Seen, discussed or overheard at the National Card Show in Fort Washington, PA...
10.) Should you be lucky enough to find a mint condition 1952 Topps Andy Pafko (Card #1)keep it close. Because almost none exist. The reason? Back in the day, kids would keep their cards together with a rubber band with Pafko's #1 on top. Either this really did happen or this is the most common misconception in the hobby.
9.) All of the certified Joe DiMaggio signed baseballs? They're genuine. No problems there. However, in what has to be the most creepy and low-rent money-grabs of all time are the baseballs signed--and released into circulation--by the Yankee Clipper on his death bed. Dubbed "death bed" DiMaggio balls, you'd have to have some set yourself to shell out money for these.
Cain/Palin bumper stickers. Seems the gun-folk are thrilled with BHO. Inside the card show featured Punter Sean Landeta (the long-time Giant wearing an Eagles cap) an 80-year-old Robin Roberts and softball queen Jennie Finch. Walking the aisles in near anonymity: famed 1970's hockey goon Dave "the Hammer" Schultz. And we're in Philadelphia and no one recognizes him. Another good reason to wear a helmet: No one recognizes you.
5.) The 1914 Cracker Jack find that we reported last year fetched an unbelievable amount of money...more than $150,000. Separate from that auction, a 1914 "Cracker Jack" Joe Jackson was graded a 10 out of 10. One dealer told me, that once that's gone, you'll never seen another in better condition. Today's grading system of cards takes the guesswork out of a card's value...Much like buying a diamond, baseball cards carry color, cut and clarity as well.
4.) Sadly, baseball cards in the 1980s are virtually worthless save for a few cards. Those were my salad days. By 1981, Topps was no longer the only game in town and rival card companies such as Fleer and Donruss entered the market and produced set after set after set to the point where you can longer keep track of the sets.
3.) Two collectors thus far have completed the massive 6,661 Yankee Stadium Legacy series from Upper Deck—the card company carried over last season’s games to the 2009 set as well.
2.) Not baseball related but I saw some cashed bank checks from Moe Howard, Curly Howard, and Larry Fine—The Three Stooges.
1.) Quick Story: Going back to DiMaggio. He had few friends and mostly kept to himself, expect apparently when there was appearance money involved. A long-time business partner of DiMaggio’s got wind of Carl Yastrzemski’s charity event. DiMaggio was asked to attend but declined the invite. The business partner said, “Joe, it’s for charity.” To which DiMaggio motioned to his heart as if to explain, “Charity begins at home.” Now we can remember him as “The Yankee Gypper.”
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Mastro Folds House of Cards
Memorabilia king Bill Mastro was one of the central figures in the book "The Card," the book detailing the mystery surrounding the T206 Honus Wagner, the Mona Lisa of baseball cards. Some believe it was Mastro who cut the card, giving it its funny shape. Can you imagine? At any rate, here's one more added to the unemployment rolls. Perhaps he can get the cell next to Madoff's.
Bill Mastro folds sports memorabilia's largest auction house amid FBI probe
BY Michael O'Keeffe
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Mastro auctions chairman Bill Mastro boasted in a Jan. 21 article in the Chicago Daily Herald that his auction house would not be damaged by the recession because it caters to high-end clients.
"When we do our big auctions we're typically dealing with well-heeled guys, and this is what gives them pleasure," Mastro said. "If anything, I think guys are getting more choosy and discriminating about what they buy and how they buy it. But at the end of the day a Mercedes is a Mercedes, and if you want and have the means, you'll pay for it."
Less than two months later, Mastro Auctions is apparently out of business.
Sports memorabilia's largest auction house is at the center of an FBI investigation into shill bidding, card doctoring and other allegations of fraud that have damaged the company's Mercedes image. While Bill Mastro said in the January interview that the company would continue to generate $50 million in annual sales, industry sources say it had crippling credit-line and cash-flow problems. Consignors have complained that they were not paid for items sold at Mastro's December auction.
