Indians Pennants on Pawn Stars.

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I'm surprised they didn't edit out Rick's stupidity.....

"There was no Major League Baseball during the war."

Good point, Dan. I think my response to that line scared my neighbors.

[perezfan]

Is there anything "real" about the show (I haven't seen it). I put little stock in reality television, and believe 95% of it is pre-determined.

In real life, a pawn shop might offer you $100 for that pair. Rob nailed the $350 - $400 total value on ebay, but a pawn shop would never pay someone full retail (much less $100 over that).

This story, combined with the ridiculous Coach's Corner Gehrig Jersey lead me to believe the show is staged. Any further insights?

[steve B]

A lot of pricing still depends on where you are and who is selling/buying. The internat in general and especially Ebay has changed that a lot, but it still works that way.

I sometimes go to shows for other collectibles, and baseball stuff is usually very expensive or very cheap. Same for stamp stuff at a baseball card show.
Normal first day covers of the 1939 stamp are about half price at a stamp show because they're nothing special. The ones for the 1969 stamp are much cheaper than they are from a baseball dealer.

Certain cities and markets will ask for and get silly prices, usually from non collectors.

My favorite example? At a Ct flea market I was looking at a couple rough condition brass steam guages. Nice, but damaged a bit, and common ones like you'd find on a home heating boiler. The price seemed high but the guy standing next to me asked if I could decide quicker because he was waiting to buy them. I hadn't even asked the price yet. When The seller said they were $40 each I handed them to the guy waiting so he could buy them. After he paid I asked him what I'd missed since they seemed like common ones. He said he mounted them on walnut wall plaques, all polished up with new glass, and sold them to a decorator in NYC for around $600 each!

I could see a pawn shop in Vegas getting good money for those pennants from a non collector who hit a jackpot the night before.

Steve B

Fixed spelling, gotta proofread better

[mcgwirecom]

I don't collect them but I thought the guy made out pretty good. I can't imagine you getting $500 on Ebay for the pair. Sometimes I think the prices are just a shot in the dark. I was thinking if I walked into my local pawn shop with those pennants one of two things would happen...1) I am told they can't use them, no market. Or 2) I get an offer of about $30...

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by mcgwirecom

I don't collect them but I thought the guy made out pretty good. I can't imagine you getting $500 on Ebay for the pair. Sometimes I think the prices are just a shot in the dark. I was thinking if I walked into my local pawn shop with those pennants one of two things would happen...1) I am told they can't use them, no market. Or 2) I get an offer of about $30...

The Pawn Stars show has been demonstrated many times over to be fake...I'm sure this particular transaction never took place. The whole scene with the Woodstock The Who Contract was also completely faked...at least I hope so. Is there any pawn shop in the world that would call in an expert and have an item evaluated right in front of the customer?

Even though the show is faked I still like watching it just to see what cool items they're going to show...a few weeks ago a lady brought in a box full of American League baseball passes from 25 consecutive years...I think Rick offered her $1,000 and she declined. Those passes were all pristine with the leather cases...I noted one even had a 1939 Centennial schedule that was very cool.

[BosseFieldBoy]

I had the same reaction. It may not have been the highest caliber of baseball, but at least it continued.

[36GoudeyMan]

I will grant you that any particular transaction may not reflect a depth of knowledge that it probably should, but they typically reach out for help, and probably should have with those pennants.

What amazes me is the stuff that people bring in to pawn/sell. I mean, this isn't an old-time community where colonial, Civil War or WWI stuff would reasonably be thought to be in people's attics.. this is Las Vegas!!