BUYING AND COLLECTING SPORTS MEMORABILIA

Steroid Issue Impacting Memorabilia?

2008-01-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

Monday, 31 December 2007
If there's one thing dealers and collectors don't need, it's another player linked to steroid use.
Mark McGwire.

Sammy Sosa.

Barry Bonds.

Roger Clemens?

Not long ago, Clemens memorabilia and cards were red hot, especially in Yankees country. Now dealers are finding their customers are backing off--at least until more information comes out. According to Newsday, it's a difficult situation for those who are trying to sell autographed items and baseball rookie cards at retail.

Coolest Sports Memorabilia Finds of 2007

2008-01-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

Monday, 31 December 2007
The hunt goes on for vintage pieces still stuck in storage. Yes, they're still out there as some of the stories from 2007 attest.

Archaeologists dream of the day they uncover a fossil lying undisturbed deep in the soil. Those who prefer sports artifacts to ancient bones might not gain the scholarly acclaim and national media attention, but hey, it’s our stuff. The stuff that makes us envious when someone else locates a collection or special piece. Hard as it may be to believe, closets and attics across North America are still hiding things of interest to sports collectors.

2007 brought a treasure trove of items which entered the hobby for the first time. They ranged from old game worn jerseys, gifted or sold long before any self-respecting adult actually collected them, to decades-old unopened boxes of baseball cards found at garage sales.

In no particular order, here’s a list of what we thought were among the coolest discoveries that made headlines in our pages during 2007.

Lou Gehrig “Boy Scout” baseball: Yes, there was once a time when Major League superstars would show up at local boy scout dinners. Lou Gehrig dropped by one such awards dinner in 1937 and signed a baseball for 15 year-old Donald Starks. The sweet spot signature ball was a keepsake for Starks, but he finally consigned it to Memory Lane Auctions, which sold it this summer. Not the most valuable ball ever, but the perfect symbol of another time.

Early Baseball Rules: The Olympic baseball club of Philadelphia was playing baseball seriously enough in 1838 to create their own “constitution”, a printed list of by-laws distributed to team members. After over three decades in hiding, the original document made its way to Robert Edward Auctions.

1964 Topps Stand Ups Box: Why do millions of people go to garage sales? Because…say it with me...”you never know what you might find”. One east coast resident knew he had something good when he found an old box of unopened packs at a dirt cheap rate. Some quick investigation revealed the contents to be 1964 Topps Stand-Ups. Flooded with offers once it hit eBay, the box was sold to a buyer for Mastro Auctions, which sold it in a catalog sale for $35,864.

Bobby Orr in the Closet: A gift from the ultra-popular Boston Bruins’ Hall of Famer to a young boy over thirty years ago finally came out of the closet and showed up to oohs and ahs at a Canadian sports memorabilia show. The owner decided to consign it to Classic Auctions of Montreal, which sold it for over $80,000 to a Quebec businessman.

High Grade Vintage Find: A family visit led one man to the collection of his wife’s late grandfather, a phenomenal horde of T-cards and Tin Tops from the early part of the century including never-before-seen pristine examples of the Joe Jackson and Jim Thorpe Colgan’s Chips discs. Split into lots, they were sold by Mastro Auctions.

Babe Ruth rookie cards x 2: An east coast family learned of the sale of a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth, then realized they had one. When Rob Lifson of Robert Edward Auctions showed up to take a look, he found they also had a team photo card of the ’14 Orioles. The consigned pair brought over $252,000.

Cards in the kitchen: A woman remodeling her kitchen peeled back the baseboards and out popped some early 1950s Topps cards. No Mantle rookie but a few 1952 Topps saw the light of day for the first time in over 50 years. It won’t result in fabulous wealth but it goes to show there are still cards hidden in the strangest places.

Gehrig Jersey Saved from the Scissors: Major League teams are keenly aware of the collector value of their game worn jerseys now but back in the 1930s, they just wanted to get rid of them. The manager of a church softball team spent $9 each for a stack of them in the late 30s, hoping to outfit his team. The jersey once worn by Gehrig was saved in case patches were needed. Thankfully they weren’t, the team folded after one season and the jersey was preserved, sold in the fall by Lelands.

Black Sox baseball: Jake Mintz was a private investigator who worked the concourses and stands at Cleveland Indians games during the 1920s. He passed on a small collection of autographed baseballs to family members who consigned them to Huggins & Scott Auctions in 2007. One ball, signed by Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver not long after the Black Sox scandal, starred in a fall auction, bringing $69,000.

1st All Star Game Lineup Cards: Luckily, the family of NL manager Bill McKechnie had saved the lineup cards from the 1933 All Star game. They were consigned to Hunt Auctions’ sale just prior to this year’s game in San Francisco and sold for $138,000.

Football Hall of Fame Eyes Patriots Memorabilia

2008-01-03T19:20:00.000-08:00

Thursday, 03 January 2008
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is making sure it documents the New England Patriots' historic season with game used memorabilia.
They don't seem to be quite as aggressive--or at least as forthcoming--as their counterparts in Cooperstown, but those in charge of telling the history of the NFL via its artifacts were ready to pounce on some items from Saturday night's win by the New England Patriots.
In a story which appeared just prior to the final game of the 16-0 season, an official with the Pro Football Hall of Fame talked about what the Hall wanted and what it already has from the Patriots' other Super Bowl seasons.

Dreams/Mounted Memories and Steiner Sports Sign Exclusive Deal with Superstar Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning

2007-03-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

PLANTATION, Fla.

Dreams, Inc. a vertically integrated leader in the licensed sports products industry, announced that Mounted Memories, its wholly-owned memorabilia division and Steiner Sports, a fully-integrated sports marketing agency, have signed Peyton Manning, the immensely popular quarterback for the Super Bowl contending, AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts to a multi-year autograph deal.

"Peyton Manning is the most recognizable face in the NFL today, and is a certain future Hall of Famer," said Ross Tannenbaum, CEO of Dreams, Inc. "His off-the-field persona has propelled him to a level of public acclaim shared by only a handful of athletes in all of sports."

Steiner Sports, based in New York, will partner with Mounted Memories to manage and control the vast marketing opportunities for authentic Peyton Manning autographed items.

"Mounted Memories and Steiner Sports are the premier brands in the memorabilia industry and amongst a small and exclusive group of preferred licensees with each of the professional sporting leagues," stated Jared Weiss, President of Steiner Sports. "This is a formidable team to control the autograph of one of the greatest athletes of our time," he concluded.

"As far as quarterbacks in the NFL go, Peyton Manning is a giant," said Mitch Adelstein, president of Mounted Memories. "His skill, talent and personality make him one of the most desired athletes to market from a memorabilia standpoint. We will immediately begin designing unique, limited edition items featuring Peyton's autograph for distribution throughout the country."

Manning, one of the most brilliant quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, holds several NFL passing records including touchdown passes in a single season, most consecutive seasons with more than 4,000 passing yards and most seasons with 4,000 or more yards passing in a career. His NFL career 94.4 passing rating ranks first among active quarterbacks with at least 1,500 passing attempts, second all-time only to Steve Young's 96.8 rating.

Buyer strikes out with Mickey Mantle cards

2007-03-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

By MICHAEL GARTLAND
STAFF WRITER

PARAMUS -- These Mickey Mantle rookie cards surely aren't Topps to Timothy Tarrant Jr.

Tarrant, a baseball memorabilia collector, filed charges against a sports card dealer on Wednesday, claiming the man sold him two fake Mantle rookie cards for $4,500.

Tarrant, 31, of Mahwah, said he and a friend pitched in for two of The Mick's valuable 1951 Bowman cards, one for $2,500 and the other for $2,000.

Months later, he took the cards to an authenticator, who gave him the bad news, he said.

The cards are phony.

But, Tarrant said, the owner of Markzcardz & Collectibles in Hackensack balked at refunding his money.

"I tried to make it easy for the guy," Tarrant said. "I said, 'Give me my money back.' "

Dealer Mark Linquito, however, said he simply bought the cards from a private owner and resold them.

"This happened about eight months ago," said Linquito, a retired Bergen County sheriff's detective. "[The seller] came in and brought me ... cards from her father. He died."

Linquito said he purchased the cards from an employee of The Record. The employee could not be reached for comment.

Tarrant said he doesn't want to hear excuses; he just wants his money back.

So on Tuesday, he filed a fraud complaint in Paramus, where Tarrant said the purchase was made.

"This guy should go away to ... jail," Tarrant said.

Paramus police confirmed that they took a fraud complaint on Wednesday, but wouldn't say who filed it or whom it was against.

A representative from the authenticator said it's particularly easy to spot counterfeit 1951 Bowman Mantle cards, which have one telltale sign.

"The back is glossier on the counterfeit than on the regular," said Bob Luce, a card grader with Sportscard Guaranty, located in Parsippany.

The 1951 Bowman is not nearly as valuable as Mantle's 1952 Topps rookie card, one of which sold for $275,000 in 2001.

Luce estimated that no more than 1 percent of baseball cards in play are fake.

2nd man pleads guilty in Favre memorabilia scheme

2007-03-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

By Mike Hoeft

Paul Vidani III of De Pere, the third of three people charged last year in connection with the sale of fraudulent Green Bay Packers memorabilia, pleaded guilty today to identity theft and faces up to six years in prison.

As part of a negotiated plea, prosecutors from the state Department of Justice will recommend Vidani serve 90 days in jail and pay a $1,000 fine. The recommendation also includes three years of probation during which Vidani, 60, will complete 100 hours of community service.

In return for the guilty plea, prosecutors will dismiss seven other counts. Vidani originally faced eight counts carrying up to 36 years in prison.

Brown County Circuit Judge William Atkinson, however, is not bound by the agreement when he sentences Vidani on March 27.

The plea agreement filed Friday described how Vidani, the owner of Green Bay Blue in Ashwaubenon, worked with Michael Van Lanen, the owner of All Sports Marketing, on making copies of Brett Favre autographs.

Investigators allege Vidani’s printing business produced the high-quality autograph copies that were sold as authentic by Van Lanen.

Vidani showed Van Lanen how to tell the difference between authentic and copied autographs and how to use different colors of ink on autographs, it said.

State Justice Department agents raided All Sports Marketing, 2039 Holmgren Way, Ashwaubenon, in January 2006 after undercover agents purchased several poster-sized prints that were deemed photocopies of Favre’s autograph.

After Van Lanen was interviewed by investigators, he met with Vidani, who instructed a Green Bay Blue employee to delete computer files related to the copied signatures.

In late January, Van Lanen brought a proposed catalog to Vidani’s home and burned it in his grill. Van Lanen also brought invoices that were shredded at Vidani’s home.

“I made a stupid mistake,” the plea agreement quotes Vidani as saying. “I’m not innocent, either. I wanna come clean.”

Vidani faced three counts of trafficking counterfeit marks, three counts of unauthorized use of a mark, theft by fraud and identity theft.

Van Lanen, 50, of Allouez, was convicted in September and sentenced in November to four years' probation, six months in jail and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution, fines, costs and a donation to the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation for his role in the scam.

Van Lanen's wife, Cynthia, paid a $10 fine and court costs for a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer during the investigation.

Record Breaker: Bush Exquisite Now Highest Priced Modern Football Rookie Card

2007-03-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

The 2006 Exquisite Collection Reggie Bush signed patch memorabilia Rookie Card set a record yesterday for the highest priced modern football RC in history at a whopping $4500.

The Bush card is second all-time only to the 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski card, says Dan Hitt, football price guide editor for Beckett Football. The Nagurski card has a Beckett value of $5,000, just edging the Bush Exquisite card. The Bush card saw its Beckett Football value debut yesterday to early subscribers of Beckett's New Release Pricing.

"The Bush card easily outpaces the 2001 SP Authentic Michael Vick Rookie Card ($1,250) and the 1965 Topps Joe Namath RC ($1,600) to fall into second place all-time behind the historic 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski RC ($5,000)," says Hitt.

DiMaggio, Monroe and Mantle Featured on Rare Baseball in Heritage Auction

2007-03-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

Dallas, TX – Heritage Auction Galleries' Sports Collectibles division will present an incredible baseball bearing the autographs of iconic celebrity couple Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe with a young Mickey Mantle in their upcoming May 5, 2007 Signature Auction to be held in Dallas, Texas.

The discovery of this special ball, believed to have been signed at the New York Yankees spring training grounds in Florida in 1952, comes on the heels of the Heritage Auction Galleries' sale of a baseball signed by DiMaggio and Monroe alone for a World Record-setting price of $191,200 in May of 2006.

"While we don't expect this baseball to overtake the record-setting Joe and Marilyn ball, an argument could be made that the addition of Mantle makes it an even more desirable collectible," explained Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Memorabilia Auctions for Heritage Auction Galleries. "After all, you're talking about three of the most iconic figures of the era here."

Joining the trio of historic autographs are those of the rest of the New York Yankees team, with Hall of Famers like Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto and Johnny Mize among the signers.

The baseball carries a pre-auction estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.

Football Memorabilia Auction Raises $100,000 for Retired Players

2007-03-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Rich Mueller
February 19, 2007

Retired NFL players in need of financial help will get a boost from phase one of the Gridiron Greats Assistance fund football memorabilia auction. Bidding closed with Mike Ditka's 1975 NFC Championship ring and a play drawn by Vince Lombardi generating the most attention--some of it from new collectors.

Former Green Bay Packers' guard Jerry Kramer finally saw the fruits of his labor this week when 50 items, many donated by his former NFL colleagues, brought nearly $100,000 to the Gridiron Greats fund.

The charity started by Kramer to assist financially suffering players from years past got tremendous publicity during Super Bowl week as the plight of the former pros became something of a lightning rod. Several retired NFL players are said to be in dire need due to a lack of adequate disability and pension benefits. Pro Football Hall of Fame members Mike Ditka, Willie Davis, Gale Sayers, Harry Carson, and Joe DeLamielleure are members of the GGAF Board of Directors.

The auction featured memorabilia as well as 'experiences'. It included a football signed by Dwight Clark with a diagram of "The Catch", a Pro Bowl helmet worn by Lem Barney and plays drawn up by Lombardi. The top selling item was Ditka's ring, which brought a high bid of $12, 200. Mike Sportelli, 45, a sales representative for a Los Angeles area construction company, made the winning bid.

“Being a big fan of the game and a fan of the players that the fund is assisting, I am more than happy to help,” Sportelli said after winning the ring. “Of course I was excited about the chance to bid on the ring and own such a part of football history, but also after reading about what Jerry Kramer, Coach Ditka and the others are doing, it really made me want to do something to help. It is really sad to hear some of the stories and things these guys have had to go through.” Sportelli told the Associated Press the ring would be the "start" of his sports memorabilia collection.

During the first phase of the auction, many legends donated personal items or celebrity experiences. Some of the items sold during Phase I include: Hand-drawn plays by Vince Lombardi (closed at $7,101), a tennis experience with John McEnroe (closed at $11,250), and a football signed by Archie, Eli and Peyton Manning, which was donated by a player who needs assistance himself, Conrad Dobler (closed at $2,210). Phase I closed at 11:00 PM EST on Tuesday, February 13th. Phase II launched Wednesday and closes on February 20th, 2007. To date, phase I of the auction and donation drive has raised over $120,000. That is more than 900 times the amount of money that some players receive as a monthly pension. Hall Of Fame Player, Herb Adderley, for example, receives only $126.58 per month.

Fans across the country have also made cash donations, and are continuing to do so. Donations can be made at JerryKramer.com or by calling 1-800-708-1078. Some extremely generous fans have sent as much as $10,000. Darrel Wright of California called the GGAF office and donated $10,000 to the cause. "This is a charity that is very near and dear to my heart”, said Wright “When Lamar Lundy was so ill and destitute, my father visited him and helped out financially. Thanks to Jerry and the guys for stepping into the breach and getting this campaign underway. I encourage all fans to donate whatever they can afford to help.”

Phase II of this unique online auction and donation drive starts Wednesday, February 14th at JerryKramer.com and closes on February 20th, 2007. New items will also be added while Phase II of the auction is in progress.

Phase II of the auction features a game worn jersey donated by Brett Favre, a helmet donated by Bart Starr bearing his signature alongside Paul Hornung’s and Jim Taylor’s, a trip to the NFL Network to go behind the scenes and hang out with Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, and Deion Sanders, Jim Finks' 1973 NFC Championship diamond money clip and a day on the Fox NFL studio set with former Raider Howie Long.

“This is a tremendous cause," said Ditka. "I am thrilled that so many players are stepping up to help and that the fans are supporting the cause by making cash donations or bidding on the items. It is important for everyone to remember who the funds that are raised are going to. It’s going to the guys who started football. Not the guys who are making the money off it, the guys who started it. Visit JerryKramer.com, bid on an auction item, or make a donation and help these guys out.”

“It’s amazing how this initiative has taken off,” said Kramer. “The fact that the so many fans and so many NFL legends are working together to provide assistance to some of the retired players who helped build the league into what it is today is just wonderful.”

Honus Wagner baseball card sells for record $2.3 million

2007-03-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The "Holy Grail of baseball cards," the famous 1909 Honus Wagner tobacco card once owned by hockey great Wayne Gretzky, has sold for a record-setting $2.35 million, the seller of the card said Monday.

The buyer has only been identified as a Southern California collector. SCP Auctions Inc., a company that holds sports memorabilia auctions, said it bought a small share of the card. It is scheduled to be shown at a news conference at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.

There are about 60 of the tobacco cards in existence featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, one of the first five players to be inducted in Baseball's Hall of Fame.

The seller, Brian Seigel, in 2000 paid a then-record $1,265,000 for the prize card, which is in much better shape than the others.

"This particular one was preserved in spectacular condition," said Joe Orlando, president of Professional Sports Authenticator of Newport Beach -- the company that certified the authenticity of the card. "It's the Holy Grail of baseball cards."

Still, the Wagner cards are so rare that even tattered ones will sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, Seigel said.

The others "you could stick in middle of the street and let cars drive over it through the day, take it in your hand and crumple it up, and it still would be a $100,000 card," said Seigel, CEO of Emerald Capital LLC, an asset management company, who lives in Las Vegas.

Gretzky and Bruce McNall, former owner of the Los Angeles Kings, bought the card for $451,000 in 1991.

During his ownership of the card, Seigel displayed it at several sports collectible shows, showed it at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum and at brought it to opening bell ceremonies for the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York.

"The Wagner card gave me a tremendous amount of pride, excitement and pleasure," he said. "I hope the new owner will have the same satisfaction I enjoyed over the years."

The tobacco cards used to be included in packs of cigarettes. Collectors believe Wagner's cards are rare because he stopped allowing the American Tobacco Co. to use his image, fearing it would encourage children to smoke.

Nicknamed the "Flying Dutchman," Wagner was the National League batting champion in eight of his 21 seasons and finished his career with a lifetime .329 average. He retired in 1917 with more hits, runs, RBIs, doubles, triples steals than any National League player.

Buying autographs? Watch out for fakes!

2007-01-27T02:07:00.000-08:00

How much is a famous signature worth? Can you trust the certificate of authenticity? Here's how to make sure your autograph investment pays off.

Your better half's birthday is coming up, and you come across the perfect gift on an online auction site: an autographed photo of his or her favorite movie star or baseball player. And what a bargain! Only $15 plus shipping, with a certificate of authenticity. What do you have to lose?

Try $15 and your shipping costs.

Chances are, if it's a megawatt star, authentic signatures will sell high. You aren't going to get an original signed Hank Aaron or Barbra Streisand for a pittance.

What about the certificate of authenticity -- doesn't that mean the item is genuine? Anyone can certify a signature, but only a true expert can authenticate a signature. Joe Orlando, the president of PSA/DNA Authentication Services, says it's vital to have the signature authenticated by a third party.

"If I say the item's authentic and grade it on quality and I'm the seller, there's a problem," Orlando says.

PSA, which stands for Professional Sports Authenticator, specializes in sports signatures. Orlando says some signatures, such as a good quality Babe Ruth single-signed baseball, can fetch upward of $100,000 -- out of reach for the average collector. But collectors can still pick up good items that will increase in value for a very small investment.

Autograph collectors who want assurance their signatures are the real deal have few options. The most reliable way to obtain an autograph is in person. But this requires a different type of investment: time.

When celebrities make personal appearances, they sometimes sign books they've authored, posters, photos and other memorabilia. Some charge for this service; others do not. Alternatively, a collector can hope to catch the celebrity at a premiere or after a game in an unofficial moment.

Another method is to purchase items that have been examined and authenticated by a reputable and knowledgeable third party such as PSA. But even knowledgeable authenticators will occasionally be wrong.

"It's always a leap of faith, especially when you're buying vintage material," Orlando says. "Remember, where's there's greed, there's fraud."

The thrill of it all
Movie and TV critic Jane Louise Boursaw says she has about 100 autographs in her personal collection. Boursaw collects some of them by mail but warns that writing and asking for an autograph doesn't necessarily net a real one. "You don't always know if the signature is authentic," Boursaw says.

She classifies her collection as a hobby, and a fun one at that, and says her favorites include Melanie Griffith, Doris Day and Tom Selleck -- "because he writes 'Jane Louise, Best wishes, Tom Selleck.' How could you not love that?"

Boursaw finds mailing addresses on the Internet through collectors' sites and drops the stars a nice note with her requests, along with self-addressed, stamped envelopes for the photographs.

Celebrities -- from actors to U.S. presidents to sports figures -- are busy people. Most don't have time to sign autographs for admirers. Some satisfy the demand for autographs with autopens, proxies and preprinted signatures.

When he receives a photo request, actor Mark Hamill, like many celebrities, will send one with a pre-printed autograph, but he's stopped signing new ones. It's easy to see why. Run a search of Hamill's name on eBay at almost any time and you'll find dozens of pricey listings: movie posters with the "signatures" of the entire cast of the "Star Wars" trilogy, props "signed" by Hamill and dozens of other items. On his Web site, he debunks the authenticity of most offerings.

"It saddens me to see the majority of signatures purported to be mine are fraudulent, along with bogus certificates of authenticity, to further dupe the unsuspecting collector," Hamill says. But, he adds, "I simply do not have the time, money or wherewithal to stop the avalanche of fake autographs."

Here's what to do
Autograph collecting attracts a huge following, making it a lucrative investment strategy. Experts say, though, that a collector who's chasing profit won't be as successful as one who's driven by passion.

Potential collectors can now search online for once hard-to-locate signatures. But while finding your favorite's autograph may be easier, it's also much more likely you'll shell out for a bogus one.

Six years ago, a special task force formed by the FBI to investigate autograph forgeries placed the value of celebrity and sports frauds at a half-billion dollars and growing. Today it's estimated that anywhere from 80% to 90% of autographs, including historical ones, are phony.

That doesn't mean everyone who sells a fake autograph is a crook, although there are plenty out there. For those who sell and buy autographs through online auctions such as eBay, it's sometimes a matter of not knowing enough about a person's autograph to distinguish the real McCoy from the fake.

Serious collectors make sure their autographs meet high standards upfront, but that doesn't mean lower-end collectors can't also weigh the authenticity of their purchases. That's important, given the value some autographs reach in resale.

Autograph collecting may seem as pulse-pounding as knitting, but it can be steeped in deception and intrigue, as in the case of antiques dealer Mark Hofmann. In the 1980s Hofmann started a chain of events that eventually led to two murders and the unmasking of one of the most successful and skilled forgers in American history.

Hofmann, a lapsed member of the Mormon church who lived in Salt Lake City, sold a number of pricey historical forgeries to the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and private clients. Among his most successful forgeries: a "new" poem attributed to Emily Dickinson that was later declared fraudulent.

When Hofmann ran into financial difficulties, he tried to extricate himself by killing two people. His plot was unmasked when a bomb he had been constructing exploded, wounding him. In a subsequent investigation, police discovered his forgery materials, and Hofmann received recognition for what he was, a very proficient forger.

Ironically, Hofmann's forgeries became collectible as a result of his notoriety. Hofmann was convicted of murder and is serving life in prison, but his forgeries live on, as does the suspicion that anything he sold might be a forgery.

Famous signatures: Good investments?
Rex Hall, the author of a book about early Russian space efforts and a fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, is an expert on astronaut and cosmonaut signatures. Hall says few people start collecting autographs for the investment value.

"It started as a hobby for many but has turned into an investment opportunity," Hall says. "The difficulty is understanding what is rare or unusual."

Value lies in the rare and unusual. A single-signed Babe Ruth baseball (a ball with just his signature on it is worth more than one with multiple signatures), an early Beatles album with all four autographs and Thomas Jefferson's letters are all worth more than their weights in gold.

And those scribbled signatures from the unknown band playing at the local club? Their John Hancocks have potential value. Signatures from such once-struggling artists as James Dean, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix are worth thousands today.

