Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen

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Posted By: <b>Show Attendee</b><p>What's the story with Mr. Mint (Alan Rosen) these days ? Is he still buying cards ? I see him at shows, but he's always reading the newspaper. He seems to be keeping a low profile. What's he up to ?

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>He still sits in his chair at the closest spot to the entrance and runs up to anyone who is carrying a package and appears to have cards for sale---tries to buy them for cash for the lowest price possible and flips them as quick as he can.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Does anyone really take him seriously?

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Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>I just thought of a great scheme for the National.........wonder what he would offer for a few of my decent type cards? Low ball maybe? Should be interesting.....thanks guys

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>He probably wouldn't know what they were. If it's not Topps, Bowman, or Hartland Statues, he's in a bit over his head (I always wanted to take a set of Hartlands, arrange them like ten pins, and then smash them with a bowling bowl. Not my favorite issue, to be sure).

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Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>Not even MRS. Mint pays attention to him!

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Posted By: <b>jackgoodman</b><p>I once heard Mr. Mint tell a walk-in that he had made an offer to, that the offer was only good at that moment. That if the seller wanted to walk around the show offering his cards to other dealers, and ended up returning to Mr. Mint's table, that Mr. M's offer was obviously too high and he would not offer that much if they ended up back at his table. <br /><br />Psychologically, not a bad gambit and keeps the seller/walk-in from getting competing bids.

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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>is Mr. VG now.......saw him buying a crapload of 1950's sets in VERY substandard condition. He was paying dimes on the dollar and these people selling have these star struck eyes. Then VG flips the cards to Verkman or some other dealer for 10% to pay his bills. <br /><br />On another note....at the last Anaheim national, he had little Mr. Mint beanie babies with the beard and all. My buddy and I were staying with a friend and we each got a couple of those beanie babies each day and then stuffed them in unlikely places in my buddie's appartment. He was finding those damn things for 2-3 weeks. Kind of like a Mr. Mint treasure hunt. Microwave.....planter.....freezer behind the ice cream.....

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>A lot of people sell to him to get their picture in SCD. What they don't realize is that they could consign their collection to an auction house, get thousands of extra dollars for it, take out their own full page ad in SCD with their picture, and still have lots of money left over. He preys on the weak.

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Posted By: <b>J Levine</b><p>At the last Anaheim National (the one where I was holding the Wagner that I still think may be trimmed), my friend stood right in front of Mr. Mint's table and offered $5 more than what he offered several people. This went on for 5 minutes before Rosen called a show rep. and had my friend moved. The argument was extremely funny and involved words like "free-market" and "capitalistic values." Never saw Rosen's face get so red.<br /><br />-Joshua

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Posted By: <b>Rhys</b><p>I do not know why anyone sells to him. He is rude, arrogant and knows nothing about the cards he deals in to be considered one of the big names in the hobby.<br /><br />I had to laugh at him and his "new look" at the last show. He should change his name from "Mr. Mint" to "Mr. Midlife Crisis" and just do away with the formalities.<br /><br />My brother's wife was at the Fort Washington show with him and she had seen some of his ads from time to time in SCD. When she saw him in person she came back to my brother and said in complete honesty, "I had no idea Mr. Mint was Arab". I strongly recommend checking out his new look at the next show he attends. <br /><br />He is a complete joke and the day he leaves the hobby everyone will be better off for it.

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Posted By: <b>Ben</b><p><img src="http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=mr+mint/v=2/SID=e/l=IVS/SIG=11qglsiv6/EXP=1115922680/*-http%3A//www.mrmint.com/images/cash4.jpg">

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Do you know that a few weeks ago SCD had one of their reporters write an article solely about his new appearance? Now there's some breaking hobby news for you. That's really scraping the bottom of the editorial barrel.

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Posted By: <b>Josh K.</b><p>can we get a before and after shot posted.

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p><br />When I was at the Trop World show back in 1989, I remember seeing a group of collector's whisper to each other 'That's Mr. Mint!' and it was like they ran into Rock Hudson. <br /><br />Who the hell is this guy that makes him special? Does he not sell pieces of colored paper like the rest of us? <br /><br />He is so rude to common people that wait in their long lines to get their 'authorized' Alan Rosen memorabilia signed. He was handing out items at a show once and there were like fifteen people in line. He was signing their items and all of a sudden he simply stopped and said 'I'm not signing anymore'. There were like seven people in line! <br /><br />Further proof that SCD isn't much of a factor anymore and something I don't even bother with.<br /><br />DJ

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Posted By: <b>Rhett Yeakley</b><p>"Mr. Mint" is the biggest joke in the entire hobby. I can't believe anybody actually deals with this guy. He is so overbearing, pompous, and arrogant-that he literally is impossible to be around. My brother (Rhys) and I do maybe 1-2 shows a year, usually the Pittsburgh Robert Morris show--I'm living here in Pittsburgh now. Last year we arrived late to the show and waiting for us sitting on our table was Mr. Mint. I had never actually talked to the guy before-only seen is big, overhyped face in every Krause publication I have ever laid hands on waving wads of cash around. Anyways, somebody told him that we were going to be there and that we had some older stuff. So as we are bringing in our boxes, he is making himself at home going through whatever boxes he wants, making a big stack of stuff that is "Rosens stuff." Then Terry Knouse Sr. (whom my brother & I know well) comes over and starts talking to us and asking us about cards, and he starts looking at a few stacks, and Rosen gets all red in the face and beligerently asks us to keep everyone else away from our stuff, because "he was there first, and hadn't looked at everything yet." So, Terry just sets the stuff down and asks me to "come get him when the Rosen is done" (pretty classy move on his part-I don't think I would have been that polite.) So, Rosen keeps going through our stuff, and biting off anybody's head that dares to approach our table. Once he is through, he asks for a price on everything, and we ask him to wait a minute while we think about it. He gets all mad and says that he doesn't have all day. So we seperate my stuff from my brothers stuff and my brother starts giving him some prices, and after some eye rolling, they ended up striking a deal on $2000-3000 worth of stuff. Then he asks me, and naturally I marked everything up on the him, because he had just pissed off our potential customers, not to mention our friends (like Terry). And then he starts telling my brother, that my prices are too high and that I should be giving him a good deal because he is "Mr. Mint". That was last year. <br /><br />This year we decided to do the Pittsburgh show again, but only at the last second. So we arrived at the show, and thankfully Mr. Rosen hadn't gotten the heads up that we would be there. So we started unpacking our stuff, and while doing so we sold several things to some of the other dealers like Wayne Varner, etc. Mr. Mint strolls along about 20 minutes later, looking a little ticked, and starts looking through our stuff. This time however he "wasn't there first" and couldn't tell everybody to go away. About 15 minutes later he hands me a stack of 5-10 items and asks what I want for them. Another gentleman had asked me about some items he was interested in a few seconds before Rosen so I politely told Rosen that it would take me a minute or so to get done with the other gentleman, and then I could get him a price. He gets all red and throws the items on the table and says "forget it..." and as he is walking away he says "...hell of a way to do business, man." As he is leaving I asked him what his problem was but he just left. <br /><br />Not too sure what we really did to piss the guy off, but now we have a reason to never sell to the guy again. I don't know everyone on this thread but hopefully most here that have met my brother or I would agree that we are decent guys with decent stuff, with fair prices, and aren't too hard to deal with. I don't know if he was mad that we hadn't gone to him first, or that we weren't in a big hurry to have Alan Rosen explain why we should be his wholesalers, but anyways Rosen showed his true colors, and thankfully there were 5-10 other dealers that witnessed it.<br /><br />Honestly, I can't believe that he has lasted in the hobby as long as he has. Everyone that I have talked too about the situation, has similar stories to tell about the guy. Why do people put up with his crap? It is pretty funny though if you go back through old dealer surveys in the VCBC Rosen had one of the lowest scores annually, and always had among the worst scores in "friendliness" and "knowledgeable". Anyways, I'm done ranting, but Rosen is a friggin' joke.<br />-Rhett

