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Permalink Reply by Christian Nelson on January 2, 2012 at 10:05am

Does anybody else have a idea of the authentication and its worthiness? I have had this for a long time and haven't shared it with many people. I also have a Joe DiMaggio print without autograph.

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Permalink Reply by Mike P on January 2, 2012 at 10:14am

The Mickey Mantle looks labored especially in the formation of the "M"s in the first and last name.  This piece is most likely a forgery, the COA is known to be given to most fakes.  There is a whole book written about this called "Operation Bullpen."  Read this excerpt from http://www.sweetspotnews.com/bullpen2.html

"Wayne Bray's involvement in the forged memorabilia took on so many different dimensions that one of his co-conspirators said everybody knew he was "the Godfather of the memorabilia business." That would not be the last mafia reference in this story. Bray established Sport and Celebrity Autograph Authentication (SCAA) as a way to disguise the sale of counterfeit memorabilia. The company was set up for authenticating counterfeit memorabilia produced by the Marinos. Bray also produced a red "Haiti" baseball stamp to conceal the true age of many of the baseballs on which Greg Marino was forging the signature of deceased baseball players. Stan Fitzgerald of Stan's Memorabilia in Caldwell, N.J., the focus of an earlier FBI Operation Bullpen bust, instructed Bray to move the placement of the Haiti stamp "to allow the forgeries to be placed on the 'sweet spot' of the baseball," the pleading said. Bray began supplying Stan's with bogus memorabilia as early as 1994."

Let us know where/when you got this piece, maybe the many on this site could help you get a refund.  

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Permalink Reply by Christian Nelson on January 2, 2012 at 10:20am

Thank you for your quick response. I did also have this DiMaggio print too. I got them from an Ex-Girlfriend years ago and they been in my attic since.

 

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Permalink Reply by Christian Nelson on January 2, 2012 at 10:22am

This one doesnt have any Certificate with the print.

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Permalink Reply by Mike P on January 2, 2012 at 10:25am

No problem, they both are no goods in my opinion.  The first name of the DiMaggio is all wrong as well as the double "g" in the last.  At least they were a gift so you didn't get burned anything out of pocket.  If you could find out where she bought them maybe you could be reimbursed somehow.  We all experience this bs one point or another in the hobby, it's just good to learn from the mistakes going forward.  

With regards,

Mike.   

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Permalink Reply by Christian Nelson on January 2, 2012 at 10:21am

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Permalink Reply by CEE GEE on January 2, 2012 at 12:01pm

Both pieces are bad....those are from operation bull pen...the Marino's operation made millions in fakes...the lithos were made by the father and the son signed them...check out the book by Jeff Nelson...Iam sorry to say there both products of that forgery ring signed by 1 hand

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 2, 2012 at 12:16pm

Cee Gee and Mike P are right. Kevin Nelson's book, "Operation Bullpen" is a great read for any collector or sports fan. Sadly, almost as many forgeries are still around today.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on January 2, 2012 at 12:57pm

Cee Gee is absolutely correct.  Both autographs are forgeries.  Also, the SSCA COA is on Ebay's Banned COA List.

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Permalink Reply by CEE GEE on January 2, 2012 at 2:33pm

My mistake Kevin Nelson...not Jeff...Operation Bullpen is the name of the book...its a great read and an even greater tool

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on January 3, 2012 at 7:41am

Unfortunately, these are both textbook Marino forgeries. In retrospect, it’s hard to believe that Mantle fooled anyone. It’s really obvious and amateurish by today’s standards.

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