Kenneth Rendell, an author who also deals in historical autographs, doesn't sell Jessica Simpson's scrawl but does handle the signatures of Frank Sinatra, Jim Morrison and Abraham Lincoln. The late Malcolm Forbes, a dedicated collector, was among Rendell's clients.

"I sold him a letter (written by Thomas Jefferson) for $25,000," Rendell says. "It later sold for $800,000."

Forbes' collection made a "staggering profit" after the death of the wealthy businessman. But Rendell says the reason Forbes' collection was so valuable was because Forbes didn't collect to make a profit.

Rendell says successful collectors "bring an enthusiasm to it, an enjoyment that shows." Because they're so ardent about what they do, their collections sell well down the road.

"I've been in it 50 years, and the people who bought with passion did extremely well because their investments are interesting to other people. Those who are more mechanical about it do not do as well," Rendell says.

As an example, Rendell points to his own wife, who has always been interested in the unfortunate Queen Marie Antoinette of France and has purchased both letters by the queen and books from her library.

"I couldn't say it was a good investment 20 years ago," he says. But not only have her items appreciated in value, Rendell believes the recently released movie about Marie Antoinette's life will spark new interest in the guillotined monarch.

Every collector has one signature that's at the top of his or her wish list. For movie and TV critic Boursaw, it's Katharine Hepburn. Babe Ruth, says PSA's Orlando, is "the single most desirable" signature in the world.

Whose signature will one day be the equivalent of an Elvis or a George Washington? It's hard to tell, says Rendell.

"Today, people don't know who Arnold Bennett was," he says, "but at one time he was one of the most popular writers in the world."

Bennett, the Stephen King of his day, isn't in much demand as far as autographs go. However, there is little doubt his signature would have been more prized at the turn of the 20th century than a fellow writer whose published books were sold alongside Bennett's. The other writer, a fellow named Winston Churchill, was a total unknown.

This article was reported and written by Carole Moore for Bankrate.com.

Collecting Vintage Baseball Items a Father & Son Team Effort

2007-01-07T03:48:00.000-08:00

Collecting is a family affair at Dugout Treasures, where a relentless hunt for vintage sports memorabilia has resulted in an impressive collection. Now, they're hoping others can utilize what they've found.

It's been nearly twenty years since 12 year-old Jonathan Popovich and his father John were strolling through antique shops in Lambertville, New Jersey.

Like most youngsters, Jonathan was more intrigued with young players like Don Mattingly and Roger Clemens than with dusty old sports equipment. That day, however, the two generations of baseball fans found a 1940s era glove endorsed by a fairly non-descript big leaguer named Bob Usher. They took it home and from that day on, the focus of their shared hobby changed course.

Today, the collection built by John, Jonathan and youngest brother Michael numbers over 500 pieces, ranging from 19th century equipment to 1960s era pennants and they are sharing it through their website, Dugout Treasures.com.

Dugout Treasures is not a commercial sports memorabilia site. The family began in the hobby as collectors and remain true to their roots, despite accumulating an impressive array of ancient baseball artifacts. They do have some items for sale and will trade for items that spark an interest, but their goal is simply to have others appreciate and utilize the collection for various projects.

In an effort to make that happen, the family is making portions of it available, free of charge, to those who want to use vintage sports items for various projects but may not have access to a sizable collection. Photographing pieces is one opportunity as well as loaning items for display.

"We hope to be able to provide as many people and organizations with the resources and knowledge necessary to further their initiatives, publications, advertisements and historical exhibits," Jonathan Popovich told SportsCollectorsDaily.com.

"We remain, first and foremost, collectors and enthusiasts of basball history. Our hope is that our zeal will inspire others, especially young collectors, to get involved and carry the hobby on into the future. Second, we hope to be able to reach out to companies, organizations, and museums who are looking to bolster their initiatives, articles, books, events, and historical exhibits with vintage memorabila."

Dugout Treasures supplies many of the exhibits in the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Montclair, New Jersey.

"Our relationship with the Museum began a couple of years ago when we offered our time, resources and knowledge to the Museum's Director," Popvich said. "It's been our great honor that he has taken us up on our offer and we enjoy a close, cordial and collaborative relationship."

"We have participated in several museum events including educational programs on the evolution of baseball equipment as well as artistic clinics where portioins of our collection have been used as still life displays. Most recently we were asked to contribute items specific to New York baseball of the 1950s as part of their "Heart of the Game" exhibit that features the artwork of Andy Jurinko."

The Popovich collection includes store model and game used bats, but one favorite is an 1860s era baseball bat Jonathan calls "our first substantial, impact pick up." The bat, remarkably, was found at a local garage sale.

Two bats relating to Babe Ruth are a part of the collection as well, a 36- inch 40 B.R. model, and a 35-inch, R43 game specification model. Gloves make up a substantial part of the holdings as well.

Among the many themes on the website is a gallery of item photos highlighting baseball during time of War. It's a subject close to the hearts of the Popovich brothers. Jonathan served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq during 2003 and Michael is currently patrolling the Persian Gulf aboard a merchant marine vessel. Time away makes the brothers appreciate the collection even more.

"We are very selective in our search for memorabilia and focus only on the top conditioned, higher quality items available within our budget," said Jonathan. "We have amassed the majority of our collection through little more than simple time and effort. We are regulars on the antique show and shop circuit and have been fortunate enough to find some real treasures at bargain prices over the years."

The thrill of not knowing what might turn up at the next antique shop, flea market or estate sale keeps every collector excited. For the Popovich family, it's equally satisfying to share those finds with anyone else who sees them just as fascinating and shares the family's bond to baseball.

"Through these tangible artifacts, we try to provide a unique opportunity to capture the magical memory of a first glove or sharing a late afternoon catch with your Dad. My brother and I have been fortunate to share many of these magical moments with our Dad and it's truly made all the difference in the world."

Christmas Came Early for Sports Memorabilia Auction Houses

2006-12-30T02:41:00.000-08:00

The catalogs are large and glossy enough to give major department stores a run for their money. So would the bottom line.

The hottest trend in the way sports card and memorabilia is sold is via special auction "events" and December was the busiest month in the industry's history. Six major auction houses held their own on-line and live auctions generating a combined total of over $22 million in reported sales of everything from professionally graded vintage cards to a game-used Jackie Robinson bat. Several smaller companies held sales during the same time period, most of which never appeared on auction sites such as eBay.

The auction companies have lists of sports collecting clientele that await the sale catalogs with the anticipation of seeing items considered too exceptional for a simple on-line listing, even through an on-line giant like eBay. Some are average collectors might target one specific piece while others are wealthy businessmen, pro athletes or even major corporations aggressively buying items for display.

Two cards, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and an early-20th century T206 Honus Wagner, sold for over $570,000 combined in an auction conducted by California-based Memory Lane Inc.com. Another company, Mastro Auctions of Chicago, reported gross auction sales of $12.5 million for an event that included over 2,000 items. The statistics dispute stories which circulated earlier this year that baseball cards were as stale as old gum.

www.SportsCollectorsDaily.com monitors the industry on a daily basis. Editor Rich Mueller believes the sports memorabilia hobby is stronger than ever and growing rapidly among adult baby boomers who now have significant amounts of disposable income, even during the holiday season. "There is a huge base of adult collectors, many of whom feed their connection to sports through memorabilia," Mueller said. "They are interested in high quality cards and game-used items with ironclad provenance...the older the better. And they will pay incredible sums to win them."

The auction companies have gone to great lengths to produce large, full-color catalogs complete with item descriptions that read like one created for a fine arts sale, which some believe vintage sports memorabilia has become. Baseball and other sports cards that have survived in pristine condition are graded like coins and sell for a premium well beyond what may be published in a price guide you'd find in a book store.

"The Mantle card was a rarity in that less than ten have ever been graded as highly as this one was by Professional Sports Authenticator," Mueller said, referring to the 1952 Topps issue which sold for over $280,000 including a buyer's premium tacked on by the auction house. "It's a difficult card to find in high grade, and of course Mantle's popularity is still enormous with collectors who are in their 50s and 60s and feel a strong connection to Mantle, the Yankees or just that era in baseball."

Over time, high grade vintage cards and memorabilia such as Hall of Famer game-used bats have appreciated and many have grown substantially in value. While an item that's been handled over the years may not jump much in value from year to year, going rates for a professionally graded card or piece of equipment in short supply have climbed substantially, often jumping by thousands of dollars from prior sales when results are posted on Sports Collectors Daily.

The Wagner card, issued between 1909 and 1911 in packages of tobacco, graded only '2' on a 10-point scale by PSA, still sold for over $290,000. However, scarcity and popularity is what drives the value. Less than 75 are believed to exist in any condition, possibly because Wagner demanded the card be pulled from the set either because of his distaste for the method of issuance or the failure to agree on suitable compensation for his inclusion.

Some well-heeled collectors have begun piecing together complete sets of cards in which each has been professionally slabbed. The larger graded vintage sets, even from the 1950s and 60s, can cost a small fortune to complete because of competition for rare cards. A 1957 Topps Sandy Koufax graded PSA 9, sold for over $78,000 this fall.

Many mainstream cards produced in the past 25 years have failed to materialize as good investments, however. "It's true that the cards released during the 1980s and early 90s were produced in huge quantities after values of older cards rose sharply," Mueller said. "There was huge demand, but now there is a huge supply of cards issued in those years, so for the most part, they're not worth much."

And before you go looking in the closet, convinced your old collection is worth a fortune, remember that most of the vintage cards selling for those outlandish prices truly look as if they were pulled from an unopened pack yesterday. "Vintage unopened packs are still around. But your best bet is to find a collector who opened his cards, put them on the shelf and hasn't touched them for forty or fifty years. That happens, but not very often. Usually they wound up in bike spokes."

‘Checking’ in on vintage sports documents

2006-11-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

By Don Fluckinger

Newer vintage memorabilia sets such as Upper Deck’s SP Legendary Cuts – loaded with cards featuring mounted cut signatures – have made collecting old, signed documents such as checks and contracts fashionable once again.

These sets, along with the popularity of authentication services, drive the market for two reasons: First of all, the attractive cards are highly desirable by vintage collectors; and secondly, because the card companies need more grist for their sets and are competing with document collectors which drives up prices in the auction space.

It’s a real Catch-22, as card companies are helping increase the value of old documents. Yet they’re also destroying history, says dealer Dan Wulkan of Justdoit23.com of Toluca Lake, Calif. He calls it “unfortunate,” adding he would prefer companies leave the vintage documents whole and not cut them up.

Wulkan said he also finds it ironic that a card company can buy a Babe Ruth check for $5,000, cut it, mount it on a card, number it 1-of-1, and the collector who finds it can turn around an resell it for $15,000.

“I don’t see the mentality,” Wulkan says. “I’m surprised that someone would want a card with a little autograph on it when they can have a full, signed Babe Ruth check for a third of the price.”

Among collectors, signed checks are probably the most commonly available and therefore collected vintage papers. And while occasional football items come up that can compete with baseball’s best, MLB Hall of Famers by far eclipse all other sports combined when it comes to desirability of signed papers at live and online auctions.

A sampling of recent eBay auctions which includes bids realized from a recent combination live and eBay auction held in May by Heritage Sports:

Christy Mathewson check – $11,000
Babe Ruth check – $5,500
Walter “Big Train” Johnson check – $1,100
Rogers Hornsby check – $1,600
Ty Cobb check – $986
Jackie Robinson check – $856
An April Lelands.com auction featured a Babe Ruth check made out to a liquor store for $36, which closed at $4,462. While Joe DiMaggio might be right up there with Ruth in the hearts of Yankees fans, so many more of his checks are floating around the market that they only bring around $250, as a Lelands.com sale a few months earlier proved with no fewer than seven DiMaggio checks sold.

“Documents are worth much more based on supply and demand and there are a lot more checks out there,” says Wulkan, whose site also features checks from non-players such as broadcasters Vin Scully and Harry Caray. “Vince Lombardi is a perfect example. There were thousands of Vince Lombardi checks in existence and they finally have been absorbed by the market.”

“Contracts,” on the other hand, Wulkan says, “are one of a kind. You won’t see 100 Rawlings glove endorsements signed by Ty Cobb; you might just see a couple.”

Checks are so common that if a signed document is something other than a check, it commands a premium. Last fall’s Mile High Card Co. auction bears this out with an excellent apples-to-apples example: Right beside each other in the listings were a Ty Cobb signed check and a handwritten letter addressed by the Georgia Peach. Winning bid on the check: $900. The letter, however, brought in much more at $1,236.

On eBay, browse through the Original Autographs/Baseball-MLB/Other Autographed Items category and you’ll see an amazing group of signed papers. At this writing, the highest recent closings included a Ruth-signed postage stamp ($4,000), a twice-signed Miller Huggins stock certificate ($3,750), and a Cobb twice signed, handwritten note ($2,200).

Even more valuable are baseball-related documents, such as team contracts or advertising endorsement deals. One example would be Major League Baseball’s file on Ted Williams, which was opened after one of the several times he spat on a fan at Fenway and was an item Wulkan recently sold.

Wulkan said demand for these baseball documents is high, especially when they include a rare or interesting variation of a popular player’s signature. On his “for sale” page on his Web site recently, he’s had a Ruth contract that allowed NBC and Red Rock Cola to use his voice on baseball broadcasts for a year.

Not only is the document intact, but it also features an unusual “George H. Babe Ruth” signature, different from the more common “Babe Ruth” or “G.H. Ruth” variations. The price tag? $25,995.

Wulkan, like many dealers, started out in the hobby as a collector, which in turn grew into a platform for buying and selling. When he was a kid growing up, his grandfather, who owned a Bronx candy store, would give him baseball cards to sort, organize and collect.

Like many document collectors might tell you, his collecting branched into cancelled checks when the card collecting stagnated and he grew bored of seeing the same pictures on the same cards from the same years, over and over again.

“It’s neat to see who they’re made out to, and it shows the timeline of their lives; you get to know these players on a much more personal level,” Wulkan said. Although he did warn that in some cases, such as when he found checks Caray wrote to his mistress, it can get “a little too personal.”

On the other hand, the details and anecdotes that personal papers can reveal are interesting to the baseball historians among us. Barring that, they can be just plain fun. One 1967 Ted Williams check Wulkan recently sold was made out to Nellie Fox for $10. In the memo field, it reads: “Bet, Last in ’60.”

The above-mentioned Cobb note that sold on eBay read “I consider Walter Johnson greatest ever over 400 games, very light hitting and not good fielding clubs back of him for many years.”

This “greatest-ever pitcher” discussion gets debated over and over on sports-talk radio every day on the airwaves and it will likely continue forever. Why not add in a Hall of Famer’s opinion in as well, interjecting the perspective from someone who was actually on the field with “Big Train” in the Dead-Ball Era? Better yet, why not frame it and hang it on the wall?

“If you’re a real fan, it kind of brings you back to that time,” Wulkan said. “This market is more for advanced people.”

Single-signed Gehrig items are definite keepers

2006-11-30T19:37:00.000-08:00

By Justin Priddy

There are a few players in baseball history who possessed as much talent and skill as Lou Gehrig, and even fewer players in baseball history that possessed as much humility. However, out of all the baseball players to ever play the game, none combined the talent level and humility the way Gehrig did. His accomplishments and the way he carried himself on and off the field made him a hero for the ages. The way he faced tragedy elevated him to legendary status and helped make him one of the most desired autographs on the market.

Gehrig’s character and athleticism came from very humble beginnings. He was the son of German immigrants from New York City and was the only surviving child of the four children in his family. Because of his humble beginnings, his mother demanded that he get a good education. His football prowess earned him a scholarship to Columbia University. In the summer before his first semester, Gehrig played professional baseball under an assumed name after John McGraw of the New York Giants baseball team advised Gehrig to do just that. Because of his professional involvement, he was banned from playing any sports his freshman year.

During his sophomore year Gehrig played fullback on the Columbia football team. In 1923 he played baseball for Columbia. When New York Yankees scout Paul Krichell saw Gehrig play he signed him to a $1,500 contract. He was called up to the Yankees major league club in September of 1923 and hit .423 in 26 at bats.

As the now-fabled story goes, Gehrig replaced Wally Pipp at first base for the Yankees in 1925 and didn’t leave the lineup until 13 years later. His streak of 2,130 consecutive games played earned him the nickname “Iron Man” and the streak was long considered a record that would never be broken. It would be broken by Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr in 1995.

This legendary accomplishment overshadows the phenomenal career that Gehrig had. He retired with a lifetime batting average of .340 and collected more than 400 total bases in five different seasons, a major league record. Gehrig hit 23 career grand slams and had the highest RBI average of any player to hit more than 300 home runs. He was the first American League player to hit four home runs in one game, accomplishing the feat on June 3, 1932.

Gehrig won two Most Valuable Player awards, one in 1927 and again in 1936. He also won the Triple Crown in 1934, with a .363 average, 49 home runs and 165 RBIs. Gehrig played every game for the New York Yankees for 13 straight years despite major injuries. X-rays taken of his hands showed 17 different fractures that had healed while he continued to play during his amazing streak.

In baseball lore, Gehrig has always been overshadowed by his eccentric and widely celebrated teammate Babe Ruth. Gehrig was far more reserved than the flamboyant Ruth and in turn, his signatures are far rarer than his counterpart’s.

Genuine Gehrig signatures are far scarcer then many other players of his era. When Gehrig would sign baseballs he would almost always defer to Ruth by leaving the sweet spot open for him to sign. Most examples of Gehrig’s signature on baseballs are multi-signed, leaving a single-signed autograph extremely valuable, regardless of the placement of the signature. After the 1934 season Ruth had parted from the Yankees and gone on to the Boston Braves, Gehrig would then start to adorn his name on the sweet spot, mostly on team-signed baseballs (Example 1). There are a handful of single-signed baseballs with Gehrig’s signature on the sweet spot, but expect to pay a hefty premium in excess of $20,000.

Throughout his career, Gehrig’s signature was fairly consistent. Normally his signature would be very straight and compact with every letter spelled out neatly (Example 2). Occasionally the second “g” in Gehrig would look sloppier at the end (Example 3). Moreover, for the majority of his career he would separate the “Lou” from the “Gehrig.” Later, Gehrig would start to connect his first name straight up into making a capital “G” to start Gehrig.
As time went on his signature slowly started to get larger, and as his signature grew in size it started to lose some letters (Examples 4 and 5). In addition, the “u” in Lou would fade from his signature, but by the late 1930s what remained of his signature was “L Gehrig” with the “L” connecting into the “G.”

As the disease that would later be named in his memory ravaged his body, his signature continued to get sloppier. The classic slant to his name now disappeared and his signature would be nearly standing straight up. By 1940 his signature would be nearly unrecognizable from his early examples. Now with nearly no slant to the signature, it was bigger than ever and even more letters started to disappear. Sadly, the beautiful script of Gehrig’s early days were gone, the “L” was still there to represent “Lou” and it was followed by a large “G.” What would follow would be unrecognizable scribble ending with a sloppy “g” (Example 6). Later examples of Gehrig’s signature are difficult to find as he was a humble man and did not stay in the public eye after he retired.

Gehrig was struck down by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis at the age of 37. The untimely death and unique role in baseball history of the “Luckiest Man on the face of the Earth” has created a demand for his signature that cannot be met. Unfortunately, there are some unsavory figures that try to take advantage of the demand by forging Gehrig’s signature. Forgeries of Gehrig’s signature have plagued the marketplace for as long as collectors have been willing to part with cash in return for autographed memorabilia. Currently, Gehrig’s signature is one of the most forged vintage signatures on the market.

When looking at a Gehrig signature, there are several things to look out for. First, one should look at the ink of the signature; most Gehrigs are signed in black ink. Most important to remember is that black ink of the early 1900s through the time of Gehrig’s death would fade to grey. Brown ink was used primarily in the 1700s through the end of the 1800s. In 1884 Lewis Waterman patented the first working and practical fountain pen, although there had been several other failed designs that were doomed by functional problems. His was the first pen that could hold its on ink without major spilling problems. By 1915 most pens had switched to a refillable version.

Also, when looking at the ink, beware of the ballpoint pen. It’s safe to say that Gehrig probably never used a ballpoint pen. Ballpoint pens were invented in 1938 by Laszlo Biro and George Biro of Argentina. During World War II the British Royal Air Force started using the Biro pens after the British Government bought the licensing rights. It wasn’t until Oct. 29, 1945, when Milton Reynolds, a Chicago business man, marketed his Reynolds Rocket in Gimbel’s stores to make ballpoint pens available for the first time in the United States, nearly four years after Gehrig had died.

Another tip when looking at a Gehrig’s signature is not to be fooled by older looking paper. One way the unscrupulous make paper look old is by soaking it in tea. However, in the more common occurrence a forger will use old paper from old books or other various sources, as it’s still fairly easy to find old paper to manufacture a cut signature. The biggest key when looking at the signature is looking for “feathering,” where the ink spreads on the paper away from the strokes of the signature. This happens when new ink touches older paper the ink used during the time period would not feather.

Gehrig autographs command a high premium, sometimes even higher than Ruth depending on the piece that is signed. Recently, quality Gehrigphotos have sold for nearly $10,000 in some major auctions. Depending on the quality of the signature, a cut autograph will generally fall between $700-$1,000.

Mastro Auctions Wraps up 2006 with Phenomenal, Multi-Genre Sale

2006-11-19T05:31:00.000-08:00

- November 15, 2006
Mastro Auctions, the world's leading Sports and Americana collectibles source is about to conclude yet another milestone year. Among the company's 2006 highlights was the introduction of two new auction divisions - a Fine Arts group and a Comic Books and Comic Art facet. In addition, the evolving auction giant has met or exceeded all auction sales goals to date and expects the December sale to perform accordingly. Doug Allen, president of Mastro Auctions, attributes the company's successful track record to a balanced growth plan based on a carefully executed strategic entry into new markets. "We recognized early on that our ability to move into new collecting genres would depend on first having the right people in place," said Allen. "With the right people, come the right items. Supported by aggressive target marketing, the desired collectors have come. It's a formula that continues to prove itself profitable for us, and popular to both our new and long-time collectors and consignors."

Allen explains that even the company's long-standing, original core of die-hard sports collectors has appreciated the company's expansion into new collecting genres. "Just because someone collects mostly sports memorabilia doesn't mean they don't covet other great collectibles," said Allen. "If a sports collector has the opportunity to own an incredible Abraham Lincoln document, or a killer comic book, they may pursue it, especially when offered through us. They already have confidence in our process and trust the source. Our expansion into other collecting genres has resulted in a cross-collecting trend that we believe, is just picking up steam."

Mastro Auctions' December 2006 Premier event will offer a wide selection of high-end collectibles. Bidding in the massive 2,600-lot phone/internet auction event will begin on Monday, November 20 and conclude on Friday, December 8. The sale will include the second major installment of comic books and comic art fueled by Mastro Auctions' inaugural comic event in August 2006. Also included is an amazing collection of game used Boston Celtics jerseys, and game used baseball bats from some of the game's most legendary players. In addition, some important paintings as well as a number of notable documents related to U.S. Presidents will also be offered. Specific highlights include:

SPORTS MEMORABILIA

Basketball - Game Worn Jerseys

Most often, baseball related items make up the lion's share of spectacular pieces in a Mastro Auctions' Premier event. And while there are certainly plenty of those in this December sale, some room has been made to offer a number of basketball beauties. Significant jerseys from the storied Boston Celtics, worn by some of the most legendary players of all time, will be available in Mastro Auctions' upcoming sale. They include:

Bill Russell Early-1960's Boston Celtics Game Worn Home Jersey
Bill Russell wore this jersey during the years that Celtics championship banners were added and displayed perennially. This cream-colored dureen pullover apparel flaunts the Hall of Famer's since-retired number "6" sewn to the front and back and "CELTICS" arched atop the number on the front. Phenomenal game use is evident on this Boston Garden treasure. Donned by arguably the game's greatest player, this hoops heirloom is likely the finest Russell jersey extant. LOA from Dave Bushing & Troy Kinunen/MEARS and Lou Lampson. Minimum bid $20,000.

Bob Cousy Late-1950's Boston Celtics Game Worn Road Jersey
This Boston Celtics road jersey was worn by Bob Cousy, the ultimate point guard, as he helped form the most formidable dynasty in the history of American sport. While the offered garment's wearer makes it enticing, indeed, the fact that it hails from Bill Russell's personal collection gives it all the more appeal. Russell saved jerseys from two players only: himself and Cousy. Cousy wore this green dureen pullover jersey during the late 1950s. The apparel boasts the Hall of Famer's since-retired number "14" sewn to the front and back. In block characters, "BOSTON" is arched atop the number on the front. Solid wear is evident. LOA from Dave Bushing & Troy Kinunen/MEARS and Lou Lampson. Minimum bid $5,000.

