Card doctoring video

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

My guess is most people think it's fine for strip cards and cereal boxes and the like but not so much for a regular Topps sheet or Goudey sheet. The more interesting question to me is the hypothetical scenario in which one comes into possession of both an original uncut sheet from the factory and the original paper cutting machinery used at the factory so that they are capable of creating genuine fresh factory-cut cards from their uncut sheet.

I would not consider those legit, I guess. Since we're talking hypotheticals, suppose someone found Goudey sheets and the original cutting machinery stashed away somewhere tomorrow. Hard for me to accept that a card cut in 2023 should be regarded the same as a 1930s card. Would it have value, of course, but the circumstances should be disclosed. And if that's the case, via Socratic method I think one reaches the same conclusion for any subsequent cut.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I would not consider those legit, I guess. Since we're talking hypotheticals, suppose someone found Goudey sheets and the original cutting machinery stashed away somewhere tomorrow. Hard for me to accept that a card cut in 2023 should be regarded the same as a 1930s card. Would it have value, of course, but the circumstances should be disclosed. And if that's the case, via Socratic method I think one reaches the same conclusion for any subsequent cut.

I guess then the question is whether the problem is that the cutter wasn't an employee of the factory or that not enough time has elapsed since the cards were factory cut -- in which case the question is how many years would have to elapse after the cut before the cards would be considered legitimate. Or is it that too much time elapsed between printing and cutting, in which case the question is how many hours or months or years or whatever would have been okay?

[Eric72]

Much of the non-Mastro conversation in this thread sounds familiar.

Discussions about card doctors and the alterations they perform (and, by extension, the altered cards) seem similar to late '90s conversations regarding PEDs.

Fans were excited, nearly everyone was making money, and some players were able to have (or continue) careers they otherwise wouldn't. To those who cared to look a bit more deeply, though, it was clear something was wrong.

At the time, baseballs were soaring over the outfield walls with alarming regularity. It was normal, even acceptable, to a large portion of baseball fans. However, there was ample evidence some of the players were cheating to gain an edge. Among other things, their bodies exhibited traits (such as an increased head size) that simply wouldn't occur naturally.

The long-term impact to the sport still isn't fully known. Steroid use continues to be a relevant (and divisive, at times) issue.

That sure sounds familiar. Let me try something.

Collectors were excited, nearly everyone was making money, and some dealers were able to have (or continue) careers they otherwise wouldn't. To those who cared to look a bit more deeply, though, it was clear something was wrong.

At the time, vintage cards were getting high grades from the TPGs with alarming regularity. It was normal, even acceptable, to a large portion of baseball card collectors. However, there was ample evidence some of the submitters were cheating to gain an edge. Among other things, their cards exhibited traits (such as a decrease in size) that simply wouldn't occur naturally.

The long-term impact to the hobby still isn't fully known. Card doctoring continues to be a relevant (and divisive, at times) issue.

Uncanny, isn't it?

[Schlesinj]

For what it is worth a Ringer Podcast Called Sport Cards Nonsense interviewed Evan yesterday. It is about 15 minutes generally at the start of the podcast.

The hosts are not genially vintage guys.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Collectors were excited, nearly everyone was making money,

^ The only part that matters. If it pays, it's fine!