MLB "Authenticators" at each game....for what, exactly???

[suicide_squeeze]

Interesting tidbit for you all to consider...

I was at the Dodger game last night. Manny hit a deep towering home run ball to dead center. It hit the corner of the tarped (covered) seats in center. A nice young lady was able to beat the rush to the ball....with a "push" assist from a family member, and she ended up with it.

I worked my way over to her to see if she was interested in selling it. Turns out she is a true fan, and wants to keep it for life. I am thrilled she ended up with the ball.

Once I learned that she wouldn't sell it for ANY amount of money (I offered her $300.00 at first, went up to $1,000.00, then realized it wasn't about money with her.....she just wanted to keep it forever), I changed into my nice "fellow-collector" mode and talked to her and her family.

I got the guard stationed at the bottom of the stairs to call over a Dodger representative. I told her to ask the rep that would be coming to have the MLB Authenticator, present at every major league game, to place a sticker on the ball. I explained to her about the tamper-proof sticker, how it's numbered, and that it could be viewed on MLB's website at any time that details the fact that this was Manny's 543rd career home run ball, and it would always be in their database. She and her family had no idea that this was a possibility, and thanked me for the help.

In the meantime, the Dodger "picture people" took pictures of her and her family, happily holding the home run ball. The ball, by the way, had a nice "tarp" mark on it where it hit the covered seats. Unquestionably the ball Manny hit, not to mention the fact she's all over MLB.com and the Dodger site retrieving the ball.

So the rep shows up, and asks her to come with him to the Dodger office. He escourts her off. About a full inning later, she comes back. Here's what happened:

She has a disappointed look on her face as she explained to us that "The Dodgers wouldn't have the sticker placed on the ball because she wasn't going to give the ball to the Dodgers organization."

They told her they only authenticated items they would keep, place in their vault, and eventually showcase in their "Dodger Museum" they plan on opening soon.

Nice.

Classy.

One of the biggest money-making organizations in MLB won't even throw a bone to a happy fan and rightfully authenticate Manny's 543rd career homer for the lucky fan who ended up with it, with thousands of witnesses, video tape of the event for all eternity, and an unquestionable "mark" that could have only come from a spinning ball making contact with the "tarp".....all the time never leaving the area she retrieved the ball.

I mean.....if they won't authenticate that ball.....then why bother being there at all?

This brings to light the fact that this MLB authentication "service" is nothing more than a fabricated personal authentication service used specifically for the owners own benefit, and really nothing more. Yes, it's nice that they authenticate certain items to be cherished for eternity, but if they won't authenticate for the fans, then what good are they? I mean, it's the FANS that pay all of the salaries, the bills........what am I missing here?

I am disgusted.....thoroughly.....but not surprised. As I was lucky and able to pry Manny's 521st (Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, and Frank Thomas tying career home run ball, also giving him on the NOSE his 12th 100-RBI season, leaving his second only to Lou Gehrig's and Babe Ruth's 13-100 RBI seasons) out of the vault and hands of the Dodger organization with the help of the family who caught it, I experienced this first hand last year. I asked them to authenticate it with a sticker. They told me they hadn't had time to do it yet, and (sour-grapes like) explained to me that now, since it was leaving their hands, they wouldn't be able to.

Nice, Dodgers.......great management. Again, real classy.

I understand this may be a "park to park" policy, and it may be different, but please, share your experiences. I think it's a crime that MLB doesn't help out the fan base with a placing a sticker on a nice piece like this, especially when there is NO QUESTION as to it's authenticity. It's not the girl ran to the bathroom and had a chance to change out the ball with another one, or something rediculous like that.



In any case, in light of this "use".....or in my opinion, mis-use of MLB's authentication service, what are your thoughts?

[suicide_squeeze]

TYPO....last sentence, sorry!

"It's not the girl ran to the bathroom and had a chance to change out the ball with another one, or something rediculous like that."......

Should read.....

"It's not LIKE the girl ran to the bathroom and had a chance to change out the ball with another one, or something rediculous like that."

[murfsteve25]

ya i agree. its not like their needed every day. A manny home run is kinda a big deal considering he's now above the 500 mark and his popularity.

[zookerman182]

If she could have gotten that ball mlb holo'd it would be one of the most saught after manny pieces ever, so its not like they are just slapping a sticker on a manny broken bat. I dont know how many manny hr balls have this much proof or being the actual ball let alone have an mlb hologram on them.