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>That's a good story Rhett and just about everyone who has dealt with him has been treated the same way. The last time he and I spoke was about 20 years ago. He screamed at me over something he didn't like and that was it for me. Somehow he gets away with it all by relentlessly advertising, and notice in all of his ads he has this big phony smile on his face and he looks like everyone's favorite uncle. But in person he is completely different. I guess novices see him as sort of a celebrity and sellers like the idea of getting paid in cash, and somehow he has been successful in convincing a lot of people to sell to him. Likewise, he's made a legion of enemies, and you know what- he doesn't care.

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p><br />This is going to be a long thread.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1115839515.JPG">

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Posted By: <b>Josh K.</b><p>Wow - that was some fast photoshop work. Impressive indeed.

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Posted By: <b>Rhett Yeakley</b><p>Here's Mr. Mint's "New Look"...<br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1115840457.JPG">

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Posted By: <b>john/z28jd</b><p>True story,former all-star 3rdbaseman for the Indians from the 40's-50's Al Rosen changed his last name to Capone so he wouldnt be confused with a individual with the reputation of Alan Rosen

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>The sad thing was that I didn't create that card. <br /><br />I'm enjoying this 'Alan Rosen Photo Album'. Let's keep this going!<br /><br />Any photos of him NOT holding money? Those are the 'rare ones'.<br /><br />DJ <br />Edited to add: Very funny John!

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Posted By: <b>robert a.</b><p>This is the best thread in a LONG time!<br />

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Posted By: <b>John_B_California</b><p>For all of his faults, he's still a brilliant marketer. How many dealers in any business (cards, coins, stamps, antiques) have branded themselves this well? When he steps outside and eats a hotdog at the National, people think he's a rock star.<br /><br />He reminds me in some ways of Donald Trump. Lots of flash, cash and hyperbole. Trump has his ice water and fragrance, Rosen has his baseballs and bobble heads. I'm waiting for the Mr. Mint Visa Check card....

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Posted By: <b>jackgoodman</b><p>His new look seemed awful familiar:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.mlbvintage.com/pics/uploads/mrmint.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mlbvintage.com/pics/uploads/front_howie.jpg"><br /><br /><br />edited to add name

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>I saw his antics firsthand at a show in SF in 1989. He gets people as they come through the door, loudly. Once the laydown is finished, he says "the briefcase please" and his bobos hand him a briefcase of cash. He then counts out the hundreds as fast as humanly possible (proving to all who see that money is no big deal to him--being as familiar with big cash as he is lets him count it rapidly--or proves he works part time as a teller at a casino), pushes the stack at the awed mark, and says take it or leave it. I saw him pick up a few hundred 1950s cards for $5,000 or so at that show. By the next morning, the lot had been subdivided into two $3,000 lots and wholesaled to two other dealers (Rosen was bragging about the flip to his minions, so I know the numbers). He hates grading with a passion not just because of the Olbermann incident but because he can't **** all over the walk-ins' cards for condition if the cards are slabbed, nor can he hype his overgraded stuff with any degree of credibility to the real collecting public. What remains alluring for the walk-in yokels about him is (1) cash and no records, and (2) he buys it all without bitching or cherry picking. Of course he pays diddly for the "all" but the yokels don't know that. We could all learn a bit or two about marketing from this money-monkey. <br /><br />And I think the knee-cap sucking article in SCD on his new look was a low even for that rag.

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>I met Howie Mandel after a College show. He was such a nice guy and took the time to talk to his fans. <br /><br />Shouldn't it be the other way around? <br /><br />DJ<br /><br />Is having a completely orange head the new trend?<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Josh K.</b><p>Excuse my ignorance, but what was the Olbermann incident?

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Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p><a href="http://www.t206museum.com/page/periodical_5.html" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.t206museum.com/page/periodical_5.html</a>

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/jphotos/BCJBro001.jpg"> I wrote it up for VCBC...one thing i gotta say: he said it was mint, and it's mint.

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Posted By: <b>Richard Lloyd</b><p>No matter how you slice it he adds a BUZZZ which <br />helps the hobby and makes it fun!!!

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Posted By: <b>Rhett Yeakley</b><p>FUN!!! -Are you friggin' kidding me!?! What is FUN about what Rosen does? I admit it is FUNny to talk about the guy, but I wouldn't say that what he does is FUN or in any way GOOD for the hobby.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>Alan is very knowledgable and pays well often. I sold him several hundred tobacco cards a few years ago and got a very fair price. Take him a few cards Leon, you may be surprised at what he offers you. Alan is also a very nice guy, I have known him a long time. Dan.

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Posted By: <b>Richard Lloyd</b><p>I do not know Mr. Mint and from an outside point of view..He adds Energy when he is at a show because of his marketing of himself over the years!! people see him and know who he is... his marketing has helped the hobby through many articles...Now, as far as he business practices go.. I do not know..

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>Rhett my young friend, ask any icon in the hobby and most if not all will tell you that Alan was very good for the hobby. He practically saved it single handedly long before you thought about getting in.

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Posted By: <b>Jim Crandell</b><p>I certainly don't buy the Mr. Mint is good for the hobby bs. The guy has made a living buying cards cheap from unknowedgeable collectors and labeling cards mint that I have found to be anything but. Certain mint sets I have bought from him have come back with an average grade near 6(ex-mint). Other mint cards have had creases. I bought a 48 Leaf Dimaggio that was advertised in an auction either nrmt-mt or mt--came back psa 4. Same thing with a 38 Goudey Joe D--psa 4. A T206 McGraw labeled as mint was creased. <br /><br />Dav

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Posted By: <b>Rhys</b><p>Dan<br /><br />My brother and I have been buying and selling cards at shows where Rosen was set up as well since 1988, I know that is not the "true origins of the hobby" but it is a pretty long time ago and before he was the self proclaimed king of cards.<br /><br />I 100% disagree on him adding ANYTHING good to the hobby. Exactly what did he save it from? Being a hobby where money was secondary to the fun of it? If Mr. Mint had not ever held a baseball card in his hand for a second of his life are we really to believe that our hobby would be worse because of it?<br /><br />I genuinely would like to know, what did he save the hobby from, and how has he EVER done anything positive for it? <br /><br />Rhys Yeakley

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Rob</b><p>"He hates grading with a passion not just because of the Olbermann incident but because he can't **** all over the walk-ins' cards for condition if the cards are slabbed, nor can he hype his overgraded stuff with any degree of credibility to the real collecting public."<br /><br />Didn't I see an ad of his in SCD maybe a little over a month ago about his 'find' of unopened packs? He was selling them slabbed and graded.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>He ran auctions where the final bids were secret even if you requested them and closed at midnight on the button, so if you called at the end you couldn't get through. I can say with certainty he then awarded certain lots to his best customers even if someone else was high at one minute to twelve. I know several incidents where people were shut out even though they won the lot. Is that good for the hobby?

