Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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 />

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.)

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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 />

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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 />

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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 />

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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 />

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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....

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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 />

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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!

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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>

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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!

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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 />

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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 />

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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!!!!!

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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 />

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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">

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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.

Mr. Mint -- Alan Rosen
 

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

Things that make you go hmmmm