"The Feds Are Here To Stay"

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Posted By: shelly jaffe

It will take me a day to digest all of what I have read. I can only tell you this is just the tip of the Iceburg.

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Posted By: shelly jaffe

Iceberg, didnt know you spelled like Goldberg.

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Posted By: Anonymous

"But this ship can't sink!"

"She is made of iron, sir. I assure you she can, and she will."

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Posted By: B.C.Daniels

I'll trade you one friend for a 52 Topps psa 8 of Minnie Minoso


http://1952toppsbaseballcards.com/1952Topps%2520Baseball%2520Cards,%2520Page%252033. htm#1952%20TOPPS%20#195

BcD

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Posted By: Joseph

One of the reasons, I suspect, that the Feds are targeting Mastro in particular, is that the Feds ALWAYS try to go after the big fish.

Another reason, and this speaks to the "card doctoring" aspect of this probe, is that one of the higher-ups on the Mastro masthead is one of the pioneers of selling altered cards. I don't think he did the actual doctoring himself, but he would set up at shows (I recall the PA-Fort Washington shows) and sell CLEARLY MARKED "restored cards". WHERE ARE ALL THESE CARDS TODAY and WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CONCEPT OF SELLING RESTORED CARDS??

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Posted By: Pat Nester

Bruce,
Add one more copy to your list. I have seen an example in a collection here in Chicago from a sheet music collector I know.

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Posted By: David Atkatz

"Do not agree that the hobby is about the people you meet--to me its all about the cards..."

But who would you tell of your 25,000 slabs? Can you imagine collecting with no one to feel superior to?

What good is a collector's Hall of Fame without the hoi polloi?

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Boy, David, you don't see the term "hoi polloi" in a sentence very often these days.

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Posted By: Steve Murray

"hoi polloi" comes in second to "jazz hands"

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

Glad somebody got a kick out of the "jazz hands"! It makes me want to do a search to see what the heck I was writing about that demanded the use of such a non-hobby-related term!

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Posted By: Fred C

Peter,

I almost forgot about the Harris collection. What an absolute crock of crap that was. The definition of "subjective" takes an entirely different twist when you consider the grading of that set of cards. I suppose when you look at this industry/hobby there could be some oversight to protect the consumers but like that saying goes about a fool and his money.....

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Posted By: Bob

David- "hoi polloi," I love it! I haven't heard that expression in a long, long time
I agree though, if there were no hobby, i.e. no collectors who were involved in the pursuit of cards and sharing of opinions and facts about the cards with each other, publishing books and pamphlets about the cards, and getting together to drink a beer and see what each other had, no one would give a (Joe) Tinker's dam that you had 25000 pieces of plastic with baseball cards in them. It would be like someone who had a room in his basement with 25000 toothpicks. Who cares? People would think you were OC for having them.

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Posted By: Scott B.

Now make me wonder the $1.3M "proxy bid" on that jumbo Wagner was really a "proxy bid" or just a hidden reserve.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Fred, are you suggesting there were no "jumbo" T206s in the Harris Collection? How about mini-T206s?

The more surprising question is how did a Jumbo Wagner get past Bill Mastro? Can you imagine how frustrated he must have been when he saw that card? Five minutes with him and that card would have been a 9.

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Posted By: leon

I was at the live auction and I can assure you that the bidders bidding on the Wagner were real.....it went back and forth after it hit 1m with 2 bidders.....On other lots there were book bids (most likely phoned in) but this lot didn't have any of those once it got going.....

I am saddened a bit to hear that friends and colleagues of mine are being investigated as I would be for any friend. I stand by the comments I made to O'keefe and hope the investigation will vindicate Mastro....