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>impossible to get through for the last 45 minutes. Oh--and no callbacks! "We only have three people here, manning the phones,"--this is the guy who appeared on the cover of SCD for like HUNDREDS of years! EVERY WEEK!<br /><br />So, you don't know if you've won until TA TAAA!<br /><br />The next day, he personally calls all the winners! I was sitting in the living room with my other half, feeling fairtly pleasaed that I didn't have to pay 800+ for a Cracker Jack Brown (I said, this was several years ago!)--when he calls. "This is Alan Rosen. You hasve been successful in your bid of $800 (+) for the 1915 Cracker Jack Mordecai Brown." Goof grief--Bob can't know I spent over 800 on a baseball card!.. "ER..what's the damage?" He tells me. "Mmm...Mint, or Rosen?" "Rosen" "Thank you very much. Goodbye. "Goodbye." Nice card, huh?<br /><br />Hee...

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Posted By: <b>Rhett Yeakley</b><p>Dan, I don't have a problem with you or anything like that, and I don't mean to attack anyone that likes Mr. Mint. I am glad that there are people out there that he treats well, and that he is nice to. That explains why he is still in the hobby, and people still deal with him. I personally have had very bad encounters with the guy, and have spoken with numerous people that have had similar, or worse experiences with the guy. I just don't understand why he doesn't treat everyone with the respect that he apparently treats others with. It is not just me, numerous people on this forum apparently feel the same way, or have had similar experiences with the man. <br /><br />Dan, I've met you before, you were very nice to me and my wife. And when my wife asked me how I knew you, I simply told her "he is one of the coolest guys from that forum that I go on the web sometimes." I don't really understand why I feel like you are attacking me. If you are getting defensive because you feel I am attacking a good friend, I can understand that. I just don't understand why you would take a shot at me. I don't want to make anybody angry about this issue, and I am not angry at anyone either. <br /><br />I'm not some young whipper-snapper that doesn't know a Goudey from a Diamond Star. I have been involved in this hobby actively since I was 10 years old. I feel I have consistently provided a lot of help to people on this forum, and have provided a lot of information about uncatologued cards, new set information, and have a good track record with every deal I have made with members of this forum. I began collecting cards in 1986, and set up at my first show in 1988 with my brother. Personally, I don't feel like I owe anything to Mr. Mint. He is one of the few early dealers that is still in the hobby, but how exactly did he save the hobby? I don't buy it. <br /><br />I'm not making crazy allegations about the guy, I'm speaking from first hand experience here. I don't appreciate being treated the way he treats me and other people. My mother always told me you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat strangers, and I think that is a very valid statement.<br /><br />-Rhett

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Posted By: <b>JimB</b><p>When he was so vehement against grading (and I was a poor grad student), I bought cards in his auctions that he listed as mint that were raw. They were Cracker Jacks, etc. This was the early days of grading. They would sell in his auctions for half the price of graded examples at the time. One I remember in particular was a 1915 CJ Speaker. I won it for $1100, sent it to PSA, got an 8, and sold it to a dealer for $2,250. Not bad. <br />JimB<br /><br />P.S. He has been incredibly rude to me in my two or three encounters with him at shows. But I appreciate the ego that convinced him he could single-handedly stop the grading craze. It helped me earn a little extra cash in grad school. He finally gave in when he realized there was money to be made.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>Hey guys I wasn't attacking you, that is why I said my young friend. I was just making a statement that I have heard several times over the years from many people who were in the hobby in the late 70s and early 80s when the hobby was dead. Barry, I am sure Al isn't perfect like me, easy guys, I am just kidding, but he did alot of good. He brought tons of material out of the woodwork with his advertising and buying. That is my opinion. Rhys, I wasn't attacking your brother but I commend you for jumping in at his defense, that is a good trait. Rhett, you are a super nice guy, I remember meeting your lovely wife and joking with you that I would trade my collection to be your age again. That is where the "young friend" came from. I am very good friends with Al and Dave (Al's right hand man) and just thought I would say something positive about him that I felt. Hey this isn't the first thread I have been shredded in and I am sure it won't be the last.

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Posted By: <b>PASJD</b><p>From my limited perspective, whatever you think of him, and whatever his personality, Rosen certainly helped popularize card collecting, and was responsible for finds of a lot of high grade material. He deserves some credit for that, doesn't he?

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>Julie, Alan called you? What a thrill? What was he like? Was he all business? <br /><br />I think Alan is nice if he has use for you. He goes about his ways like 'Crazy Eddie' willing to pay top notch prices for your items at shows, but he doesn't exactly treat the success (mostly do to marketing and the friggin SI article) as he should. He should be fortunate that...I hate saying this but it's true, he was the 'FACE OF THE HOBBY' in the mid-to-late-eighties. Maybe 'fame' went to his head!<br /><br />DJ<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>john/z28jd</b><p>So what youre saying is,if it werent for him i could probably buy Old Judges for $20 each instead of $200 for vg commons? <br /><br />Well now i feel foolish for saying anything bad about him!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.onlybucs.net/ems/nopity.gif"> <img src="http://www.onlybucs.net/ems/sman.gif"> <br /><br />Woah look at the stick man dance,i dont feel bad anymore,thanks ADD!

