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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…mantle, mickey, of, ofame, ted, williams

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by CEE GEE on January 21, 2013 at 4:29am

Its stunning and amazing how much of these Sh*t pieces are still out there...these guys really ruined the hobby...but thank god for this site and experienced collector we can help each other from purchasing this crap...these are just so so so bad...

Permalink Reply by John H on January 20, 2013 at 8:08pm

How about one of mine below?  I got it at a mall show in the 80's.  It is on a 8x10:

 

Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on January 21, 2013 at 3:52am
Not good in my opinion. Sorry.
Permalink Reply by CEE GEE on January 21, 2013 at 4:26am

I agree with Zipper John...this Mantle has all types of formations wrong with this...

Permalink Reply by John H on January 21, 2013 at 4:30am

Ok.  Thanks.  Like I said, it was purchased in the 80's, so I didn't get soaked.

Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on January 21, 2013 at 8:29am
Sorry not authentic.
Permalink Reply by CJCollector on January 24, 2013 at 7:29pm

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

The EBay seller (king-kong-tom) writes "Authenticated by GAI, which is approved by EBay."  The seller should do some research first.  GAI went bankrupt a few years and autographs with the GAI cert get removed these days.  This crap usually comes with a cert from GAI with Mike Baker's name on the cert.

This Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by EBay seller king-kong-tom.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170980084701

Click on the images to get a closer view.

Permalink Reply by CJCollector on February 14, 2013 at 4:30am

This particular Mickey Mantle forgery certed by GAI (Mike Baker) continues to find it's way on EBay.

This Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by EBay seller baily12190.

Thousands of this garbage has been produced.  Most of these forgeries are found at estate sales, AuctionZip, Proxibid, local charity auctions, etc.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290863178517

Permalink Reply by Null on March 1, 2013 at 1:47pm
Permalink Reply by CJCollector on May 19, 2013 at 6:09am

Another Mickey Mantle forgery with a COA from GAI (Mike Baker).

This Mickey Mantle forgery is listed by Ebay seller mostsuperbeststuff.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400491668122...

 

Permalink Reply by CJCollector on April 23, 2013 at 5:15pm

This crap still shows up on Ebay.

These forgeries of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Duke Snider are all over the place (COA from GAI....The MIke Baker Collection).

This set of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Duke Snider forgeries are listed by Ebay seller davea1270.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantle-Willie-Mays-and-Duke-Snider-A...

Permalink Reply by Mykaphobic on April 23, 2013 at 7:00pm
Yes they are showing up on other auction sites also. I won one a few months back that had the GAI sticker and also a scoreboard Coa. After reading your threads I didn't pay for it. Steve Sipe from GA also confirmed it was bad.

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