PSA'S OWN VERSION OF "BELIEVE IT OR NOT"

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Posted By: Robert Plancich

Several N54 members have insinuated that I have been "headhunting" when it comes to the topic of Dave Bushing and his authentication practices. Hopefully the following post will at least demonstrate that this is not the case.

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) offers the collecting public a service called PSA/DNA Vintage Certified Service which authenticates autographs. This service basically rests on the shoulders of two individuals - James Spence and Steve Grad.

When it comes to Spence I honestly don't know where to begin and since I don't want to be accused again of "incessantly rambling" I will make it brief. Spence is billed as the "world's foremost expert" particularly when it comes to the deceased HOF's and especially when it comes to Babe Ruth. Not so long ago, I received an anonymous mailing and it turned out to be a deposition of his that was taken pursuant to a lawsuit back in 2000. I won't bore you with all the details (although they are quite interesting) but there is one part wherein the question is asked of Spence regarding Babe Ruth. Spence first of all states that he has seen more Ruth autographs than anyone else and that he is the "foremost expert" when it comes to the Babe's autograph. Spence is asked which hand did Ruth use when he signs autographs and at first Spence answers that Babe was a left-handed hitter. The attorney asks him the question again and Spence answers that Ruth was left-handed and signs his name using his left hand. Just to set the record straight, Ruth was a left-handed hitter but signed his name with his right hand Jimmy! PSA literature also states that Mr. Spence has successfully completed a training course in Forensic Document Examination. It sounds fairly impressive, doesn't it? However, further investigation reveals that this was a mail-order correspondence course, an introductory course and basically you send in the money and they send you the book with the answers listed on the back pages. The PSA literature also states that the "U.S. Department of the Treasury (Internal Revenue Service) has also hired Spence as their sports authentication guru." I haved asked Mr. Spence, PSA's Corporate Legal Counsel (at the time) Armen Vartian and PSA president, Joe Orlando, exactly which IRS office hired Spence and in what capacity and all three of them have just flat out refused to offer any proof that this ever happened.

The PSA literature states that in "March 2002, PSA/DNA hired senior authenticator Steve Grad, who is part of a 'one-two' punch for their authentication services. For the past two years , Steve has worked as an authenticator for MastroNet, Inc.in Chicago, reviewing autograph items for 10 MastroNet auctions. A 22-year hobby veteran, Steve is highly regarded for his opinion on modern-era autographs as well as his knowledge of entertainment, political and historical signatures. Bringing a unique touch to the authentication process. Steve has been an active in-person autograph collector since 1980, obtaining over 100,000 signatures of sports stars, celebrities, musicians and politicians - all in person!" According to my research, In May 2000 Mr. Grad and his wife sold their autograph business to Oak Brook, Illinois based MastroNet where he went to work as a researcher and cataloguer. Also, in order for the esteemed Mr. Grad to accumulate these 100,000 all in-person autographs over a 22-year period he would have to collect 12.45 in-person autographs per day, 365 days a year for 22 years!

Finally, the PSA literature states and claims that these individuals have enormous exemplar libraries and use such high technology equipment such as the video spectral comparator, where in reality that amounts to a 10X power jeweler's loop. But the real take on PSA's Vintage Autograph Authentication process can best be summarized by their own literature and can be found on page two of their Sports Autograph Submission Booklet under the heading of "The Truth About Authenticating Autographs" which states the following:

"PSA/DNA Vintage Certified Service provides the opinion of the two most experienced and highly regarded autograph experts, using the most sophisticate examination technology and techniques available, and a way to permanently identify those items, which they consider to be genuine. However, the authentication of previously signed autographs is not an exact science and the possibility for error(s) does exist. PSA/DNA does not claim accuracy of its results 100% of the time. There is no express guarantee in connection with the PSA/DNA Vintage Certified Service and PSA/DNA disclaims any liabilities for errors. What we do guarantee is the acceptance of your autographed item by any major sports auction house-or your fee returned!"

I think that just about says it all. Thanks for nothing PSA!