Third Party Authentication

Many in the autograph hobby will tell you the collecting of autographs in  a major decline.  Most will agree that one of the major faults because of the decline, is the existance of outfits who claim to authenticate autographs who are basically incompetent.  Many sellers have closed shops, being disgusted with a few of the autograph authenticating services. These outfits have put pressure on sellers "if you don't use us we will fail any item that comes into our company that came from you."  It's no different than the ole days of the mafia saying "if you don't pay us for protection, your windows will be broken."

Some years ago when the professional autograph collectors club "PADAH' was formed, one of it's suggestions to over 70+ members was that they no longer have to accept a return of an item they sold based on a "guess" from one of the high profile authenticating companies.  This highly popular suggestion/recommendation has now been accepted by other sellers who are not members of PADAH.  Similar comments about returns can be found on their websites.  Result, why should any collector who purchased an autograh from a reputable dealer of autographs have to pay a ridiculous charge to someone with little or no credfedtials based on a "guess" or ''opinion" from someone who clams to have handled millions of dollars of autographs before they became an autograph authenticator. They were not telling you a lie but left out a little information.  They did handle millions of dollars worth of autographs, what they left out is that they were working in the mail room of an autograph auction,  wrappping packages for items that were sold during the aucton.  There's more, the owner of that auction went to prison. Later the same mail room clerk was removed from the National Sports Card Convention held in Chicago for selling bogus autographs. In a court of law this same mail room clerk was asked if he was the same Steve Grad that was removed from the convention for selling fake autographs.  His reesponse was "I don't recall. This mail room clerk went on to become an autograph authenticator.

Since the very beginning of this person's newly created position, many of his unlimted amount of mistakes have been exposed and published. Most, unexcusable mistakes indicating little or no reference was every utilized before making a very bad forgery and turning it genuine through a COA.  Many will tell you that if a autograph seller, company or auction house is selling some bad items, most will pass as genuine because autograph authentication companies have becme extremely competitive.  Quite a  few, and you may be surprised who have come to PADAH and have complained about some of the sleezy practices of some of these high profile authenticating companies.

Steve Grad's name comes to the top of the list of persons acting as the "lead"authenticating individual  who continues to make so many sophomoric mistakes.  We can go on and on lsting his mistakes. mistakes. The following recent mistake is so pathetic, how much more do you have to know that not a minute of time was used to do a basic amount of research.

 George Sisler was a professional baseball player and manager. His career lasted 15 seasons. He was  inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. His autograph is quite commmon and inexpensive.   Here  is a card being offered on Ebay with a seller having 12,197 feedbacks. This alone will tell you the value of having feedbacks.  This card has been slabbed and the autograph of George Sisler has been authenticated by Beckett.  Only $399.99.  This is no longer  a joke, but must be taken serious.  Steve Grad is the "lead authenticator" at Beckett. It's is way past time for him to resign his position and find a different proofesion.

This card was manufactured in 1977.  George Sisler passed away on March 26, 1973.  According to the pro's at Beckettt, George Sisler was signing his name four years after his death. 

After many years of exposing Steve Grad's embarrassing mistakes authenticaing autograaphs,let's give him one very last chance. Going back to Ebay we find a seller of autgraphs with 103,238 feedbacks. They are offering a 3"x5" card said to be signed by Dizzy Dean.

Everyone sellling or authenticating autographs should have a copy of the ''Baseball Bible"  Baseball Hall of Fame Autographs A Reference Guide by autograph expert and award wining author Ron Keurajian. Published in 2012, 240 pages, heavily illustrated.  On page #101, Keurajian clearly illustrates the signature illustrated above as "Dean #3" a common secretarial.     Why does Steve Grad who claims to specialize in sports autographs does not have a copy of the hobby's best selling Baseball Hall of Fame autograph reference guide?   To add to this dilemma , I have authored  eighteen reference books on autographs and Steve Grad has not ordered a single copy. So much for having an autograph reference library. Thus a partial reason for the plethora of mistakes made by Grad through out the years,     

FOR SEVERAL YEARS,   during the week of the National Sports convention held in Chicago, it was confirmed that Steve Grad would be in attendance for the week. He was invited to be the guest speaker at a nearby hotel to have the opportunity to promote his expertise and the autograph authenticating company he represents.  Tickets to this event would be limited to 50 autograph enthusiasts.  The event would be on camera. NOT ONCE did Steve Grad even respond to the invitation.                                    

Based on many conversations both recent and in the past with autograph dealers, and auction houses, specifically regarding  Steve Grad posing as an autograph authenticator, it is requested with the best interest in the autograph hobby/business that he resign his position at Beckett and find another profession.