Third Party Authentication

Goldin Auctions has up for bids a Mickey Mantle 1952 Bowman card signed and authenticated as genuine by PSA/DNA.The card is graded a #1 and the signature graded an 8.  We have said this over 1,000 times "companies don't authenticate autographs, people do." Who at PSA/DNA authenticated this card?  You will never find out as with anything they EVER authenticated. Wannabee persons who would like to be an autograph authenticator have no business authenticating and come to these comapnies like going through a revolving door!  One fairly well known Florida name once said "all you need is a postage stamp ad opinion and be labeled as an autograph authenticator."

PSA/DNA is standing firm that the autograph of Mckey Manlte is authentic. Not posted was what PSA/DNA charged to authenticate the card/signature and for encapsulation.

If sold the auction house believes the card will sell for between $250,000 and $500,000. Many collectors feel the card could sell for over one million dollars.

Out of nowhere comes Steve Grad. Grad once an employee of PSA/DNA was fired. Next, Grad shows up at Beckett Authentication and was fired. It doesn't appear that Grad was ever asked to authenticate the card that was authenticated by PSA/DNA. However he wants the sports community to know that he has volunteered his opinion and that is the signature of Mickey Mantle was some how signed by a "secretary"or a "bat boy" or etc.

Some postings on the Internet state that just maybe Grad has a vendetta agaist PSA/DNA for firing him.

Genuine autograph experts know the answer whether the signaure of Mickey Mantle is genuine or not. But we are going to let this play out between PSA/DNA and Grad.  Time may be coming where those who claim to be an autograph expert should be licensed, after all getting a $25 haircut will be given by a licensed barber!