The market for autographed sports memorabilia is huge. In 2007, the sporting goods industry grossed approximately $2 billion, and that number has grown even more in the past three years.
For collectors paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for sports memorabilia, the authenticity of an item is the number one concern. Industry-leading autograph authenticator PSA/DNA recently claimed that only 33 percent of the more than 10,000 Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan autographs it analyzed were real, just one example of the ease with which sellers without reputation can introduce fraudulent items to the market.
When assigning the value of a certificate of authenticity to sports memorabilia, some in the industry can’t help but think of the scene in Tommy Boy when Chris Farley’s character tries to undermine a competitor’s written product guarantee:
Tommy: Why would someone put a guarantee on a box? Hmm, very interesting. That’s how I see it, Ted. The guy puts a fancy collateral on a box because he wants you to feel warm and toasty on the inside.
Client: Yes, it makes a man feel good.
Tommy: Of course I do. Why shouldn’t it? You figure if you put that little box under your pillow at night, the warranty fairy might drop by and leave you a quarter, right, Ted?
Client: What is your point?
Tommy: The point is, how do you know the fairy isn’t some crazy glue sniffer? “Building scale planes” says the little fairy; Well, we’re not buying it. She sneaks into your house once, that’s all it takes. The next thing you know, money is missing from the dresser and your daughter is pregnant. I’ve seen it a hundred times.
Glue sniffing aside, there’s no guarantee that sports memorabilia accompanied by a letter of authenticity is legitimate, and one shouldn’t assume that memorabilia lacking a certificate is fraudulent. That said, a certificate of authenticity for a sports collectible, whether it’s an autographed baseball, signed football jersey, or in-game pair of football boots, occupies an important place in the sports memorabilia marketplace ecosystem.
Casual and professional sports memorabilia collectors considering the role a certificate of authenticity can play should consider the following:
consider the source
Earlier this summer, Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg’s former minor league team (Harrisburg Senators) held an auction that included a pair of autographed cleats worn by Strasburg. The cleats were accompanied by a letter of authenticity from the Harrisburg Senators Baseball Club, a credible league organization whose letter carries significant weight relative to lesser-known or established authenticators.
Another example is eTopps, a Topps service, which provides limited edition autographed cards accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). The COA has the tag number associated with the particular card autographed. In both examples, the COAs and LOAs come from reputable organizations for which the buyer has at least some means of communicating with employees and staff. In other words, the source is important. COAs and LOAs from firms with less brand credibility, or who provide limited means of communication (PO box address, no phone number) should serve as a red flag for collectors.
Just because eBay is legit, not all of their sellers are.
eBay takes fraud very seriously and has invested significant resources and funds to do everything possible to protect honest buyers and sellers. But on eBay, as with any e-commerce site, those who are motivated to act criminally will. Sports collectors who purchase items on eBay that include a Certificate of Authenticity should not automatically assume that an item, or Certificate, is legitimate. As mentioned above, look closely at the vendor providing the certificate, as vendors may manufacture these certificates. At the same time, understand that a seller’s positive reviews are likely due to their diligence in shipping an item and “customer service” and should not serve as a guarantee that the items they ship are authentic.
Understanding the benefits, limits of a sports memorabilia certificate of authenticity
Certificates of authenticity can accompany an item purchased from eBay or other online sites, or alternatively, fans and collectors can submit autographs, photos, etc. to an authentication service such as PSA|DNA. These services employ signature and authentication experts who will examine, for a fee, shipped items and provide Letters of Authenticity if the autograph is deemed authentic. Services like PSA|DNA ensure that major auction houses (Christie’s, Mastro Fine Sport, Gray Flannel, Hunt Auctions, etc.) will accept items accompanied by their Letters of Authenticity or provide a refund.