Counterfeit or Real? 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Master Team Set

snakebit95 · Jul 26, 2013

I recently purchased a second 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Master Team Set card (or so I thought) and realized they are somewhat different when compared side-by-side. Both cards are serial numbered to 20, but one has gold foil and one has silver foil. In addition, the font style on the gold card is different than the silver card. Does anybody here have any history on these variations? I am wondering if one of them may be counterfeit, since the cards appear to be the same as the base set with exception to the foil stamping on the front. The gold foil card was received in an IKON Grading Services graded case if that makes any difference. Any feedback would be much appreciated!!

nerdherd020 · Jul 26, 2013

snakebit95 said:
I recently purchased a second 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Master Team Set card (or so I thought) and realized they are somewhat different when compared side-by-side. Both cards are serial numbered to 20, but one has gold foil and one has silver foil. In addition, the font style on the gold card is different than the silver card. Does anybody here have any history on these variations? I am wondering if one of them may be counterfeit, since the cards appear to be the same as the base set with exception to the foil stamping on the front. The gold foil card was received in an IKON Grading Services graded case if that makes any difference. Any feedback would be much appreciated!!

Scans?

cartersprings · Jul 26, 2013

The ones I've had had gold foil.

MartinFFcollector · Jul 26, 2013

1-10 Gold
11-20 Silver

http://www.freedomcardboard.com/forum/baseball/29713-2003-donruss-team-heroes-master-team-set.html

RStadlerASU22 · Jul 26, 2013

I now have 2 Will Clark's #1 /20. Same font , different size though. One is PSA graded one I bought in a lot and came from an IKON case. I am sending to PSA to see what it comes back as. I believe it to be a fake. IKON ones I think we're produced by them at home n slabbed

Ryan

Brewer Andy · Jul 26, 2013

How were the "Team Set" /15's distributed? Were all the Master Set cards just inserted in packs? I was collecting then but I don't think I ever bought any packs of Team Heroes aside from maybe a few retail

djrulz · Jul 26, 2013

Brewer Andy said:
How were the "Team Set" /15's distributed? Were all the Master Set cards just inserted in packs? I was collecting then but I don't think I ever bought any packs of Team Heroes aside from maybe a few retail

I believe the Master Set /20 were in packs as singles. The Master Team Set /15 were redemptions for the entire team set /15.

snakebit95 · Jul 26, 2013

Here are both cards scanned side by side. Notice the 11/20 has silver foil and the 01/20 has gold? Also the font is different.

Brewer Andy · Jul 26, 2013

djrulz said:
I believe the Master Set /20 were in packs as singles. The Master Team Set /15 were redemptions for the entire team set /15.

So some Mariners fans probably have the Cirillo /15 I need! Thanks, I'll hold out hope a set gets broken up some day

djrulz · Jul 26, 2013

Brewer Andy said:
So some Mariners fans probably have the Cirillo /15 I need! Thanks, I'll hold out hope a set gets broken up some day

I know some of the Master Team Sets of the Mariners have been broken up already. I have the Harold Reynolds and I think Sly has one too.

corockies · Jul 26, 2013

IKON grading company? [Archive] - Sports Card Forum - Sports Cards Community

Read this thread and you'll learn all you need to know about ikoncards. They've been doing this for years. All their stuff is aftermarket stamped.

Brewer Andy · Jul 26, 2013

djrulz said:
I know some of the Master Team Sets of the Mariners have been broken up already. I have the Harold Reynolds and I think Sly has one too.

Hmm either they were listed back when I didn't know there were 2 versions, or the sellers didn't bother to list Cirillos. Both are very plausable lol

Dilferules · Jul 26, 2013

Yeah that IKON graded Bonds is super fake. Donruss/Playoff never used serial number stamps with a font like that that I can remember.

snakebit95 · Jul 26, 2013

Thanks for the link regarding IKON. Not sure what to think with all of the thoughts thrown around in that thread. Some say legitimate cards were slabbed and some say cards were being stamped with hand stamps. My cards look to be machine stamped and fairly professional at that. Beckett does mention that there were silver and gold foil cards, but does not specify any serial number range for each foil type. They do confirm a print run of 20 cards for each player though.

corockies · Jul 26, 2013

snakebit95 said:
Thanks for the link regarding IKON. Not sure what to think with all of the thoughts thrown around in that thread. Some say legitimate cards were slabbed and some say cards were being stamped with hand stamps. My cards look to be machine stamped and fairly professional at that. Beckett does mention that there were silver and gold foil cards, but does not specify any serial number range for each foil type. They do confirm a print run of 20 cards for each player though.

The font for the numbers is totally different however which is why the card is very suspect. The seller has a less than stellar reputation and has for many years now so I'd say that the card you have slabbed is a base card stamped aftermarket by Ikon. I remember this seller having numerous cards like this back when this was a new set.

snakebit95 · Jul 26, 2013

Yeah, after I purchased the card, I looked at some the sellers past sales and it did make me wonder how one person might have so many serial numbered 01/01 cards that were slabbed in IKON slabs. He seems to have a few of the Donruss Heroes cards as well. I wish another collector could post scans of a silver card numbered 01/20. It might help confirm some things.

gradedeflator · Jul 26, 2013

Here is a scan of a team heroes STAT LINE Pedro Martinez, gold foil, FWIW

purchased from burbank a few years ago

the font looks more like your 11/20 silver foil to me

cartersprings · Jul 26, 2013

I just looked and the ones I had were Master Team Set /15 and had gold foil but font like the legit Bonds on the left.

MartinFFcollector · Jul 26, 2013

Your Bonds 1/20 is counterfeit. Here's a real (foreground) and fake (background) 1/20 Justice.

martinffcollector-albums-random-picture19742-2003-donruss-team-heroes-master-set-comparison.jpg

https://www.google.com/search?q=2003+DONRUSS+TEAM+HEROES+MASTER+SET&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=BvfyUZDkI--0igKmiYCgCw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1017&bih=669#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=_maiYI5JMyjgZM%3A%3BtjVtij0nfPmbYM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.justice1of1.com%252F1%252F2003-donruss-team-heroes-master-set-comparison.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.justice1of1.com%252F1%252F2003-donruss-team-heroes-master-set-counterfeit-01.html%3B389%3B332

snakebit95 · Jul 27, 2013

That is pretty definitive in that photo. Thanks!!

Welcome to our community

Be apart of something great, join today!

Counterfeit or Real? 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Master Team Set

New member

Member

Active member

New member

Active member

Active member

Active member

New member

Active member

Active member

New member

Active member

Well-known member

New member

New member

New member

Active member

Active member

New member

New member

Similar threads

Log in