December 2006 Premier Auction

Dave Cowens Mid-1970's Boston Celtics Game Worn Road Jersey
Dave Cowens brought intangibles to the floor that made him one of the game's most complete performers. Cowens wore this Boston Celtics road jersey during his 10-season tenure with the fabled franchise. This green knit pullover garment hails from the middle portion of the Hall of Famer's career (1970-1980) with the Celtics, who were powered to NBA titles in both 1974 and 1976. The jersey features the All-Star's since-retired number "18" sewn to the front and back with "CELTICS" and "COWENS." Solid wear is evident. Minimum bid $2,500.

John Havlicek Mid-1970's Boston Celtics Game Worn Home Jersey
The first man in league history to score 1,000-plus points in 16 straight seasons, Havlicek donned this cream-colored knit pullover garment en route to doing so. Promptly hung in the Garden's rafters after his 1978 retirement, "Hondo's" number "17" is sewn to the front and back with "CELTICS" arched atop the front number and "HAVLICEK" applied in similar fashion on the back. Minimum bid $2,500.

Other Great Basketball Items Include:

Wilt Chamberlain 1968 Philadelphia 76ers Home Jersey
Wilt Chamberlain wore this Philadelphia 76ers home jersey during the 1967/68 season. The white dureen pullover jersey boasts Chamberlain's since-retired number "13" sewn to the front and back and "PHILA" arched above the number on the front. The style and tagging date the jersey (which matches earlier 1960's Chamberlain specifications) to the '67/'68 season. The item reveals evidence of moderate wear, with no signs of repair or alteration. Minimum bid $5,000.

George Mikan's NBA 50 Greatest Players Signed Lithograph
Produced in conjunction with the NBA's 50th Anniversary in 1996, this awe-inspiring lithograph was one of an extremely limited number signed during that season's All-Star Game festivities. The majestic 25" x 39" piece displays the likenesses of all 50 NBA legends and, remarkably, 49 of the 50 signatures (Pete Maravich, deceased at the time of printing, is the only missing autograph). The lithograph was limited to just 250 pieces, of which 50 numbered "Field of Dreams" editions were offered to the public. Originally presented to legend George Mikan (the first man pictured in the fraternity of 50), the Near Mint example ("1/1") was produced on the finest acid-free paper and signed in pencil to preserve its quality. Each hardwood icon signed his own image (with signatures showing "9-10" overall strength). The legends include: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, Rick Barry, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Dave Cowens, Bob Cousy, Bill Cunningham, Julius Erving, Patrick Ewing, George Gervin, Hal Greer, John Havlicek, Magic Johnson, Sam Jones, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Moses Malone, Kevin McHale, George Mikan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, Bill Russell, Isiah Thomas, Nate Thurmond, Wes Unseld, Bill Walton, Jerry West, and James Worthy. On the lower right corner, the piece is signed by NBA Commissioner David Stern, as well. LOA from James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $5,000.

1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan - PSA MINT 9
Today, 1948 Bowman basketball cards are cherished as early mementos of immortal Hall of Fame players, and important but now-defunct teams. Nowhere is '48 Bowman's mystique more visible and appreciated than in the high-profile rookie card of George Mikan. The offered copy of this card features a deep blue background and a crystal-clear central likeness of its subject. Just one card like it has ever been graded higher. Minimum bid $5,000.

1969/70 Topps PSA-Graded Complete Set (99) - #3 on PSA Set Registry
Each card has been graded by PSA with a minimum grade of NM-MT 8 and all key cards, including Chamberlain and Alcindor grade MINT 9! With an amazing 8.89 GPA, this blazing representation is in the #3 position on the "Current-Finest" and "All-Time Finest" lists on the PSA Set Registry. Topps rebounded from a 12-year lapse in basketball card production with their 1969/70 basketball issue that is now considered a milestone in the hobby. This exceptional offering includes: Graded PSA MINT 9: 83 cards; PSA NM-MT 8: 16 cards. Minimum bid $5,000.

1961/62 Fleer PSA-Graded Complete Set (66) - #3 on PSA Set Registry!
Presented is a beautifully symmetrical complete 66-card representation of Fleer's 1961/62 Basketball release. With two NM-MT 8 exceptions, each card is either at PSA MINT 9 or GEM MT 10 tiers. This is the cherished reservoir of 29 Hall of Fame subjects, among which are the debut collectibles of Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Minimum bid $5,000.

George "Ice Man" Gervin 2003 San Antonio Spurs Championship Ring
George Gervin retired having never won an NBA title. So to honor his legacy, the San Antonio Spurs awarded the hoops legend with his very own championship ring upon winning the 2003 NBA Finals. An amazing 93 diamonds glimmer at the top of this impressive heirloom. Raised relief-bordering reads "WORLD" and "CHAMPIONS." On the sides, one shank displays "2003 SPURS" and the opposing shank exhibits "GERVIN" and "ICE" with the club's record of "60-22" at center. Minimum bid $2,500.

1957/58 Topps PSA-Graded Complete Set (80) - #2 on PSA Set Registry
This scarce 1957/58 Topps basketball series, the company's first attempt to showcase the sport in a major trading card issue, is filled with rookies, future Hall of Famers and scarce short-print numbers. Some of the basketball card hobby's most desirable items are featured in this assembly, including the set's widely sought-after key card, the rookie card of Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Bill Russell. Minimum bid $2,500.

1961 Fleer #43 Jerry West - PSA GEM MT 10
The offered rookie card of Los Angeles Laker Jerry West is absolutely perfect in every way. It excels on every front. It is perfectly centered. Its colors are intensely bright and West's image is well focused. Its four borders are unbelievably white. The reverse follows suit and exhibits no faults. Minimum bid $1,500.

Baseball Bats

Believe it or not, just a decade ago, there wasn't much of a market in game used baseball bats. The market for game used baseball bats has exploded in the past few years. From the beginning, Mastro Auctions has been on the forefront of the game used baseball bat market. In fact, a couple of years ago, the company published a reference and price guide for game used baseball bats. Now considered a hobby bible on the subject, the book is regularly consulted by novice and advanced collectors alike.

So it should be no surprise that when it comes to the public sale of game used baseball bats, Mastro Auctions consistently features the hobby's very best. The December auction is no exception. Three of the top bats include:

1917-1924 Ty Cobb Game Used Bat - One of the incredible baseball bats being offered in Mastro Auctions' December 2006 Premier sale is a 1917-1924 Ty Cobb gamer. No other player in baseball history has ever been considered as downright "mean" as Ty Cobb. One of the last, great "dead ball" era baseball players, Cobb was less than impressed with the phenomena of the home run and its newly appointed king, Babe Ruth. Cobb made no secret of his disdain for both. Focusing on what he considered pure base hitting and fielding, Cobb wielded this bat to make his point. The rich brown, uncracked bat features a strong dash-dot-dash centerbrand, barrel stampings and Cobb's facsimile signature. The bat displays phenomenal game use. LOA from John Taube/PSA DNA, graded 8. The minimum bid is $10,000.

George "Babe" Ruth 1921-1931 Game Used Bat - While Ty Cobb might not have thought much of Babe Ruth, fans certainly did. The love affair continues today. Among collectors, anything Babe Ruth is golden, especially items associated with his game playing days. Among the more rare items are his baseball bats. Mastro Auctions is offering a George "Babe" Ruth professional model Hillerich & Bradsby game used bat employed by Ruth during the peak of his incomparable career. The 35", 36 oz. bat hails from the 1921-1931 labeling period but bat factory records reveal that examples with these dimensions were shipped to Ruth between 1924 and 1928. The bat displays medium game use. LOA from John Taube/PSA DNA, graded 7.5. The minimum bid is $10,000.

Jackie Robinson Game Used Bat - Known for breaking baseball's color barrier and for his calm and dignified demeanor, Robinson was a fierce force on the field. The bat available in the auction is symbolic of his personality and is the highest graded Robinson bat in existence. The 35", 34 ½ oz. uncracked Hillerich & Bradsby "S100" signature bat is strong and solid. It dates to the 1943-1949 labeling period, but factory records reveal it is was only ordered once during 1949. As a result, it can be definitively placed in Robinson's hands during his VIP season.The minimum bid is $10,000.

In addition to the three bats described, game used bats attributed to Lou Gehrig, Honus Wagner, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, and Mel Ott and others will also be available. Other highlights are:

1932 Babe Ruth Game Used Bat - "Called Shot Era"
The ball and stitch marks are telltale indications that this white ash lumber was in Ruth's own hands. Vintage photographs confirm Ruth's habit of swinging with the centerbrand facing downward. Hence, the ball marks on the left side of the barrel on this particular treasure. Additionally, the uncracked item bears cleat marks and scoring upon the handle. The latter feature yet another "Ruth-esque" detail was done to enhance the grip. Ruth handed former Yankee Stadium grounds keeper Isador DeAngelis the bat. A notarized LOA signed by DeAngelis' son accompanies. Considering the rarity of a 1932 "Bone Rubbed" Ruth gamer and the convincing provenance, this bat's historical significance and status as one of the finest Ruth gamers extant is irrefutable. Minimum bid $10,000.

Ted Williams Professional Model Bat
Proudly offered is a Hillerich & Bradsby "W148" signature model bat brandished by Williams during his Triple Crown season of 1947. Employed as his BoSox stayed in contention until the waning weeks of the campaign, the offered weapon measures 35" and weighs 32 ounces. Its use in Williams' 1947 Triple Crown conquest is an alluring trait verified by H&B factory records. Boasting a prominent centerbrand and barrel stampings, this white ash treasure shows phenomenal game use. Additionally, a penciled notation of the bat's weight ("33") appears on the knob. LOA from John Taube/PSA DNA, graded 10. Minimum bid $5,000.

1961 Mickey Mantle World Series Bat
This Hillerich & Bradsby signature model bat was turned for Mantle's specific use in the 1961 Fall Classic. In addition to marking the 11th of 13 seasons (a stretch that was to extend to 14 of 16) in which the Yankees secured the American League flag, the '61 campaign was absolutely magical for another reason: a run at Babe Ruth's single-season home run record that saw Mantle and Maris wow crowds on a daily basis. The 36", 33-1/2-oz. white ash war club features a pronounced centerbrand. Mantle's facsimile signature is flanked above and below, respectively, by block-letter engravings of "WORLD SERIES 1961" and "NEW YORK YANKEES." The item shows heavy use. LOA from John Taube/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $5,000.

Mel Ott 1920's Kren's Hand Turned Game Used Bat
This "KREN'S SPECIAL" block-letter ("OTT STYLE") bat was turned for and employed by Mel Ott during the late 1920s. It is well documented that Ott brandished Kren's models early in his Hall of Fame career-and the offered model matches the specifications of the lumber used by Master Melvin. Measuring 34" and weighing 32 ounces, this white ash club boasts the manufacturer's trademark, diamond-shaped centerbrand and the "OTT STYLE" barrel stamping identifier. The item shows significant use. LOA from John Taube/PSA DNA, graded 7. Minimum bid $2,500.

Honus Wagner 1917-21 H&B Professional Model Bat w/ "Honus Wagner 6-21-23" Sidewriting
Honus Wagner retired after the 1917 campaign and remained on the local semi-pro scene for the next seven years. It was during that time that this bat was likely returned to its Kentucky birthplace in Wagner's request for additional examples. The bat dates from the 1917-1921 labeling period. It matches the specifications of bats he wielded at Forbes Field. This Wagner treasure shows excellent game use. Minimum bid $2,500.

Baseball Cards

Graded Single Cards and Sets

1933 Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie - PSA NM-MT 8
The essence of this collectible, one of the most widely coveted gum cards ever made, is fully realized in this gorgeous example. The merest hints of circulation can be seen on its corners, and the issue's tendency toward natural and discreet toning has been almost completely thwarted in this showpiece. Colors are bright and bold, and the card's aesthetic presence is marvelous. Minimum bid $10,000.

1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle - PSA NM-MT 8
In terms of percentage, this splendid showpiece is among the 7% most-elite Mantle rookies in the hobby. The '52 Topps Mantle is desired by all, and sought-after by virtually every collector, but quality examples can be possessed only by very few. A card like this one tantalizes the enthusiast who is seeking a centerpiece. The offered card delivers sublime aesthetics from every perspective. Mantle's portrait likeness is crisply resolved, and its blue background is pure. The yellow details on the starry caption border, and in the Yankee logo and the Hall of Famer's bat, are bright. Minimum bid $10,000.

1952 Topps #407 Ed Mathews - PSA NM-MT 8
There are only two examples in existence that are graded higher. As a condition rarity, the scarce Mathews high number is second in demand only to the number one card of Andy Pafko in the quest to enhance the hobby's most advanced collections. Minimum bid $5,000.

1941 Play Ball #14 Ted Williams - PSA MINT 9
The black-and-white, photographic designs of Gum, Inc.'s first two productions yielded gracefully to the luscious pastels of the 1941 effort. Glorious tribute is paid to the heroic Hall of Famer by this splendid collectible. Its card front image reveals deep, rich detail surrounded by bright, completely untoned white borders. The card's centering displays admirable balance, and its reverse is uncommonly fresh and clear. Minimum bid $5,000.

1968 Topps 3-D Bob Clemente - PSA GEM MT 10
One of the very few cards considered to be a modern classic, the 1968 Topps "3-D" Roberto Clemente stands on its own with the most significant and noteworthy cards from all eras. The cards were produced in scant numbers as part of a test issue, and their only known public distribution took place in a few Brooklyn candy stores close to the Topps Company headquarters. Minimum bid $5,000.

1933 Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie - PSA EX-MT 6
One of the great chapters in the lore of baseball card production and collecting is the tale of 1933 Goudey's card #106. A numbered few hobbyists of that Depression period grumbled to the issue's maker -- their sets couldn't be finalized for want of #106. Goudey's "customer complaint department" dutifully returned to press in '34 to tender this image of the widely heralded Nap Lajoie. Minimum bid $5,000.

1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle - PSA NM 7
This #311 Mickey Mantle from the acclaimed '52 Topps issue gets a standing ovation. The variables - gloss, color integrity, surface cleanliness and, most especially, the corners - all warrant a substantially higher grade. Minimum bid $5,000.

1934 Goudey #62 Hank Greenberg - PSA GEM MT 10
This is the highest graded example of this card in existence, with no others graded at this tier. The first of baseball's Hammerin' Hanks, Henry Greenberg emerged in the 1930s as the game's fiercest slugger. He was assigned permanence in Detroit's lineup in '33, and with his demonstrated stardom, he enjoyed acknowledgement in two baseball card issues in 1934 - National Chicle's Batter-Up, and in this showcased element from the acclaimed Goudey production. The card is ideally centered and had impeccable corners. Minimum bid $5,000.

1933 Goudey Sport Kings #2 Babe Ruth Baseball - PSA NM-MT 8
Sport Kings showcased champions from a panorama of sporting disciplines. The issue included only three prominent baseball stars. One of these is this Babe Ruth #2 card. The card is ideally centered and the image's color and register are absolutely peerless. Minimum bid $5,000.

1932 U.S. Caramel #32 Babe Ruth - PSA NM-MT 8
Only two cards like this one are graded higher. This card is among the finest of its kind. Minimum bid $5,000.

T206 Walter Johnson Portrait - PSA MINT 9
Presented is a perfect example of Walter Johnson's quintessential baseball card, the portrait version of his 1909-11 T206 White Border offering. Johnson, who is generally considered the game's greatest pitcher, is pictured in his home Washington uniform. Johnson's bold image is well focused and contrasts nicely with the card's bright yellow background. The reverse features a Piedmont advertisement. Minimum bid $5,000.

1909 T206 Eddie Plank - PSA VG 3
Among our industry's most celebrated scarcities is Eddie Plank's card in T206 -- one of that colossal production's "Big Three." The opportunities to capture this gem are critically infrequent and this one, with its luxuriant color and unimpeachable focus, make it a rare catch. Much to this card's credit, the image persists admirably. The dark blue background is uniform and the portraiture retains the entirety of its rich color. Eddie Plank's countenance is delivered in precise register. Minimum bid $5,000.

1956 Topps PSA-Graded Complete Set (340) Plus Checklists and Variations
With a GPA of 8.01, this presentation rests in the #12 position on the "Current Finest" list of 1956 Topps-Basic sets on the PSA Set Registry. The '56 Topps edition stands out among an impressive list of classic 1950s card releases. With a subject roster filled with well-known rookies, an array of superstars and the highly sought-after team cards, this perennial favorite is an ideal "high-grade" offering. Includes: Graded PSA MINT 9: 2 cards; PSA NM-MT 8: 339 cards; PSA NM 7: 2 cards. Minimum bid $5,000.

1952 Topps Graded Near Set (399/407)
In 1952, the Topps Company, plotting a frontal assault on Bowman, the card-establishment monolith, conceived a set of baseball cards that would capture the market, once and for all. Highlights include: Graded - SGC 92 NM/MT+ 8.5: 1 card; PSA NM-MT 8: 23 cards; SGC 88 NM/MT 8: 7 cards; GAI NM-MT 8: 2 cards; SCD 8 NM/MT: 3 cards; SGC 86 NM+ 7.5: 11 cards; GAI NM+ 7.5: 2 cards; SCD 7.5 NM+: 3 cards; PSA NM 7: 12 cards; SGC 84 NM 7: 31 cards; GAI NM 7: 18 cards; SCD 7 NM: 16 cards; GAI EX-MT+ 6.5: 3 cards; SCD 6.5 EX/NM+: 13 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 37 cards; SGC 80 EX/NM 6: 47 cards; GAI EX-MT 6: 9 cards; SCD 6 EX/NM: 36 cards; SGC 70 EX+ 5.5: 32 cards; GAI EX+ 5.5: 3 cards; SCD 5.5 EX+: 2 cards; PSA EX 5: 15 cards; SGC 60 EX 5: 31 cards; GAI EX 5: 19 cards; SCD 5 EX: 15 cards; GAI VG-EX+ 4.5: 1 card; PSA VG-EX 4: 2 cards; SGC 50 VG/EX 4: 4 cards; SCD 4 VG/EX: 1 card; SGC 40 VG 3: 1 card. Minimum bid $5,000.

1959 Topps PSA Graded Complete Set
The 1959 Topps set embodied the spirit of the era, as it included multiple cards of the games favorite players. From combination cards such as Fence Busters, Cubs Clubbers and Corsair Trio to the end of the set's All-Star cards, this collection is awash with stars, each captured in full color. Includes: Graded PSA MINT 9: 18 cards; PSA NM-MT 8: 479 cards; PSA NM 7: 56 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 13 cards; PSA EX 5: 4 cards; PSA VG-EX 4: 2 cards. Minimum bid $5,000.

1952 Bowman PSA Graded Complete Set - #5 on the PSA Set Registry!
Graded - PSA MINT 9: 19 cards; PSA NM-MT 8: 233 cards. Minimum bid $5,000. 1961 Topps PSA-Graded Complete Set (587) - #13 on PSA Set Registry With a hearty 8.05 GPA, this array of collectibles holds the #13 position on the "Current Finest" list on the PSA Set Registry. One-third of the MINT 9 subjects is one of the top 10 copies known, with two specimens having populations less than five. When the 1961 cards showed up, it was like a breath of fresh air. The cards were completely uncluttered, with just the small text boxes at their lower edges to detract from the purity of the image. No fake autographs, no distracting team logos or invasive border design-just a crisp image of the player. To add to the excitement, and to mirror the season's two-team expansion of the American League. It was the biggest Topps set to date. Includes: Graded PSA MINT 9: 65 cards; PSA NM-MT 8: 510 cards; PSA NM 7: 11 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 1 card. Minimum bid $5,000.

1962 Topps Graded Complete Set - #6 on the PSA Set Registry
These collectibles generate a GPA of 7.74 placing this presentation in the #6 position on the "Current Finest" list on the PSA Set Registry. Even non-collectors stand in awe of these cards, with their dazzling wood-tone borders, captivating photographs, special sub-series and incredible star content. Includes: Graded PSA MINT 9: 22 cards; GAI NM/MT+ 8.5: 3 cards; PSA NM-MT 8: 387 cards; PSA NM 7: 167 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 10 cards; PSA EX 5: 4 cards; PSA VG-EX 4: 1 card. Minimum bid $5,000.

1915 Cracker Jack #57 Walter Johnson - PSA NM-MT 8
Walter Johnson was at the top of his game at the time the offered beauty was produced. Pitching for the lowly Washington Senators, the Hall of Famer was still able to amass a league-leading 27 wins while achieving a miniscule 1.55 ERA. This splendid card hails from one of the famed Cracker Jack "factory" sets. It is nicely centered and sports brilliant, radiant colors. Minimum bid $2,500.

1948 Leaf #1 Joe DiMaggio - PSA NM-MT 8
Among its many eccentric features, 1948 Leaf holds the unique distinction of showcasing the only nationally distributed, post-war card of Joe DiMaggio. Leaf's '48 issue is notorious for a host of liabilities - heavy tones, earthy colors and woefully inexact image registers. This card has none of those imperfections. Minimum bid $2,500.

T206 Ty Cobb Bat on Shoulder - PSA NM-MT 8
The "Bat On Shoulder" pose of Ty Cobb is among the most subtly colorful and visually pleasing of all the designs included in the famed T206 set. The offered example artfully showcases the great player's unmistakable intensity in his pose and features, and would fit nicely into any top-quality assembly. Minimum bid $2,500.

1912 E300 Plows Candy Christy Mathewson - PSA NM-MT 8
Fewer than two hundred Plow's Candy cards, in total, are thought to inhabit the hobby's finest assemblies of turn-of-the-century memorabilia. This is one of the impossibly rare design picturing Hall of Fame righthander Christy Mathewson. This virtually impeccable Mathewson card has earned the right to represent its incredibly desirable type. Minimum bid $2,500.

1948 Leaf #76 Ted Williams - PSA MINT 9
No other card like this one is graded higher. The vibrant hues of the 1948/49 Leaf production are displayed here with a fiery brilliance that surpasses the series' notably bright, customary level. The card, beautifully printed on the front and on its grey-stock reverse, is a fabulous piece contemporary to the decade that saw Williams firmly establish his greatness. Minimum bid $2,500.

1950 Bowman #98 Ted Williams - PSA MINT 9
Bowman's first card of Ted Williams is a superb little artwork that captures the Splinter in a classic pose. The card back's bio refers to Ted by the nickname, "The Thumper," and almost casually tosses in the last-line note, "In 1941 hit an amazing .406." The card's color registration is flawless. Minimum bid $2,500.

1954 Topps #1 Ted Williams - PSA MINT 9
Only five examples of this classic memento have ever been graded at this tier, and none has been graded higher. This card is pleasing in all respects. Its colors are bright and it retains an original, pack-fresh sheen. All four corners are robustly pointed and exhibit no evidence of handling. Minimum bid $2,500.

1954 Topps #250 Ted Williams - PSA MINT 9
The ever-appreciated final entry in Topps' 1954 set commemorates the Red Sox icon in creative style. Having dispensed with Ted's standard, "Biography and Official Baseball Statistics," on the set's first card, Topps was free to portray the slugger in entertaining cartoon panels on the reverse of number 250. Minimum bid $2,500.

1953 Stahl-Meyer Mickey Mantle - PSA NM 7
This is an exclusive "1 of 1" collectible at its tier, and just one example of its subject has received a higher grade. Minimum bid $2,500.

1952 Bowman #101 Mickey Mantle - PSA MINT 9
Just two examples of this card have been graded higher. This blazing 1952 Bowman Mantle displays perfect registration and rich, bold color. All four corners are pinpoint-sharp with no traces of wear. The visual effect of this collectible is simply splendid. Minimum bid $2,500.

1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle - PSA MINT 9
There are just three higher-graded copies of this card in the industry. This gorgeous card's subject recorded one of the finest-ever single season performances by any player in 1956, winning the Triple Crown as well as the American League MVP Award. Plus, Mantle carried his Yankees to the World Championship. Minimum bid $2,500.

T3 Turkey Red Cabinets #27 Christy Mathewson - PSA EX-MT 6
This is one of only three examples to reach this lofty tier with none higher. The baseball card captures Christy Mathewson in his instantly recognizable pitching pose. Mathewson's image is perfectly focused and boasts brilliant colors. Its surfaces, both front and back, are extremely clean and exhibit no imperfections. Minimum bid $2,500.

