.... Maybe it is just me, but does everyone else think MLB Authentication Process only benefits MLB auctions?

Here are my personal experiences with MLB authentication:

1. I caught mutiple HRs at Yankee Stadium (both New and Old). My season tickets are in Left Field (1st row) next to Monument Park @ the old stadium, in the new stadium - I am also in 1st row in section 103 (got to love the wind-tunnel effect when balls flying off to right field).

2. Some of the names included Alex, Teixeira, Sheffield, Matsui, Posada, Bernie and some rookies from yankees farm system... as for the rest of the league, I have a bunch of others.

3. After getting the HR ball, I always contact security and asked for MLB employee who always at the stadium to authenticate items related to the game - just in case the game become something historical. After multiple times being told - UNLESS I GAVE THE BALL TO THE YANKEES IN EXCHANGE FOR SOMETHING ELSE, THE HOMERUN BALL WILL NOT BE AUTHENTICATED.

3A. Yes, I do have photo from the game when the HR ball hit and landed. I even have video converted to DVD from Sportscenter and other sources showing I caught the HR ball.



4. Now seeing how much these HR balls going for, in Alex case - I was thinking selling or better yet trade some of these HR ball. (yes I was there, the ball landed one section over from where I am at and worst of all, it landed in the rift-raft country - a walkway where handicap fans sit, which accumalate a ton of ballhawk-wanna-be. At list this season at the new stadium, there will be no rift-raft since all field seating has security who supposed to deny your entry if you dont have tickets in that location).


5. Let's get to the point of this question - why MLB authentication would NOT authenticate for the fans who happen to catch HR ball or even foul ball at the game? Monetary reasons? or they just want to monopolize the authentication process since it is supposed to be the standard. Even though, I still dont trust some of the stuff that has the hologram sticker.


Just wondering what the rest of GU village think about this process. Was it helpful to the fan - more like a business person who has the intention to sell the item, or is it has better purpose to inflate auction price?