MLB "Authenticators" at each game....for what, exactly???

[suicide_squeeze]

SS -

Just paraphrasing (or spinning the story if you like ) this section to make a point...



So exactly WHEN is this 'Dodger Museum' opening? I would think long time Dodger fans would have heard of it or talked about it on the boards before...

That said, this is just another example of MLB and its teams screwing the PAYING fans... I'm certain the Dodgers would ONLY cert the ball if it was staying in their organization so they could SELL it in their team auction site... I doubt the balkl would have ever seen the light of day in this 'Dodger Museum'...

Just my .02

- Chris

Chris,

In direct answer to your question, it was the Vice President of Public Relations who mentioned it to me in person. He had told the family who came back to Dodger Stadium with me to argue to get Manny's 521st home run ball back that that's what they planned to do with the ball.

While there, this VP "Lon" stated it again. He specifically mentioned it would be open in "2009". I don't know when, and I don't know if the plan to open it is on schedule or not. I don't even know where the location will be, although he mentioned it will be on the Dodger Stadium location.

But that said, to be honest, I don't care. The reason I don't care, is because it'll open when it opens, and when it does, I'll check it out.

In the meantime, I'm doing my absolute best to try and obtain a few home run balls by players I want them from, and the biggest obstacle I run into is the DODGER management.

It's a real bummer when you do everything you can in your power to get to a fan who caught a ball, only to be beat to the punch by the very organization who runs the joint.....they have a built-in unfair advantages since they have "Dodger personel" and security posted everywhere. Then to find out they gave the fan essentially "nothing" for what you were fighting so hard to obtain......man, that's a tough pill to swallow. They drag the fan off, woo them with their bulls#!t and offer them "play-off and World Series tickets" while showing them the inner "guts" and circles of Dodger Stadium.......just so they end up with the collectible the fan has. The fans, overcome by all of the "woo-ing", always break down and "give-in" and give the Dodgers what they want. It doesn't occur to them that the Dodgers haven't "locked up" a play-off spot, or may not even MAKE the World Series.

The whole thing is wrong. But that's just me.

[suicide_squeeze]

i also just saw the replay and the ball landed on the tarp and didnt move from the tarp. Therefore someone had to take it off the tarp or get hoisted up to get the ball. Maybe if the ball lands in a spot where the fans cant get it, it becomes property of the team. For instance a bullpen or the old black seats or other nooks over the outfield walls at other ball parks. By the looks of where the ball landed it must have taken quite an opperation to get that ball.

zookerman182,

It was a piece of cake getting the ball.

It hit the tarp, and rolled just to the end where it almost fell over the edge of the tarp covering the seats. There is a concrete path in front of the first row of seats that she ran about 10 feet to get to the ball as others were closing in on top of the tarp. She beat them to the ball. She was sitting in the second row, right on the aisle. Look at the video again, she was wearing a white t-shirt. She was assisted by a family friend/member who grabbed her arm and threw her in the direction of the ball. That made the difference....

[Lokee]

Here is what is posted on the MLB Authentication site

"Major League Baseball uses a third party authenticator at each and every game, who witnesses all items that received a signature or that were removed from the field. Every item, once witnessed, will receive a sequentially numbered, tamper-proof hologram created by OpSec, U.S. to easily identify its Major League Baseball authenticity."

So take that for what is is worth.

If MLB is using it for it's auctions to generate money you bet your bottom dollar it will be holo'ed.

[suicide_squeeze]

Here is what is posted on the MLB Authentication site

"Major League Baseball uses a third party authenticator at each and every game, who witnesses all items that received a signature or that were removed from the field. Every item, once witnessed, will receive a sequentially numbered, tamper-proof hologram created by OpSec, U.S. to easily identify its Major League Baseball authenticity."

So take that for what is is worth.

If MLB is using it for it's auctions to generate money you bet your bottom dollar it will be holo'ed.

