Help with Authenticity - Ruth, Mantle, Mays

[redauto5]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Several items draw curiosity, enough to give me pause. Those older sgc cases open very easily, I have opened one myself just with an accidental drop that separated perfectly. The left side does seem frosty from the photo. The card itself has what looks to be a very unnatural wear pattern, especially on the lower right. Goudeys are not a ultra crisp print, but it seems a little off. That could be the case, just can’t tell from the poor photo and glare. We need a good front and back scan as the back red bleed and text definition will tell plenty.

I zoomed in off my initial photo, do these help? I do see what could be described as frosting on the top left of the slab. I'm also wondering what the black line could be on the bottom middle. I see what you mean about the unnatural corner wear.

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[Bestdj777]

Not to sound mean, but you shouldn’t be buying any of these cards. It doesn’t seem like you have a ton of experience detecting fakes at this point, and the seller is either inexperienced or crooked as well. So, you have two people going in to a sale that have no idea. It may be worth just waiting a bit until you’ve got more experience.

[redauto5]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

Not to sound mean, but you shouldn’t be buying any of these cards. It doesn’t seem like you have a ton of experience detecting fakes at this point, and the seller is either inexperienced or crooked as well. So, you have two people going in to a sale that have no idea. It may be worth just waiting a bit until you’ve got more experience.

You don't sound mean, and normally I would've referred this collection to a friend locally. However, I am at a point that I need to generate income for my family and if I can navigate this correctly I'm confident I can do so. I've been a residential realtor for 17 years, and I haven't sold a house in 2023. I've sold off most of my own collection to pay bills. I'm confident I can do right by the seller, whom I'm convinced is innocent and ignorant of what he has/doesn't have regarding authenticity.

I was astute enough to come here and ask for help when I realized I was in over my head, and you guys have been immensely helpful. This forum is legendary in the card world, and yall haven't disappointed.

I watch Ken Burns Baseball every year before opening day. I love baseball, it's magical to me. My favorite movie is Field of Dreams.

I freely admit I'm in over my head, and I'll probably make an offer on the collection sans any big ungraded cards. The Gehrig is still a question mark but I'll figure it out.

Sometimes life circumstances call for riding out into the unknown, into danger on the frontier. This is one of those times for me and I'm determined to thrive in it, though I may bleed some along the way. Thanks for looking out regardless. I mean that.

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[bnorth]

Originally Posted by redauto5

You don't sound mean, and normally I would've referred this collection to a friend locally. However, I am at a point that I need to generate income for my family and if I can navigate this correctly I'm confident I can do so. I've been a residential realtor for 17 years, and I haven't sold a house in 2023. I've sold off most of my own collection to pay bills. I'm confident I can do right by the seller, whom I'm convinced is innocent and ignorant of what he has/doesn't have regarding authenticity.

I was astute enough to come here and ask for help when I realized I was in over my head, and you guys have been immensely helpful. This forum is legendary in the card world, and yall haven't disappointed.

I watch Ken Burns Baseball every year before opening day. I love baseball, it's magical to me. My favorite movie is Field of Dreams.

I freely admit I'm in over my head, and I'll probably make an offer on the collection sans any big ungraded cards. The Gehrig is still a question mark but I'll figure it out.

Sometimes life circumstances call for riding out into the unknown, into danger on the frontier. This is one of those times for me and I'm determined to thrive in it, though I may bleed some along the way. Thanks for looking out regardless. I mean that.

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Not that I use it but I would make payment with PayPal goods and services with a detailed list of cards and a very clear return policy. In this case cash is your worst enemy.

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by redauto5

You don't sound mean, and normally I would've referred this collection to a friend locally. However, I am at a point that I need to generate income for my family and if I can navigate this correctly I'm confident I can do so. I've been a residential realtor for 17 years, and I haven't sold a house in 2023. I've sold off most of my own collection to pay bills. I'm confident I can do right by the seller, whom I'm convinced is innocent and ignorant of what he has/doesn't have regarding authenticity.

I was astute enough to come here and ask for help when I realized I was in over my head, and you guys have been immensely helpful. This forum is legendary in the card world, and yall haven't disappointed.

I watch Ken Burns Baseball every year before opening day. I love baseball, it's magical to me. My favorite movie is Field of Dreams.

I freely admit I'm in over my head, and I'll probably make an offer on the collection sans any big ungraded cards. The Gehrig is still a question mark but I'll figure it out.

Sometimes life circumstances call for riding out into the unknown, into danger on the frontier. This is one of those times for me and I'm determined to thrive in it, though I may bleed some along the way. Thanks for looking out regardless. I mean that.

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Fair enough. Two key things to keep in mind when buying vintage. First, can you tell how the card has aged? For example, cards aren’t going to have uniformly round corners from age. Corners generally just don’t round. You also are unlikely to get something that is completely stained but otherwise immaculate. Second, can you figure out why a particular card isn’t graded? I’m not exactly a graded card collector myself but it’s atypical for a collector that has graded cards (ie, the person you are buying from) to have Mantles in that condition that aren’t graded if real.

