (Mike Baker).

This set of Mickey Mantle & Joe DiMaggio forgeries is listed by EBay seller tray324.

Thousands of these forgeries were "authenticated" by GAI.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Joe-Dimaggio-Autographed-Auto...

Click on the images to get a closer view.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on January 14, 2013 at 5:42pm

Here's another Mickey Mantle forgery on EBay with a GAI cert.

This Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by EBay seller mike724pronk.

This is the usual crap forgery with Mike Baker's name on the GAI cert. This garbage was produced in the thousands.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170974872357

Click on the images to get a closer view.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on January 20, 2013 at 11:04am

Here's another set of piece-of-crap forgeries with a COA from GAI (The Mike Baker Collection).

This set of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio forgeries are listed by Ebay seller bravada80.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321059103288...

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Permalink Reply by Steve on January 20, 2013 at 12:42pm

I saw that earlier this morning and someone opened the bidding at $249. I wish there was a way to contact the high bidder to let them know about these pieces. The only way seems to wait until feedback has been left and then their user name will appear and you can contact them.