Lokee,

And that's their right. But on the few identifiable items taken from the ballfield like a home run ball.......why not take it one step further and authenticate the iron-clad items with those stickers for the few fans thaqt are lucky enough to obtain one?

I mean.....is it me? Would it be that much of a stretch to show you care for the fans paying for MLB's existence, especially when there is an authenticator present at every single game?? The "cost" of the authenticator is already paid for.....so show a bit of class and care for the fans.

I just think this would add a whole new dimension to the sport of MLB and a connection with fans......instead of the same old treatment

[markize]

Lokee,

And that's their right. But on the few identifiable items taken from the ballfield like a home run ball.......why not take it one step further and authenticate the iron-clad items with those stickers for the few fans thaqt are lucky enough to obtain one?

I mean.....is it me? Would it be that much of a stretch to show you care for the fans paying for MLB's existence, especially when there is an authenticator present at every single game?? The "cost" of the authenticator is already paid for.....so show a bit of class and care for the fans.

I just think this would add a whole new dimension to the sport of MLB and a connection with fans......instead of the same old treatment

Steve,

the problem is that you're assuming MLB cares after you buy that ticket. They see authenticating a home run baseball as increasing your profit should you choose to sell it. If the demand is high enough down the road for authentication, I could see a fee being tacked on. The rich get richer!

I say what the hell, give the fans a freebie. Not everyone is looking to make big cash off a game used baseball as some are (insert your favorite dealer or ballhawk, etc here). You are evidence of that my friend!

Mark

[jobathenut]

I did'nt read all the post on this thread so i don't know if it's already been said.But i don't understand why you would need to have mlb authenticate it if you intend to keep it.I mean you caught it so why would you need them to prove it to you.That to me is for if you are willing to sell it to someone.And i can almost guarentee she is kicking herself for not selling it for the $1,000.True fan or not,i would sell a jeter home run ball for that or a alex rodriguez ball for that and i consider myself a true yankees fan.I understand that the woman had no idea about that service.But i have to side with the dodgers on this,why authenticate it for someone else.I already assummed they only authenticate thier own items.I did'nt think you could go up to them to have that done at games.

[xpress34]

I already assummed they only authenticate thier own items.I did'nt think you could go up to them to have that done at games.

Joba -

Your statement kind of sums it up in a round about way...

IF she had given the ball up to the Dodgers - it would have been Authenticated 'ON THE SPOT'.

BUT, since she chose to keep it, they can't or won't Authenticate it??? Sounds like BS to me.

We (The Dodgers) will authenticate it to help ourselves if WE choose to sell it, but SCREW YOU FANS! Now id you choose to sell it, (other than copying ALL of the Video Evidence and 'word of mouth') you have ZERO proof that this ball is what you say it is.

There basically telling the fan - You're lying to us. Unless you GIVE us the ball - then we believe every word you said.

The whole situation just stinks.

My .02

- Chris

[allstarsplus]

Like it or not, MLB has a rule on Home Run ball authentication that the authenticator has to see the actual ball the entire time which means going from hit in the air to where it lands without losing sight of it or have it pre-marked which to me is the way to do it and how they did most of the record breaking Bonds HR balls.

An authenticator told me during his training they showed a video of a guy catching a HR ball and then you could see him putting it into his pocket. From his other pocket he grabbed another ball and threw it back on the field.

Here is my solution. The authenticator before the game should either put an invisible dye or numerical code on the ball and keep track of HR balls and give a courtesy MLB hologram.

The Tigers have an authenticator in their bullpen retrieving HR balls but most teams don't even do that. The Nationals use to do it at RFK Stadium but don't do it at the new stadium because the bullpens don't get many HR balls.

[coxfan]

She was right to turn down the $1,000 if she valued the ball. Although my wife and I are retired and have no debts ( mortgages are all paid off), we still average roughly $1,000 a week to live. That amount's thus a pittance for a rare historical artifact of enduring value, as that HR ball is. ( And my wife agrees).