⚾️ Inside the MLB Authentication Program: 'We put an identity on an item'

Cllct gained unprecedented access to shadow MLB Authenticators in action. Cllct detailed its experience with two authenticators at Citi Field and how Major League Baseball took drastic action once it fell victim to the biggest forgery ring in United States history.

⚔️ 'Game of Thrones' replica Iron Throne sells for $1.49 million at auction

When you play the "Game of Thrones," you win or you die.

Or you spend $1.49 million on an Iron Throne replica.

Headlining Heritage’s three-day “Game of Thrones” auction, featuring more than 900 lots and 2,000 items, was a 310-pound replica of the show’s greatest prize, the fabled Iron Throne.

Cllct analyzes the price of the throne as well other notable items from eight seasons of Westerosi lore.

🤑 Shohei Ohtani 50th HR ball auction tops $2 million

With more than 11 days left in the bidding and 21 bids thus far, the current high bid is $2,074,000, including buyer's premium, at Goldin Auctions.

Bidding will run until Oct. 22.

At its current price, it is now the second-highest priced home run ball ever behind only Mark McGwire's 70th (sold for $3 million in 1999).

📈Mike Trout autographed card found at Goodwill: 'I think this is a $10,000 card'

There has been no shortage of treasures found at Goodwill this year, and it appears we have another one.

Beau Thompson, who owns more than 1 million Chicago Cubs cards, thought this signed Mike Trout card was a fake at first. Now, he thinks it’s worth over $10,000.

✍️ HEADLINES

😮 Mickey Mantle owned this 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card; will buyers care?

Usually collectors aren’t very interested in the previous owners of their cards. Whether buying on eBay, in-person, or elsewhere, the card’s entire provenance is generally erased.

But does that change if it’s a ‘52 Topps Mickey Mantle card, and it was owned by Mantle himself.

🏀 Beckett offers conflicting opinion on previously graded Michael Jordan-signed rookie

One month after a Michael Jordan Star rookie sold for over $183,000, another Star rookie with the same exact grade on both the card and signature sold for just over $80,000 on Thursday.

Why was there such a stark difference?

Believing the signature on the second card was fraudulent, Wesley Gretah of G.O.A.T. Authentics, a Michael Jordan-only autograph authentication company, submitted the autographed card to Beckett for a quick opinion last week.

The response? "Unable to render an opinion."

 💸 What’s the difference between a PSA 10 and a PSA 9?

There’s no doubt PSA 10s should be more valuable than PSA 9s, but collectors often want to know by how much? There have been more cards graded a PSA 10 (24.88 million) than a PSA 9 (22.35 million), after all.

The answer to how much is complicated, but a glance at some of the hobby’s most popular and iconic cards reveals a number of interesting narratives between the two grades.

Thanks for reading, we’ll see you on Thursday.