1914 E224 "Texas Tommy" Type 2 Honus Wagner - PSA EX 5
The "Texas Tommy" issue of 1914 is one of the most mysterious card sets ever produced. There are actually two different versions of these cards. The offered card of Honus Wagner is a Type 2 and differs from Type 1 cards mainly in size. They are also blank backed and have a glossy finish as opposed to the matte finish of the Type 1 cards. The Type 2 cards are much more difficult to find and to date only 15 different subjects are known to exist. While most of the type 2 cards use the same image as the Type 1's, this is not true for Honus Wagner. This card captures the great shortstop in an exciting batting pose. Minimum bid $2,500.

1914 E224 Texas Tommy Type 2 Christy Mathewson - PSA EX-MT 6
This outstanding example from the seldom-available Type 2 production is an item that also happens to depict one of the greatest pitchers of all-time: Christy Mathewson. The sepia-toned image, easily and securely placed among the finest of its kind known to the industry, displays a crisp, well-defined, follow-through photograph of the great pitcher and ambassador of the game. Minimum bid $2,500.

1935 Diamond Stars #1 Lefty Grove - PSA NM-MT 8
Only three cards are graded like this one with none higher. This "R" card production was perpetuated over the three years spanning 1934 through '36, and this offered rendering dates to 1935 (as evidenced by the card's 1934 statistics). Minimum bid $2,500.

1958 Topps PSA-Graded Near Set (464) Plus Variations
Offered is a 464-card near set of 1958 Topps baseball cards plus 3 Yellow Name/Yellow Team variations and 2 Topps promotional cards. The rookie cards of Roger Maris and Orlando Cepeda highlight this presentation. Includes: Graded PSA MINT 9: 3 cards; PSA NM-MT 8: 300 cards; GAI NM-MT 8: 1 card; PSA NM 7: 109 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 46 cards; PSA EX 5: 8 cards; PSA VG/EX 4: 2 cards. Minimum bid $2,500.

1934-36 Diamond Stars PSA Graded Complete Set (108) - #7 on the PSA Set Registry
"Diamond Stars"-the colorful, pre-war baseball series produced by the National Chicle Company-graced store shelves at intervals between 1934 and 1936. Its 108 subjects, whose names include Ott, Hornsby, Waner and Foxx, constitute a treasured gallery of period collectibles. This beautiful array of cards, with its enviable 6.73 GPA, holds the "7th Current Finest Set" distinction on the PSA Set Registry. Includes: Graded PSA NM-MT 8: 24 cards; PSA NM 7: 73 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 4 cards; PSA EX 5: 5 cards; PSA VG-EX 4: 2 cards. Minimum bid $2,500.

1954 Topps #128 Henry Aaron - PSA MINT 9
Only two copies of this centerpiece memento have been graded higher. On the front of this card, Topps captured the graceful rookie gobbling up a ground ball in the action shot that accompanies an outstanding color portrait of the player who was to become the greatest career home run hitter ever to play in the Majors. This is a high quality, vividly executed rendering of one of the most recognizable and coveted rookie cards in the hobby. Minimum bid $2,500.

1939 Play Ball #92 Ted Williams - PSA MINT 9
Only one example of this card is graded higher. This card features Ted Williams in a classic pose, a celebration of 100 years of baseball and a rookie bio card back. The image is well focused and displays amazing contrast. Immaculate white borders are capped at each end by faultless corners. This magnificent Ted Williams rookie card will easily and immediately become the centerpiece of any collection into which it is introduced. Minimum bid $2,500.

1934 Goudey #61 Lou Gehrig - PSA NM-MT 8
Only four copies of this card have been graded higher than this one. This is a visually delicious representation of Lou Gehrig's most celebrated baseball card. The item features striking and brightly colored artwork, and showcases an illustration that is among the most enduring and recognizable images of "The Iron Horse." This example has well-defined corners, breathtaking color, clean white borders, and exceptionally clear focus. Minimum bid $2,500.

1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth - PSA NM-MT 8
Just seven copies in the world have been graded higher. Of the Babe Ruth quartet contained within the 1933 Goudey series, this is the one with the largest and most dramatic, full-face illustration of the Bambino. It is regarded as one of the hobby's favorite career-contemporary cards of the immortal ballplayer. Clean white borders frame a vivid, perfectly focused image. Minimum bid $2,500.

1959 Fleer Ted Williams PSA-Graded Complete Set (80) Almost All MINT 9!
Each card in this set has been graded MINT 9 by PSA except for two. The key card, #68 Ted Signs for 1959 is among the Mint 9 cards. This offering scores a lofty 8.92 GPA and rests in the #6 position on the Current Finest List on the PSA Set Registry Includes: Graded PSA MINT 9: 78 cards; PSA NM-MT 8: 2 cards. Minimum bid $2,500.

1888 N29 Allen & Ginter PSA-Graded NM 7 Complete Baseball Set (6)
Presented is a complete set of the six baseball subjects issued as part of Allen & Ginter's Second Series of "The World Champions." While Allen & Ginter's second series lacked the same star power of the concern's first series, the cards themselves are much more difficult to find. Minimum bid $2,500.

1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth - PSA NM-MT 8
Just four copies known to the industry have received higher accolades. Offered is an outstanding example of 1933 Goudey's lone "action shot" of Babe Ruth. The item's central scene, presented against a crisply colored ball field, inspires fantasies about the Hall of Fame slugger with its dynamic illustration of his mighty swing. Minimum bid $2,500.

1951 Bowman "Low Numbers" PSA 8 NM-MT Graded Collection (212 different)
Bowman's 1951 release is noted for its detailed portraiture, thoughtful composition and a bold color palette. This all NM/MT presentation is the ideal beginning toward the goal of completing a high-grade set. The SMR value of these classic cardboard collectibles exceeds $24,000. Minimum bid $2,500.

Ungraded Single Cards and Sets

1911 T205 Gold Border Complete Set (208)
A total of 123 cards have been graded by PSA including many of the issue's biggest stars including high-grade examples of Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb, Cy Young and Walter Johnson. Includes: Graded Cards - Graded PSA NM 7: 3 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 34 cards; PSA EX 5: 76 cards; PSA VG-EX 4: 9 cards; PSA VG 3: 1 card. Minimum bid $5,000.

1909-11 T206 White Border Partial Set (443)
This is a particularly enticing representation of the most recognized and widely collected vintage production in the hobby. Aside from the "Big Three" (Joe Doyle/N.Y. Natl., Eddie Plank and Honus Wagner), most of the remaining subjects needed for completion can be found. In total, 67 cards have been graded by PSA. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA EX-MT 6: 45 cards; PSA EX 5: 16 cards; PSA VG-EX 4: 3 cards; PSA VG 3: 1 card; PSA PR-FR 1: 2 cards. Minimum bid $5,000.

1912 T202 Hassan Triple Folder Complete Set (132)
Presented is a complete set of 132 cards of Hassan's innovative T202 Triple Folder card series. T202s are the kinetic collectibles that feature black-and-white baseball "action" photographs flanked by two colorful lithographed player portraits. The set boasts an abundance of Hall of Famers, including multiple cards of Cobb, Mathewson, Johnson, Speaker and others. In total, 29 cards have been graded by PSA. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM 7: 1 card; PSA EX-MT 6: 4 cards; PSA EX 5: 13 cards; PSA EX 5 (MK): 1 card; PSA VG/EX 4: 5 cards; PSA VG 3: 1 card; PSA GOOD 2: 3 cards; PSA PR-FR 1: 2 cards. Minimum bid $2,500.

1939 Play Ball Complete Set (161)
This was the first of Play Ball's three pre-war sets. Its audience was attracted to the player portrait photographs, as well as the biographies on the reverses. A list of collector favorites in the issue is highlighted by one of the early cards of Joe DiMaggio, and by the introduction of Ted Williams. A total of 66 cards have been graded by PSA. Includes: Graded Cards - PSA NM-MT 8: 39 cards; PSA NM 7: 25 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 2 cards. Minimum bid $2,500. Baseballs

Ted Williams Personal Signed Ball from Babe Ruth - PSA/DNA EX/MT + 6.5
Babe Ruth signed this OAL (Harridge) baseball and presented it to Ted Williams. The stampings date this clean and creamy sphere to 1940-1945, while Williams' tenure in the U.S. armed forces likely eliminates the latter three years of that span. Ruth penned a side panel "To My Pal Ted Williams - From Babe Ruth." The blue ink scripting bears Ruth trademarks- specifically, his sizable and curvaceous upper-case characters. LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $5,000.

Extremely Rare Jesse Burkett Single Signed Ball - PSA/DNA EX/MT+ 6.5
The idea of "batting .400" is one of baseball's most unattainable accomplishments. No one has done it since 1941. Remarkably, three Hall of Famers have reached the fabled plateau three times, each achieving this almost-impossible goal during three seasons. The trio of legends includes Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, and Jesse Burkett. Burkett retired four years prior to the release of T206 baseball cards. He passed away in 1953. The off-white, lightly scuffed ball, with evidence of use has been neatly penned "Jesse Burkett" in black fountain pen. The signature trumpets "9" strength. Minimum bid $2,500.

The Only Known Cap Anson Single Signed Ball - PSA/DNA VG 3
This extraordinary red-and-blue stitched baseball, circa 1900, bears the awe-inspiring signature of "AC Anson" slightly to the left of the sweet spot. Beneath this supreme black fountain pen signature, also in Anson's own hand, is the neatly printed notation, "Mgr. Chicago B.B.C." Cap Anson (1852-1922) towered over the entire history of 19th Century baseball, and is generally regarded as its foremost player. Anson's signature on this singular ball and the accompanying notation are "6-7" in strength. Minimum bid $2,500.

The Only Known Example of a Frank Chance Single Signed Baseball
On this darkly toned Spalding ONL (Pulliam) ball Chance has written the details of a July 10, 1908 contest between his victorious Cubs and the rival New York Giants. The sweet spot bears the outstanding signature, "Frank L. Chance" (grading apparent "8"). The year that this ball was scripted by Chance, the Cubs were defending World Champions. The team, under the inspirational leadership of player-manager Chance, retained its title. LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

1927 New York Yankees World Champions Team Signed Ball - Including Ruth, Gehrig, Huggins and Walter Johnson!
A critical analysis of the signatures on this OAL (Ban Johnson) baseball leads to the conclusion that it was signed in 1927. But most compelling is its wealth of signings; there are 38 of them penned by an alloy of that season's Washington Senators and New York Yankees. The signatures are all crisp and readily legible, averaging "6" in strength. Includes: Washington Senators -- Tris Speaker ("4") and Walter Johnson ("7"); New York Yankees -- Miller Huggins ("7", signed "M. J. Huggins"), Earle Combs ("8"), Waite Hoyt ("8"), Babe Ruth (a dimensionally small signing but "8-9"), Herb Pennock ("6"), and Lou Gehrig ("8"). LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

1912 New York Giants Team Signed Ball with Christy Mathewson
This Official National League ball, with its 24 signatures, represents the pennant-winning New York Giants of 1912. Twenty-two signatures are identifiable on the ball including Fred Merkle. In many instances, these signatures were placed with formal given names. On the sweet spot are disclosed the pennings of Rube Marquard, Red Murray and Art Fletcher. Other autographs balanced around the panels include: Wilbert Robinson ("3-4"), John McGraw ("6", signed "John J. McGraw"), and Christy Mathewson ("3-4"). LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Outstanding Babe Ruth Signed "Babe Ruth Home Run Special" Baseball
This Spalding, "Babe Ruth - Home Run Special" item bears the icon's "Babe Ruth" signature perfectly along the sweet spot. The Hall of Famer's decades-old black ink autograph projects about "7-8" strength. A breathtaking commemorative, and the ultimate showpiece! LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Superb Jimmie Foxx Single Signed Ball
Jimmie Foxx signed this OAL (Cronin) ball during the latter portion of his abbreviated life. Well after his playing days, Foxx had occasion to sign this creamy American League sphere. In black ink, the Hall of Famer has penned "To Craig Brush - Regards, 'Jimmie Foxx'," his flowing scripting projecting "9" strength on the sweet spot. LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Cy Young Single Signed Ball Dated 1907
With its lightly soiled and mildly roughed surface, this OAL (Ban Johnson) baseball may well have served diamond duty. The quality of this signature is about "6." Through his many years of retirement, Cy Young was a willing signer (when he could be detected among Ohio's cornfields), but to our knowledge, this is the earliest confirmed autograph provided by history's champion of victories. LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Baseball Photographs

1927 Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig Signed Barnstorming Tour Photograph
Babe Ruth took Gehrig hunting, fishing, to Army/Notre Dame football games and, most famously, on barnstorming tours. Presented here is a signed photograph of the pair captured during their extracurricular hardball efforts. A reproduction of a previously signed photo, the print shows facsimiles of the original signatures. But the amazing green ink autographs that have "re-decorated" this particular treasure are arguably stronger than the original scriptings. LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $5,000.

Spectacular Oversized Babe Ruth Signed Photo
A mere three months before his death at the age of 53, Babe Ruth inscribed this oversized action photograph to admiring fans. Ruth writes in black ink, "To my very good friends John and Joey Flinn From Babe Ruth 5-1-48." The autograph rates "8" in terms of both boldness and execution. The clean flat-finish photo presents at EX/MT level. LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Autographed 1938 Lou Gehrig Photo Taken by the Famous George Burke - PSA/DNA GEM MT 10
Perhaps the most humble of American baseball heroes, Lou Gehrig possessed a work ethic unrivaled by his peers. Reserved, yet approachable, Gehrig is perhaps best depicted in this 1938 George Burke photograph. Noted for bringing out the lighter side of ballplayers, Burke did just that in this black-and-white portrait image. Gehrig's flowing signature, in black ink, reads: "To Jack - With Kindest Regards - Lou Gehrig." Minimum bid $2,500.

Baseball Game Wear

Reggie Jackson 1968 Oakland Athletics Signed Game Used Road Vest from His Rookie Season
Reggie Jackson donned this Athletics road vest during the transplanted franchise's 1968 season. The offered diamond apparel is as unique as its original owner. The light-green flannel vest represents the team's bold move to colorful garments. With "OAKLAND" arched across the chest in green-on-gold embroidered characters, even the olde-English font shows a daring departure from the traditional baseball lettering. The Hall of Famer's since-retired number "9" is sewn to the back. Jackson's black marker signature shows "8" in strength. LOAs from Dave Bushing & Troy Kinunen/MEARS, Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

1928 Sad Sam Jones Washington Senators Home Jersey
This Washington Senators jersey was worn by Sad Sam Jones during the latter portion of his four-year tenure in D.C. This cream-colored flannel, button-down garment features a blue pinstriped pattern and upper-case "W" identifiers sewn to each sleeve in blue-on-red pile characters. Within the collar, a chain-stitched, cursive notation of "Jones" accompanies a "SPALDING" manufacturer's tag. Heavy wear is evident. . Minimum bid $2,500.

Roger Maris New York Yankees Game Worn Batting Helmet
The batting helmet came as a long-overdue accessory in the 1950s. The brainchild of Pirates owner Branch Rickey, the American Baseball Cap Company produced the protective headgear en masse, with his Bucs being the first team to collectively model the product in 1953. Roger Maris wore this batting helmet during his storied days with the Bronx Bombers. This navy-blue plastic shell boasts the club's famed "NY" logo, which is painted to the front center in white. Adhered within the shell is a manufacturer's size "7-3/8" decal and a strip of white athletic tape that bears a black marker notation of "MARIS - 9." Moderate-to-heavy wear is evident. Minimum bid $1,000.

Baseball Press Pins

Complete Run of 1929 -1991 World Series Press Pins (126 different)
Most hobbyists know that many species of press pins routinely remain in optimal condition by virtue of their sturdy engineering. These include the '52 Brooklyn, '35 Detroit or '76 Cincinnati. Others, however, simply invite disappointment. This is indeed an outstanding collection of a complete run of 126 press pins, all in admirable condition. Their original fastening nuts attend all but two of the pins. Minimum bid $10,000.

The Finest 1938 All-Star Game Pin in the Hobby!
As All-Star competition gained momentum in the late 1930s, the need emerged to enhance its significance closer to the World Series. One remedy was to devise and distribute press pins to the attending media, and in 1938, Cincinnati's front office did just that. One of these survivors is now available, and it's in utterly perfect condition. Included is the Bastian Brothers paper insert into the reverse, identifying the pin's manufacturer. Minimum bid $2,500.

Baseball Autographs

Alex Cartwright Check - PSA/DNA MINT 9
This personal check is signed by the legendary baseball pioneer. Dated "Sept. 11, 1880," the document is made out to one "M. Paiko" in the amount of "$100." Drawn from "BISHOP & CO., BANKERS," the check boasts Cartwright's black ink signature as its most alluring feature, its elegant curves giving it an almost regal quality. Minimum bid $2,500.

Spectacular Ty Cobb Correspondence Collection
Ty Cobb (1886-1961) is considered by many to be baseball's greatest player. This collection of correspondence from Ty Cobb to Evan "Doc" Morris, window clerk at the Menlo Park, California, Post Office, includes: 1) Bust Photograph of Cobb wearing a Detroit cap, 8" x 10", inscribed in Cobb's familiar green ink in a light area: "To Evan Morris/From His Friend/Ty Cobb/11-26-55" ("7"); and 2) Five page handwritten letter on "Tyrus R. Cobb/Glenbrook, Douglas County/Nevada" stationery, signed "Ty" but with "Cobb" in the text. LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Baseball Trophies and Awards

Catfish Hunter 1977 New York Yankees Ring
This is one of the five World Series rings that were presented to the 1987 Hall of Fame inductee: his 1977 New York Yankees World Championship ring. Nineteen authentic and sparkling diamonds shape the "NY" symbol at the top of the piece with the surrounding relief pronouncing, "YANKEES WORLD CHAMPIONS." On one side, the engraved "HUNTER" is accompanied by the Bombers' stars and stripes emblem and the words, "Yankees 21st World Championship," all in raised fashion. The opposing shank displays the title-winning year of "1977," along with the words "PRIDE" and "TRADITION." Minimum bid $2,500.

Mike Torrez's 1977 New York Yankees World Championship Trophy
This 1977 World Series Championship trophy was presented to Mike Torrez for his contributions during the 1977 title-winning campaign. The prize measures approximately 7-1/4" x 12", and features 26 gold-colored pennants, each bearing the team name of a Major League franchise. The interior metal design consists of a silver baseball set within a gold-colored band, which is topped by a detailed crown. A second gold-colored band reads, "MIKE TORREZ - 1977 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS - 2 GAME WINNER vs. L.A. DODGERS - GAME 3 AND GAME 6," all in black lettering. NM condition. Minimum bid $2,500.

Baseball Memorabilia

Baseball Folk Art Painting
At 8 feet long and 4 feet wide, this door-sized portrayal honors Babe Ruth's larger-than-life legacy. An anonymous early to mid-20th century artist created the massive tableau, which depicts the hefty left-handed hero in his familiar No. 3 uniform-but not, intriguingly, in the Yankee colors-just after belting a long fly to deep center. The grandstand's red-white-and-blue bunting signifies that this is World Series play. Heightening the period flavor of this unique piece is its presentation. Full-size bats and small baseballs are mounted to the perimeter of the painting's substantial recessed wooden frame. Minimum bid $10,000.

T202 Ty Cobb Giant Triple Folder Ad Poster
This display piece is one of only two known survivors of its rare kind. It measures 15" x 35" and features Ty Cobb in the same portrait pose that appears in the T202 Hassan Triple Folder tobacco-card set. Like those small-sized triptych cards designated as T202, this Cobb display also was initially constructed as one-third of a three-panel production-Cobb on the left, Christy Mathewson on the right and the famed Charles Conlon photo of "Cobb sliding" in the center. Minimum bid $5,000.

Exquisite 1922 Coca-Cola Complete Baseball Calendar with Full Pad
This display piece is the only Coca-Cola calendar to feature America's national pastime. By some miracle of preservation, the calendar's entire pad remains fully intact and the original gold metal strip across the very top edge is still in place. The elite example is among only a handful known to exist at this high-grade level. Understandably, their dual-subject design renders the 1922 calendars highly desirable to Coca-Cola and baseball enthusiasts alike-and especially so when the preservation is so effervescently. Minimum bid $2,500.

Football Collectibles

1952 Bowman Large Football Graded Complete Set (144) - #2 on PSA Set Registry
This amazing representation has earned a 7.24 GPA and resides in the #2 position on the "Current Finest" and #4 position on the "All-Time Finest" lists on the PSA Set Registry. The 1952 Bowman Large football release is a production whose surviving elements are rare in the marvelous state of preservation seen in the offered assembly. Includes: Graded PSA MINT 9: 7 cards; PSA NM-MT 8: 90 cards; PSA NM 7: 33 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 12 cards; PSA EX 5: 1 card; PSA VG-EX 4: 1 card. Minimum bid $10,000.

Ray Nitschke 1961 Green Bay Packers Ring
This ring celebrates Ray Nitschke's first of five titles-and what was Green Bay's first since 1944. In reward for Nitschke's efforts, the league commissioned the famed Josten jeweler in casting this size 13-1/2, 14-karat gold ring. Highlighting the decorative piece, the facing flaunts a football-shaped green gem, which is accented with a genuine diamond. Surrounding this display, a raised-letter legend reveals "GREEN BAY PACKERS - 1961 - WORLD CHAMPIONS." The ornately designed shanks respectively read "GREEN BAY 37 NEW YORK 0 - NFL" and "NITSCHKE." Minimum bid $5,000.

Joe Namath Early 1970's New York Jets Game Worn Home Jersey
The Hall of Fame quarterback wore this New York Jets home jersey during the early 1970s. The garment is comprised of a heavy cotton and nylon blend. "NAMATH" is sewn on a cotton/dureen nameplate at the back of the piece, and the player's famous "12" numerals are featured on the front, back and sleeves. Also at each sleeve is the Jets' classic stripe pattern, a style that was adopted in 1963 and remained a fixture until the late 1970s (revived by coach Bill Parcells in 1998). The demand for Joe Namath game jerseys far exceeds supply; especially those pre-dating the lightweight mesh issues of the mid to late 1970s. LOA from Lou Lampson. Minimum bid $2,500.

Bart Starr Game Used Jersey
A seventeenth-round selection of the 1956 NFL Draft, University of Alabama alum Bart Starr proved to be quite the late-round bargain. The prominent field general gained induction to Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977, and even now is widely lauded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Starr wore this Green Bay Packers home jersey circa 1960. The green knit pullover garment displays the player's number "15" on the front, back and sleeves. Light use is evident. Minimum bid $2,500.

Johnny Unitas 1960 Baltimore Colts Signed Game Used Jersey
This autographed Baltimore Colts home jersey was donned by Johnny Unitas during the 1960 season. The offered jersey is a cream-colored dureen pullover garment with three-quarter sleeves and a pair of blue stripes lining each shoulder. The Hall of Famer's since-retired number "19" is sewn to the front, back and shoulders. Just above and to the left of the tagging, Unitas' blue marker signature trumpets "9-10" strength. The apparel reveals evidence of moderate wear. LOA Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Johnny Unitas Circa 1969-1970 Baltimore Colts Game Used Helmet
This head gear is an "RK2" made by Riddell and used by Johnny Unitas late in his career. It features the trademark single blue center stripe and the club's famous horseshoe side. The oversized back numerals are correct in their depiction of "19." The wear is consistent and solid. A tribute to the crew-cut great in his black high-tops. Minimum bid $2,500.

Hockey Must-Haves

1911/12 C55 Complete Master Set (46) - #1 on PSA Set Registry
With a GPA of 5.66, these 46 collectibles represent the best C55 "Master Set" ever assembled, and it resides in the #1 position on the C55 - Master Set "Current Finest" and "All-Time Finest" lists on the PSA Set Registry. These fragile, finely detailed masterpieces appeal to hockey enthusiasts in the same manner experienced by baseball card collectors in their desire for that sport's T206 White Borders of the same era. Includes: Graded PSA NM-MT 8: 1 card; PSA NM 7: 5 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 32 cards; PSA EX 5: 7 cards; PSA VG 3: 1 card. Minimum bid $2,500.

1951/52 Parkhurst PSA-Completely Graded Set (105)
This series of physically small but visually powerful collectibles contains a number of the hockey specialty's most universally admired and coveted pieces. Noted for its "key" vintage Hall of Fame subjects, the blank-backed, premier Parkhurst release is regarded as the cornerstone of a serious hockey card collection. Includes - Graded PSA NM-MT 8: 55 cards; PSA NM 7: 43 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 5 cards; PSA VG-EX 4: 1 card; PSA VG 3: 1 card. Minimum bid $2,500.

