Open letter to STAT and Christopher Morales

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Posted By: <b>Larry</b><p>Who is responsible for this website and wrote all this stuff? Found it when I entered Richard Simon's name in a web search:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/tv/yankeefan/" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.angelfire.com/tv/yankeefan/</a><br />

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Posted By: <b>Richard S. Simon</b><p>It is surely an ally of Frangipani.<br />not a shred of truth in it.<br />getting attacked by an incoherent, ANONYMOUS jerk like that is a badge of honor.<br />written by a totally ANONYMOUS author,, it was posted 8 years ago, not long after i started my autograph alert web page stories about forensic authenticators. <br />i could start a website on angelfire that says Lincoln was a Communist spy.<br />It would stay up forever also.<br /><br /><br />--<br /><br />I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>Richard S. Simon</b><p>If the readers of this thread want to read more about the autograph business, go to my web page - Autograph Business News and Notes at:<br /><br />www.richardsimonsports.com/hofauto2.htm<br /><br />enjoy.<br /><br />--<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>Bill Panagopulos</b><p>Richard,<br /><br />I couldn't help the ironic fact that the bottom of that web page has an ad for Jim Spence's authentication services!<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Richard S. Simon</b><p>Bill - that is funny. Since angelfire is a free web space, they place google ads on the website.<br />Free web space and anonymous author = worthless information.<br />--<br /><br />I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>David, I have been in contact with Tim since this thread started. I emailed him the other day to ask about Solis comment that Tim knows about forged Donald coa's and that he had visited the Donald's office before the HBO show. <br />Will post the comments when I hear from him. That is Tim Fitzsimmons the FBI agent we have mentioned on this site.<br />When I did talk to Tim last he had a very good suggestion. The quickest way to get results is your local District Attorney, Consumer Affairs Dept, and the State Attorney Generals Office. They will get the ball rolling. When they see that this is a problem going from state to state then the FBI will get into the act. He feels that the more people that go after this scum the quicker the results. He is not just talking CC but the Gallery's, Internet Auction houses and anyone selling these items. It really is time to kick some butt.<br /> <br /> <br />

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Posted By: <b>Mike</b><p>Richard: I just checked your website and the Fox TV report showing JSA ( James Spence) Company authenicating autographs. The more I see on here the more you can not trust anyone of these so called " auto experts " ! They are all opinions and some market better than others. I still don't know who does the best job. I think if I sent a Beatles album signed by all 4, that some of these companies would automatically say it is "fake" and others would automatically say it looks "real". Is one better than the other for saying "fake" or "real" to everything ?

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Posted By: <b>Richard S. Simon</b><p>Mike - I don't know of any authentication company that will say fake to everything.<br />As for any authenticating company that says pass to everything, well you have to decide that for yourself.<br />--<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>David Davis</b><p>I e-mailed the President of the IHIA (see my post above). If everything is on the up and up as far as Mr. Morales' membership, good standing within that community, etc., well then more power to him. I feel that if his work for law enforcement is successful, then by all means he should continue his illustrious career, making everyone a little safer in the process.<br /><br />What we don't need, is everyone becoming poorer in this process, due to his unsubstantiated, and highly questionable, authentication skills.<br /><br />I will let anyone know if I hear from them, or perhaps the President of IHIA will contribute to this post himself.<br /><br />I should add that all I did was indicate that someone that states on his resume that he is a member of your organization has come under some scrutiny. I gave him links to this forum, and thread.

