Global Authentics Timeline

[prewarsports]

I can attest to Mike being with Global. I used to go to the Chicago Sun Times Shows when I was in Law School in Indiana (graduated and Moved away in May 2005 so we are talking before that date) and I used to submit a few autographs of bigger names to Global when I would go there and Mike was their lead authenticator back in those days (2004-2005). They actually were THE BEST of the bunch when they first started and the one time I had some questions he came out and spent several minutes with me explaining some things and answering some questions I had and was very nice. My last submission to them was in either late 2006 or early 2007 and at that time their reputation was still strong in the hobby and it was after that point you started to see things that made your eyebrows go up a bit.

Rhys

[drc]

Rhys is correct. I looked it up and Gutierrez left in 2005, and, as I recall, GAI may have done a credible enough couple of years after that. It was in recent years that they had the well advertised autograph problems and their reputation fell precipitously.

There's no question GAI's history was a strange and sometimes mysterious journey.

[Duluth Eskimo]

I am almost positive that Mike Baker was there for a while as I remember his name on coa's. As Rhys said earlier they used to all be at the Sun Times show, but even when Mike G. and Baker were there they authenticated many bad items that seemed obvious to me including Mantle's etc. as did the other companies. Many of you on this board are much better than I, but it is my opinion that their autograph work was poor for most of their time. The upside is that you can still find authentic items with GAI certs for a fraction of the price as most people run like the plague from a GAI item. As many have said, you judge the piece not the COA. I will say that my opinion is that Mike G. is a buffoon. FWIW.

[HRBAKER]

Mike Baker did grade cards for GAI.

[shelly]

Mike Baker is on a ton of certs for GAI. I would add I would not buy any of them. Rocchi has a new company that authenticates for my favorite players garbage. As far as Mike goes I stand corrected. He has worked for more companies than anyone in this business it hard to keep with him.