1910 C56 Hockey PSA-Graded Complete Set (36) - #3 on PSA Set Registry
With a 4.77 GPA, this collection ranks in the #3 position on the "Current Finest" and "All-Time Finest" lists on the PSA Set Registry. This Canadian tobacco issue remains unattributed but is an integral segment of any advanced vintage hockey collection. Includes: Graded PSA EX-MT 6: 13 cards; PSA EX 5: 14 cards; PSA VG-EX 4: 8 cards; PSA VG 3: 1 card. Minimum bid $1,500.

Golf Greats

Masters Jacket
As golf collectors and fans are undoubtedly aware, Augusta National emphasizes that members are not allowed to remove the jackets from the premises, and even Masters Champions are only permitted to carry their jackets outside of Augusta National for the period of one year. This Green Jacket was manufactured on September 5, 1978, and belonged to a determinedly unidentified Augusta National member. Minimum bid $2,500.

1933 Goudey Sport Kings #38 Bobby Jones - SGC 92 NM/MT+ 8.5
It is the only specimen at its tier with just one higher-graded copy validated by SGC. Bobby Jones was among the most popular sports figures of his era. The offered example of the gum-maker's "High Number" Jones tribute does not disappoint. Its crisply detailed and richly attractive image, its nicely shaped corners, and the quality of its print are all commendable. Minimum bid $1,500.

Boxing Beauties

1948 Leaf Boxing Sheet
This is an especially rare and visually dramatic representation of the boxing classic, and a true cartophilic treasure in its almost never-encountered form. All 49 subjects featured in Leaf's scarce, one-year-only boxing release are proudly displayed on this incredible factory relic. The cards include: Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jack Dempsey, John L. Sullivan and Jake LaMotta. Minimum bid $2,500.

1910's T220 Mecca "Champion Athlete and Prizefighter Series" PSA Graded Complete Set - #1 on the PSA Set Registry!
This is one of the truly grand boxing card productions seen here in its finest-imaginable, original state of preservation. The cards display a spellbinding gallery of color illustrations backed by descriptive bios and statistics. The offered set resides securely at the #1 position on the PSA Set Registry. The splendid, fully Mecca-branded set includes: Graded PSA NM-MT 8: 13 cards; PSA NM 7: 18 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 18 cards; PSA EX 5: 1 card. Minimum bid $1,500.

Other Sports Items

1919 Sir Barton Belmont Trophy
Sir Barton's 1919 Belmont States trophy is an equine treasure beyond compare. As a three-year-old chestnut colt, Sir Barton entered the 1919 Kentucky Derby with a maiden status. Sir Barton brought virtually no credentials to Churchill Downs. Winless in six starts as a two-year-old, the stallion was placed in the 12-horse field as a rabbit-to set the pace. While Sir Barton left for the lead, as promised, he never stopped, crossing the finish line a full five lengths ahead of the nearest contender. Sir Barton proceeded to triumph four days later at Baltimore's Pimlico oval, again at the Withers Stakes, and for a fourth time (in a 32-day span) at the Belmont Stakes. Lauded horse racing's first-ever Triple Crown winner; Sir Barton bucked the odds throughout his spectacular run. The silver plate trophy stands 12-1/4"-tall, and measures 7-3/4" in diameter. Minimum bid $5,000.

COMIC BOOKS AND COMIC ART

In August 2006, the collecting world received its first glimpse into the exciting future of Mastro Auctions' new Comic Books and Comic Art division. According to Chris Porter, the division's vice president, the inaugural event created the desired industry "buzz" which has fueled expectations and excitement for the December sale.

Porter says that the August 2006 sale has been instrumental in laying a strong foundation on which to build his division into a top player in the comic books and comic art collecting industry. "The record-breaking price of over $200,000 for the Spiderman Ditko artwork served as an exclamation point on our initial effort," said Porter. "It proved we have the process to attract comic collectors and big numbers," said Porter. "Our focus in this second sale was to increase the amount of material available, and concentrate not only high- end pieces, but medium condition items, which make up the majority of the market." Some highlights include:

1941 "Green Lantern" #1 - CGC VF/NM 9.0 This book features a Bill Finger story, a Howard Purcell cover, and Martin Nodell art. The story retells the origin of the Green Lantern and was issued at the peak of the character's popularity. Today, the item represents one of the key investment comic books of the Golden Age. The minimum bid is $10,000.

"Batman" #2 - CGC NM -9.2
This book is tied with one other copy at this grading level, with none known to be graded higher. The elements of this summer 1940 issue include a Bill Finger story, cover and interior art by Kane and Robinson, and other interior art by George Roussos. It is the second issue of the title to feature the Joker and the Catwoman. The minimum bid is $10,000.

The Incredible Hulk #1 - CGC 9.0
Forty years after their creations, the works of Kirby and Lee still hold up as exciting. Nowhere is this more evident than in "The Incredible Hulk" #1 (5/62). It includes a story by Lee, cover by Kirby, and interior art by Kirby and Reinman. The book provides the origin and first appearance of the Incredible Hulk, first appearance of Rick Jones, Gen. "Thunderbolt" Ross and his daughter Betty. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby did a masterful job of creating a companion book for the Fantastic Four, one that told the sympathetic tale of a monster's tortured soul. The book's minimum bid is $5,000.

Amazing Spider-Man #1 - CGC VF+ 8.5
When it was introduced The Amazing Spider-Man quickly became one of the largest selling titles in the industry. Today it stands as writer Lee's and artist Ditko's greatest personal success in their long history of producing comic books. This first issue has proven to be one of the top two most desirable collectors' items that Marvel has ever produced, second only to the character's first appearance in Amazing Fantasy. The minimum bid is $5,000.

Captain America Comics #1 (3/41) - CGC 6.0
Constant movement within their tales became the Simon and Kirby trademark, and it was never so consistently pronounced as it in their Captain America stories. From the first issue, Simon and Kirby's Captain America Comics had readers knee-deep in World War II, almost a full year before the country became fully involved. This book displays cream to off-white pages. It features the origin and first appearance of Captain America and Bucky and the first appearance of the Red Skull. The minimum bid is $5,000.

AMAZING AMERICANA

Campaign Collectibles

1920 Cox/Roosevelt "Americanize America" Presidential Campaign Pinback
The Democratic Cox/Roosevelt ticket, which lost handily to Republican running mates Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge, is but a blip on the radar of U.S. presidential races. Its elusive campaign pins, however, are not. They are considered among the finest political collectibles in existence. This tremendous gem retains its pristine Whitehead & Hoag back-paper and demonstrates picture-perfect centering. It is the rarest of all Cox/Roosevelts with fewer than half a dozen known survivors. It is the only style of Cox/Roosevelt jugate with a slogan! The phrase "Americanize America" has its origins with the American (a.k.a."Know-Nothing") Party of the mid-1850s, who used it as a policy of enforcing assimilation to U.S. cultural norms among immigrants. Minimum bid $10,000.

Exceptional 1789 George Washington Inaugural Button
Here is Americana at its very best: a cherished memento of George Washington's ascent to the presidency on March 4, 1789. This 1-1/4"-diameter, medallion-like inaugural button is one of the finest examples ever offered through Mastro Auctions. It is exceptionally well struck and well preserved, rating Near Mint to Mint. Minimum bid $2,500.

1848 Zachary Taylor/Millard Fillmore Presidential Campaign Pewter Pin
It would be impossible to find a more superior example of this double-sided campaign piece than the this Near Mint one. Such pewter-rimmed, glass-protected paper portraits were produced for the Taylor/Fillmore and Cass/Butler tickets, and both varieties are well-known for being plagued by rampant staining and excessive wear. Not so with this beauty. Minimum bid $2,500.

Presidential Perfection

Exceptional and Rare Mary Lincoln Signed Handwritten Letter on Executive Mansion Stationary - Also Signed by Abraham Lincoln!
Mary Todd Lincoln wrote this letter to the hymn composer and publisher Hubert Platt Main (1839-1925) while she was living in the White House, then known as the Executive Mansion. The First Lady penned the manor's name in the upper right, and her embossed monogram ("M. L.") is centered toward the top of the page. Seeing the President and First Lady's signatures together on the same letter brings to life the history of their long and devoted relationship. All of the letter's handwriting rates "10." Fewer than 10 dual-signed Abraham and Mary Lincoln items have appeared at major auctions in the past 25 years! LOAs from Steve Grad and John Reznikoff/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $5,000.

Rare Kennedy Final 1963 Christmas Card Signed by JFK and Jackie
Prior to the holiday season, both the President and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy sat down to sign stacks of personal Christmas cards. This is a bittersweet reminder of that holiday. The card front features a printed photo of the crèche in the East Room of the White House, while the interior includes a gold Presidential Seal along with the imprinted greeting, "With our wishes for a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year." The President, using black felt tip, has signed "John Kennedy" with his wife adding "Jacqueline Kennedy" in blue ballpoint. Both signatures merit a "10" assessment. LOAs from Steve Grad and John Reznikoff/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

President George Washington Signed Commission
With this commission, President George Washington promoted Thomas Butler to the rank of lieutenant colonel and the position of "Commandant of the Fourth Sub-Legion." Washington's large and dramatic signature projects "7-8" in strength and spans a full 3" in length. The page is also signed "Timothy Pickering - Secy. of War" ("9"). Pickering served as War Secretary for only a brief period in 1795, before assuming the role of Secretary of State from 1795 to 1800. Its design features an elaborately engraved vignette containing elements of the Great Seal of the United States, with the words, "George Washington - President of the United States of America" just beneath an eagle. An official embossed seal of the War Office is present in the upper left corner. LOAs from Steve Grad and John Reznikoff/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Entertaining Items

The Beatles Signed, "Please Please Me" Album
The Beatles' first LP release, "Please Please Me," signaled the beginning of Beatlemania. The album would reach number 1 in the UK and stay there for 30 weeks. All four autographs-"John Lennon XX," "Paul McCartney XXX," "Ringo Starr XX" and "George Harrison XXX"-appear vintage to the album itself, circa 1963. George and Ringo's project "9" strength, while John and George's are fainter ("6"). The LP is displayed behind a custom-made matte (with a portion of the vintage vinyl exposed) and housed within an attractive 20-3/8" x 27-1/4" frame. LOAs from Steve Grad and Roger Epperson/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Original "Mr. Spock" Ears Worn by Leonard Nimoy in "Star Trek - The Movie"
Aside from the Enterprise itself, there is perhaps no greater symbol of the Star Trek universe than the green-blooded, pointy-eared Vulcan. And of course, few other characters in the annals of pop-culture history have the immediate name recognition as does the greatest Vulcan of them all-Mr. Spock. Presented is surely the "Holy Grail" for Star Trek fans and collectors ... Mr. Spock's ears! Offered as provenance is a 3-3/8" x 2-1/4" cream-colored card, affixed to the reverse, which reads: "THESE SPOCK EARS WERE USED BY LEONARD NIMOY IN 'STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE'. VERIFICATION: (signed) Leonard Nimoy. SEPT., 1978." LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $2,500.

Non-Sports Cards

1941/42 "Uncle Sam" Original Artwork Collection of 87 Different
This extensive collection of original artwork is from one of the more popular bubble gum card series to be issued before the World War II effort curtailed the supply of materials needed for their creation-Gum Incorporated's "Uncle Sam" and "Home Defense" series of 1941. These one-of-a-kind designs are the basis for 71 of the series' 144 cards. Each piece has a pencil notation identifying the card number for which the art was intended for, plus a section heading (where applicable) which appeared on the reverse. Overall display quality is minimally EX. Minimum bid is $5,000.

1937 R21 Wolverine Gum "Ripley's Believe It or Not" PSA Graded Complete Set (48) - #1 on the PSA Set Registry!
One of only two card sets produced by the obscure Wolverine Gum Company of Detroit, Michigan, this colorful product features scenes and situations from the "Ripley's Believe It or Not" archives of Robert Ripley. Includes: Graded PSA NM-MT 8: 16 cards; PSA NM 7: 10 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 8 cards; PSA EX 5: 12 cards; PSA VG-EX 4: 1 card; PSA GD 2: 1 card. Minimum bid $2,500.

1940 R145 Gum, Inc. Superman Complete PSA Graded Set (72)
By virtue of its 7.01 GPA, the assembly stands in the prestigious 1st Place position atop both the "All-Time Finest" and "Current Finest" lists on the PSA Set Registry. Among the most popular of all the pre-war gum card issues, the Gum, Inc. Superman set of 1940 is particularly difficult to complete due to its very scarce high-number series of cards (numbers 49-72). The collection includes: Graded PSA NM-MT 8: 34 cards; PSA NM 7: 25 cards; PSA EX-MT 6: 3 cards; PSA EX 5: 2 cards; PSA VG-EX 4: 1 card; and PSA GD 2: 3 cards. Minimum bid $2,500.

Historical Items and Autographs

Cook County Chicago Gallows
For 56 years, the Cook County gallows, originally constructed in 1886 to execute condemned men from the Haymarket Riot in Chicago, waited for one man: Terrible Tommy O'Connor. Just four days before facing his fate at the hangman's noose on December 15, 1921, O'Connor escaped in spectacular and suspicious fashion leading many to believe he had received help from the inside. He was never seen again. In 1927, when the state legislature changed the legal method of execution to the electric chair, O'Connor was the last Illinois convict with a sentence to be hanged. Were it not for his absence, Cook County's suddenly obsolete gallows might have been reduced to firewood. But the county stored the timber structure in its Criminal Courts Building for more than a half-century, just in case Terrible Tommy should ever be apprehended and his sentence fulfilled. Each year, on the anniversary of his escape, the local newspapers ran headlines asking, "Where's Tommy?" By the late 1970s, when all hope was lost of finding the 87-year-old criminal (were he even still alive), a judge ordered that the gallows be officially retired and sold to the highest bidder. A Wild West museum in Union, Illinois purchased the gallows for an undisclosed amount in 1977, and it has remained on display there ever since. Minimum bid $5,000.

Early 20th Century Church Window
This glorious and full-sized stained glass window dates to the early part of the 20th Century. Created in a style known as "opalescent glass," this impressive object originates from the First Lutheran Church of Alexandria, Minnesota. The Alexandria High School Class of 1919 donated the window to the church. For more than 80 years, this window withstood harsh Minnesota winters and sweltering summers before its removal when the building was remodeled in 2000. According to our research, the window was crafted by German artists and shipped to the United States. Minimum bid $2,500.

Pope Benedict XVI Single Signed Baseball
This spectacular baseball is autographed by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Inscribed "Benedictus XVI" in blue Sharpie across the sweet spot (and presenting "perfect 10" strength), this phenomenal piece reveals-appropriately-a remarkably snow white appearance. This OML (Selig) ball also shows bold "Rawlings" and Major League Baseball logos. LOAs from Steve Grad and John Reznikoff/PSA DNA. Minimum bid $1,000.

Fine Art

Guy Carleton Wiggins "New York City Snow Scene" Painting
Guy Wiggins was born in Lyme, Connecticut in 1883 and was the son of prominent artist Carlton Wiggins. He is the youngest artist ever to have his work actually purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York-at a mere twenty years of age! Wiggins painted numerous landscapes of Connecticut and New York, but it is depictions of snowy Manhattan landmarks that are immediately recognized as uniquely his. Those wintry subjects are today considered some of his finest creations, and are displayed in the White House and in many of the world's major museums and private collections. The oil on canvas board painting measures 12" x 16", and is signed "Guy Wiggins" at lower right; also signed and titled on reverse. Estimated Value: $50,000-$60,000.

1861-1944 "Cahors" by Joseph Edward Southall
Joseph Edward Southall (1861-1944) was an Englishman born of Quaker parents, who first studied watercolors at a Quaker school, as early as the age of eleven, receiving instruction from Edwin Moore, a brother of two famous painters. In 1878, Southall began work at an architectural firm while continuing his studies at night. He would eventually leave this firm after several years to return to the study of painting and sculpting. This work appears to be dated in pencil "1936" on the lower right corner, just beneath Southall's penciled monogram signature. The 12" x 9" watercolor and pencil work captures a lovely, relaxed scene of a bridge spanning the slow moving Lot River at Cahors. Minimum bid $2,500.

Paul Emile Pissarro "River Landscape" Charcoal on Paper
Pissarro was born into an artistic French family in 1884. His father Camille raised all of his sons in a world of art, teaching them of the importance of great artists like Cézanne, Monet and the other Impressionists, many of who were his personal friends. Paulémile would often visit with his father's friend Monet who lived only 20 miles from the Pissarro family home. Monet, in addition to acting as Paulémile's guardian after the boy's father had died, became his mentor and friend. While Monet had a great effect on the younger Pissarro's technique and approach, it was Cézanne that had the most influence upon his work. This piece comes from the Stern Pissarro collection. An LOA signed by the artist's grandson is included. The work is entitled "River Landscape," has been signed "Paulémile Pissarro" at the lower left corner. Minimum bid $1,500.

The company has sold many of the most famous and valuable sports and Americana collectibles ever offered to the public, including the most expensive baseball card in history, the T206 Honus Wagner which sold for nearly $1.3 million, Norman Rockwell's "The Dugout" for $355,000, Roger Maris' 1961 jersey he wore when he hit home run #61 for $302,000, the bus Rosa Parks rode on when she refused to stand for segregation for nearly $500,000 and the famous Steve Bartman Cubs foul ball for over $100,000.

Cracks, Grain and Pine Tar (Part 2)

2006-11-19T05:18:00.000-08:00

Joe Orlando -

"How rare are game-used bats?"

The short answer to this question is that it depends on the bat as you might imagine, but generally speaking, bats are far scarcer than most baseball cards are. There's no comparison. Here are a few examples.

Take the famous 1909-1911 T206 Honus Wagner card. That card is known as one of the greatest rarities in the hobby and the famous PSA NM-MT 8 just sold for $1,265,000 at auction. Now that card is truly incredible and in very high demand partly due to the fact most experts believe that there are fewer than 50 known copies of the card. On the other hand, did you know that most experts believe that there are only 5 Honus Wagner game-used bats in existence? Now, that is rare.

Here's another illustration of how rare bats can be. Usually, when a company produces a limited edition card or autographed product, they will limit the item anywhere from 100 to 500 items. A number within that range is considered very rare, and when you consider that 500 limited edition items equals 10 per state, that really puts the rarity into focus. Did you know that, on average, Mickey Mantle only received about 20-25 bats per year for game use? That's for the entire year! If I told you that there was going to be an Alex Rodriguez card produced this year with only 20-25 made, collectors would go into a frenzy trying to get one.

To further the Mantle example, remember that the 20-25 number is merely the number of bats that Mantle actually received, it's not how many survived. Before baseball memorabilia sales became such a booming business in the late 1980's and early 1990's, no one realized the value of keeping game-used bats. The amount of bats that survived is the key.

As recently as 15 years ago, most bats were discarded after they were cracked during a game or after the season was over. Imagine what it was like 25-50 years ago! Most people are familiar with the term "firewood" and that's exactly what became of vintage game-used bats. If the bat wasn't fit for game use, it had no purpose. Bats were not worth much as a collectible back then, so very few people ever thought of saving them.

During an interview with Bill Morrow, the son of former H&B (now known as Louisville Slugger) bat company representative Henry Morrow, he told me that his parents had a basement filled with bats that players had given his dad over the years. When the pile grew too large, his parents literally threw the bats into the fire or into the garbage. There was just no reason too keep such a huge mass of baseball bats at that time. Just hearing that story makes me ill thinking about what treasures were lost, but Bill Morrow has a good sense of humor about the whole thing. Most of us can look back and realize we should have kept one thing or another, but who knew? Who knew that baseball memorabilia would become what it is today?

Bill's story helps illustrate how truly rare game-used bats are. Here's a gentleman, Henry Morrow, who had more access to players and their bats than anyone in the country and even he discarded the lumber he was able to acquire. If that story doesn't tell you about bat rarity, I don't know what will. Even when it comes to modern bats, the numbers may be significantly higher in comparison to vintage bats, but the rarity, in comparison to cards, is still much greater. In many cases, the number of game-used bats that have survived through the years is very, very low.

"Does condition affect the value of a game-used bat?"

For those of you who have only collected sportscards until now, this concept may be hard to comprehend. Yes, condition can affect the value of a bat, but condition takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to game-used bats.

Game-used bats are supposed to have wear, hence the term game-used. If the bat was in mint condition, that means it is not game-used and the player never prepped the bat for game action, never brought the bat to the plate with him and never hit a baseball with it. Much of the value, when it comes to game-used items, turns on the amount of use. Collectors need to understand that when it comes to buying game-used bats or any other game-used item, you want to see some showing of legitimate wear. If no wear is present, the value can be diminished significantly.

In my opinion, more use equals more value. Why? If the point of owning a piece of game-used memorabilia is to own a real piece of history or something that is directly connected to a player and his accomplishments, wouldn't more use indicate that the bat was in the player's hands for a longer period of time? Furthermore, if there is more use, wouldn't that indicate that there is a greater chance that the player collected more hits with that bat? It seems logical to me, but who said logic had anything to do with this hobby.

Not all collectors feel this way. In fact, many collectors prefer bats with lighter use in hopes that the bat makes for a better display piece. Those collectors cringe at cracks and shudder at pine tar, not me. When I look for a nice bat, I want to see at least a solid showing of game action. If not, the player barely touched it and the bat becomes a mere game-issued bat instead. Game-issued bats are nice, but they don't have the same appeal or historical importance that a real game-used bats have. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Now, if a bat has a condition defect that significantly takes away from the eye-appeal of the bat, that defect will detract from the value. There's no question about it. For instance, if an enormous piece was missing from bat where the player's name is supposed to be or if the bat is warped or stained by something other than pine tar or natural soiling from use, that would drop the value of the bat. The same could be said for a severe crack that has not been repaired correctly. The bottom line is that the person buying the bat determines what he or she likes when it comes to visual appeal, but as long as the defect isn't too disturbing to the overall appeal, it shouldn't be a major factor.

The issue of whether a crack affects the value is another hot topic. As stated above, cracks should not take away from the value of a bat as long as the crack does not severely impair the overall look of the piece. When hitters gets jammed, bats crack. When hitters catch one near the end of the bat, bats crack. When hitters connect with a fastball near the center label, bats crack. It's part of the game and is evidence of true game use. There is no hard rule one way or the other. Some people like cracked bats and others like uncracked bats. It's a matter of taste.

In summary, I would suggest that you should make sure there is some real evidence of game use before buying a bat. Whether you like heavy use or light use, uncracked or cracked bats, that's simply up to you. Unless the condition of a bat significantly detracts from the overall eye-appeal, it shouldn't take away from the value of the bat.

"I have a COA, doesn't that mean it's real?"

The last question on this list is one that is also very important. The term certificate of authenticity or "COA" is a word that is loosely tossed around the hobby. There is one rule that all collectors should live by and that rule is as follows: Anyone can create a COA; the person behind the COA is what matters.

There are only a few respected bat authenticators in the country so, unless your bat comes with team, player, or another form of solid documentation, I would suggest having one of them look at the bat. Even if you did purchase a bat from what appears to be a good source, you owe it to yourself to have an expert determine if your bat is real or not. There is one catch to the process. You need to make sure that auction houses, top dealers and advanced collectors alike, respect the bat authenticator you choose. If not, the COA you receive becomes as valuable as the paper it's written on.

Even if the dealer or authenticator appears to have lots of experience or great credentials, it doesn't really matter unless their word carries weight in the industry. If it doesn't, not only are you risking a bad purchase, you will also be stuck when it comes time to sell your bat. Do yourself a favor and make sure that you talk to an expert in the field.

That's the end of our look at the five most commonly asked questions when it comes to bat collecting. I hope this question and answer format proves to be a useful guide for those collectors interested in building a bat collection or for those who simply want to learn more about this aspect of the hobby. Bat collecting can prove to be a very fun and rewarding hobby, so good luck with your collection.

Cracks, Grain and Pine Tar (Part 1)

2006-11-19T05:13:00.000-08:00

Joe Orlando -

Collecting game-used bats can be a lot of fun, but many collectors feel insecure about starting a collection. There is certainly a lack of available information about collecting game-used bats, so we chose the 5 most commonly asked questions and provided answers for each. Some questions are certainly more important than others, but the purpose is to educate those who are interested in collecting bats and don't really know enough about them to feel safe. Let's get started.

"How do you know if a bat is real"

This is one of the best aspects to collecting game-used bats. With bats, there is no doubt as to whether the bat was actually ordered by the player for game use or whether the bat is some type of show, store, or limited edition model bat. Distinct labeling separates the real gamers from all other bats, a bat's authenticity is not arguable anymore.

With the availability of company shipping records and in-depth research performed by recognized bat experts, we can now determine the authenticity of a bat without question. For years, due to a major lack of information, no one seemed to know what was a true gamer and what was not. Today, the majority of the mystery is nonexistent so the level of bat authentication has vastly improved. Dating bats is much easier than it was 10 years ago.