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Posted By: <b>Mike Navarro</b><p>Just found this forum a few days ago and have been reading through some posts. I collect primarily historical autographs and have a lot of experience in this field. I just wanted to give some credit to some of the good guys in the autograph industry. I would recommend and would not hesitate to deal with any of the following.<br /><br />Richard Simon - I have bought numerous pieces from him over the years including Humphrey Bogart and a few signed Neil Alden Armstrong items. Have never had a problem with any of his items. I did have him authenticate a Ty Cobb ball for authentication one time and it did not pass, but subsequently passed PSA/DNA. If anything, he is too conservative in his authentication, and if an authenticator is going to err, I would prefer it be on the conservative side. Good guy who in my opinion does a little too much self promotion. (so I wlll help and promote him here <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> ) <br /><br />Bill Panagopulos - I have bought numerous pieces through his auction house Alexander Autographs including Edison, Hancock, Sam Houston, multiple signed US Presidents, etc., and have never had a problem with any of the pieces I bought. I have also sold and consigned a lot including Einstein, Nixon, and others and have always been paid on time and dealt with fairly. His historical knowledge seems to be very good. I don't buy any of the sports autographs in his catalog, so no experience on his pieces in that realm. Bill is a good guy and when he makes errors (like the Reagan facsimile letter that graced the cover of one of his catalogs) he stands up and admits them and makes it right. One of the good guys in the industry. <br /><br />Bob Eaton - Bob runs R&R Enterprises and also authenticates for PSA/DNA. I have bought and sold a ton through them, and even sold a complete run of US Presidents in his April 05 auction and he gave me an entire section "The Mike Navarro collection". I have found his integrity to be great and he does not hesitate to tell you if he thinks an item is not authentic, even if you have been a six figure customer. I have seen some bad pieces in his catalogs, but with the vast amount that go to auction every month, there will be some mistakes made. I trust Bob greatly. <br /><br />John Reznikoff - John runs University Archives and also authenticates for PSA/DNA. I have bought and sold a ton through him and we occasionally partner on items. Very interesting person with a zeal for historical. Once again, due to the vast numbers, he does occasionally make mistakes (like everyone of us, we are all human) but he is another that I trust completely. <br /><br />Now on the flipside and back to the subject at hand, I have seen numerous pieces purported to be authenticated by Frangipanni or Morales and the overwhelming majority of them have been obvious fakes. I have purchased an authentic item that had a COA from Frangipanni as well, a six Presidents signed photo that I subsequently sold to Reznikoff, so not every one of the pieces that Frangipanni authenticated are bad. Just use common sense in your autograph purchases and you should do fine.<br /><br />Happy collecting,<br /><br />Mike Navarro

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Posted By: <b>Richard S. Simon</b><p>Mike - thanks for the kind words (I think) <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>.<br />Funny you should talk about self promotion. A few years ago, several of my friends and clients in this business said I should be promoting myself more, get my name out there more, that I was not known well enough yet. Well, now I am told that I am doing that too much. I will try to achieve a happy medium <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>.<br />--<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>Mike Navarro</b><p>Richard,<br /><br />You are welcome. Regarding the self promotion, just having a little fun with ya, keep up the good work, I'm a local politician here in Texas so I subscribe to the theory of self promotion!!!<br /><br />Mike

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Posted By: <b>Bill Panagopulos</b><p>Thanks for the plug, Mike. Of course, we go back quite a ways (I'll forgive you for not giving me that collection!).<br /><br />Meantime, I've been added to the "hate mail" Hall of Fame. <br /><br />I'm so proud. <br /><br />Sent this by some cretin at Imoguspar@aol.com:<br /><br />"You really seem to be enjoying the pissing match with the pompous ass and his jailbird buddy. <br />When you wrestle with a skunk you end up smelling like one and right know your aroma is pretty putrid. Clean up your own act first and ask Simple about some of those posts on angelfire. As is his style, he arrogantly dismisses it out of hand and calls it a badge of honor. Some honor! You 3 deserve each other".<br /><br />My response:<br /><br />Dear Uraretard@aol.com,<br /><br />You, Sir, are a poltroon - a coward- afraid to open a simple dialogue with me, even privately via email. But for the record, chew on this. <br /><br />a.) I do business with neither Mr. Simon nor Mr. Jaffe. Never have, and likely never will. They sell baseball, I sell history. <br />b.) Re: "wrestling with skunks", you're right. I AM wrestling with skunks. I've been talking about them on this forum for days now. And yes, everything those forensic guys do stinks. Makes me want to take a shower. Pew.<br />c.) Sorry, didn't read all the stuff on angelfire. Don't have the time, it's seven years old, and right now I've got fish to fry. When Mr. Simon becomes a board-certificed forensic examiner, then perhaps I'll take a look. <br />d.) And no, we don't deserve each other. I'm far too mean a guy. Didn't even get my wife a lousy Valentine's Day present. And...I smell bad. <br /><br />Sonny, grow some, come out of the closet and show your mug...or else just clam up. <br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>David Davis</b><p>Mike,<br />What you state about common sense is true. However, everyone who reads this forum, and has read this thread, is aware of the issues in the autograph industry. It is the people that are unaware, such as your average tourist passing a gallery selling Morales "authenticated" items, and the collectors who purchase from Coach's Corner that we need to protect.

