Don’t know how many of you periodically visit MEARS website, but Dave Grob has a piece currently posted that references Robert Edwards upcoming Auction…specifically, a 1938 Lou Gehrig Game Used jersey. If you are a member of their site, you also have access to their bulletin board. Posted on the board is an interesting dialogue exchange between Rob Lifson and Dave Grob. What I found intriguing is the below comment sent by Rob to Dave addressing the grades assigned to the jersey. Exact verbiage… “As it was, the authentication process of this jersey - as all three MEARS authenticators who were involved with it had different interpretations of the jersey and provided a different grade (A5, A7, and A9), was unprecedented and very confusing to us, creating a host of issues with the consignor, and creating uncertainty for us as to how to best address the conflicting MEARS opinions.” … WOW! What does this say about MEARS’ grading process. 3 authenticators, assessing a very significant piece and provide a wide range of grades. I would expect that if a methodical process is used, the grades should be relatively close. What does this say not only about MEARS grading process, but anyone else that is involved with assigning a grade based on an authenticator’s interpretation of the item. One day, you could send in an item that is assigned a grade of 5. Next day, item could receive a 9. By the way, they settled on an average grade and the Gehrig received an A7.