I started trying to photo-match my game used helmets in the early 90s. My first one was Terry Steinbach's A's catching helmet. He used it for a few years and the marks are pretty distinct. Since then, I've sort of been hooked on photo-matching whatever I can. Other helmet matches for me include Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira, Dale Murphy, Mike Lansing, Mark Lemke, Mike Felder, Luis Gonzalez, and Greg Olson (Braves).

Dick Dobbins once told me that he wouldn't call something game used unless he witnessed the use, and then was handed the item directly by the player. No one compares to Dobbins of course (especially these instant-dealers who use ebay to stock their inventory), but he had the right idea. That is, no one can refute the authenticity of an item if it was witnessed in use, i.e, a solid photo-match - exept for maybe Lou Lampson, who's currently busy authenticating Peyton Manning's first stroller.

So here's the question: What g/u items from your collection have you photo-matched?

-Jason