Besides bat labeling on the barrel, knob labeling and wood grain can also help us determine what era a bat was from. If shipping records are available, we can pinpoint when a player received a certain model bat. For instance, I once owned a Ted Williams bat that could be pinpointed to 1954. The reason you could pinpoint it is because the shipping records showed that he only ordered that particular model, length and weight in the spring of 1954 and never ordered that type of bat before or after that.

Some dealers will try to market a bat by saying this is a real game bat made to the exact specifications as the player's own game bat. This is commonly seen but you need to be wary because a real game bat is different from a replica bat created for autograph signings or resale in the hobby. A bat might look just like the one that a player uses in the game. It could have the same weight, length and barrel labeling as the real gamer, but it's not a real gamer. Real gamers are ordered by the player for game use and will contain some distinguishing mark to separate it from the replica.

For instance, Adirondack will usually create only a couple of World Series bats that are made for actual game use. Adirondack will also create a few more bats for the player that look, at first glance, exactly like the real gamers, but there is a difference. On these particular bats, if you go to the knob area of the bat, the non-gamers will have a rough appearance with no identifying labeling. The real gamers usually have some type of labeling like the player's initials, model number, or year designation.

In conclusion, due to the available information today, we can now determine whether a bat was ordered by a player for game use during their career.

"Even if a bat is real, how do we know if the player used it?"

This is a legitimate question and one that is asked a great deal. How do we know if a player used the bat? In some cases we know for sure and other times we don't. Over the next few paragraphs, I hope to put collectors at ease.

As mentioned above, some bats will actually come with a letter from the player or the player's agent stating that the bat was used by the player. This is just about the finest proof that you could hope for, but most of the time collectors are not so lucky. What other factors can we look at to determine if the player actually used the bat? Let's take a look.

When it comes to vintage bats, the factors are more reassuring than for modern bats. Collectors will sometimes say something like, "I know that players will sometimes use bats from other teammates, so how do you know Duke Snider actually used this bat?" Here's a breakdown.

First, in the earlier days of the game, players were not issued anywhere near the amount of bats that players are issued today. In fact, Ken Griffey Jr. has had more bats produced for him in a year and a half than Mickey Mantle had made for his entire career! For this reason, players were very protective of their bats. Sure, players would let a teammate borrow a bat or try it out if they asked, but bats weren't loaned frequently. In talking with former batboys and players, most players would only have a handful of bats at one time, so each one was cherished.

Second, even if a player borrowed a bat, it didn't last for long. For instance, if Mickey Mantle was in a batting slump and borrowed one of Hank Bauer's bats, he wouldn't use it for long. Why, you might ask? There are two main reasons.

Mantle, as a player, knows that you don't have many bats to begin with so he would realize that Bauer would need it back. The main reason, however, is that once Mantle has decided that he likes Bauer's model bat, he can order the exact same model with his name on it. In other words, why would you keep using Bauer's bat if you could immediately order some from the factory that have your name on it? All you had to do is pick up the phone. Sure players would occasionally borrow another player's bat, but it was rare and never lasted too long.

Even if we are talking about modern bats, players might borrow a bat but they can have new bats made to their specifications and sent to them very quickly. In fact, the bat factories are turning out bats faster than ever so players are using their own bats 99% of the time. The chances that your Mark McGwire bat was used solely by Jim Edmonds is slim to none.

Another way you determine if a player used a particular bat is by checking for player modifications. Some players use massive amounts of pine tar while others don't use tar at all. Some players tape the handle like Ken Griffey Jr. or Duke Snider and others shave the handle, there are many different modifications that players will make to bats but this can help confirm that the player actually used it.

Some players, in fact most players, will change their modification tendencies throughout their career so it can be very helpful to look at photos, baseball cards and video footage to see what the player's bat looks like. For instance, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle went through time periods where they used no pine tar and other times they would coat the handle with it. It's very important to do as much research on the player as possible before buying a bat.

The only problem occurs when unused game bats are stolen or obtained from the player and someone doctors the bat to make it appear as if it were used. This is not a common problem with vintage bats because people can't find legitimate vintage bats to begin with. So, in the extremely rare instance that they do find an unused vintage gamer, they will usually leave it in its original condition because even an unused vintage gamer can have tremendous value.

With modern bats, while the chances of finding a doctored bat are much higher than with vintage ones, collectors should not be too afraid. First, you should make sure that you are buying the bat from a reputable dealer or source. This can save you from a huge headache down the road. There are a lot of people out there who will claim, just like with autographs, that they have a connection to a team or that the player gave them the bat. I am not saying that these people are all dishonest, just protect yourself by asking as many questions as you can.

The next thing to look for on modern gamers is true game use. If the source of the bat is questionable, look for evidence of bat rack marks, seam or lace marks, heavy ball marks that cannot be faked or other distinguishing marks. For instance, if someone is offering you a Mark McGwire game-used bat that shows no evidence of pine tar and no evidence of wear on the barrel (where Mac would hit the ball), you might want to pass.

The key to remember here is that while collectors should look for key characteristics on a particular bat, they shouldn't be afraid of buying gamers. If collectors make sure that they are informed, determining if a player actually used a bat shouldn't be overly difficult.

Collecting Vintage Baseball Equipment

2006-11-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

In the early days of baseball the first players to use gloves were often taunted and teased as being "too soft" or "sissies" because they did not want to catch the ball with their bare hands. It was considered unmanly. It wasn't until 1907 before catchers shin guards were used. The first baseballs were hand stitched, and I would find it hard to believe that even today's ballplayers could hit one out of the park. At one time baseball bats were allowed to be flat on one side. Collecting vintage baseball equipment is an education of the evolution, and innovations that led to the high tech game of today.

The 4 piece hand stitched leather skinned baseball was one of the first style baseball used. They are referred to today as the "Lemon Peal" style baseball. Dark leather was used for the cover because it was readily available and easier for the players to see when the ball was hit in the air on a clear day. White baseballs were later introduced (1861) because most ball fields at the time had heavily wooded area back drops, and it was easier to see the white ball.

Interesting to note that in the early 1970s Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley tried to introduce a bright Orange Baseball. The Orange Baseball had two principal advantages over conventional white baseballs: (1) fans could follow the flight of an orange ball more easily than a white ball, especially when hit to the outfield, and (2) the batter could more easily see an orange ball being delivered at a speed of 90-100 miles per hour out of the normally white background of a pitcher's uniform.

In exhibition games where the ball was used, fans reacted in an overwhelmingly positive manner to the Orange Baseball. Umpires also attested to the benefits of the Orange Baseball, stating that the ball was not only easier to see from behind the plate, but gave rise to a greater number of hits and fewer fielding errors. The Idea was never picked up by major league baseball.

First introduced in the 1840s The tightly stitched professionally manufactured Figure-eight Baseballs were not used until the 1870s. "Figure 8" stitched baseballs are similar to the baseball used today. In 1859 the rules stated that a ball must weigh 5.75 to 6 ounces and measure 9.75 to 10 inches in circumference. Today's baseballs are 9 inches in circumference, 5 ounces, and 108 stitches.

Hall of Fame Catcher Roger Bresnahan Played between 1897 - 1915 Bresnahan most notable contributions to the game were in protective equipment. In 1905 after getting "beaned" in the head with a baseball began experimenting with head gear similar to the leather football helmet of the period that were made by A.J. Reach. Sliced vertically: one half for covering the left side of a right handed batter's head, the other for the lefty hitter.

Two years later in 1907 he devised Catcher's Shin Guards. The first, evidently modeled after a cricketer's leg pads but were large, and bulky. NL president Pulliam dismisses the opening day protests of Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke over Roger Bresnahan's shin guards. As yet, Bresnahan was the only catcher using them. Ignoring the ridicule, it was not thought to be gentlemanly to use them. By 1909 the design was refined, and became accepted, and more wildly used.

The first baseball gloves were used in the 1870s. The basic idea was to create a glove that would pad and protect the players' hands and provide a cushion for catching the ball. Surprisingly, the first gloves were designed so the player could knock the ball to the ground and not necessarily catch it. History's first baseball gloves were made from pieces of leather sewn together to fit over a player's hand. Many early baseball gloves were simple leather gloves with the fingertips cut off, supposedly to allow for the same control of a bare hand, but with extra padding. The adoption of the baseball glove by baseball star Albert Spalding when he began playing first base influenced more infielders to begin using gloves. By the mid 1890s, it was the norm for players to wear gloves in the field.

19th century bats were generally heavier and considerably thicker in the handle and had more of a gradual taper from the handle to the barrel about" 3 feet long, round, tapered and was to be between an inch and a half at the handle to three inches at the barrel. In 1857, the dimensions agreed upon were described as round, not to be more than two and one-half inches around in its thickest part and was to be no longer than 42 inches.

The National League made two major changes for 1885. It was now legal to have 18 inches of the handle wrapped in twine and one side of the bat was allowed to be flat. The American Association adopted this rule when they followed the same rules as the National League in 1887. In 1893, the bat was no longer allowed to be flat on one side but was required to be round. The length was still limited to 42 inches and the thickness of the thickest part was still two and on-half inches. The thickness of the bat was increased to two and three-quarters inches in 1895 and remains the same today.

Collecting vintage baseball equipment can bring back the thrill of owning the bats, and gloves we used as kids, endorsed by our favorite player. A documentation of the evolution of the tools used to play the game over the years.

In the Memorabilia Game

2006-11-16T21:57:00.000-08:00

Marek Fuchs, The New York Times -

Twice a year, Franco Harris leaves his home in Pittsburgh to go to an office here and autograph footballs, photographs and other items.
Mark Messier and Derek Jeter also make the trip, as do dozens of other athletes.

Their destination is Steiner Sports, one of the nation's largest sports memorabilia and marketing companies. Based in New Roc City, the company has 70 employees and expects revenue of $30 million this year.

The company was sold to Omnicon Group last year, but its founder, Brandon Steiner, remains as chairman. He is a man who has made a career out of befriending pro athletes.

"I have spent weekends with Walter Payton, days upon days with Roger Staubach, and Lawrence Taylor stories . . .? I could go on forever," he said. Darryl Strawberry, whom he loves, was at his bachelor party.

Mr. Steiner's entrepreneurial fervor can be measured on the Richter scale and his excitement trickles down to a new venture not involved in the Omnicom deal: Last Licks, a store he co-owns in Scarsdale, which sells ice cream and candy alongside sports memorabilia. With tweaking, he smells another winner.

Though Mr. Steiner, from spiked blond hair on down, seems like no one's employee, he was working as an assistant manager at the Hard Rock Cafe during its heyday in the mid-1980's, when he realized that no one was "paying attention to the athletes." Mr. Steiner began catering to them and friendships were made.

Noticing that agents represented players but no one represented the companies hiring athletes for marketing purposes, Mr. Steiner collected the media guides for every professional sports team. He sent the athletes he knew, in addition to ones in the guides, a survey asking them to detail their likes and life experiences. He received enough responses to start a database.

With it, he offered companies the chance to wed their products to the most suitable athletes.

A recent Steiner Sports product, for example, is a video that was sent to Ford's sales force that opened with rousing clips of Yankees World Series victories. Cut to the team manager Joe Torre, looking straight into the camera and mentioning Ford employees by name, before drawing many parallels between the successes of Ford and that of the Yankees. He spurs them on with the words, "Sacrifice isn't just a bunt."

Mr. Steiner also set his sights on the collectibles business, seeing that there was little organization and no easy way to cull forged signatures or fraudulent items from legitimate ones.

He came up with a systematic process. When Mr. Jeter sat in a Steiner Sports conference room signing 1,000 to 1,500 items (which would sell on the retail market for $250 to $1,500), each one was registered as it was signed. Then Mr. Jeter signed an affidavit attesting to what he had signed, and an auditor from Arthur Anderson & Company confirmed the signing. Only then was a Steiner Sports hologram affixed to the items, certifying their authenticity.

"The fraud probably helps us," Mr. Steiner said, "because there is a credibility about Steiner." Steiner Sports has exclusive deals to create collectibles with the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, U.S.A. Soccer and the United States Tennis Association.

It was to combat forgeries, take advantage of its distribution abilities and "organize this collectible part of myself, which is big business" that Franco Harris, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, decided to sign items through Steiner Sports.

On a recent day, he signed stacks of photos from his "immaculate reception," which famously won a 1972 A.F.C. Divisional Playoff game in its waning seconds.

"The play just keeps getting bigger and bigger over the years," Mr. Harris said.

As Mr. Harris was signing, Mr. Steiner walked into the conference room. "I know," Mr. Harris said, laughing, motioning to his pen, "I'm the slowest guy in the world."

Mr. Steiner countered, "Oh, I'm sure there are some defensive lineman who would probably say you're pretty fast."

But joking aside, do athletes ever find it peculiar that people are so driven to pay for items they have touched and signed?

Through Steiner Sports, for example, Mr. Jeter signs "game use" items, which means that a pile of Mr. Jeter's sweaty batting gloves, dusty cleats and cracked bats are sent to Steiner Sports to be signed by Mr. Jeter, then sold.

"When I was younger," Mr. Jeter said, "I just collected baseball cards. Now, you use anything and people will collect it. For me, it's a little overwhelming."

Mr. Messier agreed, saying he always finds it incredible that items he owned years ago will be saved by people for so long to be brought to him for an autograph. Mr. Messier grew up in Canada, where the autograph culture wasn't big. Seeing how large it was here was one of his biggest shocks in coming to America more than two decades ago.

Mr. Steiner said that Canada still remains a smaller market. "The Canadian fan base isn't willing to buy collectibles," he said before adding, "and there's some respect you have to give them from that."

Mr. Steiner, however, puts no stock in the conventional wisdom that the younger athletes feel entitled and are hard to deal with. Many, like Mr. Jeter, are the most courteous and accommodating young people he knows. The younger athlete is also "more media savvy, which really helps."

"They understand that they have to accommodate the company they are working with because the athlete is a company themselves," he said. "That's how they think of themselves."

Mr. Steiner added that working with the older athletes is not necessarily easier than working with younger ones.

"Joe DiMaggio was a pain," he said. "Not a nice man. We had our share of debacles with him."

The majority of the relationships he has had, though, have been close, long-lasting and mutually beneficial. And Mr. Steiner never misses an opportunity to expand these relationships.

As he sat next to Mr. Jeter, Mr. Steiner turned to his right and asked the shortstop: "What's your favorite ice cream again?"

"Gold Medal Ribbon from Baskin-Robbins," Mr. Jeter answered.

Mr. Steiner then told Mr. Jeter that he had to come by to see Last Licks, his ice cream store, mentioning the athletes who had seen it. He said that once he tweaks the concept, it was going to be big.

"I mean," Mr. Steiner said, "it hasn't all hit me yet, but you have kids, ice cream and sports. There's something there."

"You just need the vision?" Mr. Jeter teased.

"I have the vision," Mr. Steiner said, making Mr. Jeter laugh. "I just need to get some contact lenses."

Sports Memorabilia and Your Kids

2006-11-16T21:17:00.000-08:00

Joe Orlando - October 24, 2000

Introduction
My name is Joe Orlando and I have been an avid collector of sports memorabilia for approximately 20 years. I currently work for the world's leading collectibles company, Collectors Universe, Inc. At Collectors Universe, Inc., I am the editor of the Sportscard Market Report (SMR) which is the official monthly price guide for PSA and PSA/DNA authenticated products. PSA, the world's leading trading card grading service, grades more cards each month than all other major grading services combined and is currently recognized as the industry standard. PSA/DNA, the world's leading sports memorabilia authentication service, has certified some of the most important pieces in sports history. Some of those items include Mark McGwire's 70th home run baseball and Sammy Sosa's 66th home run baseball from the 1998 season, Hank Aaron's 715th career home run baseball, Mickey Mantle's 500th career home run baseball, all of the Super Bowl game footballs from the 2000 event and many of the top autographed items in the hobby.

Like many collectors of sports memorabilia, I was a victim of collectibles fraud as a child and my interest in helping protect consumers from hobby scams brought me to Collectors Universe, Inc. PSA and PSA/DNA provide a much-needed service to collectors as both companies help ensure buyers that they are getting the real thing. As a member of the staff here, I hope to improve buying conditions for hobby enthusiasts by educating collectors before they spend their hard-earned money. This hobby can be a lot of fun for your family and very rewarding but first you must become an informed buyer. In this chapter, I have provided a basic guide on how to get your family started in the sports memorabilia hobby. This guide should prove to make collecting fun and safe for anyone interesting in building a collection.

Buying
There are several ways to get your family started in the sports memorabilia hobby. Local dealers, conventions, and catalogues are the traditional places to find sports memorabilia for sale. Today, there are three new and very popular places where buyers can find a tremendous amount of sports collectibles: auctions, television and the Internet. Each year, more and more sports items are offered either via the auction route, on television or online. With all of these places to look for sports memorabilia, buyers have more options available to them than ever before. Collectors are no longer are limited to the local baseball card shop; now they buy items from all over the world. With the proper training, you can protect yourself and really enjoy this wonderful hobby of ours.

Education
Before you ever decide to purchase an item, the first thing you must do is educate yourself about what you are buying.

Even if you trust the dealer you are buying from, it is imperative that you truly understand what you are receiving. The key is to ask questions. Now some dealers will be very unresponsive to questioning and that should tell you something about the dealer right away. If the dealer is not willing to answer questions for you or allow other parties to inspect the item in question, you probably are wasting your time with this seller. If a dealer is confident in the product that he or she is offering, they should have no problem allowing customers to ask questions about the item or allowing hobby experts to inspect the collectible for authenticity.

Quite often, I will have collectors ask me, "How much do you think this is worth?" The problem is that they ask this question after they have already purchased the item. This is where the problem lies. Do yourself a favor and ask this question before you spend money on any piece of sports memorabilia. If you do this, you will know if the seller is giving you a good deal or not. The market for sports memorabilia is constantly changing so it is very important that you are aware of market changes before you empty your wallet. Respected monthly price guides and websites can assist you in keeping up to date on values.

Another problem to look out for is the perception of rarity. Many dealers will tell you that an item is a limited edition product and use that fact to add a strong premium to the price of an item. The bottom line is simply this; demand will determine the value so make sure that the item, no matter how limited it is, is a good product regardless of the limited edition factor. For example, if you want to purchase an authentic autographed baseball bat of Mark McGwire and it happens to be a special limited edition bat commemorating his rookie season home run record, that makes sense because any authentic Mark McGwire autograph is a very popular collectible and in high demand. On the other hand, if a dealer offers you an unautographed, limited edition Mark McGwire bat and the only reason it is priced so high is because of the limited production, that is probably not a good value. Remember that anyone can create a product that is technically "limited" so make sure the item is of high quality before you consider a purchase. The market is flooded with so-called "limited edition" items so don't be tricked by this factor alone.

In conclusion, ask as many questions as you can before you purchase any sports collectible. Part of a dealer's job is to provide customer service and answer your questions. If a dealer seems to be eluding your questions or uncomfortable allowing 3rd party experts to analyze his piece, then it is time to move on to a dealer who is confident in the product he is selling. There are plenty of wonderful items to buy out there so don't waste your time with someone who will not back up his merchandise. Remember, it's your money.

Authentication and Reputation
If you were going to only read one section of this chapter, this would be the one to read. Authentication and reputation are probably the two most important topics that need to be understood before you begin building a collection. You need to make sure that what you are buying is real and, if you are buying a sports collectible based on a 3rd party opinion, that the opinion comes from a reputable expert.

To begin with, I cannot stress the importance of authentication enough. This is the only way to ensure that you are getting what you are paying for. It makes buying a lot easier if a baseball card is graded and certified prior to purchase but, even if a card isn't graded yet, make sure that the seller is willing to guarantee that his item will pass any 3rd party examination. There is an inherent bias when a dealer sells you something that he has graded himself. It is simply a product of human nature and not necessarily a product of intentional deception.

For example, I have a 1982 Topps Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card for sale. When I sell it, it is human nature for me to think that the card is in better condition than it actually is because I own it. Furthermore, even if a dealer is truly unbiased and honest, that does not mean he is capable of grading a card or authenticating an autograph. The fact remains that most dealers are not qualified to render expert opinion on the products they sell. Many dealers will tell you that their item comes with a certificate of authenticity and that there is no need to worry. Trust me, there is. A certificate of authenticity is only as good as the person it comes from. No matter how honest you feel that dealer is, the more important question is whether or not that dealer's opinion holds weight in the hobby. More likely than not, it doesn't.

In addition, I cannot tell you how many times this inherent dealer bias affected my collection. There were times where I would purchase a card from a dealer that he described as being "mint" and, when I wanted to resell it back to that same dealer, the dealer would tell me that the card was now two grades lower than he originally described. This happens to collectors all the time. Collectors end up and talking to themselves and saying, "He said it was mint last week, why is it near mint now?" It's all part of the inherent dealer bias. It doesn't matter how many years the dealer has been in business, how honest he seems on the surface, how fancy his retail store looks or if he appears on television, the problem exists and it needs to be addressed by you the consumer.

Enter authentication services. Probably the biggest reason for the upswing in sports memorabilia sales is 3rd party authentication. If an item has been inspected by a reputable 3rd party expert, the dealer bias is no longer an issue. Sportscard grading and memorabilia authentication services are incredibly important because they are designed to protect you. Outside experts have no financial interest in the sale of the item once the item has passed their inspection procedure; therefore, there is no bias when it comes to describing the quality of the collectible. Again, if a dealer seems to object to having outside services inspect his merchandise, that should alert you to "proceed with caution" because a dealer with quality product should not fear outside opinion.

Another great advantage to buying graded sportscards is that the cards are sealed in a special plastic holder so no one can switch the card or dispute the grade after it changes hands a few times. For example, if you were to buy an ungraded card through the mail, how do you know that you are getting the same card that you saw in the advertisement? With graded cards, you never have that problem. Each graded card comes with its own serial number and the holders cannot be opened without destroying the holder entirely. No card switching can occur with this system in place. Again, because the cards are placed in secure holders with a grade assigned, it doesn't matter how many times the card changes hands. The grade will follow the card wherever it goes so, when you decide to sell your card back to the same dealer you bought it from, he cannot tell you that the card is now two grades lower. Grading puts the power in your hands.

Grading can also give you power in other ways. With the advent of the Internet and mail order, grading has become a key. Whether you are buying or selling a card, graded cards sell for more money and they are more liquid than ungraded cards. Why you may ask? When you by a graded card, you know exactly what you are getting. If the holder rates the card as being a 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan in mint condition, that is exactly what you are getting. With this in mind, many collectors are starting to buy cards "sight-unseen." If they know a card is graded near mint by a reputable company, they can rest assure that's what they will get. Grading gives the buyer and the seller piece of mind because of this. People are more willing to buy and sell graded cards because the grading service takes the guesswork out of the transaction.

Reputation is the other important topic in this section. After you have decided to buy graded sportscards or get your own sportscards graded, what service should you deal with? Not all grading services are equal so it is very important that you use the services that are most respected in the hobby. Just like with sports memorabilia dealers, there are grading services that are not respected by the industry. A card graded "mint" by one grading service may not be equal to the same card graded "mint" by another grading service. This is where you need to ask questions once again. Ask around and find out what grading services receive the most submissions and which one quality auction houses and dealers are using. Don't take my word for it; ask the top dealers in the country.

When it comes to autograph and memorabilia authentication, reputation is even more crucial. Many so-called autograph experts will flash fancy credentials in front of your face in order to entice you to use their services. Again, there is a simple rule when it comes to using 3rd party, expert opinion. The question is, once again, do top auction houses and dealers respect that expert nationwide? It doesn't matter if they have fancy credentials or have been in business for years, all that matters is whether their opinion holds weight in the hobby. Chances are that their opinion doesn't because there are only a handful of recognized autograph and memorabilia experts in the hobby to speak of. Whether you're talking about game used bats, uniforms or autographs, only a few opinions really matter.

Collectors encounter a similar problem here as they do with certain dealers of sportscards. If you are contemplating the purchase of an autograph and the dealer does not have some type of respected 3rd part certification, then you should ask that the dealer guarantee that the item will pass your authentication service of choice. Don't let the dealer tell you what service to use. If he tries to steer you in some direction, that is usually a sign to proceed with caution. Also, even if he does have some type of letter, it doesn't matter unless that letter comes from an expert who is respected in the hobby. Remember that the certification is only as ood as the person it comes from.