Three Mastro executives, including president Doug Allen, have purchased Mastro Auction's assets and will launch a new company called Legendary Auctions. The new business has taken possession of computer software and client lists, sources told the Daily News. Allen did not return phone calls for comment, but in a press release, the new company said all outstanding Mastro Auctions business will be "seamlessly facilitated, processed and completed through Legendary Auctions." Industry sources told the Daily News they expect Mastro's consignors will all eventually be paid.
Allen had told potential investors that he is not a target of the FBI probe, according to sources, but the new company appears to be taking steps to avoid shill-bidding allegations and other problems that damaged Mastro's credibility with collectors.
"The principals employed by Legendary Auctions will put their own collecting interests aside and concentrate solely on providing opportunities for our customers," Allen said in the press release. "There will be no mixing of business and pleasure at Legendary Auctions in terms of our own collecting pursuits. This will really be all about our customers."
The Daily News reported last year that sports-memorabilia officials have testified before a grand jury in Chicago that is investigating Mastro Auctions and fraud in the collectibles business.
The grand jury deliberations are part of an investigation into memorabilia fraud initiated last year by the Chicago division of the FBI, whose "Operation Foul Ball" smashed a multistate autograph forgery ring in the 1990s. Other sports-memorabilia businesses and individuals may also be under investigation.
Bill Mastro will not be associated with Legendary Auctions. "Circumstances make it clear to me that the business needs to move in a different direction at this time, and Legendary Auctions is a positive step that allows everyone to be taken care of, especially our customers who have been so loyal," Mastro said in the press release. "I am looking forward to taking some time off for now, and wish Legendary Auctions only the best as they move forward."
Bill Mastro folds sports memorabilia's largest auction house amid FBI probe
BY Michael O'Keeffe
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Mastro auctions chairman Bill Mastro boasted in a Jan. 21 article in the Chicago Daily Herald that his auction house would not be damaged by the recession because it caters to high-end clients.
"When we do our big auctions we're typically dealing with well-heeled guys, and this is what gives them pleasure," Mastro said. "If anything, I think guys are getting more choosy and discriminating about what they buy and how they buy it. But at the end of the day a Mercedes is a Mercedes, and if you want and have the means, you'll pay for it."
Less than two months later, Mastro Auctions is apparently out of business.
Sports memorabilia's largest auction house is at the center of an FBI investigation into shill bidding, card doctoring and other allegations of fraud that have damaged the company's Mercedes image. While Bill Mastro said in the January interview that the company would continue to generate $50 million in annual sales, industry sources say it had crippling credit-line and cash-flow problems. Consignors have complained that they were not paid for items sold at Mastro's December auction.
Three Mastro executives, including president Doug Allen, have purchased Mastro Auction's assets and will launch a new company called Legendary Auctions. The new business has taken possession of computer software and client lists, sources told the Daily News. Allen did not return phone calls for comment, but in a press release, the new company said all outstanding Mastro Auctions business will be "seamlessly facilitated, processed and completed through Legendary Auctions." Industry sources told the Daily News they expect Mastro's consignors will all eventually be paid.
Allen had told potential investors that he is not a target of the FBI probe, according to sources, but the new company appears to be taking steps to avoid shill-bidding allegations and other problems that damaged Mastro's credibility with collectors.
"The principals employed by Legendary Auctions will put their own collecting interests aside and concentrate solely on providing opportunities for our customers," Allen said in the press release. "There will be no mixing of business and pleasure at Legendary Auctions in terms of our own collecting pursuits. This will really be all about our customers."
The Daily News reported last year that sports-memorabilia officials have testified before a grand jury in Chicago that is investigating Mastro Auctions and fraud in the collectibles business.
The grand jury deliberations are part of an investigation into memorabilia fraud initiated last year by the Chicago division of the FBI, whose "Operation Foul Ball" smashed a multistate autograph forgery ring in the 1990s. Other sports-memorabilia businesses and individuals may also be under investigation.