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Posted By: <b>Richard S. Simon</b><p>To Bill - you won't see me becoming a forensic examiner anytime soon <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>.<br />To David - your post above mine is dead on.<br />To Shelly and all readers - Contacting local authorities is the way to go in many of these instances. The DA in Nassau County, NY was very vigorous in pursuing businesses that sold forgeries as was the NYC Dept of Consumer Affairs.<br />--<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>rich solis</b><p>Bill Panagopulos, Dan Bretta,<br /><br />Mr. Panagoplos,<br />For the most part I agree with everything you wrote. But contrary to the statement about auction houses like that don't last, some do. Many if not all of the major auction houses use third party authenticators. Would it surprise you to learn that the lead authenticator from PSA admitted that cursory review is done for auction houses? Would it also surprise you that PSA hides behind a disclaimer? The information that is presented here is in part documented in a sworn deposition as well as from own PSA submission from, 4. Certification and authentication involves an individual judgment that is subjective and requires the exercise of professional opinion, which can change from time to time. Therefore, PSA/DNA makes no warranty or representation and shall have no liability whatsoever to the customer for the opinion rendered by PSA/DNA to any submission. Unlike the stuff written about me I will only provide fact not fiction.

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Posted By: <b>Mike Navarro</b><p>Bill,<br /><br />I am proud as well to join you on that email list, a few minutes after I made my initial post, I got an email from "lmoguspar@aol.com". I attempted to email him/her back, but it bounced so I'll just reply here. <br /><br />Imoguspar@aol.com wrote:<br />Sorry, Bub, but the only thing you got right in your post is that simple simon is a pompous ass. Remember, being a dealer/authenticator is a conlict of interest.<br /><br />I respond: <br /><br />Thanks for your opinion, but there are a lot of things that I got right in my post. Personally, I do not have an automatic problem with someone being both an authenticator AND a dealer. I also do not believe that someone has to have governmental training, IE, FBI training, etc., to be able to render an opinion as to the authenticity of an autograph. <br /> <br />Personally, I turned down an offer from the FBI early last year as they had offered me a conditional offer of employment as a Special Agent Perhaps if I had accepted the position, then once I retired, I could have touted that I was a former FBI Special Agent and therefore I should be considered an autograph authentication expert. But, it would not have been the FBI that gave me that skill, it would have been my years of experience in handling and dealing in autographs. <br /> <br />Mike "not afraid to put my real name on the internet or in emails" Navarro <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. Watch the video on AOL Living.

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Posted By: <b>David Davis</b><p>Rich Solis,<br />Sounds to me like a complicated way of saying that they are not liable for conflicting opinions, regarding the sale price of the item. I'm sure they would refund the authentication costs.<br /><br />Unlike them, however, it seems you are more in the business of either authenticating, or selling, things that PSA would object to from the get go.<br /><br />Do not put yourself in a league with PSA authenticators. Even with all of the problems they had with Daniels, etc., they are still a brand name, and have made changes to improve the quality of the work. <br /><br />When people such as myself can tell a forgery from an authentic item, then your days are numbered. Both in the sense of sales, and in having your name on the radar of several agencies of authority, who are probably now thinking that there is clearly a viable issue here, and the livelihoods of honest people to consider.<br /><br />With the number of defense lawyers that read this board, surely you will have no difficulty finding someone familiar with the issue, and sworn not to reveal the endless blather you will provide about knowingly selling fakes, but believing you were covering your backside the whole time.<br /><br />And just like that, you will receive updates on what is happening from your weekly visit and phone calls.

