What do you think of this Heritage offering?

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by shelly

I would be amazed if Heritage did not allow anyone into the auction preview. In fact they would be fools if they did that. Just think about the negative press that they would get.
Why would any auction house not allow anyone in unless they have doubt's of there own. What better way to prove to those who think the ball is not authentic but to let them see it in person. Would anyone of you spend that kind of money on just someone's word. I sure would like to see what I am buying in or send someone that has no interest but to make sure what I am buying is truly what they say it is.

What I Find most amazing is. Heritage has what they call two of the greatest experts in the autograph world. Yet you do not see them saying in there opinion it is authentic. Why do they go outside of there own staff to have this item authenticated? In fact when have you ever seen Gutierrez or Jordan on any of there certs.
Just so you know this is from Mike's site dated Feb 2 2013. No conflict of interest at all.


Mike Gutierrez is a vintage sports autograph and memorabilia specialist with experience dating back to the 1970s. Currently, he works for Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, as a consignments director and is also an autograph authentication consultant for James Spence Authentication (JSA), the leader in sports authentication.
Hey, If I am that person buying that ball that is what I would ask.

Any auction I have attended has not allowed anyone to preview unless they are registered to bid. If you are "banned", you cannot register and, therefore, you cannot preview. The only exceptions I have run into are charity auctions. But then again, maybe I have a shifty visage*.

*Trademarked. Any band that would like to use it, let's talk.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Deertick

Any auction I have attended has not allowed anyone to preview unless they are registered to bid. If you are "banned", you cannot register and, therefore, you cannot preview. The only exceptions I have run into are charity auctions. But then again, maybe I have a shifty visage*.

*Trademarked. Any band that would like to use it, let's talk.

Looks like Travis and I are out of luck.

[travrosty]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Looks like Travis and I are out of luck.

I guess I am out of luck, and I was on such a roll too.

[Plinvestments]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Looks like Travis and I are out of luck.

You can preview with a $100 donation to charity.

[shelly]

I know that Heritage reads this site. If you really feel that the ball is authentic then I would lift any ban on any member of this site. I think that Leon should also request that as well.

[JimStinson]

According to the description of the baseball, it was a gift directly from Earle Combs to his neighbor. On an item expected to sell for as much as this one there would or should be a paper trail a mile long.

How difficult then to request the NAME of the neighbor which certainly the consignor would be more than happy to provide,

take less than an hour do a search of the Federal Census records. Confirm Combs address......his home address is in all of the census back to when he was a baby....and then confirm the proximity of the neighbor. Pretty simple stuff. Also could be crossed checked against the city directory and the best part is all this information is available on line.

Then to be extra diligent find a living relative if the neighbor is deceased (also through census records) and confirm. Then after ALL of that is done examine the item in question.
______________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

[shelly]

Jim, why would you go through all that if you have two letters from the "the top two authenticator.'s in the world"
They just think that what ever these people say is fact. How many times will it take for any of these auction houses to realize that it is just an opinion and for that kind of money I sure would do a lot more than an opinion.
I still find it offensive that they would not allow a people that are respected in the industry to look at there items.
I think that they would appreciate someone else's opinion for that kind of money. If I where the buyer I would like to have a real exam of the ball. it might cost them a few thousand but worth it in the long run.

[travrosty]

They think they are setting dangerous precedent to let others look at it besides psa and jsa. They think that opens them up to the appearance that psa and jsa arent up to the job if the word gets out that others were brought in to inspect and investigate the items and/or autographs. They want the impression that psa and jsa are the be-all end-all to everything, case closed, no further authentication needed. period. End of story. PSA or JSA and nobody else.

They do that at their own peril. But its up to them. I dont see how it has been working out in their favor lately. Is it just me or do these old, valuable, rare balls and signatures seem to always have BOTH authenticators signing off on them. You would think that at least some of the time they would disagree and there would only be one of them that liked it, either just psa or just a jsa certificate. But it seems like they always have both.

I am wondering if the second company that looks at these items is told beforehand if the first one has passed it or not. It should be a blind study type of thing, where both companies are not told at all if the other one liked it. It is only fair to do it that way as to not give the appearance of the results being tainted by prior knowledge of the other authenticators decision.

Ivy won't come on here but Jonathan does so let's hear how these authentications work. Are they told if the other service has given it the ok or not before they look at it?

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Deertick

Any auction I have attended has not allowed anyone to preview unless they are registered to bid. If you are "banned", you cannot register and, therefore, you cannot preview. The only exceptions I have run into are charity auctions. But then again, maybe I have a shifty visage*.

*Trademarked. Any band that would like to use it, let's talk.

Sorry Jim,

Your trademark request has been categorically denied. Visage, the band, was formed circal 1978 by 2 members of the Rich Kids, Midge Ure and Rusty Egan along with Steve Strange who hosted club nights with Rusty in a London club called Blitz. The Rich Kids also included original Sex Pistol guitar player Glen Matlock (Who I will be seeing with original Ramone Tommy at a coffeehouse in Virginia in April). Visage would release 3 albums from 1980 to 1984 and had a top 10 hit in England with 'Fade to Gray'. During their early incarnation they were joined by Billy Curry from Ultravox while that band was on hiatus. Ultravox had a new wave dance hit with "Sleepwalk" in 1981. When Ultravox returned from their break Curry would rejoin that band and take Midge Ure with him.

Steve Strange continued the band in various forms that included musicians John McGeoch (Magazine, Siouxsie & the Banshees), Dave Formula (Magazine), Barry Adamson (Magazine, Buzzcocks, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds) and in demand session saxaphonist and future producer Gary Barnacle (M, Kim Wilde, Elvis Costello, Soft Cell,Tina Turner, David Bowie and Pet Shop Boys). Strange still performs using that name and in 2012 he started recording a new Visage album.

Sorry to disappoint you. No money to be made on this. How did I know this to begin with? Started listening to the Sex Pistols in 1976. College radio in Boston 1979-82 playing everything from hardcore punk (Dead Kennedy's, Ramones, Pistols) to 1970's R&B to Miles Davis. Truly free form radio. Bouncer in a new wave dance club in Boston in 1980. Concert photography 1979 to date. Very broad spectrum of musical tastes. My personal Top 500 songs is all over the place - Disco Tex and the Sexolettes, Iggy Pop, Cat Stevens, Public Image Limited, Paul Anka etc. etc. And yes, it is written down.

Cheers,

Michael

[David Atkatz]

"Shifty Visage" is not the same as "Visage."

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

"Shifty Visage" is not the same as "Visage."

Thank you David!

Michael, just remember this: Everything counts in large amounts.

I did not mean to derail this into a circle jerk with dead milkmen clashing with BHS.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Deertick

Thank you David!

Michael, just remember this: Everything counts in large amounts.

I did not mean to derail this into a circle jerk with dead milkmen clashing with BHS.

Very good. Quotation marks around 'shifty visage' would have been clearer to me, but you get that one. As long as you are not telling me to 'Wayne County and the Electric Chairs signature song' which is not repeatable here.