Hobby Hustle Documentary 2-16-25

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by bk400

After my return to the hobby a few years ago, I've come to realize that some suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy myself. I know in the back of my mind that there is a chance that the authenticated autograph that I buy is fake. I just purchased a bunch of non-authenticated autographed 1986 Topps Mets cards. I'd like to think that no one is going to bother forging Kevin Mitchell's autograph for a $5 profit, but who knows. I still enjoy the cards for what (I think) they are.

Same with the graded cards. I collect Ozzie Smith, and not to cast aspersions on anyone who might own one, but none of the PSA 10 examples of the 1979 Topps rookie card are as good to the naked eye test as the more recently graded 9s -- but the 10s still sell for 10-50x the price of the 9s, if and when they come up for sale. But yet most of the hobby still values (literally) the opinion of third party graders and, presumably, still enjoys collecting graded cards.

I don't love the potential for fakes and some of the fallacies inherent to third party grading, but I think it's just he mental price of being in the hobby, unfortunately.

Sadly scammers will line up around the block to sell $5 counterfeit autographs. I emailed with former MLBer Brian Holman for a few years. He has/had an amazing collection and he bought a few silly rare cards of himself I had. Brian will go out of his way to sign anything for free. Saying that I have seen a ton of his fake autos that sell for less than $5 each on eBay over the years. There is almost no risk in selling cheap fake autographs.