Most ‘Dangerous’ Autographs: Ruth, Gehrig . . . Puig?

The name of Los Angeles Dodgers rookie star outfielder Yasiel Puig has been added to the latest buyer-beware list of frequently forged celebrities' autographs compiled annually by PSA/DNA Authentication Services (www.psadna.com).

Puig joins Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and other sports stars whose names have appeared over the years on PSA/DNA's "Most Dangerous Autographs" list.

"There's probably less than a 50-50 chance autographs offered in the marketplace of many current and former sports and entertainment celebrities are genuine," warns Joe Orlando, president of PSA/DNA.

In 2013 PSA/DNA experts evaluated more than 400,000 autographs submitted by collectors and dealers worldwide.

According to PSA/DNA, the ten "most dangerous" sports stars' autographs in 2013 were:
1) Babe Ruth
2) Lou Gehrig
3) Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio
4) Michael Jordan
5) Yasiel Puig
6) Muhammad Ali
7) Tiger Woods
8) Derek Jeter
9) Wayne Gretzky
10) LeBronJames

"It's not uncommon for us to reject 50 percent or more of the signatures submitted to our company, especially when it comes to the more prominent names," explained PSA/DNA authenticator Steve Grad who is one of the featured experts on the popular television series, "Pawn Stars."

Orlando added: "PSA/DNA does not often receive obvious forgeries for evaluation. So, if our rejection rate for a particular autograph approaches 50 percent, then you can only imagine how high the percentage of forgeries actually might be in the overall marketplace."

According to PSA/DNA, the 10 "most dangerous" autographs of entertainment and historical figures in 2013 were:
1) Elvis Presley
2) The Beatles
3) Neil Armstrong
4) John F. Kennedy
5) Michael Jackson
6) Marilyn Monroe
7) Jim Morrison
8) Jimi Hendrix
9) The Rolling Stones
10) "The Hunger Games" movies cast

The complete PSA/DNA report "Ten Most Dangerous Autographs of 2013," including other frequently-encountered forgeries as well as the average, current marketplace prices for genuine autographs, is available free online at http://www.psacard.com/MostDangerousAutographs.

"Whether it's the signature of a famous sports hero, an entertainment star or an important historical figure, it's important that consumers buy from reputable sellers who use credible, expert third-party authentication," Orlando cautioned.

"There are a lot so-called 'deals' for autographs that can be found online, at local flea markets and even at some collectibles conventions, but most of those 'deals' are simply too good to be true. Genuine autographs do not often sell for a huge discount. With the proper precautions and education, collectors can participate in a safe hobby environment and avoid becoming prey for unscrupulous sellers."