Bill Mastro will not be associated with Legendary Auctions. "Circumstances make it clear to me that the business needs to move in a different direction at this time, and Legendary Auctions is a positive step that allows everyone to be taken care of, especially our customers who have been so loyal," Mastro said in the press release. "I am looking forward to taking some time off for now, and wish Legendary Auctions only the best as they move forward."
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
New York Islanders Modern Day Mickey Mouse Operation
After a 13-4 drubbing of the New Jersey Devils in 1984 a game in which the Edmonton Oilers scored at will, Wayne Gretzky famously labeled the Devils a "Mickey Mouse operation on ice." But judging from a recent visit to Nassau Coliseum, the Great One could apply the tag to the modern day New York Islanders. Here are 10 reason why the Islanders could be considered Mickey Mouse.
10.) Ice Girls cleaning up ice during breaks in the action. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with hot chicks on the ice....but it smacks of minor league hockey
9.) Your team gets booed in its own building, especially when the New York Rangers come to town. Wanna solve the problem? Sell-out your building
8.)Outside of Rick DiPietro, Trent Hunter and Andy Hilbert, the team is devoid of NHL vetereans...Taken further, no stars means fewer dollars devoted to payroll means more dollars in owner's pocket.
7.)Other than the aforementioned Rangers, the team lives off its one glory period, 1979-1983, when it made five consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup finals--winning the first four
6.)Speaking of those Cup winning teams, banners memorializing coach Al Arbour's 1500 game is a joke, so is Bill Torrey's trademark bow-tie. The travesty regarding Arbour is that they brought him back for one game, two days shy of his 75th bithday.
5.)Team executives are more corrupt than government officials in Bridgeport and Rprovidence combined.
4.)After falling behind in the Ranger game, fans serenaded the Islanders with chants of "Kan-sas City, Kan-sas City"--the team's future home if the Wang gets his way
3.)Some Islander braintrust gave golaie Rick DiPietro a 15-year contract. Let that sink in for a minute. A U.S. president gets 8 years max!
2.)Former great Bryan Trottier demands payment for the privilidge of the team retiring his number 19. Imagine the balls of this guy to do it with a straight face.
1.)Incredibly because of short-sighted deals, the Islanders must share revenue from luxury, concessions and parking with Nassau county. The result? a $70 ticket for nose-bleed seats with an obstructed view.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A-Rod and The 5 Stages of Grief....
A-Rod's off-season exploits have been well-documented. But after the latest revelation--that he'll miss more than two months repairing a torn labrum--I feel spent. I don't know how to react anymore. It's always something with this guy.
Whether it's trying to swipe the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove during the 2004 ALCS or yelling "I got it" when running behind Toronto's John MacDonald a few years ago, everything A-Rod does is bush-league and calculated.
Rooting for Alex is like befriending an impossibly hot chick. You're happy that she talks to you but you're disappointed time and again. It's reached that point with Alex. You're just drained emotionally.
So here are the five stages of Grief as seen through the eyes of a Yankee fan.
Denial---What happened? A-Rod took steroids? When? I don't believe it. How can it be? Boy, the media won't leave this guy alone. Maybe Mike Francesa was corret when he said that some guys just can't make it in New York. The witch hunt continues.
Anger (after seeing that BS interview with Gammons)--That little bastard! Can't trust the Dominicans. Bolly? Are we kidding? And why is Madonna's manager insisting he wear that faggy blue v-neck? And who the fuck is going to play third base now? Get me Hank Steinbrenner's number...Can we void A-Roid contract? And who can play third base? Newcomer Nick Swisher? Grrrr. Season's wasted?
Bargaining--Okay Alex admitted it. Now we can go on and concentrate on the baseball season and begin debating important matters such as who's going to play center field. Why manager Joe Giradi should be shitcanned before the season starts...Not to mention who's going to play third base.
Depression I don't care anymore. What does it matter? A-Rod's hurt and will miss two months. The Yankees lost their best hitter and third baseman. Boston looked strong and Tampa and Toronto look better this year too. What's the use?
Acceptance I'm ready for whatever comes my way. Perhaps the Yankees will be a better team in the early going and get back to the teamwork during the 1996-2001 era. We don't miss A-Rod..we got Mark Teixera!
