I recently attended a comic con show and a dealer was selling a beautiful autograph of Mickey Mantle. It was signed on an American League ball, on the sweet spot in blue pen. When I asked the dealer "How much for the Mantle ball?", he responded "$150." I asked who authenticated it and he said he won it at an auction, but had no authentication. That explained why a $800-$1000 ball was only $150. It was too good to be true. So I walked away.
Recently the PSA/DNA corporation listed the most forged autographs of 2013. There are certainly giants of sports on that list such as Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, Williams, Jordan in addition to current Los Angeles Dodger Yasiel Puig.
So when purchasing an autograph that you don't see signed yourself, the sales person should always be able to show you some form of authentication. That can be a simple certificate, hologram, certified letter or online verification. They should also be able to explain where the autograph came from. That could be a public or private signing, a charity auction or a specific company. It's ok to ask lots of questions, it's your money changing hands. And if it's too good to be true, then walk away.
Full forgery article is below.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/yasiel-puig-among-most-forged-autographs-collectibles-industry-194457014--mlb.html
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