Further proof that Beckett doesn't give a shit about you or this hobby

NaBlo WriMo Day 4 - Hey, give you blog a hug.  You need each other.  Never forget that.

OK.  Who thought I'd go the entire month of NaBlo WriMo without giving Beckett the business?  Truth is, they really have this one coming, and nobody seems to think this is a big deal.  And if they do think it's a big deal, they're not up in arms about it.  So here goes.  Let me lay out a timeline for you:

1)  I start by checking Beckett's website today.  I do this to try to find some general pricing D-Baggery or some videos with really lucky pulls.  You know, standard fare.  But instead, I find this post of theirs about their new baseball grading service.  Go ahead and click over there with a new tab and see what I'm talking about.  But don't leave here yet, I'm still walking you through this story.

So, once you see that a Babe Ruth signed baseball has a 9 grade for the ball and a 9 grade for the autograph, you'll notice that the authenticator is none other than JSA (James Spence Authentication).  And in the comments section of this post by Beckett's Chris Olds, a reader chimes in and says, "Isn't JSA under investigation by the FBI"?  Why, I think I remember something about that too.

2)  My next step is to very simply go to google and type in JSA under FBI investigation.  First thing that pops up....Beckett's own forum has an entire thread dedicated to this very topic.  Crazy how Beckett hasn't taken down the negative publicity about their new bed mates yet.  You can find that thread here.

3)  Within that thread is a link to many of the crappy autos that JSA has authenticated and some information to some of the investigation.  It's a really informative article.  You can find that here.

4)  Not satisfied, I find this great video here about more of the company's shenanigans.  The guy does a pretty good job with it.



So what about it people?  Am I the crazy one who just thinks that Beckett should be left alone?  They're going to bury this damn hobby of ours before it's all said and done.  I guess all we can do is enjoy it while it lasts, right?

But what do you guys think about this ball that Beckett has kicked off their grading with?  Ruth died in 1948.  So this ball would have to be at least 63 years old if Babe Ruth did indeed sign it.  But chances are he would've signed it years before he died.  But we'll say that the ball has to be AT LEAST 63 years old.  And Beckett gave it a '9' grade.  Holy shit, if this ball is 63 years old, that's a damn fine looking ball.  But they learned their lesson with the Strasburg perfect 10 grade (still hurts my head, by the way) - so they hedged their bets and gave this 63 year old flawless ball a '9'.

Maybe I'm just out of line.  Maybe JSA is really on the level.  Beckett gave this ball a great grade and the hobby will benefit.  Or maybe the FBI is really onto something with JSA and Beckett's grading services are a perversion of what makes an autographed baseball truly a gem.  One reader of Beckett's article actually asked if getting a game-used baseball signed would hurt the grade.  Are you serious?  Is that what Beckett's prices have done to the next generation of collectors?  Getting a game used ball is great.  Getting it signed is a life long piece of family history.  But they've now got people worried about hurting the grade of the ball?  I reiterate my title.  Beckett doesn't give a shit about you or this hobby.

NaBlo WriMo Daily Total - 659 Words
Montly Total - 2558 Words