Player Authenticated Items In Person

[geoff]

I am not sure if this Thread has been done before or not.So I thought I would Start one.Did a Player ever Authenticate a Game Used Item in Person at like a Card Show or the Ball Park or Where Ever.

I will Start.Adam Jones Authenticated my Seattle Mariners Game Used Jersey at the 2009 Orioles FanFest.I waited in line for over a Hour to get the Jersey Signed.I asked him if he wore it and after looking at it for a few Seconds he said my Jersey was his First Pro Game Used Jersey.He Signed it.I was so happy I forgot to ask him to Sign it Game Used.I asked him again just to be sure did you wear this and he said Yes.I have the Jersey now in a safe place where no light can get to it.

Thought I would share because the Game Used Ball Thread got me Thinking.

Thanks
Geoff

[TriplexXxSports]

I have a jersey that I am working on photo and video matching. I posted it recently. Anyhow my intention is to meet with the athlete in July, provide my evidence, go over the history of the jersey and have him look it over. I will have a drawn up Player LOA for him to sign to 'authenticate' it.

Since I will not see him until July, I will have to keep this thread updated but I think it will be a cool experience. Having the player say they remember a certain piece and 'authenticate' it themselves, in person, beats any LOA you could ever get.

[Jake51]

Hi,

Karl Mecklenburg authenticated two jerseys and a helmet for me...but it was pretty easy as we were in his basement and he was pulling them out of storage boxes! :D

Thanks,

Tom

[Neely8]

I have a Boston Bruins Lyndon Byers jersey he authenticated. He was an enforcer for the Bruins in the late 80's and 90's. I played in a benefit hockey game with him and some other Bruins a few years ago and showed him the jersey. It has customizations at end of both sleeves which were cut out areas. He immediately was able to tell me why they were like that. He said it was so he could get the sleeves over his elbow pads faster so he could get them off to throw punches better. And man could he throw them!

[Rob L]

Bobby Grich was a guest speaker at my daughter's Little League opening ceremonies. I took a bat and an Angels cap and he verified that both had been his, signed them and spent about 5 minutes talking about the bat. Very cool.

[sylbry]

I have had players authenticate their items many times but here are the three most memorable.

I had Paul Molitor verify a bat prior to buying it. He was signing autographs at the Twins Autograph Party so I printed out a picture of the bat and asked him about it. He gave it the thumbs up.

Once I had a coworker get my game used Dick Stigman bat signed by Dick at a public appearance. Dick was so shocked to see it, showed it to his wife who happened to be there. And the store manager asked for a photo of Dick, the bat, and my coworker together. A year later I met Dick and thanked him for signing the bat. He still remembered it. Didn't sound like he had one himself.

And then I got this glove in the mail yesterday. I thought this one was a goner. It took over a month to come back AFTER Tom dropped it in the mail (who dropped it in the mail 3 weeks after receiving it). I didn't ask for the personalization. He just did it and I kind of like it.

[bigtruck260]

Willie McGee gave his thumbs up on a bat I presented to him...he was careful to look at the handle - where there were scores and grooves. Sold this to a fellow Cards collector...

[nomarmauerfan]

Justin Morneau has authenticated my entire bat collection of his. He also told me to stay away from a bat I was thinking of purchasing b/c it wasn't used by him. He also authenticated his Quad Cities River Bandits away jersey for me.

Mike

[MarinersFan34]

Geoff,

Do you have any photos you can post of the Adam Jones?

[cordovacollector]

I had a high school football jersey of Marty Cordova's. Usually I would just hold an item out for Marty to sign if there were other players around him cuz I knew it made him feel awkward. So I just held out the jersey and smiled. He was in a talkative mood that day and when he saw it, he started to sign and said quietly, "I think you have more of my old clothes than I do." So I felt a little freer to talk so I asked him to write the position he played on the other number. Then he said, "You know I only wore this jersey once. The were made up special for the state high school tournament finals." I didn't know that ... and , yup, they won.

I wore it once to a game when the Orioles were in town when he was with them. As I came down to my seat for BP, I heard Marty tell the guy he was standing next to, "Hey, here comes my high school football jersey!"


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/272818/bg2.jpg


I've often had players remember a particular bat when I have had them signed. It always amazes me.

[halofan]

I have taken some GU bats to get signed and they all confirmed that it was their bats.

Took a Mike Scioscia gamer to a signing, and he got excited to see the bat, held it, looked it over then Howie Kendrick was next to him and M. Scisocia says " Hey Howie, check out my bat" and Howie held it looked it over and swung it. Scisocia got a kick out of seeing it.

Took a gamer to Howie Kendrick signing, i was standing in line, Howie noticed it and says " Let me see that, Thats one of mine" looked it over, signed it and he put game used on the bat for me.

Took 2 gamers to Tim Salmon signing, he looked them both over, said
"They our mine" he liked seeing them and I got a picture with him.

[Swoboda4]

Last year Ventura authenticated jersey and bat at show in Queens N.Y.day before last game at Shea.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura6.jpg?t=1222550941
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura5.jpg?t=1222552131
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura10.jpg?t=1222552537
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura14.jpg?t=1222552572
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura9.jpg?t=1222552617
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura20.jpg?t=1222553000

[cigarman44]

Last year Ventura authenticated jersey and bat at show in Queens N.Y.day before last game at Shea.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura6.jpg?t=1222550941
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura5.jpg?t=1222552131
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura10.jpg?t=1222552537
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura14.jpg?t=1222552572
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura9.jpg?t=1222552617
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura20.jpg?t=1222553000

Love the inscription on the photo!

[RJB44]

I'm sure there are a number of players, especially ones that have been out of the game for 20+ years, who are not comfortable signing "Game used" it's been to long for them to remember in most cases.

I wonder if there has ever been a situation where a collector who has been waiting line, full of anticipation of getting one of his GU collectibles signed, only to have the athlete question the authenticity of the item right there at the table, with others looking on. How embarrassing can that be?

[joelsabi]

Last year Ventura authenticated jersey and bat at show in Queens N.Y.day before last game at Shea.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/redmills/aventura20.jpg?t=1222553000

thats got to be the most honest inscription i have ever seen on a photo. great piece.