It was over two years ago when I started seeing some very odd-looking Derek Jeter autographs on Ebay.  I had never seen that particular style Derek Jeter autograph before.  At the time, that style of Derek Jeter autograph was only being listed by one Ebay seller, and the common denominator was that all of them were authenticated by Global Authentics (whose lead authenticator is Steve Sipe) and the now defunct GAI. 

My first thought was "Did Derek change his autograph again?"  I waited a few months and I realized that no one else was authenticating that style Derek Jeter autograph. It was a drastic change; and like I always do, I checked the Steiner Sports website for the newest Derek Jeter autograph items and didn't see one that closely resembled the Derek Jeter autographs that were being authenticated by Global Authentics and GAI.  I checked my own exemplars and nothing was close to the autographs that GA was authenticating.  Besides the noticeable differences in Derek's signature, I observed how slowly penned all of these autographs looked.  Of course, when I spot a seller listing (at the time) dozens of questionable Jeter autographs, I have to look at their other autograph listings.  That might be an article for another day.

So anyway, I then contacted Steiner Sports and asked if it was possible that Derek had an autograph contract with another company.  The response from Steiner Sports was "No."   So what is the origin of these odd-looking Derek Jeter autographs?  I kept a "watch" on the seller and observed that as they sold a few, they would list more of the same autographs.  To date the seller has sold hundreds of Derek Jeter autographed baseballs (white & black),  bats (black & ash) and various sized 8X10 & 11X14 photographs.

As the weeks passed, I noticed a few other Ebay sellers began listing the same style Derek Jeter autograph.  It was interesting, too, that the few Ebay sellers listing those Jeter autographs all had "Private Feedback."  In my opinion, those sellers had Private Feedback for two reasons.  One, so that no one can contact the buyers of those Derek Jeter autographs (or any other questionable autograph); and two, so that no one can check their feedback to calculate the number of Derek Jeter autographs or other autographs they sold on Ebay.  Of course, there's a way around that, and that is to use a second Ebay account and maintain a "watch" on certain auctions.  You can keep an eye on auctions they have sold and keep an eye out for new listings.  As of today, March 27, 2012, that seller continues to list new Derek Jeter autographed baseballs, bats and photos when previously listed auctions sell.

Let's look at these Derek Jeter autographs
authenticated by Global Authentics and GAI.

Let's look at a few of the style Derek Jeter autographs that Global Authentics is authenticating. 

By the way, in my opinion,  all of the Derek Jeter autographs that I post here, that are authenticated by Global Authentics/GAI, are not authentic.

This one is listed on Ebay.

The one below is being sold by a company called SportsMemorabilia.com.  SportsMemorabilia is selling 18 pages of Derek Jeter autograph items, with many of them certed by Global Authentics.  These, in my opinion look  "mechanical." More about SportsMemorabilia.com later.

This is a Derek Jeter Steiner Sports signed photograph.  Natural flow, slant and pen pressure.

This is another Steiner Sports Derek Jeter signed photo.

Here is a Derek Jeter signed black baseball authenticated by Global Authentics.  I contacted Steiner Sports about Derek Jeter signed black baseballs and from what I understand, Derek is not suppose to sign black baseballs for anyone else.  There is a seller on Ebay who sold quite a few Derek Jeter signed black baseballs on Ebay.  When word got around that I was questioning Derek Jeter signed black baseballs outside of Steiner Sports, the seller stopped selling Derek Jeter signed black baseballs, but other Ebay sellers continue to sell them.

The first Derek Jeter signed black baseball below is being sold by SportsMemorabilia.com and is authenticated by Global Authentics.  Where's the natural flow?  Where is Derek's fast-paced signature?  Every one of these black baseballs with a "Jeter" signature, authenticated by Global Authentics (GA) looks like the one below.

I would also like to note that many sellers and online retailers still use GAI in their title and auction descriptions like the one above.  But I want to make it clear that these are certed by Global Authentics (GA).

The below Derek Jeter signed black baseball is from Steiner Sports.  Notice the natural flow, slant and pen pressure.  None of Steiner Sports Derek Jeter signed black baseballs that I have seen resemble the ones authenticated by "GA."

Another Steiner Sports Derek Jeter signed black baseball.

The main difference between the two is that the one authenticated by Global Authentics was penned very methodically (there are other differences, too), whereas the Steiner Sports is penned by Derek with a quick, naturally-paced flow.

Now let's look at a Derek Jeter autographed jersey authenticated by Global Authentics.  Notice how methodical (slowly drawn) the signature is penned.  

Here's another Derek Jeter autographed jersey authenticated by Global Authentics.  All of these odd-looking Derek Jeter signed jerseys authenticated by Global Authentics look methodically penned.  To the average collector this Jeter looks great. 

Look at the Jeter signed jersey above authenticated by GA.  The Jeter signed jersey below is, in my opinion,  the signature that someone attempted to emulate.  Without going into detail, notice the difference in slant (the Global Authentics signed Jeter lacks slant).  Also, there's usually a lot going on in Derek Jeter's autograph. 

Here are two Steiner Sports Derek Jeter signed jersey autographed with a natural flow,.  Slanting is good and so is the spacing.  If you look closely at the ones authenticated by Global Authentics, they look mechanical, in my opinion. 

I like to call Derek's signature "erratically consistent."  

Let's look at a Derek Jeter autographed white baseball authenticated by Global Authentics.  Whoever penned this white baseball also penned the above Derek Jeter signed black baseball authenticated by Global Authentics.   Where is the natural Derek Jeter flow on this signed white baseball? 

