The Future of MLB Authentication: How to Fix the Flaws
Blockchain, Player Royalties, and the Future of Game-Used Memorabilia
In Part 1, we broke down how MLB built the most advanced game-used authentication system in professional sports.
From on-field authenticators to tamper-proof holograms, MLB’s program has set the standard—authenticating over 500,000 game-used items per season and virtually eliminating counterfeits from the market.
But as good as the system is, it’s not perfect.
In fact, there are three major flaws holding it back:
Players don’t benefit from resales.
No official resale marketplace.
Teams and players lack control.
Let’s break these down—and explore how MLB can evolve its authentication program for the future.
1. Players Don’t Benefit from Resales
Game-used memorabilia generates millions of dollars in secondary market sales.
A Shohei Ohtani game-used jersey might sell for $50,000.
A Mike Trout bat could go for $20,000.
And Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball? That sold for $1.5 million.
But here’s the problem: players don’t see a penny from these resales.
Unlike digital collectibles, where creators often receive royalties on secondary market transactions, game-used items don’t provide ongoing financial benefits to the athletes who make them valuable in the first place.
This is a missed opportunity.
Solution: Introduce a resale royalty system for players.
Using technology like blockchain, MLB could build a system that automatically tracks transactions and allocates a percentage of resale revenue to the players involved.
Imagine this: Every time an Ohtani jersey sells on the secondary market, 5% of the sale goes directly to him.
Not only would this provide financial benefits to players, but it would also create a new layer of transparency for collectors.
2. No Official Resale Marketplace
Here’s the second issue: MLB authenticates game-used items, but after the initial sale, there’s no official way to track them.
Once an item leaves the league’s ecosystem, provenance often gets lost. This creates problems for collectors who want to buy or sell authenticated items on the secondary market.
For example:
How do you know that the "game-used" jersey you're buying was actually worn by a player and not swapped out after its initial sale?
How can you be sure that the MLB hologram hasn’t been tampered with over time?
These gaps make the secondary market riskier than it should be.
Solution: Build an official MLB resale marketplace.
By creating a centralized platform for authenticated memorabilia, MLB could ensure that provenance is preserved as items change hands.
The platform could include:
Verification checks for all listings (using the original hologram).
Blockchain integration to log every transaction.
Player royalties to benefit athletes with each resale.
This would give collectors confidence while generating new revenue streams for MLB, teams, and players.
3. Teams and Players Lack Control
Right now, MLB owns the entire authentication process.
This means that teams and players have little say in how their game-used items are authenticated, distributed, or sold.
For example:
A player might want to authenticate and sell their own game-worn gear directly to fans, but they’re reliant on MLB to handle the process.
A team might want to auction items for charity or build its own memorabilia business, but they’re restricted by league policies.
In a world where fans want closer connections to their favorite players and teams, this feels outdated.
Solution: Decentralize the system.
MLB could introduce team- and player-specific authentication options that work within its existing program.
For example:
Players could use MLB’s authenticators to verify items directly and sell them through personal platforms.
Teams could run their own memorabilia auctions while preserving the integrity of the league’s system.
This would unlock more creative ways to engage fans without compromising authenticity.
The Future: Blockchain, Transparency, and Shared Revenue
The sports memorabilia market is worth over $12 billion annually, and it’s growing fast.
MLB has built the foundation for a trustworthy authentication system, but the next step is to modernize it.
Here’s what the future could look like:
Blockchain Integration: Immutable records for every item, from its first use to its latest resale.
Player Royalties: Fair compensation for the athletes driving the value of game-used gear.
Resale Marketplaces: A centralized hub for buying, selling, and verifying game-used memorabilia.
Decentralized Control: Teams and players actively participating in the system, creating new fan engagement opportunities.
This isn’t just about fixing flaws—it’s about creating new revenue streams and strengthening the relationship between fans, players, and the game itself.
What’s Your Take?
Should players benefit from the resale of their game-used gear?
Could blockchain solve the provenance problem in sports memorabilia?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.