This just in...the famous Honus Wagner T-206 that was once owned by Wayne Gretzky and is now owned by Ken Kendrick (who owns the Arizona Diamondbacks), was altered by a low down dealer that owned it before them. Kendrick payed a record $2.8 million buckeroos for that counterfeit chunk of cardboard crap.
Bill Mastro, the dealer who altered the card, admitted to it in the hopes of gaining leniency from a judge. It seems he's been accused of - surprise - making a career of selling a whole slew of fake swag, including a bogus lock of Elvis hair to unsuspecting customers.
Controversy and rumors had been swirling around the Wagner card for years, seeing as how Mastro allegedly was peddling counterfeit goods. At least he's cleared any clouds of doubt and confirmed the card was cut.
If I were the owner of the falsified Wagner, I'm pretty sure my immediate reaction to this news would be, "Dang it! That's 2.8 million down the drain!"
Of course, if I really had bought it, those would be the exact same words that my old lady would have spoken for me spending that kind of dough on a baseball card in the first place, Honus or no Honus.
But here's the rub...in a stroke of marketing genius, Kendrick is spinning this in a totally opposite way. He's declaring this actually INCREASES the value of his card!
In keeping with the spirit that some of us in the blogoworlds hold, in which a card with 'character' does have value, Kendrick may have a point. This certainly adds to the cards infamy - but does it increase it's value? Is that Wagner now worth a cool $3 million?
What do you think? Drop your opinion in the comments below....
Probably worth the same or more. Like if the Mona Lisa was damaged somehow, it's still the Mona Lisa if it wasn't completely destroyed. But then there was that Jesus mural several months ago. That was totally messed up so it was ruined for good.
ReplyDeleteGood points, Arno. It's still a rare Honus.
DeleteI saw a hilarious photo of a dude on halloween as that messed up jesus mural.
I don't see that it is THAT big of a deal. It is a legitimate copy of the rarest card in existence. My problem is not necessarily with Mastro, my problem is with PSA. If they can't tell that a card is trimmed, then what good are they at identifying counterfeits and such?
ReplyDeleteSpot on, dude. If PSA couldn't pass the tiffany test - how closely do you think they examine those manny mota cards I sent in? ?
DeleteI guarantee you PSA knew it was trimmed... they just decided to look the other way because of the amount of publicity it would give them. In terms of value I think this whole scandal enhances it. Besides, anyone with the ability to purchase it over the past several years has known it was trimmed. It's been one of the hobbies dirty little secrets.
ReplyDeleteDirty little secrets are definitely what makes the world go round.
DeleteVery true those folks knew they were buying questionable goods.
As my dad would say, "It's worth what somebody will pay for it." and given the long story behind this individual card and all of publicity that comes with it (I saw it on ESPN's bottom line the other day) I could definitely see somebody dropping $3 million on it. To them it's not about the card or the condition. They likely aren't even a card collector. They probably just want the attention/status that comes with it.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even thought about that angle. The higher the price goes, the less likely the person buying it actually will have a love for it. That makes me feel kinda sad about the card. It might only be owned as a status symbol.
DeleteIt reminds me of the expensive luxury seats at Dodger Stadium. The best and closest seats in the house are wasted on corporate yahoos who couldn't care less about the team - maybe don't even care about baseball. *sheesh*
P.S., Cameron, you're dad was wise.
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