Autograph Collecting Info

[xpress34]

At least you signed your post and gave points of concern without a personal attack.

Joel -

I learned along time ago - 'you catch more with honey than vinegar'.

Like I said, I see both sides of the base argument, but PSA/DNA, JSA, GAI, etc, etc and even the auction houses aren't 'above the law' when they continue to employ and/or use guys who actually have CRIMINAL records for fraud in the industry they are still working in!

One of my favorite 'bashes of one of these authenticators is a video that was circulating on You Tube a couple of years ago. (I don't remember which company it was)

So they zoom in on an 'authenticator who is handling a 'Babe Ruth' AU ball and states that without even looking at the auto he knows it must be fake because the ball is a 'machine stitched' ball. He goe on about how much he knows about baseballs and that they quit hand stitching balls back in the '30's. I almost fell out of my chair laughing.

1st - regardless of his 'expert' opinion, he's handling he customer's ball with his bare hands! - No gloves, no protection.

2nd - I don't know if you knew I use to work for Rawlings, but there are NO machine stitched balls!!! No matter how cheap - baseball, softball, etc - there is NOT a machine made that can stitch a sphere in a figure 8 pattern without stitching the cover directly to the core. All balls are hand stitched.

The arrogance of these guys just makes me laugh!

All the best -

Smitty

[sammy]

---------------

Wow, over 800+ views on the AA thread in just two days.

That's pretty cool.

---------------

[trsent]

---------------

Wow, over 800+ views on the AA thread in just two days.

That's pretty cool.

---------------

Yup, you keep praising your friend's web site, and I'll keep preaching the truth about their suspect pasts and hidden agenda.

[ironmanfan]

Yup, you keep praising your friend's web site, and I'll keep preaching the truth about their suspect pasts and hidden agenda.

That's pretty cool

[sammy]

-------------------

It's still a semi-free country, so preach all you want.

I personally enjoy reading your intellectual responses.

Just wish you would come up with something to actually dispute what they state, instead of just always attacking the messenger, and not the message.

-------------------

[trsent]

Just wish you would come up with something to actually dispute what they state, instead of just always attacking the messenger, and not the message.

No, sorry, I just quote others:

The uproar created by Autograph Alert’s recent allegations against Upper Deck and Razor and their use of suspect Presidential cut autographs made we want to do a little research to find out exactly who is the author and operator of that website. Knowing first hand how cut-throat the autograph authenticity industry can be, I’m glad I did because as it turns out, Steve Koschal is a very disgruntled industry “expert” tied to numerous allegations of fraud, forgery and deception. Once a well respected industry insider with notable credentials, Mr. Koschal has run into some serious criminal allegations.

The International Autograph Collectors Club and Dealers Alliance or IADA-CC confirms that Autograph Alert is run by Mr. Koschal.

A search engine inquiry provides too many results to provide a concise synopsis, but suffice it today that it is always important to know the source of an allegation before finding someone immediately guilty. For those wanting to learn more about who is exactly behind the so-called "news" at Autograph Alert, please feel free to do your own research by reading any of the following articles:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2007/07/15/2007-07-15_lack_of_intent_seen_in_flubs_at_auctions.html The testimony of two experts hired by Daniels to testify that some of the autographs on the photos were forgeries was excluded by the judge. Kincaid said neither Richard Simon nor Stephen Koschal "possess sufficient skill, knowledge or experience in the fields in which they were asked to render opinions."

http://www.stephenkoschal.com/drseuss_sp_cat.html fakes include

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/426/RipOff0426764.htmhttp://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/424/RipOff0424885.htm

(http://autographdealernews.com/Articles.aspx?article=11

http://www.squidoo.com/amazingjourneys

http://www.uacc.info/page66.htmlhttp://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/06/State/Sale_of_Chicago_seria.shtml

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/psychology/serial_killer_art/6.html

http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000330.html koschal published fake Armstrongs as real so he could sell his forgeries

http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000332.html more of the same

[sammy]

-------------

Sorry Joel, I still don't see anything to support your accusations.

If you would have actually done any research into the UD and Razor fiasco, you would have found out that Koschal was right and Razor/UD did replace some of those autographs because they were suspect.

You have a Judge involved with the Mastro ripoff stating that Koshal and Simon were not qualified. That was based on technical issues, not hobby experience.

You have a couple of mysterious people stating whatever. Believe that one site is run by John Reznikoff who is exposed on the AA site, but the author doesn't sign his name, so nobody knows.

You have some articles about Koschal selling artwork done by a convicted killer.

Still don't see you disputing ANYTHING stated on that site with anything relevent. Still just trying to attack the messenger, not the message.

Preach it Joel.

-----------------

[spartanservitto]

They sent out a FB status about over 1000 sandy koufax, mantle, and ali autographs being fake... then they offer for sale "legit" mantle autographs. Its just a ploy...

Granted every company is going to have mistakes or errors, it happens, especially with the human element involved, but for this site to just bash like they are the second coming of christ... its just an add ploy.

-Tony

[trsent]

Still don't see you disputing ANYTHING stated on that site with anything relevent. Still just trying to attack the messenger, not the message.

Preach it Joel.

You forgot to mention the warrant in New Jersey for unpaid child support.

You praise a person who attacks others, hides behind a hidden agenda since they are attacking their competition, won't admit they are writing the articles by signing them, and then you want us the believe everything they post is fact.

You don't believe a judge can decide who is qualified to make decisions of who is qualified, but you continue to praise a web site that no one but yourself takes seriously.

As for his work with John Wayne Gacy - Pathetic and very suspect of a man's character to make profit off a man who was convicted of killing 33 boys, young children, just outside of Chicago. Steve was refereed to as Gacy's agent. I understand, you can't pay child support in New Jersey and you can represent a man who took the lives of 33 innocent children moving his artwork.

Sorry, keep trying to make me to be a bad guy, but the way you write it is believed you are well into this site to the point that you must be involved a lot more than you admit. No one praises a guy who won't pay child support unless they have a hidden agenda.

[legaleagle92481]

Why do you all care so much? Are any of you working for these companies? NOONE can tell for sure whether an autograph they did not see signed is real. Autographs are like snowflakes no two are the same. Authentic sigs don't match exemplars sometimes and fake sigs at times appear to. All these guys are just rendering an opinion for money. To me with modern stuff who needs them? Buy from a big company or something that started there or get it signed yourself.