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>Here's my latest.<br /><br />You are absolutely pathetic.You have no life except posting all day to some how erase the stain of being a convicted felon who thinks he can be vindicated by "saving" what he helped to destroy. Talk about overkill. Who are you trying to kid? So the fox will some how solve the chicken coop problem. Since you apparently don't work, why don't you try to at least get your grammar, syntax (look it up) and spelling up to at least a 6th grade level? <br />But most importantly remember this:<br />Tonight you'll go to bed as a convicted felon and when you wake up you will still be a convicted felon! Erase that "Eddie".<br /><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>David Davis</b><p>I paid a close friend $300 for this a few years ago. His grandmother had obtained it in the mail. It looked good to me. I sent it to R&R, and they said they could not authenticate it. It has been with me ever since. As a photo itself it has value. I just tore it so it could never be sold as original. I'd rather eat $300, then see someone get ripped off.<br /><br /><img src=http://www.scauctions.org/c1-1.JPG><br /><br /><img src=http://www.scauctions.org/c2-1.JPG>

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Posted By: <b>rich solis</b><p>David Davis,<br />Please explain your post.

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Posted By: <b>Richard S. Simon</b><p>Just a question for imoguspar because his e mail is blocked,,<br />were you in my second grade class, 2-1, Miss Rabin teacher, PS 6 in the Bronx<br />(if Bob Pomilla is reading this thread he just got a laugh).<br />6 year old kids always tease each other, so I can vaguely recall someone calling me Simple Simon back then. <br />Are you Milton Anapol????<br />--<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>David Davis</b><p>With apologies to the Wachowski Brothers:<br /><br />(train in background)<br />Do you hear that Mr. Solis? That is the sound of a raw nerve being touched. That is the sound of your guilt.<br /><br />Unlike Neo, however, there is no escape for some.<br /><br />It's not me you need to be concerned with; I am nobody for now. I'm just thinking there is still an escape ladder in the hole you have dug. I'd use it.<br />

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Posted By: <b>rich solis</b><p>How is siteing from public documents as well as information posted on a submission form digging a hole.

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p><a href="http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/nudan92/?action=view&current=1947_eating_popcorn_and_drink ing_be.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/nudan92/1947_eating_popcorn_and_drinking_be.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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Posted By: <b>Bill Panagopulos</b><p>Mr. Solis,<br /><br />Just so that I can get my thoughts straight - <br /><br />I know that you sell baseball autographs, but are you also an authenticator?<br /><br />Do you use any authentication service to validate your material?<br /><br />I saw a printout of a website page that indicated you were a partner with Messrs. Frangipani and Morales in an authentication business. I don't care if you were THEN, but are you NOW?<br /><br />Anyway, getting back to auction houses:<br /><br />Much earlier we spelled-out the return policies of a few auction houses so I'm not going to revisit that. If an auction house does NOT guarantee their material, AND relies on authenticators, good or bad, to authenticate their material who in turn do not guarantee authenticity, stating that theirs is just an "opinion"...then it's every man for himself. If you bid, you're on your own with no recourse. Might as well be buying a box of pots and pans at a country auction. <br /><br />A legitimate auction house has to be careful whose certificates they accept, because if they sell 1,000 lots and 750 come back within a few weeks with questions of authenticity, even if they DON'T refund the money, they have a big problem on their hands. <br /><br />In "the good old days" there simply weren't any authenticators. Auction houses stuck to what they knew. They had professional staffs that knew what they were doing and could properly appraise material. Joe's Country Auction's didn't sell Renoir, and Sotheby's didn't sell farm implements (that's why 95% of what we sell is historic autographs). And that's why I wonder why Coach's Corner is selling John Dillinger, jewelry, George Washington, Beatles, and a $40-80,000 original "Picasso" hand-colored drawing (!!!!!!), now bid up to $738. There is no God...<br /><br />So, in essence, if you have a no refund policy and a collaborating auhenticator with impressive credentials, you should be able to sell signatures of Cleopatra, Jesus, Ooga-Booga the Caveman and Santa Claus. <br /><br />I'm in the right business - I'm just not doing it the right way!