Ah, that little bit of Yankee rehab worked wonders..Thank goodness baseball season is around the corner and A-ROD successfully surgically repaired his torn labrum. Only every Yankee fans knows Alex is all thumbs.
Whether it's trying to swipe the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove during the 2004 ALCS or yelling "I got it" when running behind Toronto's John MacDonald a few years ago, everything A-Rod does is bush-league and calculated.
Rooting for Alex is like befriending an impossibly hot chick. You're happy that she talks to you but you're disappointed time and again. It's reached that point with Alex. You're just drained emotionally.
So here are the five stages of Grief as seen through the eyes of a Yankee fan.
Denial---What happened? A-Rod took steroids? When? I don't believe it. How can it be? Boy, the media won't leave this guy alone. Maybe Mike Francesa was corret when he said that some guys just can't make it in New York. The witch hunt continues.
Anger (after seeing that BS interview with Gammons)--That little bastard! Can't trust the Dominicans. Bolly? Are we kidding? And why is Madonna's manager insisting he wear that faggy blue v-neck? And who the fuck is going to play third base now? Get me Hank Steinbrenner's number...Can we void A-Roid contract? And who can play third base? Newcomer Nick Swisher? Grrrr. Season's wasted?
Bargaining--Okay Alex admitted it. Now we can go on and concentrate on the baseball season and begin debating important matters such as who's going to play center field. Why manager Joe Giradi should be shitcanned before the season starts...Not to mention who's going to play third base.
Depression I don't care anymore. What does it matter? A-Rod's hurt and will miss two months. The Yankees lost their best hitter and third baseman. Boston looked strong and Tampa and Toronto look better this year too. What's the use?
Acceptance I'm ready for whatever comes my way. Perhaps the Yankees will be a better team in the early going and get back to the teamwork during the 1996-2001 era. We don't miss A-Rod..we got Mark Teixera!
Ah, that little bit of Yankee rehab worked wonders..Thank goodness baseball season is around the corner and A-ROD successfully surgically repaired his torn labrum. Only every Yankee fans knows Alex is all thumbs.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Fallon in Train Wreck TV
I don't want to say I told you so....
Jimmy Fallon was very uncomfortable right from the opening monologue last night. Was the hands-in-the-pockets delivery during the monologue an homage to Johnny Carson? I hope so and I hope they tell him to stop that tonight. And the jokes....very tepid.
Now there are worse things in life than sucking at your own heavily hyped talk show. But was it a good idea to impersonate Robert DeNiro in front of Robert DeNiro? What's the best result here? Is DeNiro going to laugh at Fallon....like he's a clown? Like DeNiro's here to amuse Fallon...like's he's a clown? (Sorry couldn't resist)
And this deliberate attempt to make it all technological and hip came across as lame and stupid. "Jimmy on Facebook!" Who cares? NBC wanted this apparent "pushing the envelope" to be in the same style as Letterman circa 1982. Who tune in...you never what's going to happen! Please.
Yes, this will be a work in progress for NBC. All talk shows musyt given a puncher's chance to smooth out the kinks. But seriously who made the decisionto cast Fallon? Is it the ssme guy who put Celelbrity Apprentice on Sunday nights at 9?
You get the feeling that NBC has totally lost its way? Memo to Jeff "Zippy" Zucker...You have to get involved here.
Tina Fey tonight--She should give him some good material. Or at least make him a little more comfortable.
Jimmy Fallon was very uncomfortable right from the opening monologue last night. Was the hands-in-the-pockets delivery during the monologue an homage to Johnny Carson? I hope so and I hope they tell him to stop that tonight. And the jokes....very tepid.
Now there are worse things in life than sucking at your own heavily hyped talk show. But was it a good idea to impersonate Robert DeNiro in front of Robert DeNiro? What's the best result here? Is DeNiro going to laugh at Fallon....like he's a clown? Like DeNiro's here to amuse Fallon...like's he's a clown? (Sorry couldn't resist)
And this deliberate attempt to make it all technological and hip came across as lame and stupid. "Jimmy on Facebook!" Who cares? NBC wanted this apparent "pushing the envelope" to be in the same style as Letterman circa 1982. Who tune in...you never what's going to happen! Please.
