Certainly Didn’t Expect to See that at the National.
 

I walked in Thursday morning and who do I see behind the counter at the Memory Lane booth? Bill Mastro.

I felt obligated to say hello because I know Bill from my many consignments with him and Brian Marren during their Mastro days but it certainly was an odd feeling seeing him back at a National in whatever capacity.


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Is he allowed to be involved back in the hobby?

Sure.
Doug is a free man too now.

many deals with Mastro & Nagy at Michigan card shows in Michigan before his auction days. Consigned with his auctions & bought from his auctions before his problems started.

I believe this is the first National in some time where the Feds didn’t show up and arrest someone. With all that’s going on in the hobby right now, I find that remarkable!

It sure looks like the feds simply don't care about all the drama surrounding PWCC, PSA, and these alteration scandals. Seemed like a fairly predictable outcome though.

I thought part of his sentencing was that he could never do business in the hobby again.

Perhaps he was just sitting there, like the mustachioed women of circus sideshow yore.

Brian

I am actually surprised any auction house would hire him with his past reputation. I would think that they would be concerned about his reputation might negatively effect their business

I would definitely question the integrity of any AH that hired a person that has done that much damage to the hobby.

I read somewhere that he found Jesus again or something like that?

Anyhow, he has been in the hobby since the disco days, and it would be very interesting to interview him. He has seen it all.

Has anyone said or heard that ML hired him, as opposed he was just chatting with the folks there? He is in Chicago so maybe he just came by to talk.

If Arod can get work in MLB again after what he did and the ppl he screwed over, anything is possible. Different world we are in where notoriety is more important than integrity

Put more charitably, people tend to be forgiving especially where the bad guy has acknowledged his sins.

He is from Chicago, maybe that’s it. Or his probation ended, so he can do what he wants.

Hi,

I read the above that he was behind the counter of the memory lane booth. And perhaps erroneously assumed that since he was behind it he worked there.

Bill paid for what he did wrong which is more than can be said for many others in the hobby. I wish him and his family well and hope he lives a happy and productive life.

I would agree there are lots of unpunished sinners out there. Lots.

Yep.... they could've gone after (and could still be going after) so many others who's actions are just as bad or worse.

+1
I saw and talked with him at the National. So glad to see him after so many years. He helped me tremendously when I was starting out as a dealer in the mid 90’s. I know he did a lot of damage but I have nothing but love for him.

I remember the 1st time I consigned with him. He invited me to his home (I live in Chicagoland) and he showed me his t206 Wagner, a complete ‘33 Goudey set (all NrMt and better), and a complete set of s81 silks in Mint condition! On one side the wall was like a museum with a full game worn uniform of Cobb surrounded by incredible photos and memorabilia. Then… in walked his young daughter & his eyes lit up with true happiness and everything else was just “stuff”.

The ass kissing of this prick is pathetic.

I mostly refrain from commenting on threads because this board can be cruel sometimes, but the man has paid for his crime, period! Even Jesus forgives. Are you better than Jesus? Which one of us hasn’t made a terrible mistake our lives and doesn’t wish we could go back and change what we did. Look inside and try to have some compassion. My two cents…

Just as I was finished setting up early in the show a well dressed man stopped and chatted with me. I introduced my self and He told me his name was Bill Mastro. I said I certainly recognize that name. He made a self deprecating remark something like everybody knows me as infamous. I wished him well and he continued his rounds.

I never did business with his company, but I agree with others who maintain he has paid his debt to society.

Easier to acknowledge your sins if you only have to pay $250,000 for millions in fraud, methinks.

I believe that was in the nature of a fine, not restitution. I guess as far as these things go he got a pretty good sentence.

This POS and his felon friends stole millions from the “the hobby” and did a lot more damage than a few months at “Camp Walkaway” will make up for. I agree with Glyn when it comes to people kissing his ass. It’s pathetic. And yes, I personally lost money in the deal. Call me more Old Testament than New when it comes to criminal degenerates.

Just curious, what money did you lose.

I so badly want to respond and say "I'm better than Jesus", but that would probably be a bad idea.

Insert smiley face here.

Doug

Felipe and Matty were better than Jesus when it comes to Alou brothers.

Brian

Amazing!

Gracefully accepted.

Brian

didn't say it was restitution. AFAIK that was his only financial cost, the $250k fine. Did I miss a restitution number somewhere?

You do realize there is a significant portion of the world that isn't particularly interested in what Jesus may or may not have said and done, right?

That being said there's a difference between forgiving and forgetting.

Or the Cartel lookouts perched over the border watching for the Feds

No restitution, I was just emphasizing that, or trying to.

I agree

I can't believe that he will be permitted to be a part of the hobby in any fashion.

If I owned Memory Lane I would be pissed to find out that this guy was behind my booth. Terrible optics no matter what the story is.

He may have been talking to the owner, they do have something in common, and in any event I am sure ML will be fine.

Sounds Crazy but I agree with both Luke and Pete. I think it might be something as simple as Pete says but unfortunately the optics are not good at the moment(maybe as more time passes.) But of course the Auction House will be fine

Permitted by whom?

The hobby police. :)

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LOL, good one Leon!

Does reputation mean anything in a hobby where PSA exists?

I would point to the Bryan Dwyer/REA thread and say yes it does.
https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=305761

Nice read but unfortunately not emblematic of the hobby at large. The sleaze that is openly put up with in this hobby these days is insane.

I would agree to a point. Unfortunately the Pareto principal applies to the hobby at large, you can only rely on about 20% of folks to have integrity and a moral compass. The good news is you can find a majority of those types of people on this sub.