Alteration Debate: 1997 UD Griffey Patch Card

[5-Tool Player]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I can't see how it's an alteration. That said, I'd rather own that card in its original state.

+ 1

[HOFAUTOS]

Wow I didn’t realize how much these sell for now! I regret not picking one up years ago.

I just looked and there is a signed one on eBay right now. Will be interesting to see where it ends.

[timzcardz]

No skin in this game, but I believe those that feel strongly about them remaining as originally issued are free to acquire them unsigned and maintain them as such, otherwise they can Shut The F*** Up!

[steve B]

Originally Posted by timzcardz

No skin in this game, but I believe those that feel strongly about them remaining as originally issued are free to acquire them unsigned and maintain them as such, otherwise they can Shut The F*** Up!

Who peed in your cornflakes?

Expressing an opinion is just that. No need to be "that guy" about it.

[Smapdi]

I don't understand the debate. People get cards signed every day. Sometimes they are common cards and sometimes they're super rare. While your preference might be for a super-rare card to be maintained in it's original shape, people can do what they want, and usually do. I thought for a second the story was that the guy was collecting these in order to make one big patch out of the jersey bits or something, which really would destroy them, but if he's just getting them signed then I don't get what the big deal is.

As to calling it a historic artifact or whatever, yes it was one of the first baseball jersey cards (and baseball wasn't even the first sport to have them), but there were plenty of these made, more than were packed out because they were used as replacements for other things. I had a Frank Robinson 500 HR Club POH card that had something wrong with the surface. I sent it in to be replaced and was told they couldn't but sent me the Griffey jersey card instead. I'd heard from a couple people at the time that they also got Griffey jersey cards as replacements as well.

I just wonder if there would be such a debate if the target was Rey Ordonez.

[zogar]

If they are trying to buy up every copy and have them all signed I guess that could warrant some pushback if there would be no unsigned ones left. Unsure from the OPs post if that is what they are doing or not. If there are plenty of copies of this card then it shouldn't matter.

[Kaneen]

Originally Posted by timzcardz

No skin in this game, but I believe those that feel strongly about them remaining as originally issued are free to acquire them unsigned and maintain them as such, otherwise they can Shut The F*** Up!

While I don't necessarily understand the strong, impassioned tone, I do tend to agree with the sentiment.

The 50% of Griffey collectors who are torn up about this should have put their money where their hearts were, purchased all available copies, and sent them to be entombed in the PWCC vault for perpetual, unaltered safe keeping. This would have ensured the cards remained in their original historical state.

(Oh the irony...to suggest that the solution to keeping them unaltered would be to send them to PWCC! LOL)