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MICKEY MANTLE AUTHENTIC EXEMPLARS... READ ALL ABOUT IT!

I just wanted to post these here to see what Fudd the Lowly Mantle Collector can do to help stop the flood of forgeries into the market place. The goal is that we can all start educating ourselves before we buy. To see what a beautiful signature the Mick had, and to learn to distinguish it from the obvious forgeries at first glance. Something TTA, STAT, DREW MAX, GAI GLOBAL (Baker certs) My Favorite Players Reborn (Tony Podsada) & Christopher Morales can't seem to do....at all? You will almost never see a signature in this photo album collection that would match or come close to anything that has been certed by any of those guys. Maybe you'll find 1 in a 1000 if you're lucky. To tell the difference between what an original hand signed Photo by the Mick looks like vs. an obvious Fake at first glance is easy. Give it a try. It's Fun!

As has been told many times, The Mick made more in one signing than his dad did in 1 year. He felt obligated to his fans to give them a "work of art". He did this by signing on just the right spot for the particular photograph he was presented. The size of his signature was determined by how big the sweet spot was. He knew EXACTLY how to fit his signature in so it looked perfect. A thing of beauty really. Please note that these are not all the same signature over and over, but merely a sample from my collection. What I do know is that these are consistent with the WAY Mantle signed and structured his Autograph as we know it. Good luck! FUDD

AUTHENTIC EXEMPLARS-PHOTOS

http://s1342.beta.photobucket.com/user/fuddjcal/library/Mickey%20Ma...

AUTHENTIC EXEMPLARS-BALLS

http://s1342.beta.photobucket.com/user/fuddjcal/library/Mickey%20Ma...

Tags: forgeries, genuine, mickey mantle

10 members like this

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 17, 2011 at 6:13pm: I know what you mean, Brandon. But I don't think they'd certify something that degraded unless they were sure it's good. I assume it's a easier to judge in person with no photo lights, etc. But it sure is one of the weirdest things I've ever seen them authenticate.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 17, 2011 at 6:35pm: Rick, what do you think about PSA/DNA authenticating something like this? This would be an interesting piece for Richard Simon to chime in on as well, since he's a baseball authenticator—about how confidently something like this can be authenticated more than anything.

I keep coming back to comparing it to rare old signed balls in severely degraded condition. If it can be confidently determined that they're genuine, shouldn't they be authenticated? So as ridiculous as this looks certified, it makes sense to me.

Comment by Rick Meyer on December 17, 2011 at 6:43pm: Awful job if thats what the ball came to them looking like. Not sure how it could be done with any real certainty. I would have no interest in that ball. I ditch signatures I get that are smudged or look like junk.

There are so many Mantle balls that I cannot see paying the fee to have this one checked. Might break even at best when its sold. Babe, Gehrig and the older legends we dont have a choice. We have to authenticate and live with whats out there.

I originally thought the ball and LOA looked like it was intentionally blurred by a computer.

Comment by Brandon Mysinger on December 17, 2011 at 6:51pm: I think it's just one of those cases where the authenticator should have passed. A likely Genuine answer but not a full COA or LOA. I'm sure we have all seen or had items similar to this presented to us. We know that they are authentic. Yet, because of the condition or other factors, we can't fully give a 100% opinion.

It would be totally different had the signature been in perfect condition when authenticated. Then, it would be up to the seller to prove that the ball shown was the exact ball that was authenticated.

What type of pen, condition, & Ball combination creates such a mess?

Comment by terrier8HOF on December 17, 2011 at 7:16pm: what is baffling to me about authenticating that bleeding Mantle is, there are some fairly good Mantle forgeries out there. If you had a bleeding authentic one, next to a bleeding "quality" forgery, would you even be able to tell them apart? If the answer is no, then this ball should not have been authenticated.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 17, 2011 at 7:34pm: Maybe you could tell them apart, because it's darker where the pen touched the paper. I ran the image through a couple of filters and you can see the original ink a little better:

I think the flash and lens made it look more like one big fade, but this B&W image is similar to the definition you'd see in person (although it would be in color of course). What do you think?

Comment by Steve Zarelli on December 18, 2011 at 7:56am: What type of pen, condition, & Ball combination creates such a mess?

Sharpie signature on a synthetic cover does this. Probably a cheap "league ball," not an official major league ball with a leather cover. Sharpie will also bleed on a leather cover, but typically not this radically.

Comment by Steve Zarelli on December 18, 2011 at 7:59am: There are so many Mantle balls that I cannot see paying the fee to have this one checked. Might break even at best when its sold.

Right. Mantle may be a bit pricey, but his signature is common. I don't see why anyone would pay to have this authenticated or even buy it. The most I'd go is $5 and I'd use it for as paperweight or let the kids throw it in the yard. It has zero "collectible" value.

Comment by CEE GEE on December 19, 2011 at 4:38am: I agree with my man Mr.Z cheap china made baseballs that are not official MLB balls and or signed balls with sharpies and or markers usually turn out looking like this after a while...this should have been let go at auction for a starting bid at .99 cents...condition is just as important as the authentication....but in this case condition takes away SO much from this piece even being authentic...even though it is deemed authentic the condition I feel devalues this piece terribly and I wouldn't even considering buying this at the cheapest price...its simply a mess and what once was probably a nice signature at one time is just going to get progressively worse for the years to come

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 19, 2011 at 10:32am: Cee Gee,

So you and Zippy are saying Sharpie on these cheap balls naturally spread to look like this? This ball wasn't otherwise damaged? Good info to know.

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