Disturbing Confession ...

[bnorth]

Since every thread needs a picture here is a very accurately graded card from PSA. Please ignore the extreme diamond cut. Honestly I am impressed they got it to fit in the slab.

[packs]

I’m trying to understand the signed card aspect to this. Are they saying they manipulated certified autographs too? That seems difficult since they carry pre-printed identifiers that the card is an autograph insert as opposed to an after market signed card, which would seem easier to manipulate.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by packs

I’m trying to understand the signed card aspect to this. Are they saying they manipulated certified autographs too? That seems difficult since they carry pre-printed identifiers that the card is an autograph insert as opposed to an after market signed card, which would seem easier to manipulate.

I'll guess we'll know if they ever make the evidence they impounded public or if it's just a large stack of Jerseys, Helmets, Hats, Balls, Bats and 8x10's.

Maybe he was getting his exemplars for his autopen from legitimate certified autographs, maybe he was just blowing a lot of wind into the air. I don't know.

I also think he got a lot of satisfaction out of spewing "estimated values" for fake autographs that were essentially worthless. In today's aspirational society, he wanted to be able to say he ran a "Billion $" business through nothing but grit, determination and hustle...and who gives a shit who got hurt by him along the way.

[scooter729]

Slightly off-track, but worthy of sharing I thought.....

One of the hottest prospects in baseball right now is Roman Anthony, who was recently called up to the Red Sox. My kids had an opportunity last week to spend some time at batting practice on the field and meeting the players, one of which was Anthony. He was very nice and signed a few things for them.

I don't collect modern cards (other than to buy a few for the kids to get signed last week), so I wasn't familiar with Anthony's autograph. There are tons of his signed cards on eBay, and the signature on all of those looks like what you see in the first pic - an illegible squiggle. These players likely are signing hundreds (or likely, thousands) of cards for the companies at a time, so the autograph becomes a quick scribble to get through the massive pile they need to sign.

Now compare that to the two cards he signed for my kids. Not exactly Williams or DiMaggio, but totally legible.

I'm the first to squawk about how players don't take pride in their signatures any more, but after seeing the different versions Anthony used and considering the vast quantities they likely have to sign, it did make me think about it a bit differently for a bit.....

[Brent G.]

I look forward to law enforcement’s pics of the seized goods. A whole lot of dealers sure aren’t.

[aljurgela]

In the off case that i am collecting autographs...

And a few vintage baseballs...

I have a few modern autos, but most were obtained in person or pack pulled from the major card companies. I would still think that most of those are legit... but who knows.

[BioCRN]

Autograph evolution happens, especially in this era where players/people are paid to sign 1000s of cards.

Sometimes it takes a step forward, sometimes it takes a step back. A lot of guys will have various signatures depending on the era they're signing.

Derniche Valdez 2023 vs 2024 auto...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/317080243218
https://www.ebay.com/itm/226761140850

...and here's a reality check for why some people have those sloppy scribble autos. We're losing Andre Dawson and Mariano Rivera level autographs for scribbles because of things like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j8F3_rKCU8

[nolemmings]

The use of Sharpies doesn't help matters. Way too wide so that the letters become indecipherable. Here is one of Harmon Killebrew, who had one of the most beautiful signatures I have ever seen (not mine):

[D. Bergin]

This guy sounds like an absolute psychopath.

The glee and total lack of remorse in how he describes his destructive behavior.

Somehow he ends it thinking he's the hero in exposing the seedy underbelly of the hobby, seemingly not aware that HE'S the seedy underbelly.

Throws in lots of self-aggrandizement and self-mythologizing for the inevitable Netflix documentary that's going to help "immortalize" him, whether he's still with us or not.

I wonder how many in his circle will describe him as "A Good Guy" or "A misunderstood genius", or any other number of positive platitudes to normalize his scumbaggery.

[Snapolit1]

Sounds like possibly he might be a dead guy at this point, if I am following this correctly.

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

This guy sounds like an absolute psychopath.

The glee and total lack of remorse in how he describes his destructive behavior.

Somehow he ends it thinking he's the hero in exposing the seedy underbelly of the hobby, seemingly not aware that HE'S the seedy underbelly.

Throws in lots of self-aggrandizement and self-mythologizing for the inevitable Netflix documentary that's going to help "immortalize" him, whether he's still with us or not.

I wonder how many in his circle will describe him as "A Good Guy" or "A misunderstood genius", or any other number of positive platitudes to normalize his scumbaggery.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Sounds like possibly he might be a dead guy at this point, if I am following this correctly.

Might possibly be...

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Since every thread needs a picture here is a very accurately graded card from PSA. Please ignore the extreme diamond cut. Honestly I am impressed they got it to fit in the slab.

I would argue it's not diamond cut (which means, to me the corners aren't 90 degrees) but rather the image on the back is tilted.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I would argue it's not diamond cut (which means, to me the corners aren't 90 degrees) but rather the image on the back is tilted.

I think I agree, but shouldn't that still preclude it from grading 9?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I would argue it's not diamond cut (which means, to me the corners aren't 90 degrees) but rather the image on the back is tilted.

Originally Posted by Mark17

I think I agree, but shouldn't that still preclude it from grading 9?

LOL, Scott I have bragged about your card descriptions before so please put you glasses back on and look again as it is diamond cut and not just a little.

EDIT: I added a square cornered red line to the image to help.

[ullmandds]

diamond cut? or is the print off kilter? the card itself looks square?

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

At the risk of invalidating your previous praise I'm not 100% sure. The card is not square in the slab, which makes the left and right sides look off, but the front image with the vertical lines doesn't look diamond cut, so I think it's a tilted print job on the back. Run through the press a little crooked somehow, but cut correctly. Obviously there's no benefit to me if the card is good or not so it's the unbiased opinion of one guy who hasn't held the card in his hand, your mileage may vary!

and yes I agree it still shouldn't be a 9, but sometimes they don't pay enough attention to backs