Now after saying that, i do think its a ratty move by the dodgers and i would be mad too. But then again, i still caught a home run ball so i wouldnt be too upset.

When you pay for your ticket does it say "you also have the right to get any foul ball, home run ball, or bat that flies into the stands immediately autheticated by an mlb representative" I dont think it does so the dodgers dont owe anyone anything.

Would it have been a nice thing for the Dodgers to do? Sure. Are they entitled to do it? Nope.

[xpress34]

SS -

Just paraphrasing (or spinning the story if you like ) this section to make a point...

Interesting tidbit for you all to consider...

"The Dodgers wouldn't have the sticker placed on the ball because she wasn't going to give the ball to the Dodgers organization."

They told her they only authenticated items they would keep, place in their vault, and eventually showcase in their "Dodger Museum" they plan on opening soon.

So exactly WHEN is this 'Dodger Museum' opening? I would think long time Dodger fans would have heard of it or talked about it on the boards before...

That said, this is just another example of MLB and its teams screwing the PAYING fans... I'm certain the Dodgers would ONLY cert the ball if it was staying in their organization so they could SELL it in their team auction site... I doubt the balkl would have ever seen the light of day in this 'Dodger Museum'...

Just my .02

- Chris

[lehmsbobby]

Is there a place where the authenticators are set up at AT&T park?


just wondering.... in the case that I catch a home run ball one day

[zookerman182]

i also just saw the replay and the ball landed on the tarp and didnt move from the tarp. Therefore someone had to take it off the tarp or get hoisted up to get the ball. Maybe if the ball lands in a spot where the fans cant get it, it becomes property of the team. For instance a bullpen or the old black seats or other nooks over the outfield walls at other ball parks. By the looks of where the ball landed it must have taken quite an opperation to get that ball.

[joelsabi]

Interesting tidbit for you all to consider...

I was at the Dodger game last night. Manny hit a deep towering home run ball to dead center. It hit the corner of the tarped (covered) seats in center. A nice young lady was able to beat the rush to the ball....with a "push" assist from a family member, and she ended up with it.

I worked my way over to her to see if she was interested in selling it. Turns out she is a true fan, and wants to keep it for life. I am thrilled she ended up with the ball.

Once I learned that she wouldn't sell it for ANY amount of money (I offered her $300.00 at first, went up to $1,000.00, then realized it wasn't about money with her.....she just wanted to keep it forever), I changed into my nice "fellow-collector" mode and talked to her and her family.

I got the guard stationed at the bottom of the stairs to call over a Dodger representative. I told her to ask the rep that would be coming to have the MLB Authenticator, present at every major league game, to place a sticker on the ball. I explained to her about the tamper-proof sticker, how it's numbered, and that it could be viewed on MLB's website at any time that details the fact that this was Manny's 543rd career home run ball, and it would always be in their database. She and her family had no idea that this was a possibility, and thanked me for the help.

In the meantime, the Dodger "picture people" took pictures of her and her family, happily holding the home run ball. The ball, by the way, had a nice "tarp" mark on it where it hit the covered seats. Unquestionably the ball Manny hit, not to mention the fact she's all over MLB.com and the Dodger site retrieving the ball.

So the rep shows up, and asks her to come with him to the Dodger office. He escourts her off. About a full inning later, she comes back. Here's what happened:

She has a disappointed look on her face as she explained to us that "The Dodgers wouldn't have the sticker placed on the ball because she wasn't going to give the ball to the Dodgers organization."

They told her they only authenticated items they would keep, place in their vault, and eventually showcase in their "Dodger Museum" they plan on opening soon.

Nice.

Classy.

One of the biggest money-making organizations in MLB won't even throw a bone to a happy fan and rightfully authenticate Manny's 543rd career homer for the lucky fan who ended up with it, with thousands of witnesses, video tape of the event for all eternity, and an unquestionable "mark" that could have only come from a spinning ball making contact with the "tarp".....all the time never leaving the area she retrieved the ball.

I mean.....if they won't authenticate that ball.....then why bother being there at all?

This brings to light the fact that this MLB authentication "service" is nothing more than a fabricated personal authentication service used specifically for the owners own benefit, and really nothing more. Yes, it's nice that they authenticate certain items to be cherished for eternity, but if they won't authenticate for the fans, then what good are they? I mean, it's the FANS that pay all of the salaries, the bills........what am I missing here?

