Brandon - Thank you for writing and compiling the Baseball Guides!

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by murphusa

If Brett had never seen the auction on eBay and the ball sold to someone and maybe a week latter that person came here and asked what is this ball that he won. He can't find any records of an orange stitched ball, everyone would have been waiting for Brandon to comment.

And what would have have said?


That's the problem

Yes, Jim, that would have been a problematic scenario, but that's not what happened. The problem is not some "what if" scenario in which we suppose the accused would fall short. Neither is the problem in investigating potential fraud in the hobby, nor is it in anonymity or the lack thereof.

The problem is impugning someone's reputation based on a pre-supposed conclusion, and using defamation of character as a tool to try and wring a confession, any confession, out of the accused. The problem is the attitude of "the ends justify the means" and the lack of personal responsibility in how we pursue the truth. And I say "we" intentionally, because I too have been guilty of wielding a pitchfork before I knew all the facts, but it's not something I'm proud of, and seeing first-hand the effects those rash judgements can have, is something I intend to avoid in the future.

One thing that I have always appreciated about how Leon handles tough situations of he said/she said is by reaching out to the accused with a phone call to at least get their side of the story before handing down any judgements. I wonder, of all of Brandon's accusers, how many of you reached out to Brandon to get his side of the story? For that matter, how many have ever spoken to him personally. I daresay if you actually knew him as anything more than "the ball guy," you would not be so quick to judge.