I am writing to give some positive feedback to you, and PFF.

Over the past 20 years, I have been a Cardinals memorabilia and autograph collector. Never in that 20 years has a player come along in this organization with the talent and star quality of Albert Pujols. ESPN used to ignore the Cardinals - being that St. Louis is such a small market compared to the Yankees and Dodgers. I remember when Mark McGwire was here is the late 90's and there was a HUGE controversy over the legitimacy of his signatures. It seemed that every card shop in St. Louis had a surplus of his autograph displayed prominently for sale. That is, until he publicly renounced the dealers and the fake signatures that they were selling. He rarely signed a baseball on the sweet spot and NEVER signed jerseys after that unless it was for a documented paid signing. I have paid upwards of $400 for an authentic McGwire baseball - but I know for certain it is real, and that is the market value.

Albert is finding himself fighting the same circumstances. Every card show I attend, there are dealers from out of state that have several Pujols signatures that just don't look right. They always have a story of how they acquired their items : "I got this from Albert's cousin in KC last month". They even have a COA to "prove" it. These same unscrupulous sellers put their forged merchandise up for sale on online auctions (eBay, etc.) in many multiples. I know of one seller who claims he received 50 Pujols signed baseballs from the World Series celebration and parade...COME ON!

The retail outlets that Albert has signed for (Steiner, Mounted Memories) charge $300 for a signed baseball. I see no reason why the PFF can't charge the same - after all, the entire sum is going to a valid charity. Anyone who thinks that $300 is too much for a baseball signed by Albert - check and see how much Jeter, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens get for theirs...face it, Albert is the star of MLB in the new millennium. He is a legend in the making, and his signature will be an heirloom for generations - much like Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle. If you want your children to have something that is guaranteed real, you can either wade through a crowd and get an autograph yourself, or you can pay for it.

Finally, my opinion on the signed jersey situation...

If you go on eBay, and search for signed Pujols jerseys or bats, you will see a good amount of fakes. If you are informed, and know that Albert RARELY signs jerseys or bats - you will save yourself some money and the embarrassment of knowing you have a fake. Also, for collectors like myself, we know that if we come across a real one, it is a very valuable piece of St. Louis and baseball history - not just one of a few thousand that anyone can have. Keep up the fantastic work, and let's get another championship!!!

Dave
St. Louis