I am disgusted.....thoroughly.....but not surprised. As I was lucky and able to pry Manny's 521st (Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, and Frank Thomas tying career home run ball, also giving him on the NOSE his 12th 100-RBI season, leaving his second only to Lou Gehrig's and Babe Ruth's 13-100 RBI seasons) out of the vault and hands of the Dodger organization with the help of the family who caught it, I experienced this first hand last year. I asked them to authenticate it with a sticker. They told me they hadn't had time to do it yet, and (sour-grapes like) explained to me that now, since it was leaving their hands, they wouldn't be able to.

Nice, Dodgers.......great management. Again, real classy.

I understand this may be a "park to park" policy, and it may be different, but please, share your experiences. I think it's a crime that MLB doesn't help out the fan base with a placing a sticker on a nice piece like this, especially when there is NO QUESTION as to it's authenticity. It's not the girl ran to the bathroom and had a chance to change out the ball with another one, or something rediculous like that.



In any case, in light of this "use".....or in my opinion, mis-use of MLB's authentication service, what are your thoughts?

if there is video of her on mlb.com isnt that proof enough. i would think that would be convincing enough evidence if she later decided to sell the baseball. never say never.

so if i catch a foul ball from my favorite dodger rafael furcal and they show an instant reply of the catch on the jumbotron, the dodger authentication team wound not authenticate as such? sounds greedy to me.

[suicide_squeeze]

If she could have gotten that ball mlb holo'd it would be one of the most saught after manny pieces ever, so its not like they are just slapping a sticker on a manny broken bat. I dont know how many manny hr balls have this much proof or being the actual ball let alone have an mlb hologram on them.

Now after saying that, i do think its a ratty move by the dodgers and i would be mad too. But then again, i still caught a home run ball so i wouldnt be too upset.

When you pay for your ticket does it say "you also have the right to get any foul ball, home run ball, or bat that flies into the stands immediately autheticated by an mlb representative" I dont think it does so the dodgers dont owe anyone anything.

Would it have been a nice thing for the Dodgers to do? Sure. Are they entitled to do it? Nope.

zookerman182,

I believe you are placing way too much stock in a MLB authentication sricker. Yes, they are nice to have on an item, but they do not "make" the item one of the most sought after (Manny, or whoever) items ever. That's way too bold an over-estimation.

There are actually much better ways to "authenticate" an item, none better than being there, being recorded on video of the actual game footage, getting signed letters of affidavits (for any item obtained) while at the game with on-hand witnesses who also sign the letter and supply phone numbers for later call-back verification, by taking pictures of the actual event while you are there, having your ticket stub for that area of the park on the date that the so-called item was obtained......I mean there are LOTS of ways of proving something is what it is, without that MLB sticker.

The point here is......It appears MLB authentication is snubbing the fans.....the very ones who pay all the bills for MLB, and it is of my opinion that that is dead wrong. Shame on the Dodgers, any other MLB franchise, and MLB in general for not having a more fan-based service set-up to properly authenticate each and every one of these little pieces of "MLB history" for anyone who is lucky enough to obtain one.

I mean......wouldn't doing something positive for the fans only increase excitement about the sport, about being there?.....about spending money to go to a game if you knew you might walk away with a little piece of history? Isn't that a large part of promoting the game itself? Creating good feelings towards it, while generating more interest in it's fan base (who pays the salaries and everything else)???

The way appears to be, now, is just a money-generating aid for the ownership or management of the local franchise, while they waste a golden opportunity to do something really worthwhile for the fans of the game.

[suicide_squeeze]

if there is video of her on mlb.com isnt that proof enough. i would think that would be convincing enough evidence if she later decided to sell the baseball. never say never.

so if i catch a foul ball from my favorite dodger rafael furcal and they show an instant reply of the catch on the jumbotron, the dodger authentication team wound not authenticate as such? sounds greedy to me.

I totally agree with you (was typing essentially the same thing at the same time as you, apparently).

My argument is why shove the "MLB Authentication!" garbage in our face if you aren't going to extend it to the fan base in cases where it's practical and obvious. That's a s#!tty way to treat the people who pay the bills and make this sport what it is financially.