Steve Grad Leaving Beckett Authentication Staff After 24 Years, Plans to Expose Industry Problems

Steve Grad, the longtime Pawn Stars cast member and autograph authenticator, announced he is stepping back from his full-time role at Beckett Authentication after nearly a quarter-century with the company.

“It was announced today by Beckett Authentication. I will be coming more of an advisor consultant role with them. No longer going to be on the full-time authentication staff,” Grad said in a YouTube video posted Saturday.

Grad, who has been authenticating autographs for 24 years and has appeared on Pawn Stars for 14 seasons, said he will transition to a consultant position focused on training the next generation of authenticators.

Training the “New Breed”

“I think it’s important that the new line of defense comes up and we train them properly and not just throw them to the wolves,” Grad explained. “Other companies do that and that’s fine and that’s their style… but I think it’s important that we get these guys going and trained in a way that makes sense.”

Grad emphasized his desire to pass on knowledge accumulated over 45 years in the autograph business, dating back to chasing signatures at baseball card shows in the early 1980s.

eBay Criticism and Forgery Warnings

Grad didn’t hold back on his assessment of the current online marketplace, specifically targeting eBay’s evolution.

“eBay is a powerhouse… but it’s evolved and changed and I don’t know if it’s changed for the good either,” Grad said. “For sellers, they’ve made it a lot easier. For buyers though, buyer beware.”

He singled out Michael Jordan forgeries as a persistent problem: “Jordan’s so forged and you know the issues we have in online marketplaces like unfortunately eBay.”

Future Content Plans

Grad announced plans to launch a YouTube channel focused on autograph authentication education, industry stories, and what he called “rants” about problems he’s witnessed.

“I know where all the bones are buried. I know all the cool stories,” Grad teased. “There’s stuff that we could correct and fix and these companies out there can do that.”

His planned content will include:

• Autograph authentication tips and red flags
• Stories from 45+ years in the business
• Breakdowns of specific signers (including Michael Jordan)
• Q&A sessions with collectors
• Industry commentary

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, listen to someone like me,” Grad advised new collectors. “Being cautious is really important. Being educated is even more important.”

Still With Pawn Stars

Grad confirmed he remains an active cast member on History Channel’s Pawn Stars and is currently filming new episodes.

“I get a lot of questions about it,” he said. “Still currently filming, by the way.”

Grad Collections, his authentication and memorabilia business, continues to operate with an eBay store presence.

The authenticator promised “more content, more fresh stuff, more cool stuff and maybe even some rants” in the coming weeks across his social media platforms.