Also, I specifically asked O'keefe to be careful to not take my comments out of context and I don't believe he did. He stated exactly what I said. With that being said what he did not state were my comments about the book "The Card"......That was why I made the comment about putting the hobby in a good light, after exposing improprieties. I am NOT saying we always have to make everything sound hunky dory when it isn't. However, I do believe there is more good than bad about the hobby but if all we hear is the bad then it doesn't make it out to be that way. I have no issue whatsover with investigations as I think the are GOOD for the hobby in the long run. It will make folks have more confidence to jump in and collect. I know Scott and I are a wide open book when it comes to the hobby....and that is the way it should be. thanks and best regards

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Posted By: John

"The more surprising question is how did a Jumbo Wagner get past Bill Mastro? Can you imagine how frustrated he must have been when he saw that card? Five minutes with him and that card would have been a 9."

LMAO...Jeff I think you'll be paying more than $75 next year for the catalog, perhaps after the legal fees Mastro will be charging us a dollar a click on the website.

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Posted By: John

Damn Leon you were at 1m on the Wagner...strong!

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Posted By: Fred C

Jeff and John, both recent posts are great. It's always good to chukle a little while reading through the threads.

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Posted By: B.C.Daniels

οἱ πολλοί

BcD

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Brian, I hope your post, interpreted, states that you're sending a Cobb Rose Postcard my way.

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Posted By: Bill

There is nothing wrong with reporting the news. But the best way to present it is by giving a more balanced story. Say all you want about the fraud in the hobby; I for one have long recognized how fraudulently business has been conducted in the sports memorabilia field. It's an unregulated industry that has attracted numerous fringe dealers who find it easy to make a quick buck.
================================================== ===========================

Well, they did apparently try to contact Mastro with no response.

Change your socks, drink water, and drive on.

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Posted By: Fred C

Bill,

Change your underwear, drink beer and don't drive after you've had too much...

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Posted By: Rexicle

john. Your perspective and grand applause for mastro's top officials seems skewed, almost romantic. From your most unbiased view (however difficult it may be for you to achieve such a terribly objective perspective), what are your thoughts on the feds, this time, seeking an indictment?

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Posted By: dan mckee

But Leon stated that he wasn't aware of anything going on in the hobby, can someone please provide him the link to the recent Nodgrass episode? Oh, here it is - http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/message/1209785082/A+Collector%2C+Mastro%2C+PSA+%26amp%3B+Our+Beloved +Hobby

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Posted By: Jimmy

I the IRS will be making some changes, and paypal and eBay will be involved

take a look at this article

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/latest/high-volume-sellers-irs-is-interested.html

Take Care

Jimmy

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Posted By: leon

Where did I state nothing is going on in the hobby? I said there is more good than bad and I do think the bad gets stated more often than the good...?

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Posted By: dan mckee

I was just chop busting u bro, u were very politically correct in ur statement. I love my bottle so thanks for sending me home. Dan

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Posted By: leon

It's hard to tell behind a keyboard....I luv ya man!! And I missed your Dad getting between us in a squabble this year. He is the best. ....I am going to edit my little comment above.....hey, I like the bottle too!!

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Posted By: dan mckee

u could have left that comment! It is all good. No sweat here my friend. Heck pop just sat there, we could have used a mediator back then. Too funny. Dano

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Posted By: David Atkatz

"οἱ πολλοί"


Nice!

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Posted By: Eric Pugh

While Mastro may or may not be a totally "clean" business, it's hard to believe the feds would start with them. It seems there are so many other 2nd-tier outfits with blatant examples of saying cards sold when they did not, shilling etc. They might not be as big as mastro, but they are so obviously suspect you would think the feds would start there first.

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Posted By: Mark

I don't know why you say that, Eric...

Coach's Corner does not realize those crazy prices, which should serve as evidence of no shill bidding or wrong-doing. Their items simply sell for the highest bid amount. Case in point... Ruth Balls for $800, Josh Gibson cuts for $500 and even Joe Jackson autos for under $1,000. Nope, no wrongdoing there!

For the record, I think it is ridiculous and an unjust double-standard as well. I am 100% positive that numerous other auction houses are far more corrupt, and am praying that 3 - 4 of them are investigated to a greater extent than Mastro.

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Posted By: BcD

Does anyone have O'Keeffe's e-mail address?

thanks!

BcD