Back then, law enforcement estimated that more than half of all autographs for sale were fake, and criminals were making millions.
The sting operation exposed a network of memorabilia forgers. It all started with the FBI’s Operation Bullpen in the late 1990s. “As it turns out," says Posner, "that urinal was purchased by a urologist for a couple thousand dollars at auction."īut it was the money paid for autographs, not urinals, that led Major League Baseball to establish its authentication program. So, you might be wondering, what’s the market like for used urinals?
If we see it there, we can witness it and we can authenticate it.” Here’s the hologram on it where the authenticator went into the clubhouse and put it on there.' Fortunately, the stadium was not in use at that point so it wasn’t as difficult a process. “You know, 'Don’t take my word that this urinal is from Busch Stadium. “We have authenticated urinals from Busch Stadium ,” says Michael Posner, director of MLB’s authentication program. The hologram labels that are placed on all authenticated items have a reference number and QR code that can be checked online at the MLB's website. They’ll tag bats, balls, bases, jerseys, retired pieces of the Green Monster, champagne bottles from playoff celebrations - pretty much, you name it and MLB will authenticate it. They exist to protect MLB’s fans, its history and, of course, a large money-making enterprise.įor every game during the regular season and playoffs, MLB’s authenticators are ready to certify items with tamper-proof hologram stickers. But the fact that they played a role in a Major League Baseball game makes them special. Lineup cards and broken bats - the typical remnants of your typical baseball game. Martino asks Schneider, “Anything special today?” Schneider says, “No, just the lineup card and any broken bats we have.”
Outside the visitors’ clubhouse, authenticator John Martino talks to Houston Astros clubhouse manager Carl Schneider. It's 90 minutes before the first pitch at Fenway Park. Facebook Email John Martino authenticates a bat that was broken while Josh Reddick of the Houston Astros was batting.