Another problem you might encounter is the "It came from here" story. During my years as a collector, I have heard them all. "It came from Babe Ruth's maid," one seller exclaimed. Another seller said," I bought this Lou Gehrig autographed baseball from the brother of the mother of the cousin of the sister of the grandfather of the family dog…" Collectors have to deal with this all the time. Trust me, provenance is very important but there is a difference between legitimate provenance and attempted provenance. Here's another that collectors see or here often, "I have a picture of him signing it." First of all, what are the chances that item in the picture is the exact item that the dealer is selling? Second, even if the event in the picture actually took place, how many hundreds of items do think the dealer is selling while using that one picture to ensure authenticity? It's a shame, but some dealers use this tactic all the time and it works much, much too often.

In conclusion, I would suggest that you make sure you are buying sports memorabilia items that are authenticated by a reputable expert in the hobby. You don't want to find out, 10 years down the road, that the Mickey Mantle autographed baseball bat you purchased is not real. When something like this happens, not only does it cause you to lose money on your investment, but it also causes collectors to lose faith in the hobby and it really takes the fun out of building a collection with your family. Just remember that some day, when you decide to part with your collection, you want to be sure that buyers will want to purchase your items. If the items are authentic and properly graded, you should have no problem finding a buyer.

Pricing
Anytime you are looking to buy a piece of sports memorabilia, you want to make sure that you are not overpaying for the item.

Pricing sports memorabilia is quite tricky in itself so it is important for you to realize a good value when you see it. Here is another area where you need to ask questions. Consult those who might have more experience than you and those, more importantly, who are really in tune with the market. I have been collecting for nearly 20 years and I ask questions every day about different items. You can never know enough.

There is one principle that, while it may sound simplistic, it is very important for the buyer to understand. That principle is, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Whether you are looking to buy a baseball card, autograph or a piece of game used equipment, you must understand that you are most likely going to get what you pay for. If someone offers you a Ted Williams autographed baseball for $75, the "red flag" should go up in your head. You must ask yourself, "Why is this guy offering me a Ted Williams baseball for $75 when they retail for $300 or more?" In addition, quality items will always sell for more than mediocre or fake items. Now, that is not to say that great deals don't appear now and again but, the reality is, that they are few and far between. Is the seller giving you a great deal because he is just a really nice guy or is he doing it because he paid $25 to have the autographed forged? The seller might not even realize it's fake. He may think it is authentic, but you need to protect yourself.

In conclusion, before you purchase any item of sports memorabilia, make sure that the price is a reasonable one. Ask questions, consult those who have experience and try to refrain from bargain hunting. Bargain hunting usually leads to financial misery and disappointment after you realize that the item you purchased wasn't the real thing. If you are willing to pay for quality, there are some fabulous items that you can own.

The Goal
Collecting should be fun.

For me, collecting sports memorabilia has been an incredibly enjoyable experience. I have learned a lot about the hobby, sports history and have made wonderful friendships throughout my collecting years. Along the way, I have seen the darker side of things. I was once susceptible to unethical dealers and I have purchased my share of "bad" items. I still have an autographed Mickey Mantle plaque on my wall that my mom gave to me on my 16th birthday. It turned out to be a fake but I keep it there because it serves as a subtle reminder of how important it is to educate yourself about collecting. How was my mom to know it was fake? It had museum quality framing and she bought it from a fancy store in the local mall that had been in operation for years. This is the type of unfortunate result that you can prevent.

An incident like this may have prevented some people from ever participating in collecting again but I have learned from my mistakes. Buying conditions are getting better and better in the sports memorabilia market. With the advent of authentication and 3rd party experts, people are feeling more and more secure about building their own collection. Many collectors who were once "burned" are now coming back into collecting and it has made the sports memorabilia hobby a phenomenal success. There have never been so many choices for sports memorabilia enthusiasts and collecting today can be more enjoyable than it has ever been.

Collecting sports memorabilia can be a very interactive experience. I always love having people over at my house, whether they are collectors or not, and sharing my sports memorabilia with them. It's a lot of fun to watch their eyes light up when I hand them Mickey Mantle's bat or show them a old baseball card that is nearly 100 years old but somehow survived in pristine condition. Collecting is an activity that can be shared by the young and old, it's fun for all ages. I still get excited when a sports convention comes to town, I feel like a kid in a candy store whenever I go. This is what the collecting is all about.

In conclusion, if you are not having fun with collecting, then you are doing it for the wrong reasons. The majority of this section was devoted to protecting collectors and explaining the reality of the sports memorabilia market. On the surface, it may seem like a scary endeavor but the point was not to scare people away from the hobby, the point was to make sure that collectors have the information they need to make collecting an enjoyable activity. The sports memorabilia hobby is so vast and has so many positive things to offer. If you follow the basic concepts outlined in the aforementioned paragraphs, collecting will be a safe and rewarding experience.

The goal is to get your family involved in something they all can enjoy, the goal is to have fun.

Sports, scam'n' forgery sells

2006-11-16T21:10:00.000-08:00

Hayward author's book on bust of $100 million ring draws rave reviews

Column by Carl Steward

DO YOU have a favorite sports autograph purchased from a memorabilia dealer? Are you convinced it's real just because it was authenticated?
If you read Kevin Nelson's engrossing new book titled "Operation Bullpen: The Inside Story of the Biggest Forgery Scam in American History," you might be inclined to have it examined again.

Nelson, a 1971 Hayward High graduate who two years ago authored "The Golden Game," a brilliantly detailed history of baseball in California, has topped himself with a remarkable, multifaceted account of a gang of crooks who bilked gullible consumers out of more than $100 million by forging and peddling signatures of sports stars and celebrities through equally unscrupulous major memorabilia wholesalers.

The FBI bust of this scurrilous network made national news in October 2000, but the intricate details of how the operation originated and grew and the colorful, almost Sopranos-like characters who drove it have never been fleshed out until Nelson's fascinating and heavily anecdotal narrative, which required three years of interviews and research to complete.

Released this week, the book has received sensational earlyfrom Sports 1

notices. To wit, it's either the sports book or the crime book of the year, but either way, it's a movie crying to be made.

"Whenever I told the story, people were interested," Nelson said. "Some of them went, 'Wow, so why do you have this information? Why isn't David Halberstam on this
story?' I just said, 'Well, David Halberstam never actually inquired.' I just started asking questions, and you know how it goes ... you just let your natural curiosity lead you."
Nelson was granted access to the FBI files of the case and also interviewed many of the agents assigned to it. But what makes the book so compelling — and fresh — is that the author also talked to the crooks to get the full story, including the two key figures of the operation: Wiry, chain-smoking, tattoo-laden Wayne Bray, the mastermind who ultimately flipped on his fellow cohorts, as well as the master artist — pot-smoking, reggae-listening Greg Marino, whom FBI experts called one of the most remarkable forgers in American history.

Bray and Marino met in 1994 in Bray's San Diego area card shop, where Marino was attempting to peddle some of his father's sports lithographs. After striking up a friendship over a period of time, Marino walked into Bray's shop one day, pulled down a piece of Mickey Mantle memorabilia and replicated Mantle's beautifully rendered signature, which, as a lifelong Yankees fan, he had practiced relentlessly to perfect. Bray's reaction was pretty much instantaneous: Cha-ching!

Bray, who already had filled orders for forged merchandise with a corrupt major East Coast wholesaler named Stan Fitzgerald, was astounded by Marino's craftsmanship. One thing led to another, and at the point of Mantle's death, the always high interest in Mantle-signed merchandise exploded. So, too, did the forged merchandise enterprise.

Marino not only worked tirelessly signing fake Mantles, but he also quickly added countless other sports stars and celebrities to his repertoire — Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan and Mark McGwire as well as celebrities and well-known figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Albert Einstein, and in the most sensational find following the bust, five baseballs that were purportedly signed by Mother Teresa.

Of course, they were all expertly signed by Marino, who estimated that he produced more than 1 million forgeries, occasionally working 15 hours a day at his dining room table when demand, spurred on by the advent of the Internet and TV auction outlets, grew hot. He kept photocopies of authentic signatures in log books and could reproduce them on sight.

The forgery racketeering ring grew to include 20 individuals who were all busted on the same day in 2000, including Marino's brother, father and mother, the latter of which served as a ruthless money manager for the family. More than $10 million worth forged memorabilia was seized.

"It just astounded me how much money was involved and how much these guys could make," Nelson said. "Signed memorabilia is a $1billion annual industry, and these guys were the McDonald's of forgery. The requests that were coming in were so off-the-wall, but these guys didn't even blink an eye."

Their myriad tricks of the trade were so brazen they'll make you laugh. For signatures of deceased stars and celebs, the gang would buy up old books from thrift stores and use the blank, yellowing pages in the back to give off the appearance of age. They did the same with baseballs, reproducing old stamps and using old inks to craft a vintage autograph, then dipping the balls in shellac and putting them in bags of dog food to give than "that old smell."

There are dozens of such amazing anecdotes throughout this captivating tale, except the tale is all true. The ultimate testimonial? Even Bray called the author to tell him how well he'd nailed the details.

Check it out. Then go check on your prized autograph.

Web fighting the fraud

2006-11-16T21:01:00.000-08:00

In the days before the Internet, sports memorabilia collectors had to rely on authenticators to make sure the game-used jerseys and bats they blew the rent money on was the real McCoy.

"When I started collecting, I thought 90% of doing my homework meant getting a letter of authenticity," says Eric Stengel, a New York writer and collector. "But we learned that many of the people writing those certificates of authenticity were the same person selling the item. There were a lot of conflicts of interest and no checks and balances. It happened over and over."

Stengel - the husband of Daily News film critic Elizabeth Weitzman - founded GameUsedForum.com in January 2005 as a way for collectors to swap expertise and watch each others' backs in what has long been a dog-eat-dog world of sports collectibles. In the early days, the site drew less than two dozen regulars, but less than two years later it boasts a cast of thousands. The forum has become a formidable weapon against memorabilia fraud - for the first time in history, crooked dealers and authenticators know somebody is watching them.

"Our regulars are people who know a lot about specific areas - the 1970s Baltimore Orioles, for example - and they are willing to share that information with other collectors. It has helped clean up the hobby."

After almost two years, Stengel is selling the forum to Game Used Universe, a company that runs a collector-oriented Web site. "It became too much of a full-time job," Stengel says. "But I'm proud of the fact that we've given people an opportunity to do real research before they spend a lot of money."

Searching For A Piece Of Sports History? Our Online Advice Is...

2006-11-16T20:46:00.000-08:00

by Armen Keteyian
HOFMAG.com Exclusive
New York, New York - July, 2006

recently reported for Real Sports on rampant fraud in the booming online sports memorabilia market involving huge auction sites like eBay. To put it mildly, it was an eye-opening experience, beginning with the fact that industry estimates are at least half the signed sports memorabilia sold online today - hundreds of millions of dollars worth - is fake.

Think about that stat for a second: an estimated one out of every two signed items for sale online today is worthless - worth nothing more than the cap, ball, bat, photo or jersey it's placed on. So odds are, when you're searching for your next birthday present or graduation gift, there's a damn good chance you're buying something created by guys like Greg Marino, an aspiring artist in San Diego we profiled in our piece, or other unscrupulous sellers whose sole purpose is to separate you from your money.

To those who knew Greg Marino, he was nothing less than a signing savant - a bit of a burnout with a gift for knocking off nearly flawless forgeries for hours at a stretch. He "worked" as part of a forgery ring filling orders supplied by the likes of "Eddie," a key distributor featured in our piece.

Babe was the real thing, but every Ruth signature isn't. "He did Marilyn Monroe. He did Mother Teresa. He did the Pope," Eddie told me.

But most of all, Marino did athletes, hundreds of them, every name a work of art, but none finer than his very own Mona Lisa: a flawless "Mickey Mantle."

"He was just an amazing person to watch," Eddie said. "He was a genius. I would call him and say, 'you know, I need 20 of this, 50 of this, 100 of this.'"

"I need 20 Mantles. I need 20 DiMaggios?" I asked.

"Correct," admitted Eddie.

From the consumer perspective the good news is that in 1999 the FBI broke up the San Diego ring as part of something called "Operation Bullpen," sending Eddie and Greg and some 30 others to jail. Along the way the feds confiscated a warehouse full of fake bats, balls, shirts, photographs and small sheets of paper, known in the memorabilia business as 'cut' signatures.

The bad news: According to FBI agent Tim Fitzsimmons, who headed the bust, Eddie and the gang told him that 90 percent of their high-quality fakes had already entered the market and were about to be distributed like never before.

"What was interesting when we debriefed these people," said Fitzsimmons during an interview at the warehouse in San Diego, "is they had started experimenting with selling items on the Internet. And they all agreed - that was where the crime was going to move."

And so, seven years later, it has. Today Fitzsimmons estimates there are at least three million phony signatures being peddled online. Why online? Because, as Eddie said, the Internet is the "land of the disappearing" - a vast, largely unregulated universe where your money goes in and good luck getting it out if there's a problem.

To insure some sort of credibility, most knowledgeable online buyers look for a so-called "Certificates of Authenticity," or "COA," a piece of paper that routinely accompanies a listed piece. The COA, a staple of the industry, sounds - and often looks - impressive. In essence, its purpose is to assure a buyers they are getting the real thing. But, as we discovered during our Real Sports investigation, far too many COAs aren't worth the paper they're printed on.

The ring in San Diego, for example, basically bought off several so-called "forensic experts," who routinely, for a price, certified large amounts of fake merchandise, taking up to $150 to certify a signed DiMaggio uniform. And when that wasn't enough, the Marino gang created their own authentication company, called SCAA, to, in essence, guarantee their fakes as real.

According to the FBI, the so-called "authenticator of choice" was a Brooklyn, New York licensed forensic expert named Donald Frangipani. All told, said the feds, Frangipani issused COAs for thousands of pieces sent to him by Eddie's ring. We decided to see for ourselves, so Real Sports sent Frangipani, who was never charged with any involvement in the forgery ring, seven items we knew were absolutely bogus. In short order we had seven COAs from Frangipani certifying our fakes as real.

At that point, I put on my Mike Wallace hat and went out to Brooklyn to question Mr. Frangipani. One after another I showed him his certificates: "Ted Williams...Mickey Mantle...Brett Favre"...informing him that every single item we sent him was bogus.

Frangipani took about three steps back before saying he'd been fooled by the forgeries, to which I countered, okay, fool me once, fool me twice, but a thousand times? You were sent thousands of rare items by the Marino group, I said, and your curiosity never got the best of you? You never wondered how they got their hands on dozens of rare Ruth cut signatures? Or box after box of Mantle hats or balls?

Is it real or is it fake? Only the forgers know for sure. "Oh, I asked myself that question," said Frangipani.

"Well, yourself," I replied. "But are you asking anybody else?"

The answer, sadly, was no. Sad for you. And sad for guys like Scott Stimell, owner of a mom and pop memorabilia shop on Long Island, New York called Cardboard Memories. Among a treasure trove of material, I spoke with Scott about the explosion in online fraud and how forgers peddle their wares for a fraction of what the real thing costs.

"[People] are not really going to be able to buy a real Mickey Mantle autograph hat for two or three hundred dollars," he said. "But there are a lot of people out there that are not astute in this hobby, that don't know, that are thinking they're getting a great price and a great deal, and everybody loves a great deal."

So much so, it appears, stores like Stimell's are being crushed by the online auction explosion. In 1997, about 4,700 "mom and pop" memorabilia stores were in this country, according to industry estimates. Today that number is 1,200 and falling.

"It's had a tremendous impact, and I find that very disturbing," said Scott. "A lot of people assume because it's eBay, and that they're the biggest, they're going to do their best to bring a proper product to the consumer. The bottom line is they're not protecting anybody. They're saying buy at your own risk - good luck."

For its part, eBay disputes that notion. They point out they offer buyer insurance up to $1,000 for items purchased through PayPal. In addition, they stress they've teamed up with an authentication service which, for about $8, will offer a "quick opinion" - telling a bidder if the item is likely genuine or likely not. One big problem is when its authentication partner, PSA/DNA, finds an item "likely not genuine" eBay fails to put any kind of icon next to that item as a warning. Instead, it just takes another eight bucks, then another, then another, from one curious customer after another.

So what are you to do? Bottom line: My advice is eBay and other major sites are like the Wild Wild West. It's virtually anything goes, so take extra care and scrutinize the origin of the item and the COA that accompanies it. How many similar items does the seller have online? Is there a legible name on the COA? An address? A phone number? And don't feel shy about inquiring about the history of the piece. Is there any photographic documentation as to the signing? What's the so-called "chain of custody?"

The best possible advice I can give is, whenever possible, deal with reputable companies like - and, trust me, this is not a paid pronouncement - Upper Deck Authentic, Mounted Memories or Steiner Sports out of New York City. They have exclusive deals with top-line athletes or teams, so while you'll definitely pay more, sometimes 10 times more, at least you'll be getting the real thing.

And, oh yeah: If it sounds too good to be true...it probably is.

2006-11-03T19:20:00.000-08:00

A treasure-trove of memorabilia

Collector turns basement into four-room sports museum

By Linda Bock Telegram & Gazettame Staff

MENDON— A lot of kids collect baseball cards, and since he’s still a kid at heart, Philip G. Dunlavey is still collecting them — and, oh, autographed baseballs, pennants, mitts, hockey pucks, mugs, posters, 1946 team photos, original souvenir programs from the 1950s, ticket stubs, popcorn containers from Yankee Stadium — anytime and any way he can.

Since the 1960s, Mr. Dunlavey has collected so much sports memorabilia, in fact, he is now the proud curator of a four-room sports museum in the basement of his home.

Of course, he has balls autographed by baseball greats Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio in his sports memorabilia museum, but he also has thousands of other exhibits. Practically every square-inch of space from the carpeted floors to the ceilings is used to show off a prized collection of sports-related treasures, with the memories attached.

“Memories,” Mr. Dunlavey said. “It’s different things that reach your heart.”

Different things struck his heart early on, but anything to do with the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankee rivalry tops the favorites in his collection.

“There’s two teams I love,” Mr. Dunlavey said. “The Red Sox and the team who beats the Yankees.”

Mr. Dunlavey said he also loves what most Red Sox fans love: “I’m talking about the biggest choke of any professional sports,” Mr. Dunlavey said, fondly recalling the Red Sox-Yankees series in 2004, in which the Red Sox were down three games to none in a best-of-seven playoff series, and came from being on the verge of a humiliating sweep by their arch rivals, to beating them 4 games to 3 for the American League Championship. And, of course, they went on to break an 86-year-old drought by winning the World Series with a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mr. Dunlavey is a police officer in Mendon. He has served on the department since 1977. His father, Patrick E. Dunlavey, was the town’s first full-time police chief.

Mr. Dunlavey said a lot of family and friends have toured the museum.

Visitors are impressed by the authenticated dirt he has from the infield at Fenway, stored in a medallion; a red flannel Red Sox pennant from the 1940s and a ball signed by “Big Papi,” David Ortiz. Schmaltzy organ music by longtime Fenway organist John Kiley greets visitors to this museum via a mannequin head sporting an old-fashioned, authentic usher’s cap. Ushers at Fenway used to dress more formally. A flip of the switch on the mannequin plays Mr. Kiley’s recording of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Mr. Kiley passed away in 1993.

Mr. Dunlavey has Jackie Robinson’s 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers baseball card, a baseball signed by former Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose and memorabilia from former Chicago Cub and Hall-of-Famer Gabby Hartnett, who was born in Rhode Island.

The museum also contains a football signed by New England Patriots Tom Brady, Richard Seymour and Deion Branch, and autographed basketball, hockey, boxing, golf and soccer collectibles.

Though Mr. Dunlavey, 50, loves most aspects of sports, he is troubled by the recent revelations about steroid abuse. He thinks the statistics are tainted by players who use steroids to increase their performance, and that players of yesteryear were better players.

“I talked to Johnny Pesky,” Mr. Dunlavey said. “What could you take back then? An aspirin?”

Not only do the steroids adversely affect the health of the players, they adversely affect fans by falsely inflating the prices they must pay for tickets, Mr. Dunlavey maintained.

“Steroids take away the innocence of the game,” he said.

Though the primary reason Mr. Dunlavey collects playing cards and sports memorabilia is for the joy of it, there may be another motive to keep on collecting.

Mr. Dunlavey said his collectibles may someday finance college educations for his children. He and his wife, Helen R. Dunlavey, have adopted a girl from China and are awaiting word they can return to that country to adopt another child.

Mr. Dunlavey is not alone in this grownup sport of collecting sports memorabilia.

Wayne Tuiskula of the Cherry Valley section of Leicester is an auctioneer, a dealer in antiques and an avid baseball fan. As part of his business, Central Mass. Auctions Inc., he occasionally comes across baseball memorabilia for his personal collection. He owns two game programs from Worcester’s great minor league teams of the early 20th century.

Mr. Tuiskula also has collected the program from the Worcester Tornadoes inaugural game last year.“Collecting playing cards is still a nice hobby for kids,” Mr. Tuiskula said. For adults who collect the older and rarer items, he said, those items are keeping up their values.

“People collect so many different things,” Mr. Dunlavey said. “I think it’s neat.”

2006-11-03T19:12:00.000-08:00

Whoosh! Dr. J's ABA Nets jersey fetches
$141,927 in Grey Flannel sale at HOF

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Julius Erving, Dr. J, never disappointed on the basketball court during his Hall of Fame career. The Grey Flannel Auction sale of Dr. J's New York Nets ABA jersey from circa 1973-74 electrified a crowd Sept. 9, during the shrine's induction weekend. The game-used home jersey sold for $141,927, the most ever paid for a basketball jersey.

The results from the auction were as breathtaking as Dr. J swooping down the lane with a thunderous dunk. No one could touch him on the court. And no one could touch him in this auction.

Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers game-used, blue-mesh jersey (circa 1985-86) sold for $88,125. It was signed.

And Tom Seaver's New York Mets game-used, signed home flannel jersey and pants from 1971 sold for $51,700.

Lew Alcindor's game-used road UCLA jersey from the late 1960s sold for $49,350.

A total of 386 top quality lots, sports and Americana, sold for a total of $1,374,688. Richard Russek, president and CEO of Grey Flannel Auctions, whose company has sported such an event in Yankee Stadium, was equally amazed by the historic backdrop for this legendary memorabilia auction.

"The auction was spectacular, but taken in its entirety, with the Hall of Fame weekend, the days filled with great nostalgia, history and excitement, I felt chills up my spine," Russek said. "What a day. What a weekend." Grey Flannel also sponsored a dinner with Hall of Fame patrons, friends and guests; and, of course, the inductees.

"Any fan or collector who's ever attended a Hall of Fame induction in any sport knows how special the time is," Russek added. "Collectors try to capture that feeling in their homes and offices when they assemble historic items, and they had terrific opportunities either to begin a collection or add historic pieces to their holdings with this sale."

The overall auction was buoyed by numerous results, among them:
* Julius Erving’s Philadelphia 76ers game-used jersey, signed, from 1985-86, including shorts, sold for $14,715.
* A Chicago Bulls Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy from 1992-'93 sold for $15,275;
* A 1976 Raiders Super Bowl XI Championship Ring sold for $16,764;
* Rick Barry's game-used Golden State Warriors home jersey from the late 1960s sold for $19,975;
* "Pistol" Pete Maravich LSU Tigers game-worn warmup jacket sold for $23,500;
* John Havlicek's circa 1970s game-used Boston Celtics road jersey, signed, sold for $25,850;
* George Gervin's 1970s San Antonio Spurs game-used road jersey, signed, sold for $29,283;
* Larry Bird's game-used and signed Indiana State jersey, circa 1977, sold for $9,988; Bird's game-used road jersey and shorts from 1989-'90 sold for $7,050;
Michael Jordan made the all-star auction lineup. His 1989-90 game-used Chicago Bulls home jersey sold for $8,602.

While the day and weekend clearly were devoted to basketball, the
Grey Flannel Auction sale saluted the heroes of other major sports.

