NBC's “Today” show visited Wrigley Field for its "On The Job" segment, with correspondent Dylan Dreyer shadowing authenticator Mike Barz while donning a Cubs jersey. Barz: “Basically, I'm an independent contractor with Major League Baseball, and we watch the game and authenticate items from that game: bats, balls, jerseys.” MLB Authentication Program Dir Michael Posner said that the program was founded after the FBI in the late '90s "determined that about 75% of all autographs in the market were fake," so MLB "decided to protect our players, our fans and the clubs." Dreyer noted every MLB team “has their own authenticators, and all of them are either active or former law enforcement.”
Dreyer followed Barz around the ballpark, watched Cubs LF Kyle Schwarber sign baseballs, and then authenticated her first baseball by applying a tamper-free hologram sticker. Dreyer also talked up the Cubs' team store, saying, “The coolest part is all the money from these items that sold -- we’re talking millions of dollars -- goes to Cubs charities” ( “Today,” NBC, 6/6 ). Watch the full segment .