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Posted By: <b>Jim Clarke</b><p>I've only tried to deal with him one time. I bid on approx 6-8 items in his auction that ended right after 9-11. When the entire country was in Shock and Awe... I made last minute bids and opened up many lots. The person who answered the phone (not Al) said you are the last caller... I said, I hear the phones ringing in the background... He said, Alan says if you do not place any bids to hang up and the auction is closed.... The next day I called Alan to introduce myself to him and find out my total.. After he gave me the totals... I asked him why he did not honor the ten minute rule as printed and that was not fair for consignors.... ALAN SAID... YOU WANT TO SEE NOT FAIR... KEEP YOUR MONEY AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE CARDS...CLICK! I filed a case to the SCD which they did crap about. <br /><br />I ended up getting half the cards I bid on (Rose postcards) from a private sale he did with another person. He had them advertised at mint (graded SGC 50 later), got them at a cheaper price!!! <br /><br />Dan, I respect your opinion... But Rosen he is a BURNED OUT COIN DEALER JUNKY THAT FOUND A NITCHE IN A CAN'T MISS MARKET. <br /><br />After reading this GREAT thread... I think I will have Tammy walk in like a nobody with some 19th century cards un graded and ask him what they are worth... I'll tag along as her boyfriend to watch and tell her we need to get other opinions before committing to sell. I love playing with the hard core closer that does not have any people skills whatsoever... JC

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Posted By: <b>Josh Evans</b><p>I have known Alan Rosen a long time<br />I used to sell him stuff back in the late 1970s when I was a kid and in some small way he helped put me through college (at least helped pay for beer)<br />His second baseball show was my first (I had been in the antiques business for many years before that) <br /><br />Yes Alan Rosen was then, and sometimes still is a big a-hole<br />One of the biggest<br />As for his business practices I am sure there is some merit to some of these horror stories but there are also two sides to every story<br />At least some of the stories (!)<br /><br />However, you must put Alan Rosen in proper historical perspective<br />This guy “made” the baseball card business <br />On the money side he made money for all of us <br />He made your stuff worth more<br />He brought countless new people into the field<br />He brought out of an attic that card you sold last week<br /><br />On the “stuff” side he drew out a ton of cards <br />Tons<br />The stuff that now sits in your collection and you love<br /><br />He (and others) did the work that we all now draw benefit from <br />Yes he benefited too but he still deserves his due <br />You should see the other side<br /><br />Those are saying he was a jerk I cannot disagree with<br />I have had more fights with Alan then just about anyone<br />He attacked me with a baseball bat at a show (true)<br />And I am sure I did plenty to antagonize him through the years<br /><br />But after all these years we have forgiven each other and moved on and we are now friends again<br />We have both mellowed (thank God)<br /><br />I guess my point is you don’t have to like him<br />But you should respect him on some level <br />And anyone that thinks that Alan is still not a force in this business does not have a clue<br />If he is a joke than he will probably have the last laugh<br /><br />By the way, I just hate it when this Forum attacks people on a personal level<br />My father always told me whthat when you get personal in an argument you lose that argument<br />How Alan’s wife Marnie feels about him (by the way a lovely lady who was always nice to me even when Alan and I were battling) has no place in this Forum<br />It is childish and mean<br /><br />Josh Evans<br />

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>Josh,<br /><br />You know what my Dad told me? <br /><br />Treat people the way you want to be treated. <br /><br />What did Alan's Dad teach him? <br /><br />Be a schmuck your entire life and the worst thing that can happen is fifty-plus posts about their meager experiences with you and always wave around money with that s--t eatin grin.<br /><br />DJ<br /><br /><br />edit to say: P.S Josh, I don't think we can be this way with anyone else in the hobby. It's like air and water, everyone has an Alan Rosen experience. I think perhaps some good can come from this and he will read this and change his ways. What do you guys think?

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Posted By: <b>leonl</b><p>I don't know Mr. Mint as I have never dealt with him or met him ( I don't think ). I feel he is probably getting treated exactly the way he deserves to be treated. Some good, quite a bit not so good. The only thing I'll say is that except for a general reference to his wife (and not specifically by name) I haven't seen her in the thread, except for you taking up for the situation..(which is fine and commendable). I certainly wouldn't let that kind of stuff on the forum. .regards

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Posted By: <b>Tim James</b><p>I wasn't in the hobby in the 80's so I really haven't heard of this guy until following this thread.The majority of it,speaking of the thread,reminds me of being jealous of the kid around the block from me who had a better collection than I did.We are all grown-ups,but it seems that card collecting brings out the young boys and girls in us.Good,in the sense that our love for the hobby stays with us,and sometimes bad,when we look at what others have with distain.In addition,I have to admit,I hated that kid !!

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Posted By: <b>LOL</b><p>alan rosenMay 11 2005, 1:17 PM <br /><br />Does anyone really take him seriously?<br /><br /><br />starving hairdressers?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>I will give Rosen his due for bringing the spotlight to the hobby in the 80s, but I always dreaded seeing him headed for my table. He constantly lowballed me and expected me to sell my best material for pennies on the dollar. I finally got pissed at him and told him that I'm not his wholesaler and never come back to again. He told me I'd never be able to sell anything for the prices I asked, lol.<br /><br />My other Rosen story invovled offering him a complete run of 1930s Wheaties that were still complete boxes. He had run ad in SCD saying he was buying Wheaties, so I figured this would be a quick and easy way to flip them for a nice chunk of change. (this was long before I told him I wasn't his wholesaler) He did even bother to look at them. He jsut told that he had already bought all the Wheaties that he need. I was said "What? You have all the Wheaties you need already on complete boxes? This is probably the only complete run Wheaties on boxes in existance." He said, I don't care, I just need the cards, not entire boxes. <br /><br />I figure his scam was that he bought a huge Wheaties collection on the cheap. Ran an ad in SCD looking to buy, then using those buy prices to justify his sell prices that were about 2-3 times book at the time. <br /><br />You tell me, who in their right mind would pass up something so unique, other than a dealer that truely is clueless.<br /><br />Jay<br><br>I like to sit outside drink beer and yell at people. If I did this at home I would be arrested, so I go to baseball games and fit right in.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Alan Rosen did a lot to popularize the hobby, and I think that may be both good and bad. But on a personal level, outside his entourage of people who make money and get material off him, he is rude, nasty, and obnoxious and I think his conduct is downright embarrassing. Is he the showman he is to promote the hobby or to line his own pockets? Does he really care about the industry, or is it just a means for him to make a good living? There are so many nice people in the hobby who treat everybody big and small with equal respect; conversely, I don't think I've met too many people who have been rude to more potential customers than Mr. Rosen. As such, I find it very difficult to think of him as a hobby good guy. He is good to those who help him get ahead, rude to anyone who gets in his way. He's only in it for the money, and don't for a minute think otherwise. All of these grandiose gestures like autographed pictures and bobblehead dolls and pictures handing people wads of hundred dollar bills- and on the front cover of SCD no less- do not reflect well on our hobby. If our industry has a reputation to the general public that it is all about money, look no further than Mr. Rosen. He's a little too slick and a little too unctuous for my tastes.

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Posted By: <b>John Spencer</b><p>I recall about 5 or 6 years ago when I had set up at the Ft. Washington show, Rosen came striding across the floor like General George Patton racing across Germany. He stopped,looked at my cases and made me a ridiculous offer on 2 high grade Goudey Ruth's. After I politely declined his offer, we had a brief chat and I asked him how his show had been. He gave me sort of a sly smile and said he was still doing his damndest to screw unaware collectors and at this show he had reached the top of his game. It is one thing to take advantage of the uninformed but it is quite another to brag about it.

