Roberto Clemente Signed Autographed Baseball Global Authentics

[thetruthisoutthere]

Here's an interesting item I found on Ebay. The auction has been removed, but I did save photographs from the auction.

The item is a Roberto Clemente autographed baseball. When I first opened it, I knew the Clemente autograph wasn't authentic, but something else caught my eye.

First, the photograph of the signed baseball.

Looks similar to the Clemente crap that is listed by Coach's Corner every month, but this one is authenticated by Global Authentics (Steve Sipe). Yes, Steve Sipe of Global Authentics authenticated this Roberto Clemente autograph. But it doesn't end at the autograph.

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As I scanned the photographs of the baseball, I noticed that someone had removed some markings underneath the Spalding label.

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I then contacted Brandon, our resident baseball expert, who identified the baseball as a 1974-1976 Feeney NL baseball. Below is what the baseball (without the markings removed) should look like. The photograph below was provided to me by Brandon.

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Below are photographs of the COA and LOA of the baseball authenticated by Global Authentics. The LOA is signed by Steve Sipe and Bob Gryder.

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Below is a photograph of the item description.

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Way to go Steve Sipe and Bob Gryder of Global Authentics. Even though I knew the Clemente autograph wasn't authentic when I first scanned the signature, but the fact that this particular baseball was produced between 1974 and 1976 proves that Mr. Clemente could not have signed that baseball. Roberto Clemente passed away December 31, 1972.

I would like to thank Brandon for his expertise in dating this baseball. A link to his website is below.

http://www.historyofthebaseball.com/

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Wow fraudsters, at least do your homework outside of forging a signature lol

[RichardSimon]

Why do their homework? That would only mean that items would get turned down.
That would only mean they get less business.
Shaky authentications = $$$

[travrosty]

the pen pressure is too dark and even for clemente, it should be faster with light areas, etc.

[thecatspajamas]

They (the forger) did do their homework insofar as they knew to try and obscure certain markings on the ball with the scuffing. They were just too lazy to source a proper ball for their forgery. They should have just saved this ball until they had practiced up on their Thurman Munson signature

[RichardSimon]

No need to use an old NL ball for Thurman Munson forgeries, there are plenty of 1978 WS balls still around.