Maris, Mantle, Tresh, Yankees Ball

[thetruthisoutthere]

I went back to check on the links to these four auctions and evidently they have been "Voided" by Ebay.

[GrayGhost]

Interesting Chris... Anyways, any idea when your next vid will be up?

[Piedmont Sport]

While I think its great that we regulate ourselves and protect the hobby we all love. I try and do my very best to ensure each customer is satisfied and receives every item as described. Here is a quick note and a few pictures to help explain why I chose to stay out of the hater group. Its easy to challenge and pick on items without giving any explanation as to why you believe they are not authentic signatures. We try and send as much as we can to PSA, JSA, Beckett and SGC. Our inventory is so large that it becomes impossible to get a third party opinion on every item. So many times we make our decisions based on our knowledge and where the item originated from. These baseball that were in question came from a relative of former umpire Jim Honochick. So I have attached the Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron ball. The Mantle ball was addressed to Harold Caplan. I have also attached another ball that I purchased approximately six months ago from the same family member signed by Ted Williams and again addressed to Harold Caplan. The Williams ball I had JSA certify, when Spence came to our shop. After the auctions were removed, I just wanted to get a quick opinion on the Mantle, Aaron ball since Chris Williams said both the Mantle and the Aaron were horrible. PSA and JSA quick opinioned the Aaron and said that it was perfect. They both said they would need a closer look at the Mantle. I am going to give PSA this ball and post their decision when I receive it. I had no intention of ever taking advantage of anyone, if anyone choses to come into my shop and review my inventory I welcome it. I also post our toll free number 888.767.5090 and welcome any questions on any of my items before purchasing. There is not one person on this forum who ever bothered to call me. Everyone hid behind their computers and just ragged on some of my items. I find that completely disturbing and its one reason I refuse to respond while the auctions were running. I do want to end saying I think Chris Williams as well as many others do a great job on the bogus stuff listed on Ebay as well as auctions who continue to list manufactured items jerseys baseballs autographs etc. I applaud your effort. So I again welcome anyone to visit me at any convention, come into my shop and inspect my items. I am proud of what I do and I stand behind every item I sell. Please review the pictures and call me if you need. Everyone rips Spence and PSA/DNA and put themselves out there as they are the lone expert. to error is human and I can tell you I have letters of apology from both companies listed above on their errors. Its has become my choice to move away from many of the so called main line autographs, such as DiMaggio, Williams, Mantle, Mays, Ali and Ruth. My main focus has now shifted to memorabilia and photographs.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Frank, I, for one, appreciates your reply. I was looking at your Ebay auctions and you sell some really cool stuff. No one is perfect and that includes me. We are all human.

Did I jump on you a little hard here? Maybe. Should we (I) have given you a little slack here? Maybe. I have no doubt there was no "bad intent" on Mr. Prisco's part. But at the same time with all of the controversy surrounding those auctions I thought you would have taken them down yourself and have them checked before listing them again. That's the puzzling part to me, Frank. You sell a lot of JSA certed autographs, including Mantle items, and I would have thought you would have second-guessed them yourself.

Frank, I will also admit that I might be wrong on that Aaron. I failed (which I never do) to look at my earlier exemplars of Hank Aaron's signature. So I will take my medicine on that one. I won't go back on those Mantle autographs (one is possibly a clubhouse at best). And I won't go back on that Maris.

Once again, I appreciate your reply here, Frank.

[mr2686]

Chris,
First of all, I really enjoy your videos and your comments on this board. I think what you do for the hobby is much needed and I hope you will continue. I also think you are a stand-up guy for your last reply to this thread for admitting you had not checked your older exemplars for Aaron.
Now, with that said, I think you are also doing a disservice to your cause by letting your enthusiasm cloud your judgement on certain items. I think every item, no matter where it's from or who it's authenticated by, should stand on it's own merits and not be lumped in to a group.
Now, with THAT said, if PSA or Spence really need a second look at that Mantle, then I think they've totally lost it. For that matter, if either comes back saying it's authentic, I will never use them again.
Just my .02
Mike

[Piedmont Sport]

Mike - I guess you won't be using them - because I'm certain the Aaron will get a full letter - I would not be so quick to judge any autograph that dosen't look like a show auto. Just because it dosen't have the swirls or loop's that the 80's 90's Baseball Card Convention sig's had - dosen't mean it's alway's bad. As a matter of fact those are the ones that are mostly forged. Remember there was a time when people and kids would run up and get a players sig. and many appear NOT to look like the Show autograph - This was before Auction houses and Dealers started to trace and create their own authenicating services and deem whats good and not good. Its very important to know where that autograoh came from. That's my 2 cents.

[mr2686]

Frank,

I never said anything about the Aaron. As a matter of fact, I believe it's good based on older sigs that I have seen. As for the Mantle, the only way PSA or Spence can authenticate that is if they have "proven" exemplars that look like that...and they don't because there aren't any. Guess what, I have many Mantle in person sigs, as well as being in Hotel bars where he and Ford were drinking and seeing how they signed for people that walked up to them, and they were nothing like this. Maybe if someone walked up to him on his death bed, but that's about it.
I guess, using your logic, if it looks nothing like a normal Mantle sig, then it must be good because the forgers wouldn't do that.
That's 2 more cents for the pot.

[Piedmont Sport]

Hard to imagaine anyone forging a good 50's Aaron with a bad Mantle and address it to Harold Kaplan - as my photo's show same guy on the Williams ball that got cert'd by Spence. I have a great collection of so called good mantles - williams - joe d's with LOA'S that are bad.