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Posted By: <b>rich solis</b><p>Bill,<br /><br />I which it was the good old days.<br />I can't comment on Coaches Corner,i"m not familiar with ther operation.<br />Understand that the post was merely informational.

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Posted By: <b>rich solis</b><p> Bill,<br />As to your questions.<br />Yes we sell autograph memorabilia. No I do not authenticate our own items.<br />No I do not authenticate. Yes, I have been associated with Mr. Bradley for years until his death late last year. I do have a personal relationship with Mr. Frangipani that dates back to 1999. As for Mr. Morales we have known each other for a few years. All tree especially Mr. Bradley have taught me a great deal. <br /><br />When questions with regards to signatures arise Mr. Bradley was the one we used. With his death we now give our clients different options of forensic examiners and yes Frangipani and Morales are on the list. As a company we have a stated policy that we will only recognize court qualified, board certified forensic examiners. We do not recognize the industry third party authenticators.<br /><br />This is a company policy. Like everyone I have my opinions and others have there’s.<br />The one thing that can be said is that we can agree to disagree in a civil manner.<br /><br />Rich Solis<br />

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Rich, why would you use Morales and Frangipani knowing that items with their certs will sell for only about 5% of actual value?

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Posted By: <b>DD</b><p>The profit margin on an item such as a signed Jack Chesbro ball is immense when the raw material cost is an old baseball, some fountain pen ink, some tea, and an oven.<br /><br />A real Chesbro ball would cost too much to buy.

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Posted By: <b>Bill Panagopulos</b><p>Rich,<br /><br />Appreciate your candor and honesty.<br /><br />Who you choose to use as an authenticator (if anyone) and how you conduct your business is absolutely your own affair. I cannot and will not fault you on it - it's a choice you've made and this is a free country. But I'd bet that somewhere down the road there's going to be a lot of questions asked - and not on some baseball card forum. They'll want to know how so much of this fine material has come on the market so quickly, and been passed with so few questions asked. And I'm not so sure that degrees and certificates will be enough to answer those questions.<br /><br />Anyway, your responses seem straightforward and honest, and thank you again.<br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>David, Rich would never understand why you did what you did. If you have a piece of garbage, and it gets into the hands of his friends they will make it into a Picasso.

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Posted By: <b>Rich Solis</b><p>Dan,<br />First let me say I use the forensic examiners because I have confidence in them. As far as value, we sell for example a Mantle autographed 8x10 for $300.00, fair market value according to tuff stuff is $405.00 in average condition. Excellent condition will be higher about $595.00. Keep in mind that everyone has a different opinion on price. For our company and our clients a third party authentication that comes with a disclaimer doesn't warrant an over inflated price. Can we charge more sure we can regardless of the coa. We chose to provide the best possible item at a price the general hobbyist can afford while insuring through forensic examiners the genuiness of the item to the best of their ability. Thats our choice as business owners.<br /><br />Rich Solis

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>Rich, if you sell a forgery it doesn't matter what price you put on it.<br />If it looks like a forgery and smells like a forgery, its a forgery.

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Posted By: <b>Mike Navarro</b><p>Rich Solis,<br /><br />What is the name of your business? Do you have a website where I could view some pics of your inventory? I'm sure I could find it in the hundreds of posts above, but I must have missed it in my cursory review. Thanks, I just want to see for my own eyes some of the images.<br /><br />Mike

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Posted By: <b>Andrew S.</b><p>David, are you any relation to the autograph collector Rich Davis? He is supposed to own the largest collection of autographs in existence. Even larger than the Luhr's collection, University Archives & Autograph House.