Yes, this will be a work in progress for NBC. All talk shows musyt given a puncher's chance to smooth out the kinks. But seriously who made the decisionto cast Fallon? Is it the ssme guy who put Celelbrity Apprentice on Sunday nights at 9?
You get the feeling that NBC has totally lost its way? Memo to Jeff "Zippy" Zucker...You have to get involved here.
Tina Fey tonight--She should give him some good material. Or at least make him a little more comfortable.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Snowbound Monday!
Some random thoughts on a snowbound Monday: Twelve inches in CT. Snow in March is gay.
Call me crazy but I think Jimmy Fallon's new talk show (which debuts tonight) has a good chance of being Train Wreck TV. I saw Fallon guesting for Letterman during Dave's heart attack hiatus and he sucked. Visibly nervous. Don't get me wrong--I liked him on Weekend Update but some can't make the jump to carrying their own show. See Chase, Chevy. DeNiro--who rarely does television interviews--is Jimmy's first guest. I'll be sure to tune in ---at 12:30. CMON.
I'm watching the Baseball Network and they're in the middle of previewing the 30 baseball teams. Today? The Houston Astros. They are actually talking about Mike Hampton making 30 starts. Mike Hampton....If I wasn't doubled over in laughter, I'd actually explain it here.
Anyone catch Steve Kroft interviewing Harry Markopoulos last night on 60 Minutes? For those of you dumbasses who don't know, Markopoulos was the would-be Madoff whistleblower who sent five letters to the SEC urging the investigation into Madoff's firm. The SEC did nothing. Markopoulos told Kroft (I swear Kroft gets the best stories. Guy is Aces. Love Kroft.) the investigators at the SEC couldn't spot fraud, even if you instructed where to look. The SEC investigators simply don't have the sophistication. That's a damn strong statement. But then Markopoulos should know. He figured out the Madoff scheme in less than five hours. Great piece.
While we're at it, can we cut the shit with penciling in stats for certain players. Last year, some people who should know better, figured Yankee pitcher Phil Hughes was good for 18 wins. He finished the 2008 season with exactly zero wins. This year's hot rookie is Mark Melancon--who's being touted as Mariano's replacement in waiting. Can I at least see Melancon close out the Tampa Rays first? Already he's the Yankee closer? Only in baseball do you see such lofty statements.
Giants signed Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty...That will hurt Dallas next year.
Sean Avery will return to the Rangers this week. Will it help? Well, it couldn't hurt. They're fucked. The NHL trade deadline is tomorrow. Can the Rangers swing a big deal?
The Dow saw 6,999 today. What the fuck is going on?
Call me crazy but I think Jimmy Fallon's new talk show (which debuts tonight) has a good chance of being Train Wreck TV. I saw Fallon guesting for Letterman during Dave's heart attack hiatus and he sucked. Visibly nervous. Don't get me wrong--I liked him on Weekend Update but some can't make the jump to carrying their own show. See Chase, Chevy. DeNiro--who rarely does television interviews--is Jimmy's first guest. I'll be sure to tune in ---at 12:30. CMON.
I'm watching the Baseball Network and they're in the middle of previewing the 30 baseball teams. Today? The Houston Astros. They are actually talking about Mike Hampton making 30 starts. Mike Hampton....If I wasn't doubled over in laughter, I'd actually explain it here.
Anyone catch Steve Kroft interviewing Harry Markopoulos last night on 60 Minutes? For those of you dumbasses who don't know, Markopoulos was the would-be Madoff whistleblower who sent five letters to the SEC urging the investigation into Madoff's firm. The SEC did nothing. Markopoulos told Kroft (I swear Kroft gets the best stories. Guy is Aces. Love Kroft.) the investigators at the SEC couldn't spot fraud, even if you instructed where to look. The SEC investigators simply don't have the sophistication. That's a damn strong statement. But then Markopoulos should know. He figured out the Madoff scheme in less than five hours. Great piece.
While we're at it, can we cut the shit with penciling in stats for certain players. Last year, some people who should know better, figured Yankee pitcher Phil Hughes was good for 18 wins. He finished the 2008 season with exactly zero wins. This year's hot rookie is Mark Melancon--who's being touted as Mariano's replacement in waiting. Can I at least see Melancon close out the Tampa Rays first? Already he's the Yankee closer? Only in baseball do you see such lofty statements.
Giants signed Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty...That will hurt Dallas next year.
Sean Avery will return to the Rangers this week. Will it help? Well, it couldn't hurt. They're fucked. The NHL trade deadline is tomorrow. Can the Rangers swing a big deal?
The Dow saw 6,999 today. What the fuck is going on?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Top 10 Reasons To Fire Glen Sather
10.) Gave Bryan Trottier a coaching gig after being pitched the job on a coacktail napkin
9.) Bitched and moaned whilst in small-market Edmonton. Then spent like drunken sailor in NY. (And sucks managing today's salary cap)
8.) Short of hiring Osama bin Laden, Sather's creepy realtionship with Garden boss Jim Dolan provides him the Teflon-status not seen since Fredo Coreleone when his mother still alive
7.) Maneuvers NHL Drafts with all the dexterity and finesse as did Dick Clark last New Year's Eve. Don't beleive me? In 2003, for example, the Rangers used the 12th overall choice to select Dartmouth College forward Hugh Jessiman. In doing so, they passed on Dustin Brown (13th), Brent Seabrook (14th), Zach Parise (17th), Ryan Getzlaf (19th), Brent Burns (20th), Ryan Kesler (23rd), Mike Richards (24th), Loui Eriksson (33rd), and Patrice Bergeron (45th)..Jessiman is no longer with the team
6.) Let Jagr, Shanahan and Avery walk and replaced them with Nik Zherdev (the modern day Alex Kovalev) past-his-prime Markus Naslund and Aaron Voros.
5.) By compiling too many of the same player (Callahan, Dubinsky, Dawes) he's seems to be taking a page from true genius Lou Lamoriello.
4.)He had Gretzky, Messier, & Coffey in their prime and mistakenly thought his a birthright to drink from the Cup
3.) Slats is gay nickname for a grown man
2.) Two words: Wade Redden.
1.) Since he got to 33rd and 7th nine years ago, Sather's won exactly TWO playoff rounds
9.) Bitched and moaned whilst in small-market Edmonton. Then spent like drunken sailor in NY. (And sucks managing today's salary cap)
8.) Short of hiring Osama bin Laden, Sather's creepy realtionship with Garden boss Jim Dolan provides him the Teflon-status not seen since Fredo Coreleone when his mother still alive
7.) Maneuvers NHL Drafts with all the dexterity and finesse as did Dick Clark last New Year's Eve. Don't beleive me? In 2003, for example, the Rangers used the 12th overall choice to select Dartmouth College forward Hugh Jessiman. In doing so, they passed on Dustin Brown (13th), Brent Seabrook (14th), Zach Parise (17th), Ryan Getzlaf (19th), Brent Burns (20th), Ryan Kesler (23rd), Mike Richards (24th), Loui Eriksson (33rd), and Patrice Bergeron (45th)..Jessiman is no longer with the team
6.) Let Jagr, Shanahan and Avery walk and replaced them with Nik Zherdev (the modern day Alex Kovalev) past-his-prime Markus Naslund and Aaron Voros.
5.) By compiling too many of the same player (Callahan, Dubinsky, Dawes) he's seems to be taking a page from true genius Lou Lamoriello.
4.)He had Gretzky, Messier, & Coffey in their prime and mistakenly thought his a birthright to drink from the Cup
3.) Slats is gay nickname for a grown man
2.) Two words: Wade Redden.
1.) Since he got to 33rd and 7th nine years ago, Sather's won exactly TWO playoff rounds
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