FOOTBALL
Dan Marino's complete Dolphins jersey from Oct. 15, 1993, when the Miami great tore his Achilles heel, sold for $7,638. It was among numerous items from the collection of Don Catello.
Lawrence Taylor’s first home game-worn New York Giants jersey, a blue-mesh jersey worn during his first season game fetched $19,975. A game-used Franco Harris black durene Pittsburgh Steelers jersey, worn in 1982, sold for $9,462. A Chicago Bears sideline jacket worn between 1969 and 1973 by Dick Butkus sold for $3,554. Joe Theismann’s game-used, white-mesh Redskins jersey sold for $4,809

BASEBALL
The auction featured a stellar section of baseball memorabilia. Pee Wee Reese’s 1954 game-used Brooklyn dodgers road jersey and pants sold for $14,100. Roger Maris’s game-used glove from his 1961 season with the Yankees sold for $23,265. A team-signed baseball by the inaugural All-Star team in 1933, including signatures of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, sold for $15,275.
Among other items that sold were:
* Derek Jeter’s 1997 game-used Yankees pinstripe jersey, signed, sold for $10,575;
* A signed Whitey Ford game-used bat from the 1958-’59 Yankees sold for $10,668;
* 1969 Joe DiMaggio Oakland Athletics Autographed Coaches Worn Jersey & 1965-68 Coach Used Bat $5,875;
* A game-used Ernie Banks bat from 1961-1963 sold for $7,638;
* A letter written and signed by Lou Gehrig sold for $6,257;
* A team-signed bat by the 1978 World Champion Yankees sold for $6,564;
* A Roger Maris single-signed baseball sold for $5,429.
* A team-signed ball from the 1928 Yankees during spring training sold for $5,346;
* A game-used Ryan Howard road Phillies jersey sold for $5,875

OTHER SPORTS
Mark Messier’s Edmonton Oilers game-used jersey sold for $7,820. In soccer, Pele’s game-used SFC Santos soccer jersey from 1969 sold for $6,463. Babe Didrikson’s irons used at the British Ladies Amateur Championship in 1947 sold for $3,231.

AMERICANA
A rare presidential payroll check from 1933 signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sold for $8,343. The check was dated September 30, 1933.

2006-10-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

Everyone that collects sports memorabilia would like to believe that they are sitting on a goldmine, but the truth of the matter is, a collection of any kind is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. This makes determining the worth of sports memorabilia a difficult task. With an understanding of what makes sports memorabilia valuable, you can begin to know and appreciate the value of your prized sports collectibles.

There are a few things to consider when you are trying to determine the worth of sports memorabilia, but the most important factor tends to be whether or not the item is autographed. A Joe Namath signed jersey is valuable piece of sports memorabilia, but a Joe Namath jersey that is signed by the entire World Champion 1969 Ny Jets would be worth a great deal more.

Autographs on sports memorabilia increase it's value, however for example not all Derek Jeter autographs have the same value. There are a few factors that will determine it's worth. Is the signature clear and bold or is it faded? What condition is the item that has been signed? What type of item is it? Was it signed at an autograph signing or did he sign it in passing? Is there an inscription? Is the authenticity of the autographed item documented? Who authenticated it? Is it game used, game model, or just a replica? etc. etc.

You see, it's not as easy to determine the value of sports memorabilia as one would like to think. To get an accurate sports memorabilia appraisal there is alot of research that has to be done in order to come up with an accurate portrayal of it's worth.

The rarity of the signed sports collectible is another determining factor. If you have a Mark McGwire autographed baseball it would not be as valuable as a Mark McGwire autographed Busch Stadium seatback.

What type of career has the athlete had? Has he been besieged by scandal or has he been a good role model? Has he been elected into the Hall of fame? Is the athlete alive or dead. With each passing year of an athlete's death sports memorabilia with his signature on it gets rarer therefore becomes more valuable.

We at Authentic Signed Sports have been involved with Sports Memorabilia since childhood. We have a vast amount of experience and knowledge when it comes to determing the value of sports memorabilia. We don't just see this as a business. We have a passion that most people wouldn't understand. Having greatness pass through our hands even if only for a fleeting moment is the real payoff.

If you would like to have your sports memorabilia appraised please contact us at 919-553-1669, or if you prefer via email through our contact us page.

Please be advised that there is a $9.95 fee per item to do an online appraissal.

We will need as much information as possible that you have on the sports collectible you want appraised. Please have all information at hand prior to contacting us. Any additional information that may be needed can be supplied later.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We are always happy to help a fellow sports memorabilia enthusiast.

2006-10-30T07:06:00.000-08:00

Catherine Price, 83, of Vicksburg, holds two unused 1956 World Series tickets to the game in which Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history. She and her husband used two box seat tickets to attend the game, saving the unused pair.

VICKSBURG — Truth be known, Catherine Price never was much of a baseball fan, not even 50 years ago when on Oct. 8, 1956, she witnessed one of the most famous games in the sport's history.

Don Larsen?

"I didn't know who he was," she says, laughing.

A perfect game?

"I didn't know what that was, either," she says, and she pauses, effectively, before adding, "but I sure learned that day."

On Oct. 8, 1956, New York Yankee Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0.

A half century later, Price not only still has the ticket stubs she and her late husband used that day to enter Yankee Stadium, she has two tickets, in mint condition, they didn't use.

Her husband, Powell Price Jr. - better known as Polly - loved to show those tickets and tell the story of how they came into his possession.

"And, boy, could he tell a story," Catherine Price says.

Since Polly Price died 14 years ago, we'll do the best we can to tell his story one more time.

Polly and Catherine Price worked at Rose Oil Co. in Vicksburg in 1956. Part of Polly's job was to sell tires, and he sold so many he won an award from U.S. Rubber Co.

First prize? A trip to New York to watch the World Series from box seats behind home plate.

Polly, a huge baseball fan and a Yankee fan at that, was thrilled. Catherine was more interested in seeing New York, staying at the Waldorf Astoria and seeing a couple of Broadway shows.

Game day came and the tickets were supposed to be delivered that morning to the Waldorf. Polly began to get antsy when by mid-morning the tickets had yet to arrive.

He went to check the front desk again. No luck. But darned if he was going to miss this World Series game, no matter what.

So he took matters into his own hands and pocketbook.

The game was a sell out, so he asked around in the lobby and was told where he might find a ticket scalper.

Cathy Box, the Prices' daughter who lives in Madison, says that what followed was her daddy's favorite part of the story.

"He took a cab down to the lower east side, where he was told to go," she says. "The address was a butcher shop where he was told to go to the alley out back."

There, he found a man in a trench coat and a fedora - "with one eyebrow," Cathy Box says, laughing - who sold him the tickets.

Polly Price never told anyone, least of all his wife, how much he paid for those tickets.

Meanwhile, of course, the original tickets had arrived at the hotel.

So the couple quickly caught a cab to Yankee Stadium, where they arrived just in time to watch Mickey Mantle take batting practice.

"Polly had intended to sell the tickets, but he was in such a rush to see Mickey Mantle, he forgot," Catherine Price says.

Yes, and after a few innings, Catherine Price learned what a perfect game was. How could she not? Everyone was talking about it.

"Polly was just beside himself," she says. "He was so excited I knew it had to really be something special."

Mickey Mantle swatted a fourth inning home run for the only run Larsen would need. In the next day's Washington Post, Shirley Povich, the famed baseball writer, wrote, "The million-to-one shot came in. Hell froze over. A month of Sundays hit the calendar. Don Larsen today pitched a no-hit, no-run, no-man-reach-first game in a World Series."

Yes, and that night, the Prices celebrated with cocktails and dinner at The Stork Club. Before they would leave New York, they would see both Damn Yankees and South Pacific on Broadway.

"To tell you the truth, I remember more about the plays than I do about the games," Catherine Price says.

But she does remember her husband putting the tickets away carefully and saying that "someday, these are going to be collector's items."

That some day is now.

Tickets that cost $7.35 originally probably would bring nearly a thousand times that much on the sports memorabilia market.

Even the stubs might bring as much as $1,000.

Stephen Carlisle, consignment director of Heritage Sports Collectibles, says the unused tickets could bring "upward of $6,000 each."

Not that Catherine Price is in any hurry to sell.

Those tickets have quite a history. After all, they survived a house fire at Christmas in 1974.

"We lost so many photos and other keepsakes, mostly from smoke damage," Catherine Price said. "But those tickets were in a shoe box in an older cedar chest and they didn't have any damage at all."

Baseball's Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y., would love to have them, Catherine Price says, and she might eventually donate them there.

But for now, the tickets stay in a safety deposit box where they remain, looking as new as they did the day they finally arrived 50 years ago this month at the Waldorf Astoria.

2006-10-30T07:02:00.000-08:00

DALLAS -- Three sports collectibles have sold for more than $1 million: Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball, a Honus Wagner baseball card and the bat Babe Ruth used to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium.

Officials with the Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas say two old-time baseball jerseys could also crack the million-dollar mark when they go up for bid Saturday: New York Yankees jerseys worn by Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

The featured item is the jersey Ruth wore when he hit the first home run in baseball's first All-Star Game, in 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Making the jersey more rare, and therefore more valuable, is that it has the Yankees pinstripes and Ruth's famous No. 3 on the back. The Yankees wore numbers beginning in 1929, and Ruth left the Yankees after the 1934 season.

That makes this the first pinstriped No. 3 jersey to go up for auction, said Chris Ivy, Heritage's director of sports auctions. It should go for at least $600,000, Ivy said.

"Ruth is Ruth: He is the king of the sports collectibles market," Ivy said.

The Gehrig jersey is the one he wore in the 1927 season, the year he won the MVP.

The 1927 Yankees lineup is known as Murderer's Row and was one of the most potent in baseball history. Gehrig batted cleanup for most of the season.

"I'd be surprised if these jerseys don't get near the seven-figure mark," Ivy said.

A collector named Joe Esposito picked up the Ruth jersey at a garage sale in the 1980s for less than $1,000. That and the Gehrig jersey are being sold by an East Coast collector who Heritage would not name.

Other items up for auction include a game-worn Gayle Sayers jersey and the WBC championship belt Joe Frazier won by beating Jimmy Ellis in 1970.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

2006-10-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

Many sports memorabilia enthusiasts collect as hobby or just for the love of the sport or athlete that they collect. Some sports memorabilia collectors while they may exhibit the same passion as the aforementioned collectors, take it a step further. Not just collecting for the sake of collecting, but choose carefully the sports memorabilia they acquire as a sound investment that will increase in value year after year.

What's the difference? Let me explain.

While a Mariano Rivera autographed photograph is a great piece of sports memorabilia and will never depreciate in value, is quite plentiful and available freely on the open market. A Mariano Rivera Signed Danbury Mint Figurine is a much rarer, thus more valuable piece of sports memorabilia that will increase greatly in value over time.

By acquiring unique, rare, or vintage sports memorabilia not only do you make a sound investment for the future, but you acquire pieces that are sure to be the topic of conversation and the envy of your friends. You will find that it is much more fun to collect the type of sports memorabilia that others do not have, while at the same time investing in your future.

Make a statement while making an investment.

The sports memorabilia you collect makes a statement about you as a collector. Every sports collectible you have acquired over time tells a story and signifies an important moment in sports history. That being said, the more significant the item being signed the greater the return. For example: A Robinson Cano SIGNED Game Used Batting Glove w/ 2005 Inscription. Is a great sports collectible and a great investment for several reasons. First off it is an autographed game used item which in itself makes it very valuable. Then you factor in that he added the "2005" inscription which was his rookie year then the value jumps once again. Let's say he wins a batting title or several, well your investment just grew once again. With the talent that Robinson Cano has exhibited so far in his 1st two seasons with the Yankees it is reasonable to say that he has a great career ahead of him. If he makes the Hall of Fame, well then your investment will have yielded more than a mutual fund.

So you see, collecting sports memorabilia is not only a fun hobby to have but a wise investment decision as well.

2006-05-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

Steiner Sports Authentication Process

WITNESS
• Each and every hand-signed collectible that carries a tamper-proof hologram is witnessed by a Steiner Sports representative. Once the collectibles have been autographed, they are cataloged and inventoried.
AFFIDAVIT
• A notarized affidavit is prepared and signed by the athlete and a Steiner Sports representative. The notarized affidavit records the date and location of the signing and also details the items that were signed by the specified athlete. This document is then secured within the Steiner Sports main offices.

HOLOGRAM

• Each hand-signed collectible is examined for quality and signature condition. If the collectible meets the Steiner Sports standard of excellence a tamper-proof Steiner Sports hologram is affixed to the product.

CERTIFICATE
• Once the hand-signed collectible has passed the steps listed above, a Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity is created for the collectible. The collectible is then sealed and stored within our main office and is not handled until it is delivered to a sports collectible enthusiast.

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James Spence (J.S.A.) Authentication Process

Each item is methodically examined and reviewed by each of our authenticators individually to ensure their expert instinctive impressions are in agreement. This intuitive sense has been developed after many years of examining thousands of autographs. The expert is extremely familiar with many different variations and evolution of an individual's signature and can quickly identify irregularities evident in a clubhouse, secretarial, or forged signature.

Possible Results

Pass - Standard Letter of Authenticity (LOA) - Highly sought after by collectors, dealers and hobbyists alike, our standard LOA contains a digital color image of the item and live signature of autograph expert James Spence, which is witnessed by a licensed Pennsylvania notary public. Additional data may include quantity of signatures, manufacturer, make &/or model of the item. It accompanies any item that passes our authentication process and qualifies for the standard letter. A certification label is placed on the item or letter (customer preference) with the corresponding number appearing on the LOA. It is accepted by any major auction house in the country and is viewed as THE letter to have when either displaying your prized possession or offering it online. To maximize the value and interest of your signed collectible, one should have a James Spence Authentication.

Fail - The autograph has not met the requirements as defined by our experts and it is their expressed consensus opinion that the autograph is at best of questionable authenticity. There are specific inconsistencies or irregularities evident in the signature that obliges our experts to reach this conclusion. A rejection letter is returned with a detailed explanation of their findings
THE BASIC CERT PROGRAM

Popular among dealers and collectors alike, the Basic Cert employs the same valued authentication process to verify lesser valued autographed items. Included with the Basic Cert program is a 3" x 5" James Spence Authentication registration card printed with a unique certification number corresponding to the alpha-numeric tamper evident label. Of course, similar to the Premium Letter of Authenticity each certification number is uploaded into our exclusive database for 24-hour customer verification access. All Basic Cert cards are fully transferable without resubmission.

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Upper Deck's 5 Step Authentication Process

Step 1 - Every autograph is witnessed by an Upper Deck Authenticated representative. After all, observation is the ONLY WAY to truly guarantee authenticity;

Step 2 - A record of the autograph session is signed by both the athlete and the UDA official and is stored in a secure permanent file;

Step 3 - An Upper Deck Authenticated serial numbered hologram is affixed to each signed piece of memorabilia;

Step 4 - A certificate of authenticity is assigned to every piece of memorabilia and includes a matching hologram to the one affixed to the item;

Step 5 - Every piece of signed memorabilia is packaged with a registration card. The owner has the opportunity to register the item with Upper Deck Authenticated. If for some reason the item is sold and/or transferred to a new owner, a full detailed record of the item's history is readily available.

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PSA/DNA Authentication Process

To combat counterfeiting and provide peace of mind to collectors, PSA/DNA employs a four-level Authentication System. The process includes:

STEP 1: EXAMINATION:

Ink/Medium Analysis
Autograph Structure Analysis
Object Evaluation
Side-By-Side Comparisons *
Video Spectral Comparator (VSC4) * - A powerful workstation designed to examine questionable documents and autographs using sophisticated color and infrared imaging, magnification, coaxial lighting, and side lighting on-screen.

The VSC detects:

Erasures
Reveals masked and obliterated signatures
Differences in ink types
Other extraordinary tampering

*When Necessary

STEP: 2 ANTI-COUNTERFEITING:

Covert Tagging - Once an autograph is deemed genuine, the item is marked with invisible ink which contains a synthetic DNA sequence/combination specific to PSA/DNA.

The DNA-laced taggant cannot only be detected in a scientific lab but also with a proprietary infrared laser. In fact, by using the laser, the invisible DNA-ink will glow "RED." More importantly, the chances of replicating this exact sequence is 1 in 33 trillion!

Overt Tagging - A label bearing an alphanumeric serial number is applied on the item in a discrete location or on the Certficate or Letter of Authenticity. The choice is yours. Interestingly enough, this label was specifically designed to checkerboard when tampered with and can be completely removed! In addition, the label is non-destructive and does not harm your valuable item.

STEP 3: CERTIFICATION - Certificate of Authenticity - For items submitted at an authentication fee lower than $50, a small 3x5 certificate on your authenticated piece is issued with your item. The COA features a six digit alphanumeric number that matches the tamper evident label.

For an addition fee of $10, a Letter of Authenticity will be composed and issued with your item
Letter of Authenticity - For items submitted at an authentication of $50 or higher, a detailed letter on your authenticated piece is composed and issued with your item. The letter features:

PSA and PSA/DNA watermarks custom embedded into the paper stock to prevent counterfeiting; simply hold the LOA against a lamp and look for the official PSA and PSA/DNA logos.
A high resolution photo of your exact submission.
Hand signature from one of PSA/DNA's representatives.
Six digit alphanumeric serial number that matches the tamper evident label.
Autographs that are signed, in our opinion, by clubhouse personnel will receive a "Clubhouse" designation. A special letter is returned with an explanation segregating the difference between these examples and actual autographs.

STEP 4: DOCUMENTATION - All authenticated memorabilia is available online for verification. Simply visit Cert Verification and enter the alphanumeric serial number. The verification page will display:

1. The autographs
2. The item
3. Brand
4. Location of authentication
5. Authentication date
6. Notes
7. Photo (if available)

Autographs - Items submitted at the fee of $50 or higher that do not meet our requirements and, in our opinion, are of questionable authenticity will receive a "NO PASS" designation. Thereafter, a Letter of Opinion (LOO) is returned with a detailed explanation of our experts' findings. The letter features:

A high resolution photo of your exact submission
A summary on the characteristics of your autograph on why it is not deemed genuine

Items submitted under $50 will receive a non-detailed Letter of Opinion (LOO).

Occasionally, our experts cannot express an opinion on an autograph. These will be designated as "Inconclusive" and a credit voucher will be issued in the full amount of the authentication fee. This voucher can be used towards future submissions.

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Online Authentics Physical Review Service

• OnlineAuthentics.com offers a Physical Review program that allows our users to submit items for physical examination by our Review Staff, a group of some of the most knowledgeable and experienced dealers and collectors in the industry.

• Many collectors have large collections of signed sports memorabilia and we invite our users to send us items for our Review Staff to evaluate. Once our Review Staff determines an item meets our review parameters we will then issue a numbered letter outlining what the item is as well as our review of the item.

• We will also offer our users the option of having their item tagged with an OnlineAuthentics.com numbered ID label. This label will be tamper proof and the ID number will be retrievable from our Online Registry.

• Our Online Authentics Database will be available online and will not only provide a text description of the item but it will also contain a picture of the exact signature on the users item. OnlineAuthentics.com believes that a picture speaks a thousand words and our Online Authentics process leaves nothing to be said. This service provides consumers with the ultimate level of confidence available in the marketplace.

2006-05-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

We’ve partnered with Steiner Sports, the largest and most-respected Sports-Memorabilia company in the United States, to ensure every item we ship is guaranteed authentic. Steiner Sports opened its hand-signed memorabilia division in 1992, and since that time it has become the top distributor of authentic Sports Collectibles. By stressing quality and authenticity, Steiner Sports is the world leader in authentic hand-signed memorabilia.

The FBI estimates that 70% of all sports memorabilia is fraudulent. So here at Authentic Signed Sports we take the worry out of every purchase. We want our customers to feel secure about the Signed Sports Memorabilia they purchase from us. Authentic Signed Sports backs up every signed piece of Sports Memorabilia with an iron clad 100% Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.

If you ever get a Signed Sports Memorabilia item authenticated by a 3rd party authenticator and it is the expert opinion of the Authenticator that the signature in question has been examined and not deemed genuine. We will refund the entire purchase price, along with the shipping charges and the costs of the 3rd party authenticator upon return of the item in question.

Keep in mind that this applies only when the 3rd party authenticator is a well known reputable firm, such as James Spence Authentication or PSA/DNA. How many other Dealers offer the same guarantee?

You can rest assured that the Autographed Sports Memorabilia we sell is 100% Authentic. We only purchase our inventory directly from Steiner Sports or Upper Deck. Please refer to our Authenticity page for more information on the Authentication Process.

2006-05-10T16:07:00.000-07:00

Buying and Collecting Sports Memorabilia can become quite an expensive hobby. That is why you need to choose carefully the items you purchase and who you purchase them from.

Not everyone can afford to attain a huge collection of autographed items from their favorite players. Most of us start out as kids collecting baseball cards and comic books. As we grow older our tastes seem to get a bit more expensive.

Today the Sports Memorabilia craze has turned into a billion dollar industry. With the increase of popularity in collecting autographed Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles comes greed. Unscrupulous people who want to take advantage of a collector's dreams. Fraudulent autographs have flooded the market over the past several years. The popularity of buying online has helped cloak these criminals in a veil of secrecy. Anyone can set up shop on places like eBay and hawk their wares while remaining anonymous from the buyers who spend their hard earned money to own a piece of Sports History and greatness.

While it is impossible to definitely estimate the percentage of forged memorabilia, most industry experts concede that over half of the autographed memorabilia is forged. In fact, some cooperating subjects and memorabilia experts believe that up to ninety percent of the memorabilia on the market is forged. Industry experts estimate that the autographed memorabilia market in the United States is approximately $1 billion per year. Using these estimates, forged memorabilia comprises between $500,000,000 and $900,000,000 of the market.

So how do you protect yourself from these crooks?

This is an excerpt from the FBI's San Diego office after Operation Bullpen.

Public Awareness

Perhaps the most important objective of this investigation is to increase public awareness regarding the substantial memorabilia fraud problem which may account for upwards of $500,000,000 in losses annually. While there are legitimate and reputable companies selling authentic memorabilia, the industry has been plagued with high-quality forgeries making it difficult for legitimate companies to compete. It also defrauds thousands of unsuspecting consumers each year.

While the only way to absolutely guarantee that the autographed memorabilia is authentic is to personally witness the autograph, there are several ways to avoid becoming a memorabilia fraud victim. These recommendations include:

If the price is too good to be true, it is probably a fake. If a company offers an autographed item well below competitors prices and market value, then consumers should be wary. An example would include Michael Jordan basketballs, which some companies sell for as low as $150.00. Given Jordan's current exclusive contract with Upper Deck and difficulties associated with obtaining his autograph, the Tuff Stuff Magazine market value of an autographed Jordan Basketball is $500, while Upper Deck Michael Jordan autographed basketballs retail for up to $1,500. (Caution - a high price does not by any means suggest authenticity either.)

Certificates of authenticity are not guarantees of authenticity. Individuals and companies involved with selling forged memorabilia often include a Certificate of Authenticity, allegedly from a third party expert. Often, the authenticator is either a knowing or unknowing, but incompetent, participant in the fraud. Carefully read the Certificate of Authenticity, looking for the authentication "language", an address, telephone number and name of the authenticators. Do not accept copies of Certificates of Authenticity.

A photograph of an athlete or celebrity signing an autograph is no guarantee the item is authentic. This investigation revealed that it is a common practice of forged memorabilia traffickers to include a photograph of the athlete/celebrity signing the item along with a Certificate of Authenticity. Traffickers also include photographs of themselves with the athlete/celebrity to lend credibility to their forged memorabilia.

An individual or company having a paid signing session with an athlete or celebrity is no guarantee of authenticity. Operation Bullpen has revealed that is a common practice for forged memorabilia traffickers to "mix-in" forged memorabilia with items signed during an autograph session. For example, a company may pay to have an athlete sign 500 items. After the signing, the company will "mix-in" forgeries with the authentic autographs. The company also may continue to sell forged items after the authentic items have been sold claiming that they were from the autograph session.

The method of selling the memorabilia should not affect skepticism about the items authenticity. The investigation revealed that forged memorabilia traffickers sell their forgeries through a variety of methods which may lend credibility to the forgeries. One such sales method is through charity auctions in which the trafficker splits the profits with the charity. At charity auctions, buyers often overpay for items and do not question the authenticity of the memorabilia. Traffickers also sell forged items through trade publications, television shopping networks, trade shows, retail businesses, and the Internet.
Before purchasing autographed memorabilia, especially "vintage" or deceased athlete/celebrity memorabilia, ask questions about the history and circumstances relating to the autograph. Be wary of far-fetched or elaborate stories which are difficult, if not impossible to verify. Common false stories suggest connections to an athlete, or "runners" employed to get autographs. Whenever possible, attempt to verify the history and circumstances of the autographed items before making the purchase.

If an individual is seeking an autograph of a current player, send a request for an autograph directly to the athlete's team. Include a letter requesting that the enclosed item be autographed along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or container. Only send photographs, cards or baseballs. Large items such as bats and jerseys should not be sent directly to the athlete. In the letter requesting an autograph, request information relating to where you can purchase authentic autographed items if the athlete does not sign autographs through mailed requests. The athlete or the team may direct the buyer to a company which has an autograph contract with the athlete.

To counter the forged memorabilia problem, many athletes and celebrities are either creating their own autograph company or are signing exclusive contracts with specific sports memorabilia companies. Dealing directly with the athlete's company or with an exclusive contract company will greatly reduce the likelihood of purchasing forged memorabilia.

Read about our 100% Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity