Bill Mastro and SCD Hobby Predictions

NiceDocter · #1 07-03-2024, 07:11 PM

I would pick �b� for me

samosa4u · #2 07-03-2024, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

I would pick �b� for me

Keith H. Thompson · #3 07-04-2024, 11:57 AM

again for my poor presentation of an obscure subject, at best Leon helped me with the picture, but there is only so much he can do.

I also confess that I did it because young collectors to the Hobby probably have negative thoughts re Bill, but he was really a force in the hobby, and his auctions were gold mines. Dealers and collectors, whose opinions I respect, tell me that he treated his partners badly, but I'm used to that on many facets of life.

samosa4u · #4 07-04-2024, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith H. Thompson

again for my poor presentation of an obscure subject, at best Leon helped me with the picture, but there is only so much he can do.

I also confess that I did it because young collectors to the Hobby probably have negative thoughts re Bill, but he was really a force in the hobby, and his auctions were gold mines. Dealers and collectors, whose opinions I respect, tell me that he treated his partners badly, but I'm used to that on many facets of life.

Send me a message and I'll help you put up a large scan here. I'm pretty sure a lot of people would like to read it.

G1911 · #5 07-04-2024, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith H. Thompson

I also confess that I did it because young collectors to the Hobby probably have negative thoughts re Bill, but he was really a force in the hobby, and his auctions were gold mines. Dealers and collectors, whose opinions I respect, tell me that he treated his partners badly, but I'm used to that on many facets of life.

Yeah I can't believe that young collectors have negative thoughts on a criminal fraudster who treaded people badly. That's just, uh, terrible. They need to be educated on how criminal fraudsters in the hobby are sometimes great because they sold expensive cards amidst all that criminal fraud.

oldjudge · #6 07-04-2024, 01:51 PM

Bill was a force in the hobby. He ran the first major sports auction and before that handled some of the top hobby pieces. I always had a good relationship with Bill and valued his friendship. He's done his time for his crimes and I wish him a long and happy life with his wonderful family going forward.

BioCRN · #7 07-04-2024, 02:12 PM

There's a lot of people in the hobby who prefer to remain on the outskirts of the hobby because of the people in the hobby.

I'm not a market mover or market definer. I'll never play in that realm even with a low-6-digit value collection and spare money to go bigger. Some people spend the value of my collection on a single auction, or single card. They're the makers and movers.

That said...

Since I was a young collector in the single-digits of age, I've received generous education/support/freebies from dealers + collectors. I've also been ripped off, lied to, and otherwise hustled by the peers of the ones being reasonable dealing with me.

More than that, I've experienced "both sides" playing me (or attempting) from the same person. I'm not talking about stuff like a dealer low-balling me or charging too much. I'm talking about legit bad stuff, dishonesty, and fraud.

There's more good than bad, but I've always been shocked at how many totally above the board dealers/collectors will tolerate fraud and out-classed hustling from their peers.

I think a lot of the legit good ones realize how much slime is in the hobby and accept it as part of the hobby, and your own due diligence needs to be applied to too many movers/makers in the hobby.

I'm not disgruntled. I'm still in it nearly 40 years after I started collecting pictures of baseball dudes, but it's kept me on the hobby edges and I don't have a problem with it. It is what it is and it seems it's been that way since before I knew what a baseball card was.

perezfan · #8 07-04-2024, 02:57 PM

Yes, he shilled his auctions, and yes, he hand-cut the Wagner. I acquired some of my best pieces from Mastro and Mastro-West, and spent lots of money with them. My name was on the "shilled list" when it came out many years ago, and I was not happy about it (to say the least).

Mastro was aptly punished via our legal system and served his time. Law Enforcement successfully went after the "top dog". Mastro was undisputedly the biggest in the hobby at the time. They made an example of him, and rightfully so.

But I know for a fact that other dealers, auction houses, etc. did the same exact things as Mastro (some to a greater extent; some lesser) with no negative ramifications at all. Outside of LOTG, I have never felt comfortable enough to leave ceiling bids with any of these "Titans" of the hobby". There has always been a sleaze factor, and it seems there always will be.

With time and experience you can limit the number of times you get played, but you can never completely expect to escape it. Just something you need to factor in if you collect this stuff.

jcmtiger · #9 07-04-2024, 02:31 PM

[QUOTE=oldjudge;2445554]Bill was a force in the hobby. He ran the first major sports auction and before that handled some of the top hobby pieces. I always had a good relationship with Bill and valued his friendship. He's done his time for his crimes and I wish him a long and happy life with his wonderful family going forward.[/QUOTE +1, Me too. Met Bil in he 70�s. At the Plymouth Michigan show. Sold & purchase many items thruhis auctions later on. ]

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