A month ago, I bought a Justin Smoak MLB authenticated helmet with a huge crack in the brim. It was about to come apart. The number finally showed up in the database yesterday, so I went to confirm its game use. Sure enough, it was marked as follows:
Hologram number EK320167 was located in the MLB Authentication Database under GAME-USED BATTING HELMET.
Session Product Description:
Session Name: SEA AT OAK
Session Date: September 30, 2012
Autographer:
Authenticator: AUTHENTICATORS, INC.
Additional Information: BATTER - JUSTIN SMOAK
However, after reviewing both telecasts of the game on MLB.tv, I could not find any evidence of this helmet's being broken in a game. Thank goodness that I have found several photomatches for the intact helmet. But nevertheless, I was curious when and how this helmet was cracked.
After I looked at the video, I decided to inspect the MLB Authentication database further. Sure enough, there were two Justin Smoak "game used" bats authenticated to that same game. However, Justin Smoak didn't break his bat even once in any of his at-bats on September 30. Here's the information provided by MLB:
Hologram number EK320165 was located in the MLB Authentication Database under GAME-USED BROKEN BAT.
Session Product Description:
Session Name: SEA AT OAK
Session Date: September 30, 2012
Autographer:
Authenticator: AUTHENTICATORS, INC.
Additional Information: BATTER - JUSTIN SMOAK
and
Hologram number EK320168 was located in the MLB Authentication Database under GAME-USED BROKEN BAT.
Session Product Description:
Session Name: SEA AT OAK
Session Date: September 30, 2012
Autographer:
Authenticator: AUTHENTICATORS, INC.
Additional Information: BATTER - JUSTIN SMOAK.
To be hologrammed as "game used," per MLB's standards, doesn't the authenticator have to witness the item's being taken out of the field of play? And if these items were taken out of the field of play and given to the authenticator, then shouldn't there at minimum be video evidence of the former? What do you think happened with these helmets? Is there any way to know?
Hologram number EK320167 was located in the MLB Authentication Database under GAME-USED BATTING HELMET.
Session Product Description:
Session Name: SEA AT OAK
Session Date: September 30, 2012
Autographer:
Authenticator: AUTHENTICATORS, INC.
Additional Information: BATTER - JUSTIN SMOAK
However, after reviewing both telecasts of the game on MLB.tv, I could not find any evidence of this helmet's being broken in a game. Thank goodness that I have found several photomatches for the intact helmet. But nevertheless, I was curious when and how this helmet was cracked.
After I looked at the video, I decided to inspect the MLB Authentication database further. Sure enough, there were two Justin Smoak "game used" bats authenticated to that same game. However, Justin Smoak didn't break his bat even once in any of his at-bats on September 30. Here's the information provided by MLB:
Hologram number EK320165 was located in the MLB Authentication Database under GAME-USED BROKEN BAT.
Session Product Description:
Session Name: SEA AT OAK
Session Date: September 30, 2012
Autographer:
Authenticator: AUTHENTICATORS, INC.
Additional Information: BATTER - JUSTIN SMOAK
and
Hologram number EK320168 was located in the MLB Authentication Database under GAME-USED BROKEN BAT.
Session Product Description:
Session Name: SEA AT OAK
Session Date: September 30, 2012
Autographer:
Authenticator: AUTHENTICATORS, INC.
Additional Information: BATTER - JUSTIN SMOAK.
To be hologrammed as "game used," per MLB's standards, doesn't the authenticator have to witness the item's being taken out of the field of play? And if these items were taken out of the field of play and given to the authenticator, then shouldn't there at minimum be video evidence of the former? What do you think happened with these helmets? Is there any way to know?
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