Interesting interviews regarding authenticity of the 4.4 mil Babe Ruth jersey

[Splinte1941]

Originally Posted by Leon

I have to politely disagree. When there are photos of players wearing jerseys I think they can (sometimes) be matched with a 100% certainty. They are like fingerprints. I don't know if there was a photo match of this jersey with Ruth wearing it or not.

Leon, you can't be saying that you're trusting a photograph as your fundamental piece of evidence that a jersey is authentic, are you? With all due respect, the analogy between a photograph and a fingerprint is IMHO lunacy. 100% certainty? You wouldn't bet money on it.

How does anyone know that Ruth's name wasn't stitched into another jersey?

I just can't believe that the person who spent $4.4 million on that item can sleep at night with the explanation provided by Grob. I'm sorry, I just can't.

[GKreindler]

He really did, Christopher. They were both so different and had a great dynamic together. At first, when Mike had started things on his own, he was talking about how he would have another co-host at some point, but I guess it never panned out.

He can definitely do the show himself, but sometimes, it can have a harsh edge to it.

And of course, I'm saying this out of love, because I still tune in everyday.

Graig

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by GKreindler

He really did, Christopher. They were both so different and had a great dynamic together. At first, when Mike had started things on his own, he was talking about how he would have another co-host at some point, but I guess it never panned out.

He can definitely do the show himself, but sometimes, it can have a harsh edge to it.

And of course, I'm saying this out of love, because I still tune in everyday.

Graig

Boy, Graig,

Wow! "Harsh edge" is a polite way of putting it.

I know Dave Kohler pretty well and I don't think that Mike ever gave him a chance to speak. He was absolutely steam rolled in this so called interview. Kohler tried to let Mike know that he is the auction house, not the authenticator.

The process questions that he asked appropriately should have gone to the authenticator from the beginning, but he was hell bent to get his answers even if the person that he was asking wasn't the right person to ask, IMHO...

[Splinte1941]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Boy, Graig,

Wow! "Harsh edge" is a polite way of putting it.

I know Dave Kohler pretty well and I don't think that Mike ever gave him a chance to speak. He was absolutely steam rolled in this so called interview. Kohler tried to let Mike know that he is the auction house, not the authenticator.

The process questions that he asked appropriately should have gone to the authenticator from the beginning, but he was hell bent to get his answers even if the person that he was asking wasn't the right person to ask, IMHO...

The auction house should have some idea of the "authentication" process of this jersey, since they're in the business of moving this stuff, but he was definitely steamrolled. The process explained by Grob was so underwhelming and ambiguous that I actually think Kohler did a better job by just hanging up.

[sayhey24]

Pure and simple -- knowledgable collectors will tell you that Leon is correct.

Greg

[Splinte1941]

Travis, you care to weigh in?

[BigJJ]

I agree that photo matching can be reasonably definitive - however, it is not always definitive - and at times I have seen individuals stating a definitive photo match, when such match is not definitive - even putting the jersey next to the photo and saying it is definitive when it is not.
And we all know people can move insignias and buttons around on a jersey to make jerseys resemble those in pictures.
I was not an interested party to the Ruth jersey that sold, and have no knowledge as to the extent of photo matching. I also have no knowledge as to that jersey's provenance.
I can tell you in the art world, that few would buy a Renoir for about $5 million dollars, if the work had no published provenance prior to 2004 or whatever recent date. Every piece has some provenance, even if just discovered for 'what it is'. In our business, we ought to be publishing provenance with pieces more often - to the same extent as art. Particularly the big pieces.
And as with art, there will be some 'Private Collection, New York, NY, 1955-1998' listings to allow for some anonymity, but we ought to be providing a clear public record and we ought to start doing it now for future generations.

[batsballsbases]

Originally Posted by sayhey24

Pure and simple -- knowledgable collectors will tell you that Leon is correct.

Greg

Greg +1

Jake ,Knowing Josh Evans and Lelands you can bet that he didnt pony up 4.4 million dollars without doing his homework a long time ago on this Jersey!

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Boy, Graig,

Wow! "Harsh edge" is a polite way of putting it.

I know Dave Kohler pretty well and I don't think that Mike ever gave him a chance to speak. He was absolutely steam rolled in this so called interview. Kohler tried to let Mike know that he is the auction house, not the authenticator.

The process questions that he asked appropriately should have gone to the authenticator from the beginning, but he was hell bent to get his answers even if the person that he was asking wasn't the right person to ask, IMHO...

+1

The rude and abraisive Francesa never even allowed Kohler to answer, and cut him off every single time. His questions/accusations should have been directed to Mears (or "Mirrors", as he irritatingly pronounced it) from the beginning. I don't blame Kohler for hanging up, and give him credit for lasting as long as he did...

At least Grob was "permitted" a chance to speak. That conversation at least fit the description of an "interview", as opposed to the "railroading" that Kohler was subjected to. I suppose I'm not a fan of "The Fan" (or at least this overly aggressive interview style). But interesting stuff... thanks for posting the interviews!

[Fuddjcal]

after listing to the interview the Oh...."That's what they do"...."They don't know the process...."ask someone else". "Ask Mears".

Mike did only ask him 1 question. The Auction house "does take it on blind word".

Let's ask "Mirrors". "It's too late to ask".

He never did give an answer. I wouldnt touch an item like that for .10 cents. Enjoy your FAKE 4.4 million dollar jersey!!!!.

That auction house is no better than the ones you find on Auction Zip......"Ask Morales".

hanging up only makes him seem like he knew nothing about the process.. Thank for posting the interview. It definitely does nothing for the authenticity of the item, when the auction house knows NOTHING about the authentication process of a 4.4 million dollar item it is SICKENING! I thought it was a fake when I saw the auction go down and after listening to the boob, I agree with my first thought. PROVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Splinte1941

Leon, you can't be saying that you're trusting a photograph as your fundamental piece of evidence that a jersey is authentic, are you? With all due respect, the analogy between a photograph and a fingerprint is IMHO lunacy. 100% certainty? You wouldn't bet money on it.

How does anyone know that Ruth's name wasn't stitched into another jersey?

I just can't believe that the person who spent $4.4 million on that item can sleep at night with the explanation provided by Grob. I'm sorry, I just can't.

Absolutely. Not pertaining to this Ruth jersey, as I stated. I don't know if there was a photo match or not.

If there is a high res photo you can see the seams on jerseys and individual and unique patterns of threads, dirt, smudges etc.... I think anyone that doesn't understand this probably doesn't know what they are talking about.

AND THE analogy was that a jersey or mitt or hat is unique and that is similar to a fingerprint which is also unique. And yes, I would bet money on certain items being photo matched and the same.

[Splinte1941]

Originally Posted by Leon

Absolutely. Not pertaining to this Ruth jersey, as I stated. I don't know if there was a photo match or not.

If there is a high res photo you can see the seams on jerseys and individual and unique patterns of threads, dirt, smudges etc.... I think anyone that doesn't understand this probably doesn't know what they are talking about.

AND THE analogy was that a jersey or mitt or hat is unique and that is similar to a fingerprint which is also unique. And yes, I would bet money on certain items being photo matched and the same.

Not a difficult concept Leon, but its 100% conjecture unless there's a strong identifying mark, like a tear or smudge. And even then...

I guess if I wanted to spend $4.4m on a jersey I would personally need a better explanation and more facts than what was told to Francesa in that interview. That's all. Leland's bought the jersey and they will sell it to someone who will accept MEARS as gospel and that's fine.