Rick Probstein interviews Bill Mastro

ajjohnsonsoxfan · #1 09-16-2021, 06:39 PM

Thanks for sharing the interview. Really enjoyed listening to Mastro's stories especially the Wagner deal. Wish Probstein would have stopped interrupting and talking over him. Could have listened to another hour about the early hobby days. Mastro comes off like he truly regrets his mistakes and has paid the ultimate price both with losing 18 months of life behind bars and his reputation, and I personally think everyone deserves a 2nd chance. Maybe Mastro gets one...I don't know. You might have a different opinion if you were the one financially harmed by his greed.

As an aside, the more I think about the ebay/PWCC debacle, I think ebay is just as culpable and should/could have done so much more to stop the shilling. The PWCC account termination feels more and more like retribution to PWCC's plans to build their own auction platform.

Fred · #2 09-16-2021, 08:04 PM

I've bid in Probstein auctions and won and never felt there was shill bidding. Like many, I've read about the accusations of impropriety in regard tp Probstein but I have no opinion on it because I don't have access to any evidence. If the stories are true then that's a shame.

I found the statement indicating (see around 23:30) "What I did was probably wrong" as a bit strange to hear but if that's how he feels, then it gives a little insight to his mindset. He did however say what he did was wrong at about the 25 minute mark so there's that. Mastro comments a little about the reason he went to prison for a year and a half. It was interesting to hear his insight to the wrong doing, but there was so much more to this interview that makes it worth listening to.

Mastro seems very genuine in the interview. What's nice about this interview is that it wasn't scripted, it was down to earth hobby talk from the early days of the hobby.

Definitely worth the time, even if you don't like either Probstein and/or Mastro.

I'd take the time to listen to another interview if they do another. It would be cool to see specific topics covered.

Interviews like this are good because they will be around many years from now when a lot of us are gone and new blood is in the hobby (if it survives that long).

Peter_Spaeth · #3 09-16-2021, 08:19 PM

I have heard that Bill refused to tell what he knew about other hobby players. Imagine if he had felt differently.

clydepepper · #4 09-18-2021, 09:27 PM

An A-Hole interviewing a crook...pass.

.

Jeffrompa · #5 09-22-2021, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clydepepper

An A-Hole interviewing a crook...pass.

.

I wouldn�t listen to this two if you paid me .

drcy · #6 09-22-2021, 09:52 PM

Whatever people think of him (them) and the accuracy of what he said, it was an interesting and entertaining interview.

Amongst many interesting stories of early collecting and the early hobby, he talks directly about the Gretzky T206 Wagner (It came with many T206s irregularly cut from a sheet or sheets and, after purchasing the lot for $25,000, he trimmed the oversized Wagner) and the nature of the wronging/illegalities at Mastro Auctions. It was obvious Mastro retains a love and interest in cards themselves.

He should write a book, as he has a lot of history of the early hobby.

It's true that Probstein sometimes interrupted him (People want to hear the answer not the question) and hurried him along. My impression is he had a time allotment for the story, and was doing time management. He could do a series.

Bridwell · #7 09-23-2021, 01:32 PM

In 1972, I bought a Ty Cobb T206 batting card from Irv Lerner at a Detroit card show for 40 cents. I picked out some other good ones for 10 cents each but he insisted on 40 cents for the Cobb. It had 2 light creases, and after 30 years it got a PSA 2. The most expensive card I saw that year was a Ruth Goudey card for $1.00.

A few years later, around 1980, I bought my Ty Cobb green portrait at a Detroit show for $10. I splurged on it because it was super nice. Some 25 years later, I got it graded PSA 5 and still have it.

Tony Gordon · #8 09-23-2021, 02:59 PM

Seems like some folks forgot the depth of Mastro's fraud or just plain don't know. Here is a link to the "American Greed" episode.

ajjohnsonsoxfan · #9 09-23-2021, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bridwell

In 1972, I bought a Ty Cobb T206 batting card from Irv Lerner at a Detroit card show for 40 cents. I picked out some other good ones for 10 cents each but he insisted on 40 cents for the Cobb. It had 2 light creases, and after 30 years it got a PSA 2. The most expensive card I saw that year was a Ruth Goudey card for $1.00.

A few years later, around 1980, I bought my Ty Cobb green portrait at a Detroit show for $10. I splurged on it because it was super nice. Some 25 years later, I got it graded PSA 5 and still have it.

Man I love stories like this! I wish I was into vintage when I was a youngster instead of buying 1984 Topps, Donruss and Fleer. I remember getting hornswaggled by the card shop owner in Dansville CA selling the large format 84 Topps product. Said it would be huge! haha

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