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Has anyone ever heard of Pro Treat Autographs?

TonyCTonyC Posts: 1,401 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I was looking at craigslist (I know, bad move), and I saw an ad for a bunch of autographed baseballs. He had a fuzzy picture of them; from what I could tell they were sealed in blister packs, but I couldn't make out the manufacturer/authenticator. I sent him an email asking where the balls came from, and he said they are Rawlings balls that are packaged and authenticated by "Pro Treat Autographs."

I searched for Pro Treat on eBay and online, and I found a few cards, but I didn't see any baseballs. I suspect from the name that it is a Mickey Mouse operation and that they are probably fake, but on the off-chance that I am wrong, has anyone ever heard of Pro Treat and are their items authentic?

Thanks for any help you can provide.
Collecting Tony Conigliaro

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    TonyCTonyC Posts: 1,401 ✭✭✭
    I wanted to add that I eventually found one on eBay by changing my search terms. The signature is covered with styrofoam, so I guess it is impossible to pre-judge the authenticity.

    Catfish Hunter Ball
    Collecting Tony Conigliaro
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    Sean1125Sean1125 Posts: 3,479
    It is actually Treat Pro autographs, and Brooks Robinson is their spokesman.

    It boils down to their CoA's being easier to forge than most (a piece of paper pretty much).

    If you actually have a legitimate CoA it is an in person signing, if not though it is most likely not authentic.


    Edit*
    I checked the auction you linked, I find it odd that he doesn't show the signature even though the package has been opened, in the final picture you can see that someone has cut along the top of the package... I'm not saying the ball is fake but if it is opened I'm sure the seller can turn the ball without damaging much, so there is no reason to not show the full signature... He did post a bunch of pictures which I believe is an effort to show what he can though.

    I would request the seller to turn the ball around and get me a photo of the full signature and just decide off that.
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    TonyCTonyC Posts: 1,401 ✭✭✭
    Sean, thanks for your input. The one on eBay is not the item I was looking at; I was looking at a lot that I found locally on Craigslist. I don't know if those packages have been tampered with.
    Collecting Tony Conigliaro
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    Tedw9Tedw9 Posts: 1,424 ✭✭
    Like Scoreboard auto's from the 90's, the coa's from Treat are easy to switch out. But all of the baseballs I purchased that came with a Treat coa were all on non official baseballs. So unless someone is forging autographs on unofficial baseballs, I would think you would be fairly safe. That's not to say to do your homework and compare the signatures, but generally the autographs I bought were of lower tier HOF'ers and stars of the day, nothing that would sell for big money now.

    Treat sold autographs through Wal Mart and Sams Club in the 90's. I once got a 3 pack of signed baseballs (Willie Stargell, Andrew Jones, and Tony Gwynn inscribed .394/94) for I think $50 at Sams. They also sold bats (Willie Mays set me back $80) and cards too.
    Looking for Carl Willey items.
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    cardcop05cardcop05 Posts: 3 ✭

    All profits made from TREAT autographs & Proautographs went to the Baseball Alumni Association that Brook Robinson was President of for a LONG TIME. He brokered the deal with TREAT & Walmart/SAM'S Club. I was buying signed cards in sealed plastic packaging from Walmart of Jeff Bagwell for $9.99 each (on sale) in 1992. I only fully trust autographs in sealed original TREAT plastic packaging.
    You can pretty much trust signed cards in the black vinyl books Proautographs originally came in with TWO TREAT COA's both serial numbered (one beige, one smaller green under the beige one). Many of the green ones disappeared over time- those a numbered to 3,000 usually. The total number of autographs the athlete signed. Never went to SAM's Club so can't speak on the baseballs/bats.

    Mainly collect ON CARD Certified Autographs from big card companies since 1997. Donated ALL hobby profits in cards/autographs to hospitalized children since 1989. ** Been fighting all hobby fraud for free by myself since 1992 when no one else would.** Became a fully trained Forensic Document Examiner in 1999.Was a 16-year medical professional. My 2nd full time job since 1989 was learning everything I possibly could about the sports card hobby from every angle. Had a website chronicling my anti-fraud endeavors from 1997-2005.
    Camp LeJeune poisonous water victim born with altered DNA CAR Gene from my deadbeat/thief father who served there in 1953-54. Been suffering with indescribable pain from (3) Neuromuscular diseases all correctly diagnosed by 2006.

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    craig44craig44 Posts: 12,990 ✭✭✭✭✭

    old thread, but i also remember those bagwell autos

    George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.

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    Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 5, 2026 10:45PM

    Just for fun - to add:

    Walmart worked with sports card distributor Treat Entertainment in 1995 and 1996 to feature the famous T206 Honus Wagner PSA 8 card (previously owned by Wayne Gretzky) as the grand prize for the "World's Greatest Card Giveaway" promotional.

    The winner was Pat Gibbs a retired PO worker who put it up for auction at Christies and Mike Gidwitz won it - for around 600K?

    We became acquaintances since I was buying card art from him - I asked him why he bought the card? He said he wanted to be the first person to sell a million dollar card. He did!

    PS: if ya ever get bored - here's the thread on my talk with Mike - he's a great guy and serious collector! LINK

    Mike
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