My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>JK</b><p>Was the wagner the first card graded by PSA? I had never heard that before. I realize that its cert no. is 0000001. However, if you type in 0000002 on psa's cert verification tool, there is no card with that cert. number. Therefore, its my guess that that number was specifically given to the wagner, but that it does not mean it was the first card graded (otherwise, there would be a 0000002, etc.).

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>Dan Markel</b><p>JK,<br /><br />Look at this article and read David Hall's comment:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.collectors.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=3093" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.collectors.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=3093</a>

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>JimB</b><p>It was the first card graded. I remember talking with Bill Hughes around '93 or '94 when he co-owned Executive Investments with Steve Applebaum, which ran big auctions of baseball cards, comics, and movie posters. They had an incredible inventory of cards at the time in their office in L.A. and then later storefront in Orange County. Anyway, I remember at the time Bill saying how he was one of the primary advisors to PSA in the beginning and helped establish their grading scale for them. He may have trained people like Baker. I remember going into their store one day and they had two 33 Lajoies one PSA 8, and one PSA 9, a T206 Wagner PSA 1, and many, many more incredible cards.<br />JimB

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>JK</b><p>Thanks Jim - that seems to explain why Hughes was not id'd as an employee. Im still curious as to why they dont have any cards graded 00000002 etc.

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>Peter Spaeth</b><p>They graded many cards before Mike Baker or Joe Orlando got there, including quite a number from Mr. Hall's personal collection.

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>MikeU</b><p>So Hughes would sell a card to PSA and then PSA would let Hughes grade the card for PSA and then PSA would sell the card in a PSA owned auction.

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>The Border's in San Jose hasn't gotten their shipment of The Card yet. However, they have finally recieved a shipment of Crazy '08. No wonder, collectors here on the West Coast seem a bit behind on obtaining hobby news. At least that's my story and I'm sticking with it. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Peter

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>JimB</b><p>"So Hughes would sell a card to PSA and then PSA would let Hughes grade the card for PSA and then PSA would sell the card in a PSA owned auction."<br /><br />MikeU,<br />I think you have something a bit confused. PSA was not a buyer of cards from Hughes or anybody else. For a short time, several years later, Superior Auctions was a part of Collectors Universe, but that had nothing to do with Bill Hughes. And they never auctioned the Wagner.<br />JimB

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>MikeU</b><p>"I think you have something a bit confused. PSA was not a buyer of cards from Hughes or anybody else."<br /><br />Exert from Dan Markel's link:<br /><br />"Condition Census for 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Gem Mint 10. <br /><br />Fogel-Murphy Specimen. The card came from the fabulous 1952 Topps collection of Mark Murphy. It was then sold by dealer Bill Hughes to Collectors Universe CEO David Hall for $50,000 in 1993. When Hall's collection was auctioned by Superior in 1996, renowned collector Marshall Fogel purchased the card for $121,000."<br />

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>Peter Spaeth</b><p>Mike, what's your point?

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>MikeU</b><p>"Mike, what's your point?"<br /><br />No specific point, just trying to understand/confirm typical PSA practice/behaviors and their acceptance by consumers.

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>Peter Spaeth</b><p>Are you suggesting the card was overgraded in order to benefit Mr. Hall and/or PSA? I must be missing what you are driving at.

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>JimB</b><p>David Hall was a private collector of high-grade sets before starting PSA. When people began to question a possible conflict of interest, he voluntarily sold his collection.<br />JimB

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>Adam</b><p>I wonder why the last owner of The Card had it reholdered? Any insights?

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>glyn parson</b><p>It was not mARK mURPHY THAT OWNED THE mANTLE IT WAS HIS FATHER mICHAEL. Sorry just noticed i had cap locks on. His (Mark) dad had the finest raw 1952 set i have ever seen and was constantly working on upgrades.<br /><br />Gee what a shock PSA has it labeled as MArk's on their website. Who would have thought PSA could make a mistake.

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>Bottom of the ninth.<br />It would have been nice if you had finished the rest of what was said about me. Not that it matters. If anyone on this site did not know that I was arrested by the FBI I apologize. What I don't understand is what that has to do with my statement. <br />To those who don't have the book, this is what Greg left out.Said Shelly Jaffe, the veteran sports collectibles dealer who was arrested during Operation Bullpen,an FBI investigation into forged and counterfeit Memorabilia.{Jaffe has since become and expert consultant for the FBI on forgeries and counterfeits and has worked HBO and other medias investigating forgeries}. Greg if your going to just take a small part of what is being said about someone it lacks class.<br />What I said is fact and if you have any doubt's you can ask Huges or Mervin. <br /><br /><br />

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>Bottom of the Ninth</b><p>Shelly,<br /><br />I don't have the book and I would not read the book. I was given the excerpt and felt it should be posted. <br /><br />He said, she said does not constitute proof. I have my opinion about the card and it is almost as irrelevant as the "book." Next time the card sells it will sell for more than the previous sale.

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>shelly jaffe</b><p>It would have been nice if the person who read that part had read you the whole thing. As far as she said he said. I belive the people that graded the card.

My take on Michael O'Keeffe's book, "The Card"
 

Posted By: <b>Joseph</b><p><img src="http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z36/1969mets_2007/t206mastro.jpg">