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p> Why don't you comment on the statements you made about me and HBO. I challenged you and I have yet to see an answer from you on this forum. Is it because you are not able to answer any of my statements because the truth is difficult for you to challenge? (see earlier post for my challenging questions to Mr. Solis).<br />Are you or are you not partners with the Donald in forensicsignatureauthentications.com, a company registered in your wife's name. Was Mr Morales ever part of your company? If not why was he pictured on the page on the website where the staff was shown, along with you, Mr Bradley and the Donald? The page that no longer exists.<br />On the authentication page of your r-s collectibles website you suggest people submit items for authentication to Forensic Signature Authentications, without revealing that it is your company. How could you consider that to be ethical? Is that why your picture is no longer on the site of forensicsignature? Is your wife the authenticator now? <br />You come on here with a phony name and now you come out of the shadows, once your identity is revealed. You claim that the HBO show was about me. Well tell me about all the people that were buying items because of the Donald and his Friends. You are the original "white man speak with forked tongue" guy.<br />I will say this. It took someone like me to make this thread happen. I know where the bodies are buried and know what you and Donald are. You are the one that throws stones so that you look good. Well I am throwing the stones back at you and your Forensic Experts. They are as phony as the signatures they authenticate.<br />Now for the best part. I took a look at the autographs on your website. I know who you are getting your items from, and so does John (Rogers). You are getting them from the same guy that supplied B&J, Madison Sports and Howard's. The same guy who came with you to my table at the Atlantic City National and I laughed at his stuff because it was so bad. After these items were sold to Madison and Howard's they wound up at Shop at Home, American Express, Sky Miles and others who had no idea what they were buying and then selling.<br />I was amused by your statement that: "We do not recognize the industry third party authenticators.<br />This is a company policy."<br />Sotheby's, Christie's, Hunts, Mastro, Heritage and other million dollar auction houses use industry authenticators, but you don't. A little two bit dealer in Palookaville, California thinks he knows more than the leaders in the industry. But I guess the fact that they sell $50 million dollars a year of legitimate autograph items and you probably do $200 a year of legitimate items, well you are just the one to know.<br />Unfortunately I am not good with computers so I asked Richard Simon to upload pictures for me of items from your website that I know are not authentic and that came from the above mentioned person.<br />Anxiously awaiting your reply.<br /> <br />Shelly Jaffe<br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Richard Simon</b><p>Here are the pictures that Shelly talked about.<br />The only person I know who could have made this thread what it is is Shelly Jaffe. He has more information about this business than anybody else.<br />Guys, fire away with your questions to him, he has the answers.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1203300479.JPG"> <img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1203300377.JPG"> <img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1203300363.GIF"> <img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1203300353.JPG">

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>I will say that not all of this garbage is from your man but they are still fake. I am sure that john will agree that the mantle and 500 are from you know who.

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Posted By: <b>Richard Simon</b><p>Attn DD- please repeat your message on this thread. I accidentally started a new thread with the pictures. And you posted after I put up the pictures. That thread will be deleted , so please repost your comment here.<br />Thanks, and sorry for the problem.

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Posted By: <b>Chris</b><p>Morales, Frangipani and the other so-called "court certified" experts are put out of business. The first step is Coach's Corner...that operation is about 90% of Morales' business. I've never seen anything "Certified" by these people that had a prayer in heaven of being authentic. <br /><br />Am I in PSA and JSA's court? Yes. Do they make misatakes? Yes. Have they ever authenticated an autopen as genuine? Yes. People make mistakes, no one is perfect. But, tell me then, why are they trusted by every major auction house known to collectors including Sotheby's? Conspiracy? I think not. Try sending anything "certified" by Morales or his cronies to Sotheby's or Mastro and they will probably get a good chuckle and send it right back to you. <br /><br />When someone emails me trying to sell Babe Ruth single signed balls that looked like Ruth penned it last week for $2,000, something is a little fishy don't ya think?<br /><br />Mr. Solis: You sell Mantle 8x10's for $300? Assuming they have "certificates" from Morales, Frangipani, and the like - why would anyone buy them from you? You can easily pick them up through Coaches Corner for under $100, shoot, probably less $75. And, I bet they will give you a bulk discount. Customer: "Uhh...I'll take 100 signed Mantle 8x10's if you have 'em." CC: "Sure, just give us till next week - $50/photo." I can see it now, what a freakin' joke.<br /><br />If it's too good to be true, it probably is. <br /><br />Chris<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>DD</b><p>Andrew,<br />If I am, that would put me in a rather unique position. Exemplars aplenty, and a willingness to cooperate. Wouldn't that be something?<br /><br />What I wrote in the other thread was that clearly the Mantle's were all done by the same person, and that they need more practice with a few of the letters.

