Major League Baseball teams are now in the game used gear business, with authenticators standing by at every game. Teams tag and record the use of virtually every piece of 
equipment that leaves a game and also handle the players’ uniforms. Are they helping ensure the authenticity of items or is it just to squeeze more money out of collectors and fans? Anyone who has seen the prices of items carrying an MLB hologram has wondered about the latter.
And is it possible that players can sometimes bypass the system to make a few bucks on their own?
That seems to be at the root of an issue over some Ryan Braun game worn jerseys. A local shop is selling them as game worn and Braun’s reps back that up. The Brewers, however, don’t have a record of the jerseys as anything except having been autographed.
Milwaukee’s Fox station did a two-part series on game used memorabilia. Part one focusing on the Braun jerseys and part II on the process of MLB authentication at Miller Park:
Related Stories:
Don Drysdale Career Collection Coming to Auction
Orioles Among Latest to Offer Game-Used Gear
Jackson, Jordan, Munson Jerseys Head to Auction
Yankees Game-Used Bases and Baseballs a Hot Seller
MLB Authentication in High Gear During Playoffs
Brewers Authentics Proves Dirty Can Be Delightful
Record Prices for Gehrig Bat, Banks Jersey
NFL Pink is Back; Game Used Gear to Be Signed, Sold for Charity
