Perfect game memorabilia case
Man says he forged umpire's signature to sell game balls
Posted: Saturday August 22, 1998 12:41 PM
| |
Clark, who did not work the perfect game May 17, denied being involved in the sale of the baseballs Zoran Milich/Allsport |
NEW YORK (AP) -- A New Jersey man known for selling baseball
memorabilia says he forged umpire Al Clark's signature on a letter
authenticating David Wells'
autograph on baseballs the New York Yankees
pitcher supposedly used in his perfect game last spring. Rich
Gressle also told The New York Times for a story in Saturday's
editions that he, and not Clark, wrote the letter. The
Times reported Friday that baseball officials were investigating the
possible involvement of umpires in the sale of balls said to have been used
in the perfect game to a Long Island memorabilia dealer. "I told
people at Major League Baseball when this first started that Al had nothing
to do with this, but nobody wanted to believe that," Gressle was quoted as
saying Saturday in the Times. "Al Clark did not write the
letter. I wrote it." Gressle, who told the Times he owns
a delivery service in Essex County, said he said he got the balls from
Wells at Yankee Stadium, and that Wells had signed each ball.
The 38-year-old Gressle said he has known Clark for about 10 years.
The umpire was on vacation, and the Times said efforts to reach him were
unsuccessful. Clark did not work the perfect game May 17. Richie
Phillips, head of the umpires' union, said he had spoken with Clark and
that the umpire denied being involved in the sale of the baseballs.
"He denies trafficking in those baseballs in any respect and denies
guaranteeing their authenticity," Phillips said. The memorabilia
dealer, Mark
Lewis, said he had bought memorabilia from Gressle on several
occasions. "I understood the balls came from Clark and other
umpires," Lewis said. He said he has purchased six balls at $300
each and sold four of them for $1,000 before requesting their return when
baseball began its investigation. Lewis said baseball's
investigation was launched after Wells had reported the matter to
officials. The dealer told the New York Post that Wells
called him to say he had seen an advertisement for the balls being sold by
Lewis. "He said, 'It didn't seem right. I thought I had all the
balls from the game. I don't understand how you could have them,'"Lewis
said. Lewis said he bought balls from Gressle, whom he described as
a dealer, but said he understood they came from Clark.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
| 
