Mickey Mantle auto help

[xholdourownx]

I was at a local pawn shop today. Had a day of looking at different antique and thrift stores and this was the last stop. But I found this baseball at the store for $70 dollars. I almost bought it. I figure spending $70 and having it authenticated would still be a deal. Thought I would ask your opinions on the auto whether it seems real or not. Thanks for the help. Sorry the picture isn't the best, all I had was my phone.

[metrotheme]

It's so hard to trust Mantle signed items out there. There were so many guys whose job it was to forge his signature. Good luck.

[xholdourownx]

It's so hard to trust Mantle signed items out there. There were so many guys whose job it was to forge his signature. Good luck.

That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw the price.

[Extra Innings]

That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw the price.

Is it possible the pawn shop would take a best offer?

[xholdourownx]

Is it possible the pawn shop would take a best offer?

They may. I'm not really sure. They have a 30 day return policy, so if I could get it authenticated within 30 days, that would work too.

There were a few other baseballs there. Some were obviously fake. One had a Mantle, Whitey Ford, and a DiMaggio. The Ford and DiMaggio looked horrible. The DiMaggio was obviously faked.

Another had Ford, Mantle, and Skowron. The Ford and Mantle looked horrible. The Ford was especially bad, not looking anything like any of his autos I have seen.

There was also a Willie Mays ball selling for $160 that made me skeptical of the Mantle price of $70. Shouldn't the Mantle be higher?

[ol' aches and pains]

The picture you provided is so out of focus it's impossible to be sure, but I compared it to two Mantle autographs I obtained in person at a card show about 20 years ago, one on a ball, one inside the cover of a book. If it's a fake, it's a pretty good one, but at that price, I'm suspicious. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[xholdourownx]

The picture you provided is so out of focus it's impossible to be sure, but I compared it to two Mantle autographs I obtained in person at a card show about 20 years ago, one on a ball, one inside the cover of a book. If it's a fake, it's a pretty good one, but at that price, I'm suspicious. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

That was helpful. I tried my best with the picture but couldn't do much better than that. The price was making my worried, but I thought that maybe the people who priced it just didn't know what it was worth. I compared it to a few certified autos on ebay and it looks pretty good.

[NateMan]

I would never recommend buying any autograph from a place that was selling obvious fakes. I would also never recommend buying autographs from a pawn shop.

[xholdourownx]

I would never recommend buying any autograph from a place that was selling obvious fakes. I would also never recommend buying autographs from a pawn shop.

I wouldn't normally, but with the price I couldn't help but be curious. I see the reward as being greater than the risk for this one. And they did have some other autos that I knew were real.

[ol' aches and pains]

To give you an idea what they're selling for, check here. That $70 price, plus the other fakes you saw, would be a red flag for me FWIW.
http://www.nextag.com/mickey-mantle-autographed-baseball/stores-html

[Bennybosox]

Look, the way I see it is if there is a 30-day money back gaurentee--go for it! Authentication shouldn't be more than $40, if if there is a chance that it's real than it's worth a $40 risk IMO.

Is the shop selling it with any type of COA? If they are (or possibly not) you may still be able to get back the cost of authentication if it's a fake. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to sell fake autographs, so you have the law on your side if the ball is a fugazzi.

Also, did the store owner tell you that it was real? Did he give you a back story as to how he obtained it? If the guy stands behind the product let him know your intentions-- possibly he'll agree to pay back the cost of professional authentication if the ball is deemed a fake.

[xholdourownx]

Look, the way I see it is if there is a 30-day money back gaurentee--go for it! Authentication shouldn't be more than $40, if if there is a chance that it's real than it's worth a $40 risk IMO.

Is the shop selling it with any type of COA? If they are (or possibly not) you may still be able to get back the cost of authentication if it's a fake. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to sell fake autographs, so you have the law on your side if the ball is a fugazzi.

Also, did the store owner tell you that it was real? Did he give you a back story as to how he obtained it? If the guy stands behind the product let him know your intentions-- possibly he'll agree to pay back the cost of professional authentication if the ball is deemed a fake.

Smart thinking. I was curious about the law side of this whole thing. I might go later today and talk to the owner about the whole thing and see what he says.

[Bennybosox]

Smart thinking. I was curious about the law side of this whole thing. I might go later today and talk to the owner about the whole thing and see what he says.

I'd be interseted to see a clearer picture of the ball if you go back, as well as some shot of the other balls if possible

[xholdourownx]

I'd be interseted to see a clearer picture of the ball if you go back, as well as some shot of the other balls if possible

I've got some pictures of the other balls I can put up tonight. I might go back tonight.

[xholdourownx]

Haven't had a chance to stop by the store again. But here are some pictures I took of the other baseballs. All of the autos in these pictures are on the same ball.

[dmbfan]

That DiMaggio looks terrible. Even a blurry photo shows what a terrible forgery it is. Both the Mantle and Ford look fairly solid. However, I know that there are a great number of Mantle fakes on the market that can fool even the "experts". I was lucky enough to get the five Mantle autographs I have in person.

It may not be a bad idea to take a shot with getting it authenticated. From a financial perspective, a $70 investment can turn into a minimum $350 return if the autograph is authenticated as the real thing.

[Bennybosox]

I've got some pictures of the other balls I can put up tonight. I might go back tonight.


Wow...you know what, That Dimaggio is SO BAD that I might wanna re-think the whole thing. I guess the important thing to do now is to find out if all of these balls came from the same place. If they did than I'm sure its not worth any sort of risk.

That said, if you're able to work out something with the owner where he would stand behind the product and agree to refund the price of authentication as well as your purchase than there really is no risk and I would do it.

[flyingdutchdude]

1 fake = all fake

Buy ONLY if you have a 100% $$ back if doesnt pass PSA/DNA etc.

any good seller will stand behind his item and say yes.