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>Rosen may sell graded now--he has to to survive. But you can bet he doesn't like it. I bought one card from him, in the pre-slab days, and it was overgraded. And part of his shtick was denigrating the quality of the cards offered to him for sale.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>Thanks Josh Evans for saying exactly what I was trying say about Al helping the hobby. Dan.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>But Dan- how about all the dozens of other responses that offered a different point of view? How can you gloss over all of them and just thank Josh for agreeing with you? There's a lot of material in this post.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>Barry, I am not glazing over them, and I understand the attitude/personality thing and the many problems with customers. I am just glad 1 other person saw the good Alan has done for the hobby. He has always been super to me so I have no horror story and I have done tons of transactions with him. What Josh stated was exactly what I was trying to say, but didn't do so very well obviously. Yes I am in the minority on this post but I will hold my ground on Alan's contributions to the hobby. As far as his treatment to customers, I can only comment on his treatment to me. My Best, dan.

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Posted By: <b>Alan</b><p>I'm sorry I started this discussion. I didn't mean for it to get personal like this.<br /><br />Alan<br /><br />Jewish Sports Collector

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>I'm well aware your point of view is based on your own experience, I trust that he has been nice to you, and I respect your opinion. But let me ask you a question: as I understand you regularly set up at shows, and so I asume you have had many opportunities to watch Mr. Rosen conduct his business. Do you think he treats everyone as kindly as he treats you? No question he has people he can work with but how about the others? And would you dare treat your customers in the same manner he does his? I think not; you are too good a person for that. And I say that in friendship and with the utmost respect for you.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>I have set up at many shows that he has set up at. Unfortunately, I am rarely by the front entrance which is where he is. I have spent time at his booth over the years with him and mainly with Dave and I have never seen a problem. Now I am not sitting there the entire time but I have seen people walk up with finds and he treats them just fine. I have seen nice large finds walk in and small kids with shiny sh$t and he has treated them all well. He has even refused stuff I have brought him but never with an attitude towards me. So to answer your fair question, yes, I would treat my customers the way he has treated me and the way I have seen him treat others (all good). He has purchased a TON of stuff over the years, you do not do that by crapping on everyone that comes up. Again I can see the potential for others to have problems with him, I just haven't witnessed any of it. <br><br><br /><br />On another note, I wasn't particularly happy when he started in the hobby. Remember, alot of us survived shows back then by buying walk ins and not just selling. A successful show could have been a good purchase and no sales. Alan posting at the front door with Ben Franklins killed the little guy's walk ins. For years walk-ins would never make it past his booth. today I think people are smarter and shop their stuff more but many still go back to Alan.<br /><br />Hey I love this board and most all of you guys, I don't mind getting beat up here. I was destroyed on the "uncataloged" thread. Damn that was almost fun!

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Posted By: <b>Adam J. Moraine</b><p>Well said, during your previous two posts Mr. Sloate. I do not know Alan Rosen on a personal level. I do know who he is though, a showman, in for the ol' mighty dollar. NOT for the love of our hobby. Just for that, I really do not want too much to do with him.<br /><br />Best Regards,<br /><br />Adam J. Moraine

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Dan- fair enough. If your experience has been nothing but positive, I accept that. But as you read the posts you understand that others have in fact not been treated well, and we're not talking about one or two people. I don't think we've had a thread with so many people chiming in. Obviously, Alan Rosen is a controversial figure- and I suspect that suits him fine.

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Posted By: <b>Adam J. Moraine</b><p>I have a question: Is the "Alan" who started this thread, Mr. Mint, Alan Rosen, himself? (login jewishcollector)I am just curious! <br /><br />Best Regards,<br /><br />Adam J. Moraine

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Posted By: <b>mike</b><p>On the plus side, Mr Mint was all good in SCD and SI, etc. He marketed his image and helped increase the flow into sports card collecting. His advice in his book on investing in baseball cards was true but laughable: buy the best you can afford in the classic series - mint T206, 50-60s hall-of-famers, and 1987 topps sets! One had to have known he was knee deep in T206s and 1987 Topps sets. The easiest way to have turned his opposition to 3rd party grading would have been to give him a stake in PSA.<br /><br />If you were a teen during the mid-80s, then you remember Trump's Art of the Deal, and how teens (at least in flyover country) looked up to Trump. There were the writeups in SCD of his amazing finds of 52/54/55 Topps, and the vintage football cards, and whatever else he turned up. Like baseball cards, Mr Mint was a flash to white bread MidWestern teens. His pics of the grin and oddles of cash were backed up with a display case filled with $100s at shows and newpaper ads. Of course, meeting him (or not) was a different experience. (Sort of like, you see Yoko on TV all nice and thoughtful, and then there she is at the local fair get out of my face).<br /><br />If he's buying $1000 cards for $150 or whatever and flipping those to buddies at $400 or whatever, then he's a great guy; If I was the one with my want list getting filled I'd be estatic. The transactions were all voluntary and he brokered cash and cards to everyone's advantage. <br /><br />How come Mr Mint gets trashed here but not SCD? Aren't all the ex-coin dealers just as guilty as Mr Mint when it comes to their ads with the high buying prices listed for stars that never sell off the show tables, but then not buying cards offered?

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>No it isn't him. How funny would that be? Him posting and me defending him and him letting me go to the dogs! I kind of know the poster and it isn't the subject. Yes Barry, I have to agree that the majority here have had bad experiences and I truly do believe all of them as I know most of them very well. Dan.

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Posted By: <b>Alan</b><p>Yes, that would be a good motive, but No, I'm not Alan Rosen. I can assure you that !!!<br /><br />Alan<br />Jewish sports collector

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Posted By: <b>Mike P.</b><p>I've never dealt with him but from what I am reading it seems for the most part he is unpleasant with other dealers(his competition) and more pleasant with the unwary collector looking to sell some cards.

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Posted By: <b>tbob</b><p>Barry is right on the money, 100%. Sorry Dan, I think you're a great guy and you may have had a good relationship with him over the years but there is no frigging way Mr. Mint "saved" the hobby. He and Alan Hager are 1 and 1A as the biggest jerks I have known in this hobby...

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>No sweat Bob, your opinion is respected by me, though I really do not see how you can compare Rosen to Hager, one was downright criminal. <br><br>edited to correct grammar

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>Rosen isn't unique vis a vis his interactions with smaller dealers. Many, perhaps even a majority, of large-scale dealers I dealt with when I used to set up at shows in the 1990-1994 period were nasty to me when they were going through my stuff looking for cards to scoop up for their inventories. I just took it as (1) part of the give and take of negotiation (see if he can intimidate me with his rep into selling cheap; little did he know I am a litigator <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> ) and (2) evidence of their lack of class. The really good guys to deal with in the business (Terry Knouse and Andy Madec jump to mind right away) are invariably courteous and polite to the general public and to other, smaller dealers. Those are the types of guys you look to do business with over time. Now, if I had to pay off a gambling debt to keep from getting my thumbs broken and needed fast anonymous cash for my collection, Rosen would be my first call.

