PSA 8 T206 Honus Wagner currently missing from Pop Report

[benjulmag]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Hi Corey

Your last comment sparked an instant "flashback" in my mind to the Willow Grove Show (circa 1985). The scenario was....Bill Mastro shopping around his new-found T206 Wagner to
us dealers at the Show. I remember he wanted 30K for it (which was a lot $$$$$ for it back then). But upon my close observation, I don't recall if I passed on it because of the price,
or because of my suspicion that it appeared "trimmed".

It certainly was the Talk of the Show that weekend. Furthermore, a rumor was "floating" around that this Wagner was cut from a PIEDMONT sheet which included an Eddie Plank card.
The rumor regarding the Plank card eventually materialized when we found out that Charlie Conlon acquired this PIEDMONT Plank from Mastro.
And, it was eventually graded by PSA as an "A".

Nevertheless, a bunch of us dealers (including me) reflecting back to that weekend in the mid-1980's do have some regrets.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Ted,

I remember that show well. I also remember some people at the time speculating that the Wagner Mastro had was the oversized one (currently at the HOF) that was trimmed down to make it a Nr-Mt card.

Speaking of regrets, I certainly have some from that episode. Bob Sevchuck, the person who sold the cards to Mastro, first called me to tell me he had en route a Nr-Mt Wagner and would I be interested. I had just bought a '39 Playball set from Bob and at the time he and I did business together. I already by that time had acquired the Wagner I currently own, and between having to come up with another $25K (his price for the Wagner) coupled with my concern whether a Wagner in such condition might be a fake, I told Bob I needed some time to think about it. While I was taking that time, he sold the lot to Mastro.

[barrysloate]

Perhaps I've merely forgotten, but I would like to know the background story of why the Plank was correctly assigned an AUTH, and why the Wagner got an 8. Two cards cut from the same cloth (hey, that was a good one), but treated entirely differently.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Perhaps I've merely forgotten, but I would like to know the background story of why the Plank was correctly assigned an AUTH, and why the Wagner got an 8. Two cards cut from the same cloth (hey, that was a good one), but treated entirely differently.

Because the Wagner was PSA's flagship card.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Because the Wagner was PSA's flagship card.

If so, not a criteria for grading a card. A card should be assessed by its merits; its importance is irrelevant.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

If so, not a criteria for grading a card. A card should be assessed by its merits; its importance is irrelevant.

It's hard to start a grading company by rejecting a card.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It's hard to start a grading company by rejecting a card.

Giving the Wagner an AUTH wouldn't be rejecting it. And they could have set the tone for their new grading business that we will strive to get this thing right. Never has a business started off on worse footing than grading that card an 8. Shameful.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Giving the Wagner an AUTH wouldn't be rejecting it. And they could have set the tone for their new grading business that we will strive to get this thing right. Never has a business started off on worse footing than grading that card an 8. Shameful.

Unfortunately, their enormous success starting from that foundation speaks for itself.

I don't think AUTH came in until years later, could be wrong.

[benjulmag]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Perhaps I've merely forgotten, but I would like to know the background story of why the Plank was correctly assigned an AUTH, and why the Wagner got an 8. Two cards cut from the same cloth (hey, that was a good one), but treated entirely differently.

You're searching for logic where there is none to be found.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by benjulmag

You're searching for logic where there is none to be found.

Well it's due time that PSA starts applying logic to its fullest extent. A T206 Wagner is graded by the same standards as a T206 Nattress. No difference.

And enjoyed our time together yesterday.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by benjulmag

Ted,

I remember that show well. I also remember some people at the time speculating that the Wagner Mastro had was the oversized one (currently at the HOF) that was trimmed down to make it a Nr-Mt card.

Speaking of regrets, I certainly have some from that episode. Bob Sevchuck, the person who sold the cards to Mastro, first called me to tell me he had en route a Nr-Mt Wagner and would I be interested. I had just bought a '39 Playball set from Bob and at the time he and I did business together. I already by that time had acquired the Wagner I currently own, and between having to come up with another $25K (his price for the Wagner) coupled with my concern whether a Wagner in such condition might be a fake, I told Bob I needed some time to think about it. While I was taking that time, he sold the lot to Mastro.

Corey......this is quite a story.

Reminds me of regrets which still haunt me of an attractive girl I met in my youth, which I let get away

Bob Sevchuck used to come up with some great finds out there on Long Island (NY).

Actually, I find it very interesting that a good number of Wagner cards have emanated from the Long Island
area. Perhaps, it had something to do with American Lithographic Co. founder, Joseph P. Knapp, who had a
vacation home in nearby Bellport, Long Island (NY).

Hope to see you at the National.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[Bpm0014]

It's hard to start a grading company by rejecting a card.

hahahahahaha

[1952boyntoncollector]

I wonder if the PSA Auth population category is exploding in cards across the board..

[darwinbulldog]

And I wonder how many people have started buying up PSA A cards this summer, realizing the cards are frequently identical in condition to those that sell for 100x as much.

[drcy]

I think they should relabel the card (I would think it's obvious the card should be labeled accurately), but that it wouldn't be a financial issue for PSA as the card will likely retain it's value (though that's a question to be tested).

The card is unique, so 8 to AUTH valuation change (or lack thereof) on that exception-to-the-rule isn't a general test.

[Peter_Spaeth]

In my opinion most or all of the value now is in the card's notoriety. I don't think putting it in an AUTH flip would matter.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

And I wonder how many people have started buying up PSA A cards this summer, realizing the cards are frequently identical in condition to those that sell for 100x as much.

id actually rather have touched up A card with white borders and looks not trimmed even if trimmed and not creased up versus a lot of PSA 1s that are all beat up and tangled up and creased

Lots of A cards do sell more for '1's and '2's

[benjulmag]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Corey......this is quite a story.

Reminds me of regrets which still haunt me of an attractive girl I met in my youth, which I let get away

Bob Sevchuck used to come up with some great finds out there on Long Island (NY).

Actually, I find it very interesting that a good number of Wagner cards have emanated from the Long Island
area. Perhaps, it had something to do with American Lithographic Co. founder, Joseph P. Knapp, who had a
vacation home in nearby Bellport, Long Island (NY).

Hope to see you at the National.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

I plan to be there Ted. I'll look forward to catching up with you.