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>Chris, I want to know if a forensic expert takes a class in braille, because that would be the person to pass the above items.

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Posted By: <b>Bill Panagopulos</b><p>Rich,<br /><br />Just one more thing - <br /><br />A company called Forensic Signature Authentications (which many claim was once staffed by Mr. Frangipani, Mr. Morales, the late Mr. Bradley and yourself), shows the following address on its webste:<br /><br />Forensic Signature Authentications<br />1159 Scott Blvd.<br />Santa Clara, CA 95050<br />Office: 408-242-5543<br />Fax: 408-564-4555<br /><br />At the same time, it appears that your business, according to your web site, is in the same building:<br /><br />R&S Sports Collectibles <br />1159 Scott Blvd. <br />Santa Clara, CA 95050<br />Ph: 408-985-7277 <br />Fax: 408-564-4555<br /><br />As a matter of fact, you share the same fax machine.<br /><br />Is it therefore safe to assume that you are working on commission for Messrs. Frangipani and Morales? <br /><br />Would it be rude to ask for an explanation? I just find it rather remarkable.

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Posted By: <b>Chris</b><p>The real issue at hand here is Coach's Corner, Morales, and Frangipani, and/or STAT. If this group were shut down, that would be HUGE. Will another bogus "board certified court expert" pop up? Sure, but not without a fight. If these others are led out of town, with some negative press in the papers, only a fool would try the same thing again.<br /><br />Rich is not the problem here. He is one of many dealers selling forgeries, mixed in of course with Mounted Memories and UDA autos to give himself a credible vineer to possible clients. We all know he is not making his money selling the legit stuff. <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>Chris- you have to be kidding me.<br />The problems in the hobby all started with crap like this, dealers with bad material selling their crap to unsuspecting collectors.<br />You can't give this guy Solis a pass, he is promoting garbage with garbage on top of it. <br />More pictures will be coming from his website.<br />You saying that Solis is not the problem is wrong. He is the problem along with all the others.<br />These are the people that made the whole operation work. <br />Without COA's from Frangipani, Morales, Tell, Garo, AAU, FDS, J Dimaggio, CCSA and all the rest of them, this could not have happened to the extent that it did.<br />Please dont say that Solis is not the problem, he and his cohorts keep this crap alive. Rich is the problem he has been from the start. I am looking forward to any law suite that Rich and his buddies want to throw at me. I know who they are and what they are and after ten years they are still out there. Look at the crap on his web site. <br /><br /> <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Chris</b><p>Shelly,<br /><br />I'm on your side...no doubt. <br /><br />Rich is part of the effect. I believe the larger dealers like CC and the major "authenticators" like Morales, STAT, etc are the cause. Get rid of the cause first, then people like Rich will have less garbage to sell.<br /><br />That is all I'm saying. <br /><br />I'm not excited if a small time dealer like Rich is gone, while CC is flourishing. <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>John you called out Bill. Now its time to call out Solis site.

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Posted By: <b>rich solis</b><p>Bill, <br />This venture never got off the ground. one reason for that was Mr. Bradley health. As far as the business information being the same for both I felt that it was the best option to begen the new venture. But like I said It never got of the ground.

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Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>Bill, I have a beautiful piece of land I can sell you.