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Posted By: <b>Bruce Babcock</b><p>I'm an ex-customer of Mr. Poor, as of 2000. I had been a regular bidder in his auctions. I even bought items on which I was the underbidder and the winner had reneged, although Mr. Poor got pissy on the telephone once when I wanted a nanosecond to think it over. <br /><br />After a series of problems with this guy, I complained to SCD. Mr. Poor is arguably SCD's biggest advertiser. Guess how far my complaint got? <br /><br />So next time you see one of those Krause Customer Service Award logos, implying no complaints about an advertiser for 5, 10, 15 years, well . . . maybe not.<br /><br />When Mr. Poor says, "If I say it's mint and you say it's mint, ain't it mint?" Well, maybe not . . .<br /><br />And while we are talking about SCD . . .<br /><br />I once won two lots in a large auction from Superior Sportscards. When I received them they were not as described. Not close.<br /><br />When I complained to SCD they told me that, while the Superior auction ad appeared in SCD, THE TWO LOTS I WON WERE NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THE AD. This was a novel twist, but did not change the fact the lots were misrepresented in the catalog.<br /><br />Superior, to their credit, ultimately decided that good customers are valuable, and we reached a fair settlement. I am still their customer.<br /><br />Mr. Poor reached a different conclusion. I am no longer a customer.<br /><br />SCD decided that extending my subscription 6 issues would placate me. Wrong answer.<br /><br />P.S.Say what you want about Alan Hager, and I could say plenty, he always made things right when I complained.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>If this thread turns into an indictment of Alan Hager, we will easily sail past 100 posts. Since I never dealt with him, I'll steer clear of this one. But I've heard things, I've heard things.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>No more Hager posts please, just reference the 10 page article in a past VCBC by Purdy. Speaking of VCBC, any news? Dan.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>It's good Dan that you changed the subject. I heard a rumor that Dennis Purdy was going to take the magazine back, but my gut is it is part of hobby history.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>I think you are correct Barry. I wanted to advertise in it but Don told me I was too late. I emailed dennis and never heard back from him. Looks like old cardboard has taken over, ah but the plot thickens...... tune in later for more to come on vintage baseball magazines.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Old Cardboard is doing a great job with many more color pictures- and their profiling of collectors and attaching faces to names is great.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>Yes! that is a class magazine with incredibly excellent articles and graphics! I hope it stays around forever. The only bad thing I ever saw in any of the first 3 issues was that brown ad in issue #1.

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Posted By: <b>T206Collector</b><p>...before Mr. Mint takes out a full page ad in Old Cardboard. <i>sigh</i>

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>Great idea! I think I will call Al and see if I can sell a full page for Lyman, then everyone wins.

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Posted By: <b>Ryan Christoff</b><p>Here is Rosen's REAL new look. The bald head and chic glasses were only a cover up for his new ultra-pink hue:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1115932838.JPG"> <br><br><br />I noticed these while playing Candyland with my 3 year-old son. Above is from the box. Below is from the game board. I swear those are real. I did not make them up. My wife couldn't figure out how a game of Candyland could make a grown man laugh out loud. By the way, nice swing, Alan! <br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1115929339.JPG"> <br /><br />No need to go into detail about my Mr. Mint story since it's clear that everyone except Danny (kidding Dan) was treated the same way. I'll just say that it was the early 1980's, I was probably around 14 year-old, and I will never forget it. While the same could be said for me losing my virginity, this was an altogether different kind of screwing courtesy of Mr. Mint, himself. <br /><br />It's too bad kids you get over on grow up and become adults, isn't it?<br /><br />-Ryan<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>This is weird:<br /><br />If you punch in "vcbc.com," all you will get it a list of all the articles that appeared in the magazine from issue 1 to 38.<br /><br />If you punch in "donbetz@vcbc.com" you'll get a note saying our website address<br />has changed, click HERE. You click HERE, and you get the whole 9 yards, the cover of issue #38, the thing to click on to get the list of back issues to order, the ancient classifieds, etc. <br /><br />I POISONALLY know someone who ordered issue number 1 this past week, and got confirmation. Whether he gets a magazine or not remains to be seen...some of those magazines were fantasatic.<br /><br />Like Barry, I'm afraid it's all in the past,--except perhaps for ordering back issues! (Which, as i said, I can't guarentee.)

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Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>I am a newcomer to this forum (only a month); and, at the risk<br />of alienating several friends (who have posted on this thread),<br />I have some positive comments to say regarding Mr Mint.<br /><br />At one of the first shows that I set up, in the Summer of 1981,<br />Al Rosen was set up opposite me. He was a sort of brash with his<br />customers, but I figured every hobby has a "Howard Cosell" type<br />to fuel the "chattering types" amongst us. Other than buying a<br />complete 1949 Bowman PCL set from him (in 1984), I hadn't done<br />any other business with him until 1995.<br /><br />That year he published his book "True Mint" and I found it very<br />interesting. What fascinated me was his most notable "Finds";<br />33 of them which are well documented. So, at the Philly Show<br />I sat down with him and had a great conversation regarding the<br />details of the 1952 Topps Hi# find, the Un-Opened 1949 Leaf<br />BB find, the Wayne Miller Tobacco deal, etc., etc. I was<br />quite impressed with his detailed insight over a wide spectrum<br />of card issues; from 19th Century to 1970's.<br /><br />So, then I realized he is an alright guy, and since we have<br />had numerous deals; and, he has always been very fair with me.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>To Ted- And I want the members of this board to know we have been the best of friends for the last twenty years- Alan has been nice to you mainly because you have been a source of good deals for him. You may have other mutual areas of interest, but if he couldn't make great deals with you that friendship very well may not have existed. Sorry to be so cynical, but I call them as I see them.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>Holy cow Ryan, you lost your virginity at 14??? You beat me by a year! Hey no sweat, and no need to be kidding, you are correct, based on this thread, I seem to be the only one who has been treated well, plus Ted now. And at 14, you should have been treated in a way that would encourage you to collect, not leave a bad taste in your mouth after all of these years. I am very sorry for that, but am glad what ever he did didn't get you to quit. You have revolutionized the Cuban baseball arena. Dan.

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Posted By: <b>Chris</b><p>I'd like to see Mr. Rosen and a certain individual from 707sportscards have a charity boxing match. We could promote it as the "Battle for Rude Supremacy". I'd love to see those two have at it. The winner would get to lowball me on my '33 Goudey PSA 8 Ruth.

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Posted By: <b>painthistorian</b><p>To answer a point that was brought about many times, Mr.Rosen came on the "scene" way after some very key players made the hobby "better" and found tons of material, and were nice!..amongst them, Paul Gallagher who single handedly made the New York shows incredible and is now deceased, but not forgotton.,.. He was key in the early days and came up with a lot of rare material and Barry Halper who started paying real money for real quality items was inspirational to all those that were part of it back in the 70's and early 80's.....add to that a long list of others including Lifson, Mastro, L&R Card Co,Frank Nagy, Rob Bruce, Wayne Varner and so on...., Mr. Rosen has contributed a lot in finding material but the foundations of the hobby were well in place before him...and much great material came way before him and should be acknowledged for posterity.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Paul Gallagher was a great friend and always a source of neat material. He used to stop by my apartment often even to play chess and invited me to his cluttered house once, something I considered a real privilege. I remember picking up T206's off his floor. He was a real pioneer and along with his brother used to organize great shows in NYC. Those days are long gone.