Here is a Steiner Sports Derek Jeter signed white baseball. His typical fast-paced signature.

Below is a Derek Jeter signed bat authenticated by Global Authentics.  Penned slowly; almost mechanical, in my opinion.  Where is the Jeter natural flow?  Whoever penned this bat, also penned the Jeter Global Authentics signed black baseball, white baseball, uniform (on the number 2) and photograph. 

Notice that the "D" in Derek in all of the autographs certed by Global Authentics, all look the same, but yet none of them look at all like the Derek Jeter autographs from Steiner Sports, PSA, JSA or UDA.

This is a Derek Jeter Steiner Sports autographed bat.

Here is another Derek Jeter signed black baseball authenticated by Global Authentics/Steve Sipe, penned in a very methodical manner.

The one thing I want to make clear is that I am in no way implying that every autograph authenticated by Global Authentics (GA) is questionable.  But in that same breath, I also want to make it clear that I have been watching one Ebay seller very closely over the past 18 months.  They have sold thousands of autographs and every one of them is authenticated by Global Authentics (GA).   They claim to acquire all of their autographs in-person.   They have sold hundreds of Derek Jeter autographs and usually have anywhere between 10-12 listed every week.  Baseballs, bats and 8X10 and 11X14 photos.  

Now let's look at more Derek Jeter autographs authenticated by Global Authentics and GAI. 

Look familiar?

This one sold for $77.

Notice that the Derek Jeter autographs on photographs certed by Global Authentics look much more mechanical than the autographs on baseballs and bats.

At the beginning of this blog I mentioned a company called SportsMemorabilia.com.   I've chatted with them a few times over the past few months.  We chatted again yesterday and I asked them the following:

"I know Jeter has an autograph contract with Steiner Sports, but he also has a autograph contract with your company (SportsMemorabilia)? Thank you."

They (Jerome) replied "Yes we do as well."

I have a copy of the chat session I had with SportsMemorabilia.com

I want to make it clear that SportsMemorabilia also sells Steiner Sports, JSA and PSA/DNA authenticated Derek Jeter items.

I've been working on this subject for about a year.  During that year I did not find one of those style Jeter autographs authenticated by PSA/DNA.

If these hundreds or thousands of Derek Jeter autographs authenticated by Global Authentics were all acquired in person, then why do ALL of them look so methodically and mechanically penned? 

So is it possible that the seller of the majority of these Derek Jeter autographs authenticated by Global Authentics had private signings with Derek Jeter?  Anything is possible, but Steiner Sports says they have an exclusive.

Here's a screenshot that shows Derek Jeter signed items with certs from Steiner Sports, PSA/DNA and Global Authentics.

Derek Jeter autographed bat authenticated by Global Authentics. 

Derek Jeter autograph bat from Steiner Sports.

Let's look at two more.  The first one is a Derek Jeter/David Price autographed baseball authenticated by Global Authentics (GA).  The seller writes "Only one on Ebay."  Look at how slow and methodical the Jeter is signed.   The letter slant is all wrong, etc.

Here is a Steiner Sports Derek Jeter/David Price autographed baseball.  Notice the pace of the signature, the correct vertical slant, etc.  It's all lacking on the Derek Jeter/David Price autographed baseball certed by Global Authentics.

Here's a side-by-side comparison.

None of the Derek Jeter Global Authentics or GAI authenticated autograph that I have posted here is authentic in my opinion. 

Where do all of these autographs come from?

There are a few sellers on Ebay who seem to have an infinite supply of Derek Jeter autographed bats, baseballs and jerseys.  Every time they sell one, they list more and all of them are authenticated by Global Authentics.  Now although this thread is only about their Derek Jeter autograph items,  what about their infinite supply of Tom Brady, Sandy Koufax, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers (helmets & footballs...always a dozen listed at any given time), team-signed items, etc.?

Of course, the authenticator, in this case Global Authentics, should not be concerned where the autographs come from or how they are acquired.  But, it is up to the authenticator, in this case Global Authentics, to determine the authenticity of the autographs that are presented to them for examination.  And since Global Authentics accepts money for performing those examinations, that also leaves them open to discussions like this one. 

Global Authentics has probably authenticated dozens upon dozens  of the below Derek Jeter autograph that I call a "mechanical-looking" autograph.   Very puzzling.

The bottom line with the Derek Jeter autographs authenticated by Global Authentics is that there are issues with pen speed, vertical slant of the letters (lack of), shape, formation, incorrect overlapping, spacing, etc.   In my opinion, the Derek Jeter autographs certed by Global Authentics (GA) were penned very methodically and lack spontaneity.  

This discussion is not meant to bash Global Authentics or Steve Sipe. It's meant to generate productive comments.  Yes, this is a long post, but it is necessary.  I have accumulated enough data to fill 50 pages of an 8X11 book.  It is important to show numerous examples of the various Derek Jeter autographs that have been authenticated by Global Authentics.

Here's a thought.  Is it possible that the seller of the majority of these Derek Jeter autographs authenticated by Global Authentics is related to Derek?   But if that's the case, then that means the seller is also related to Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, Gretzky, etc. 

There are a few sellers who only use Global Authentics to authenticate their autographs.  There are others who only use PSA or JSA.  That in itself, is not a big deal.  But when you look at the autographs listed by those sellers, it's imperative that questions be asked.