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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!!!

Ugly and laughable forged Mickey Mantle with a worthless COA from GAI. I've observed hundreds of this-style forgery over the years.

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 CJCollector on March 17, 2011 at 7:23am

Sorry, Brandon, but I find that difficult to believe. They are up on Ebay every day and very easy to spot. They are not being pulled.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on March 17, 2011 at 9:15am

You are not understanding the difference and limitations of what Mr. Sipe can and can't do now regarding the old GAI coas.

I in-fact work as an ebay authenticator. I'm well aware of what can and can't be done. I also know that a GREAT MANY of these were pulled from ebay and may still be if the proper authenticator(s) / experts are staying on top of it.

And in the postion as an authenticator within ebay, I would NEVER simply state " ALL items with a XYZ coa are bad". That is not a statement that I can truthfully back-up without 1st seeing all items with that COA. It has to be a case by case examination. Unless ebay ever decides not to accept these GAI coas on ANYTHING. Maybe that is the goal or plan, but until then. It's not that simple.

There is enough evidence to suggest that action. However, for some reason it hasn't happened. Maybe it's in the works. I don't know. Looks like it should be.

It's not assimple to just pull items off.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on March 17, 2011 at 9:29am

Brandon, I understand what you are saying. And I do know what goes on. But I have yet to see any GAI certed autographs with just Baker's name on the cert that I feel is authentic.

Permalink Reply by Fuddjcal on March 19, 2011 at 8:56am

AAAHHHHH, so it's a legal thing??? LOL. What kind of legal thing? GAI is out of business, but they still have a website to scam buyers. Who's going to sue Zipper Lips for doing the right thing?

He seems to be the last hope to pull these, that why I'm so hard on Zipper Lips. He's not the only one not talking about Mantle forgeries. You don't see any of the authenticators speaking on this subject either because they don't want to give the forgers any information. I call B.S.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on March 19, 2011 at 9:06am

I agree, Fudd. I don't understand the legal obstacles either. GAI is defunct and out of business as "GAI." What's the problem with removing that garbage!!!! Everyone agrees that stuff is garbage!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 19, 2011 at 6:46am

Who's stuttering Eddie? Am I missing something?

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Permalink Reply by Fuddjcal on March 19, 2011 at 8:59am

just a term for someone who won't speak up or starts out sentences with abaab abba abba ....Can't say a thing because their tougue is tied or has a Zipper on their mouth, perhaps to keep perpetuating a sickening scam on the public where it is in their best interest to say nothing. You probably won't find that in Wikipedia. FUDD

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on March 19, 2011 at 9:34am

And who is Zipper Lips?

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Permalink Reply by Fuddjcal on March 19, 2011 at 9:51am

Zipper Lips is Steve Sipe. Have you seen or heard a peep come from the guy anywhere anytime to address this...EVER? No, Hence the Zipper Lips nickname.

It's is in his best interest obviously to keep things as they are...as he see's it. As I see it, His silence is an admission of guilt. It's a damned shame, because as an authenicator, I respect his abilities and his work. I just think his silence on the matter and the fact that the scam is 3 years running is horrible. The minor name change is perplexing other than to cause confusion for the E-bay buyer while they are on the approved COA list. It is a smoke screen and nothing more. One they have enjoyed for too damned long. Change the name of your company already. Zipper Lips Authenications seems like a good name to me...ZLA

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on March 19, 2011 at 9:56am

Fudd, you're one of my favorite collectors to communicate with. Fudd and I are probably the two of the most outspoken people on this GAI mess!!!!

To paraphrase Fudd "The silence is deafening."

Permalink Reply by CJCollector on March 17, 2011 at 5:17am

John, both of those autographs are 100% authentic.

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Permalink Reply by john reznikoff on March 17, 2011 at 5:35am

DB,
The "trash site" is now largely moot. Most legit people in the industry know that anything written on there is likely false and they only read it because it is like the National Enquirer or the Star that they see in the lines at the supermarket.

If you have in anyway been featured by that site it means that you are now a leader in the industry and have fought to stamp out forgeries. In other words : "you have arrived"

what is really neat and so much fun is that the fraudsters hang on every word that is published here, as is evidenced by the content of the bs they publish. They try to say that people don't go to the site but they also know that LIVE is about 10 times more popular than the trash site that they have.

On a very positive note, Live has become a place just chock full of useful information, signature studies, secretary outings, third party reviews and more. Any consumer can get opinions for no cost in most cases. It has far exceeded anything that could be put in print and I understand there are plans to even take it to the next level.

The positive is what I prefer to stress.