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Posted By: <b>Jim Clarke</b><p>Great idea having Levi and Mr.Poor get in a ring for a no holds bar match! I think charity would do really good on this one. I'm glad other people complained to the SCD about bad practices. Even though SCD did not do anything about my compliant.. I quickly did NOT renew my weekly newsprint with them.<br /><br />From what I understand now is that the ONLY PEOPLE THAT LIKE MR. POOR ARE THE PEOPLE IN HIS DOWNLINE THAT HE FLIPS DEALS TO, FROM POOR INNOCENT PEOPLE HE CLUBS USING THE HARD NEW YORK STYLE CLOSING TECHNIQUE ON. Plus the people at SCD that he PAYS for them to do business with him. Does SCD even know they might get more respect if they filter out all the "Bad dealers" in the hobby? <br /><br />I sure was glad to see him stop running auctions. I bet he is not as well off as he used to be... I think he hides behind SMOKE and MIRRORS. <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>I agree JC about the smoke and mirrors. Much of what you see is just an illusion, especially that same exact smile that appears in every one of his ads.

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Posted By: <b>tim Mayer</b><p>two points..<br /><br />as you all know, we are all contributing to his legacy and myth, as they say " any publicity is good publicity"<br /><br />my second point is I am sure that there are some people who have a great relationship with Mr. Mint...<br />i love reading about famous people throughout history when neighbors and friends make comments about the serial killer, or murderer.." he was a great guy, played with my kids, gave them candy, was very nice" that type of stuff. As a fireman I believe in the adage " where there is smoke there is fire" <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>He's the Cheshire Cat that never disappears!

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>I think this thread is losing steam but I think the 'no such thing as bad publicity' only works if there is merit in your talent and you have something to offer to the general public. Talented people like Paris Hilton can get away with this but a baseball card dealer, I don't think so. What Rosen does is show the world this loveable money waving side and then when you meet him, he acts like you are intruding on his time by trading odors with him. <br /><br />DJ<br />

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Posted By: <b>jackgoodman</b><p>Should we start telling Tony Galovich stories or is "out of sight, out of mind" the general consensus?

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Posted By: <b>Rhys</b><p>Wow, and I thought the Mr. Mint has saved the hobby stuff was bad, but Paris Hilton talented? If there is a more worthless human being on this planet I would love to hear about him/her because as far as I am concerned every time I hear Paris or her friend open their mouths I am dumber for listening to what comes out. <br /><br />Actually I guess they are very similar, Paris and Mr. Mint; they are both screw people, make money, and then make a big deal about it through self promotion.<br /><br />Hopefully none of you Mr. Mint or Paris Hilton fans take offense to this, but like Paris, it was just way too easy.

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p><br />Paris Hilton (or insert Ashley Simpson) is famous for...'being famous'. They do nothing well. Ashley can't sing and that's her job and Paris is good at being a 'rich girl' of which I would grade a PSA7 because she's too skinny. <br /><br />We live in a society now where 'reality' stars are famous for being themselves and we the general public think they are celebrities. <br /><br />The first time I saw Mr. Mint, I couldn't believe what I saw. Time stood still. Everyone seemed to drop what they were doing and look his way. People whispered 'Hey, there's Alan Rosen' and one person asked for an autograph. <br /><br />DJ<br /><br />P.S- We should really have an Alan Rosen Haiku competition on this board. Anyone have a bobble of him that they can give to the winner? <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br />

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Posted By: <b>tbob</b><p>Paris Hilton is definitely a PSA 7 OC ST. Her only talent is displayed in a prone position. Sorry about that....

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Posted By: <b>vetekbob</b><p>Although I have never dealt with Mr mint as many of you have, it was suggested that someone should write something and so I have. These words I have penned were an attempt to bring forth both the good and the bad of the man this thread was started about and to try and sum up in some small way the thoughts of some of you and what you had to say.<br /><br />Mr Mint Mr Mint<br />With all your money and your flashy smile, you would think that such a man as you would have some style. Your garments are wrapped in green shiny bills. Your eyes search over the room like a hawk on her nest, they get too close to you, you simply smile at them and whisper, Dont you know Mint is the best? You come to us the collector seeking to barter and to sell and we would appreciate it if you wouldnt whine, stomp, and yell. You have paved the road for many of us and for that we gladly give you your due but one thing that seems to have been lost in all of this is the person of you. If by chance we should meet again in the sacred halls of cardsboard's keep, may you leave your dollar bills at the door and lay your heart of kindness and friendship gently at our feet.<br><br>basicgreatguy@hotmail.com

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>Bald pate<br />Cheesy goatee<br />Rolex flash<br />Pressure deal<br />Where are my cards, Alan?<br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>Haiku is one of the most important form of traditional japanese poetry. <br /><br />Haiku is, today, a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables.<br /><br />I.E<br /><br />Sudden spring storm-<br />a family of ducks paddles<br />around the deserted lake.

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Posted By: <b>Andrew Parks</b><p>A haiku is three lines long:<br /><br />Line 1 = 5 syllables<br />Line 2 = 7 syllables<br />Line 3 = 5 syllables<br /><br />But you get an A for effort!

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Posted By: <b>Tim James</b><p>I am in total shock as to how long this thread has gone.The guy's seemingly "unethical" ways of acquiring the product he desires,might have ruffled some feathers along the way,but that's the way the hobby goes.The kid around the block had a better collection than I,but he had ways of making that happen.Like him or not,he got the job done.Some collect for personal enjoyment,some for profit.People who are willing to put their money on the line to better themselves are the one's that make this country the greatest in the world.We might not agree on the method the man gained his stature,but the way it has been accomplished is what the "american dream" is all about.

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Posted By: <b>Andrew Parks</b><p>I have only seen Mr. Rosen once and never spoke to him. However, it seems pretty clear that he has treated some on here pretty poorly all in the name of the "All-Mighty Dollar". If he did, indeed, treat those the manner in which they told it, I can not support that. <br /><br />Some of you have written that he has treated you with respect and kindness. That is both encouraging and refreshing, and it definitely needs to be told to balance the "horror" stories that others have told.<br /><br />However, I am alarmed at how many of you seem to have a non-chalant attitude about the unkindness, greed, and pride that he seems to throw into people's faces just because he's improved the hobby. If he has indeed acted and said some of the shocking things that have been reported, then the man has serious problems. How can his unkindness and greed "make this country the best in the world" for one example?<br /><br />If the man brought many things into the hobby and had a huge hand in making it what it is today, then I am not so sure where to quite put that on the "Mr. Mint Success Tree". The bottom line is this - the man has seemed to do many unkind, greedy, prideful, and tasteless things to completely innocent people. <br /><br />Some people try to copy the methods of those who are successful. Unfortunately, in our society, the definition of success is wealth. If he has done what some of you report, then there are probably hundreds of other dealers who are willing to follow his lead in an attempt to reach the success status that this man has achieved. It's very possible that for every "important act" he has given to the hobby, for every kind gesture he has offered to others, it is counter-balanced by another side of him that is controlled by greed and pride.<br /><br />I am not perfect, nor are any of us, but as I was reading some of these stories on this thread I could only have pity and compassion for the man named Alan Rosen, and I hope he sees what's truly important very soon.

