True Mint by Rosen

[Jay Wolt]

Didn't he have bobble heads of himself produced?
I know he had photo's that he signed.
Saw him at a few National's & the Ft. Washington shows

[jcmtiger]

Originally Posted by Jay Wolt

Didn't he have bobble heads of himself produced?
I know he had photo's that he signed.
Saw him at a few National's & the Ft. Washington shows

Yes, bobble heads.

[Hankphenom]

Honestly, I don't think the hobby would have been worse off if "Mr. Mint" had never been a part of it, had taken his act to coins or lunch boxes or some other commodity he could exploit collectors' passion for. Apparently, he could have cared less about any of it. With his briefcases full of Benjamins in every photo and interview, he undoubtedly did a lot to clue the country in on the demand for what many of them had thought was worthless ephemera, for good and for bad: more stuff coming out of attics and closets, but at higher prices. For decades, I had to look at his greedy countenance and sweating bald head first thing after walking into every major show I went to. He was never looking at the people, just what they were carrying, calling out to draw them over to his table so he could show off how fast he could peel 100s onto the table. I don't know whether he was fair as a buyer or not, but I'd guess he would have paid a penny on the dollar if he could get away with it, but hopefully was smart enough to pay well in a rising market and grab his chunk of a quick flip. I had one unfortunate personal experience, offering him a pair of HOF press pins at a fair price when those were hot. Without a word, he pushed them back across the table and turned his chair away from me. I vowed never to talk to him again, and never did. And the next dealer I offered the pins to gave me my price, didn't even quibble. I never understood how his assistants at those shows, first Steve "Exhibit Man" Reeves (whatever happened to him?), then Dave Szuba, who were friends of mine and nice guys, could stand being around him so much. They would smile and tell me about the cool deals they got to witness, and that he would throw them a bone every once in a while, let them take a deal too small for him to bother with. I didn't envy them, but did admire their intestinal fortitude.

[rjackson44]

And when he went to the robots phase omg ,,im buying robots oh well

[MRSPORTSCARDCOLLECTOR]

Originally Posted by rjackson44

And when he went to the robots phase omg ,,im buying robots oh well

Mr. Mint also got into Star Wars action figures and Swarovski crystals(for his wife) in the late 1990s. These two hobbies didn't know what to make of him. The Star Wars action figures guys were less polite than us baseball card guys.
He tried to buy up all the Star Wars key action figures.
This guy was a character, but very interesting. A shame he died a few years ago. Would have loved him to live longer just to get his thoughts on how the baseball card market became even bigger than ever during the COVID CRISIS.
btw. I am neutral about the guy. I found that his book is very informative and find him a very interesting character.

[marzoumanian]

I'm the old timer who recommended you read "True Mint," Mr. Samosa4U. I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. Lots of great stories. As others have said in this thread, understand that Rosen cared about cards BUT only if they were as close to GEM MINT as possible. Because he knew that he could then make easy money selling them. So in that sense he was all about the Benjamins. But there's no denying that the SI piece from 1988 on him was a huge boost for the hobby.
On May 22, 2016 I interviewed Rosen for a book I'm working on about Mastro Auctions. I just pulled out the transcript. Here's what he said about money:
"Money means a lot to me. But money doesn't mean you have to be a pig. My thing was hogs eat, pigs go to slaughter. And I never was dishonest to anyone, anyone. And I preach that to my children, honesty is the best policy." Rosen died in January 2017.
I once asked him at one of the old Chicago Sun-Times shows in Rosemont, Ill., when he would be writing his next book. He told me that a publisher wanted him to write a book about his dealings with MLB players and celebs. But he had no interest. He then told me some off-the-record stories about how some of the players he dealt with could be pretty nasty to the public and how it shocked him. Yes, Rosen was a character, as others have already made clear.

[bmattioli]

I usually read this book when I get so bored in the Winter months after the Super Bowl prior the the start of Baseball.. So 80's memories..

[mightyq]

you know they say if you have nothing nice to say keep mouth shut!! i will do that.......got me on the wrong day wrong time on one of his phone calls yelling and screaming.....that was the last time i ever spoke with the man, mind you i would spend 5 figures in each auction of the last 6 of his auctions, this was 2001, when i and he cut ties. i am sure you have no interest in the story. so like i said, i will zip it...

[Keith H. Thompson]

Alan would always be set up just inside the entrance to the show floor on the lookout for anyone carrying a briefcase or any sign of anyone with anything to sell. And woe betide anyone innocent enough to interfere. I always carried an empty briefcase and was permitted admission, but if he were not busy he would ask you again on the way out.
I remember one incident when Ken Savage asked a customer (at Ken's own table) if he had anything to sell. Alan overheard, went to Ken's table and confronted him in a voice loud enough to be heard anywhere in the room -- that "buying was his right" for which he paid extra. Arrogant and overbearing are not strong enough adjectives to describe his behavior.
I often found items at his table beneath his notice for sale at very reasonable prices, and he was courteous and affable.
I miss him.

[drcy]

I am keenly aware of his reputation and demeanor . . . . However, his book is still an entertaining and interesting read.

[maniac_73]

Originally Posted by mightyq

you know they say if you have nothing nice to say keep mouth shut!! i will do that.......got me on the wrong day wrong time on one of his phone calls yelling and screaming.....that was the last time i ever spoke with the man, mind you i would spend 5 figures in each auction of the last 6 of his auctions, this was 2001, when i and he cut ties. i am sure you have no interest in the story. so like i said, i will zip it...

Those are the stories I want to hear lol

[LEHR]

Originally Posted by Jay Wolt

Didn't he have bobble heads of himself produced?
I know he had photo's that he signed.
Saw him at a few National's & the Ft. Washington shows

Yes, I've seen the bobbleheads. I think I still have a couple of the Rosen Beanie Baby style bears in a box somewhere that he was throwing out at a National in the 90's for advertisement.