I’ll second what another poster said about SGC slabs. I had a $2,000 card fall out on my floor once and there was no visible frosting on the slab after—the card was legit and fortunately wasn’t damaged so no concern. But just something to keep in mind regarding their slabs, which could theoretically be resealed after….

I’ve got a PSA slab I have to try resealing just to see…

[ALR-bishop]

Go to SportsCards Plus in San Antonio at 2251 Lockhill Selma 78230. Check their web site for hours. Ask to see Charlie DiPietro the owner and ask him to take a look at the cards and tell you if he thinks they are legit. Best to have any of the ungraded cards out of any current plastic tombs when you go

John— if you get to San Antonio would be happy to buy you lunch if we are in town.

[redauto5]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Go to SportsCards Plus in San Antonio at 2251 Lockhill Selma 78230. Check their web site for hours. Ask to see Charlie DiPietro the owner and ask him to take a look at the cards and tell you if he thinks they are legit. Best to have any of the ungraded cards out of any current plastic tombs when you go



John— if you get to San Antonio would be happy to buy you lunch if we are in town.

I know Charlie, but didn't know he was a vintage expert. Thanks for the heads up. I'll drop by SCP in the next few days and show him the pics, I've got to go get some supplies anyway. Obviously he needs to see the cards outside the tombs as you say to make an informed determination but it'll go over better with the seller if I can tell him I've already spoken to Charlie in person and he is willing to take a look. Appreciated!

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[ALR-bishop]

I do not know if Charlie will be comfortable giving an opinion based on just pictures. I would not. I assumed you would be taking the cards themselves.

His shop is predominantly basketball because as you are aware that is San Antonio’s only major sport, but he has always had some inventory of older baseball cards and I have on occasion shared some of my Topps items with him

He is not always there. He has a son who often works the store. He may have some baseball expertise as well but am not sure

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

John— if you get to San Antonio would be happy to buy you lunch if we are in town.

Will let you know when I make plans to visit. My Wing at Eglin has two units at Lackland, and the Personnel Center is at Randolph. Now that I'm a hiring manager for AF Civilians, I figured it would be good to take a visit and introduce myself, if that would help anything.

[redauto5]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

Fair enough. Two key things to keep in mind when buying vintage. First, can you tell how the card has aged? For example, cards aren’t going to have uniformly round corners from age. Corners generally just don’t round. You also are unlikely to get something that is completely stained but otherwise immaculate. Second, can you figure out why a particular card isn’t graded? I’m not exactly a graded card collector myself but it’s atypical for a collector that has graded cards (ie, the person you are buying from) to have Mantles in that condition that aren’t graded if real.



I’ll second what another poster said about SGC slabs. I had a $2,000 card fall out on my floor once and there was no visible frosting on the slab after—the card was legit and fortunately wasn’t damaged so no concern. But just something to keep in mind regarding their slabs, which could theoretically be resealed after….



I’ve got a PSA slab I have to try resealing just to see…

These are all very good questions to ask and very good points. When you say it like that it seems obvious the Mantles, Mays and Ruth are out of place and suspect. I'll ask the seller some questions, but am leaning toward just putting anything suspect aside and trying to make a deal for the low to mid priced stuff he has. He has enough of that to keep me busy for awhile without including the big hitters.

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[JustinD]

Originally Posted by redauto5

I zoomed in off my initial photo, do these help? I do see what could be described as frosting on the top left of the slab. I'm also wondering what the black line could be on the bottom middle. I see what you mean about the unnatural corner wear.

I think you need to have someone skilled look at that up close. Difficult with the photo quality for me to make a definite call personally. Any frosting at all would be bad, remember it’s just superglue and just takes a couple dabs to get it closed. Sgc cases won’t frost the entire sides when popped on those old ones because they are not sealed in the same way as psa.

Take up one of the offers from a local member to check or maybe a good auction house like heritage could look at the Dallas Show. I wouldn’t use the local card shop check personally unless they specialize in vintage. Most local card shops know less than my wife on this and just know modern and Pokémon.

[redauto5]

Originally Posted by JustinD

I think you need to have someone skilled look at that up close. Difficult with the photo quality for me to make a definite call personally. Any frosting at all would be bad, remember it’s just superglue and just takes a couple dabs to get it closed. Sgc cases won’t frost the entire sides when popped on those old ones because they are not sealed in the same way as psa.



Take up one of the offers from a local member to check or maybe a good auction house like heritage could look at the Dallas Show. I wouldn’t use the local card shop check personally unless they specialize in vintage. Most local card shops know less than my wife on this and just know modern and Pokémon.

I didn't know how easy those old SGC slabs were to split and reseal, thanks. Unless I can get someone with the expertise necessary to look at that Gehrig I'm going to have to just stay away unfortunately.

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