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Posted By: Richard Simon

In regard to the portion of the Barron's story about the Ernie Banks bat:

Let me let collector Jim Caravello tell his story as he wrote it to me:
"I recently won the Ernie Banks Game Used bat in the American Memorabilia Auction from the 50's. The bat I purchased is unsigned - the way I like my gamers. Its an incredible piece of wood and I couldn't have been happier in winning the auction. It had a COA from Taube and Malta, game used examiners. Then I received a letter from American Memorabilia with another COA on the bat - this one from PSA / DNA authenticating the autograph on my Ernie Banks bat!! What autograph! I pulled the bat down from my rack again - there is no auto - I checked the Auction Catalog again and it didn't mention that it was autographed. The bat has no auto, yet I have a full COA from PSA / DNA on the autograph on the bat!!! What a Joke!! I guess if I sign the bat, the auto is real?!?"

The bat came from an American Memorabilia auction
The COA for the "autograph" on this bat is on my autograph news web page.
www.richardsimonsports.com/hofauto2.htm
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The Mark McGwire rubber stamp "authenticated autograph" card is also illustrated.
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