Need Some Help on some 3x5's...and a short rant

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Yes, people have been running these "soft scams", if you will, in online auctions forever. Ask questions before bidding. If they don't get answered in a satisfactory way, don't get suckered by a cheap price point. There's always a reason.

The auctions aren't really scams, as they're normally accompanied by grey area verbiage that covers their interest. Are they sports autographs? Sure, but in the way that a 1986 rodeo champion is considered an athlete.

I can put together large groupings of 100% authentic, major league 3X5s from a couple of sports, but I would be charging a lot more than circa 1980 prices for them. I often see people posting "buying in bulk". Translation: "Buying for next to nothing". I get it, we all want a deal. If people are finding bulk lots at such prices, more power to them. It can certainly be done. Personally, I'm happier owning the material than in divesting for a small amount of money that won't make a difference in my life or bank account.

Just be careful in an effort to not get hosed by a bulk lot of 500 pieces, featuring one Rick Wise and 499 minor leaguers.

[akleinb611]

Thanks for the responses. I've had a little more time to calm down, and I'm no longer furious. But I am still pissed (how's that for a fine distinction?).

I do want to emphasize that about a third of the cards are of decent enough autographs, the usual suspects of players active from the Forties to the Seventies. What seems to have happened here is that these lots all came from a single collection, belonging to a fellow named Al Hein (anyone know of him)? I know this because there were a few GPC's mixed into the mass of 3x5's with his name and address on the front, and a Google search indicates that Hein died in 2020.

Apparently, Hein wrote to every person (or almost every person) playing professional baseball in the Eighties. Most, obviously, never made it to the big leagues. It's notable that the major league players I found among the unidentified index cards were mostly cup of coffee players, 1980's minor leaguers who made it up to the majors briefly in the early Nineties.

As for asking questions about the lots beforehand, it honestly never occurred to me that the signatures could be those of minor leaguers. Silly me.

I suppose I will take solace in the fact that the identified cards (the ones with the name typed on the front) include some pretty good signatures. But yes, when you bid on an auction of this size, you're looking for a bargain. I'll pay full retail for a signed Topps card or any one of a number of collectibles, but 3x5's are precisely the sort of collectible I would rather get at the bargain level.

And for those who are curious, the auction in question was the recent one conducted by Wheatland. I expected better of them.

Alan Kleinberger

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Once I saw "Al Hein", I knew it was Wheatland. I have been at this a long time and had never heard of him until they started selling his stuff. For the most part, what a complete snooze fest of garbage! Most of that material didn't sell for much, yet deserved to go for lower than it did!

I could tell that there were some minor leaguers in there, but they didn't show all the cards in the larger lots.