Sports Memorabilia

Buying and Collecting Sports Memorabilia by C.G.

Buying and Collecting Sports Memorabilia can become quite an expensive hobby. That is why you need to choose carefully the items you purchase and who you purchase them from.

Not everyone can afford to attain a huge collection of autographed jerseys, items from their favorite players. Most of us start out as kids collecting baseball cards and comic books. As we grow older our tastes seem to get a bit more expensive.

Today the Sports Memorabilia craze has turned into a billion dollar industry. With the increase of popularity in collecting autographed Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles comes greed. Unscrupulous people who want to take advantage of a collector's dreams. Fraudulent autographs have flooded the market over the past several years. The popularity of buying online has helped cloak these criminals in a veil of secrecy. Anyone can set up shop on places like eBay and hawk their wares while remaining anonymous from the buyers who spend their hard earned money to own a piece of Sports History and greatness.

While it is impossible to definitely estimate the percentage of forged memorabilia, most industry experts concede that over half of the autographed memorabilia is forged. In fact, some cooperating subjects and memorabilia experts believe that up to ninety percent of the memorabilia on the market is forged. Industry experts estimate that the autographed memorabilia market in the United States is approximately $1 billion per year. Using these estimates, forged memorabilia comprises between $500,000,000 and $900,000,000 of the market.

So how do you protect yourself from these crooks?

This is an excerpt from the FBI's San Diego office after Operation Bullpen.

Public Awareness

Perhaps the most important objective of this investigation is to increase public awareness regarding the substantial memorabilia fraud problem which may account for upwards of $500,000,000 in losses annually. While there are legitimate and reputable companies selling authentic memorabilia, the industry has been plagued with high-quality forgeries making it difficult for legitimate companies to compete. It also defrauds thousands of unsuspecting consumers each year.

While the only way to absolutely guarantee that the autographed memorabilia is authentic is to personally witness the autograph, there are several ways to avoid becoming a memorabilia fraud victim. These recommendations include:

If the price is too good to be true, it is probably a fake. If a company offers an autographed item well below competitors prices and market value, then consumers should be wary. An example would include Michael Jordan basketballs, which some companies sell for as low as $150.00. Given Jordan's current exclusive contract with Upper Deck and difficulties associated with obtaining his autograph, the Tuff Stuff Magazine market value of an autographed Jordan Basketball is $500, while Upper Deck Michael Jordan autographed basketballs retail for up to $1,500. (Caution - a high price does not by any means suggest authenticity either.)

Certificates of authenticity are not guarantees of authenticity. Individuals and companies involved with selling forged memorabilia often include a Certificate of Authenticity, allegedly from a third party expert. Often, the authenticator is either a knowing or unknowing, but incompetent, participant in the fraud. Carefully read the Certificate of Authenticity, looking for the authentication "language", an address, telephone number and name of the authenticators. Do not accept copies of Certificates of Authenticity.

A photograph of an athlete or celebrity signing an autograph is no guarantee the item is authentic. This investigation revealed that it is a common practice of forged memorabilia traffickers to include a photograph of the athlete/celebrity signing the item along with a Certificate of Authenticity. Traffickers also include photographs of themselves with the athlete/celebrity to lend credibility to their forged memorabilia.

An individual or company having a paid signing session with an athlete or celebrity is no guarantee of authenticity. Operation Bullpen has revealed that is a common practice for forged memorabilia traffickers to "mix-in" forged memorabilia with items signed during an autograph session. For example, a company may pay to have an athlete sign 500 items. After the signing, the company will "mix-in" forgeries with the authentic autographs. The company also may continue to sell forged items after the authentic items have been sold claiming that they were from the autograph session.
The method of selling the memorabilia should not affect skepticism about the items authenticity. The investigation revealed that forged memorabilia traffickers sell their forgeries through a variety of methods which may lend credibility to the forgeries. One such sales method is through charity auctions in which the trafficker splits the profits with the charity. At charity auctions, buyers often overpay for items and do not question the authenticity of the memorabilia. Traffickers also sell forged items through trade publications, television shopping networks, trade shows, retail businesses, and the Internet. Before purchasing autographed memorabilia, especially "vintage" or deceased athlete/celebrity memorabilia, ask questions about the history and circumstances relating to the autograph. Be wary of far-fetched or elaborate stories which are difficult, if not impossible to verify. Common false stories suggest connections to an athlete, or "runners" employed to get autographs. Whenever possible, attempt to verify the history and circumstances of the autographed items before making the purchase.

If an individual is seeking an autograph of a current player, send a request for an autograph directly to the athlete's team. Include a letter requesting that the enclosed item be autographed along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or container. Only send photographs, cards or baseballs. Large items such as bats and jerseys should not be sent directly to the athlete. In the letter requesting an autograph, request information relating to where you can purchase authentic autographed jerseys, items if the athlete does not sign autographs through mailed requests. The athlete or the team may direct the buyer to a company which has an autograph contract with the athlete.

To counter the forged memorabilia problem, many athletes and celebrities are either creating their own autograph company or are signing exclusive contracts with specific sports memorabilia companies. Dealing directly with the athlete's company or with an exclusive contract company will greatly reduce the likelihood of purchasing forged memorabilia.