Ichiro's Japan rookie cards -- Hilo Stars?

[bk400]

Thanks, packs. This is helpful. I'm surprised then that PSA not only graded the cards, but seems to endorse them with pop reports and all that stuff. I am quickly learning that the hobby is very much still -- and maybe even more -- of a Wild West market.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Stick with the BBM, or the Tomy. It's worse on the nonsports side, but PSA has made numerous dating mistakes that have resulted in a misinformed hobby. And worse, they won't correct them.

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by bk400

Thanks, packs. This is helpful. I'm surprised then that PSA not only graded the cards, but seems to endorse them with pop reports and all that stuff. I am quickly learning that the hobby is very much still -- and maybe even more -- of a Wild West market.

PSA's "expertise" is in grading, not identification. There is no telling how many counterfeit 1985 Chong Modesto Mark McGwire cards they have graded. Certainly more than were ever printed in the original run.

[seanofjapan]

Those Hilo Stars ones are not legit.

PSA has a mixed track record. They slabbed a bunch of forged 1994 Calbee Ichiros (not his rookie, but way rarer and probably his most sought after Japanese cards).

They’ve gotten better at this and no longer grade the fakes, but most of the ones out there graded by them are probably fake.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

Those Hilo Stars ones are not legit.

PSA has a mixed track record. They slabbed a bunch of forged 1994 Calbee Ichiros (not his rookie, but way rarer and probably his most sought after Japanese cards).

They’ve gotten better at this and no longer grade the fakes, but most of the ones out there graded by them are probably fake.

Thanks for the insights. Just did a bit of research on the 1994 Calbees. The difference between the real ones and the fake ones are quite subtle unless you have them side by side (as one of the auction houses that was selling a real one actually did).

[bk400]

Nearly purchased a 1994 Calbee Ichiro #39. I actually made an offer, but raised the issue of fakes to the seller. To his credit, the seller did some research and came back with the verdict that his card was probably fake, and he took it off the market.

I found a 1995 Calbee #154. Hope this one isn't fake. My understanding is that these are reasonably hard to find as well.

[seanofjapan]

Yeah, I don’t think there are any fakes of that 95 Tokyo Snack card out there.

That is one of the cards from the high # series in that set, which is pretty scarce. There are 4 Ichiro cards in the set, two low number (not too scarce) and two high number (very scarce, though not as much as the 94 ones).

Very nice card!