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>At this point we're just having fun with it, i.e., the haiku contest. No need to be distressed at how long the thread is going.

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>Coin dealer does cards<br />Legend in his own minds' eye<br />Good for the hobby?

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Posted By: <b>Scott M</b><p>There once was a dealer with much cash.<br />The reputation he gained was "all flash".<br />He called himself "Mr. Mint".<br />To his customers he said things I cannot print.<br />How'd he become so successful being so brash? <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Scott M<br /><br />Edited to add that I would have done a Sonnet but 14 lines is more than this particular subject is worth... <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>I asked if he <br />Had a Hack Wilson; he said<br />No; I like your cap.<br /><br />Sort of --embarassing. here's another real one (this is known as sneaking poetry in):<br /><br />Dead my old fine hopes<br />and dry my dreaming, but oh<br />iris, blue each spring!

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Posted By: <b>jay behrens</b><p>Are you writing poems? You're writing a poem aren't you? There's no poetry in baseball! :-p<br /><br />Jay<br><br>I like to sit outside drink beer and yell at people. If I did this at home I would be arrested, so I go to baseball games and fit right in.

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Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>as I see it.....

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Posted By: <b>taraizzy</b><p>I thought i would add my 2 cents on Mr Mint. Back in the late 1990's I brought my 2 boys to the National Convention in Chicago. Mr. Mint was giving away free mini bats that he was autographing. So with aprox 7-10 people in line to get a free bat, an elderly man approaches him and hands him a ticket stub for possible purchase. What happened next, shocked everyone in that line. Mr. Rosen began cursing at the elderly man and told him that what he had was s*** and to get away from his table. He raised his voice loud enough to be heard from quite a distance. I have never forgot that incident.

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Posted By: <b>John</b><p>Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet,<br />Eating her curds and whey,<br />Along came a spider (Al Rosen) and sat down beside her,<br />And said, “what ya got in the bowl bitch? I’ll pay cash for it”<br />And frightened Miss Muffet away.<br /><br />I only ever had one experience with Al Rosen it was my very first Ft. Washington show a few years back. I had brought my laptop I handed the computer bag to my wife and went to the restroom. When I came back she said lets move away from this area please. I asked why she explained that while I was in the bathroom Rosen approached her and said what’s in the bag your holding for the guy in the bathroom. About a few hours later we walked by his booth and he said “hey man what do you have in that computer bag?” I just laughed and said a computer he turned and said “sure what ever” in a sarcastic voice. Truth is it really was only a computer, I wonder if he would have bought it.<img src="http://photos.imageevent.com/piojohn3/smileys/77.gif"><br />

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Posted By: <b>T206Collector</b><p>...at a card show in White Plains, NY. He creeps me out. He was being well-ignored.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Jim Clarke</b><p>Back in the "Old days" the hobby could be bery profitable for Shady Con-Artist cracters like Hager/Rosen. Because of the e-net and word of mouth... Both these guys can not MAKE IT ANYMORE with their current practices. Yes, we will all see Rosen still at some big shows sticking to his game plan, but the days of Grandpa walking into a show to sell something good is drying up. <br /><br />This thread going so long only shows that people do care who gets ripped off or not and is a very good informative thread for new people to read. <br /><br />I would like to see Leon do a rating of dealers like the VCBC does each year. One vote per IP address. Lets make this a very informative place for everyone to make up their minds on who to deal with. Good people (most dealers) should be rewarded as bad dealers should be pointed out as well!!!!!

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>I always ask myself "If this dealer sat down next to me on a bus would I want to move?" If yes, I don't go to his table.

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>No, I didn't write the "real" haiku--onl the one about Rosen and Hack Wilson and my cap (which happened). Real one's almost 1000 years old.

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Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>edited to put my foot in my mouth

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>The Ball once struck off,<br />Away flies the Boy<br />To the next destin'd Post,<br />And then Home with Joy. --Anonymous, 18th Century<br /><br />These are the saddest of possible words:<br />"Tinker to Evers to Chance."<br />Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds,<br />Tinker and Evers and Chance.<br />Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,<br />Making a Giant hit into a double-<br />Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:<br />"Tinker to Evers to Chance." --Franklin P. Adams<br /><br />"In our sundown perambulations of late through the outer parts of Brooklyn, we have observed several parties of youngsters playing 'base,' a certain game of ball...Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our close rooms...the game of ball is glorious." -- Walt Whitman, 1846 <br /><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>Do not be remembering the most natural man ever to<br /> wear spiked shoes,<br />The canniest fielder and the longest hitter,<br />Who squatted on his heels<br />In a uniform muddied at the knees,<br />Til the bleacher shadows grew long behind him.<br />Who went along with Chick and Buck (sic) and Happy<br />Because they treated him so friendly-like,<br />Hardly like Yankees at all.<br />With Williams because Lefty was from the South too,<br />And with Risberg because the Swede was such a hard guy.<br />Who made an X for his name and couldn't ague with<br /> Comiskey's sleepers,<br />But who could pick a line drive out of the air ten feet<br /> outside the foul line<br />And rifle anything home from anywhere in the park<br /><br />For Shoeless Joe is gone, long gone,<br />A long yellow grass-blade between his teeth<br />And the bleacher shadows behind him..."<br /><br /> Nelson Algren<br /><br /><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/jphotos/BSjoTNGb001.jpg">

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Posted By: <b>Ryan Christoff</b><p>Good for the hobby?<br />If by good you mean awful<br />Rosen is your man.

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Posted By: <b>Thomas Walcott Sr</b><p>This guy is like varmant to this industry I watched him spit in the face of a show exibitor in Chicago and I was asked by the police to sign a statement which I did along with 7 other witnesses. After the police spoke to Rosen he was shaking the other atendee decided not to press charges the officer in charge told me it was put on record and any further actions he would go to jail maybee that is what he needs.

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Posted By: <b>Thomas Walcott Sr</b><p>Does this guy have any freinds in the entire hobby/<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>John_B_California</b><p>For all of his faults, he's still a brilliant marketer. How many dealers in any business (cards, coins, stamps, antiques) have branded themselves this well? When he steps outside and eats a hotdog at the National, people think he's a rock star.<br /><br />He reminds me in some ways of <b>Donald Trump. Lots of flash, cash and hyperbole.</b> Trump has his ice water and fragrance, Rosen has his baseballs and bobble heads. I'm waiting for the Mr. Mint Visa Check card....

Things that make you go hmmmm