Another blow to the "game-used" card niche

[George_Calfas]

It is going to take proof over the word of a crook that the card companies "knowingly" acted.

 

[Gwynn545]

I know all my Gwynn game-used pieces are real...you can't fake ketchup stains, potato chip grease and maple doughnut frosting! You can make a A LOT of jersey cards from one Gwynn jersey, and I think they are still cutting up his jersey from 1997 UD!

 

[Austin]

I don't think I really care that much. I buy the cards because I like the way they look, not because of the actual "game used" idea of the memorabilia.

That mindset is fine if you're spending only a few bucks on a game used jersey card, or a little more on a low numbered patch card.
But when people are spending hundreds on supposedly authentic Ruth, Cobb, Mantle or other rare legends, it's a huge deal.
Not to mention, it's fraud.

 

[budvandall]

I know all my Gwynn game-used pieces are real...you can't fake ketchup stains, potato chip grease and maple doughnut frosting! You can make a A LOT of jersey cards from one Gwynn jersey, and I think they are still cutting up his jersey from 1997 UD!

lmao!

 

[matchpenalty]

The game used card scam has been golden to card companies for many years now. Card collectors have no clue about the game used industry. Just how rare and hard to prove many older jerseys are legit. Card companies can buy any old jersey with Lou Lampson COA (probably worst authenticator in history of business, was used by many auction houses for awhile and even authenticated a green Ripken jersey as gamer. Problem was Orioles never wore the jersey style ever) and the beauty is they get to cut it up to many small pieces. To make it IMPOSSIBLE to ever prove it's game use. Then sucker card collector buys cards having no clue or could ever prove use of piece of jersey. Then only one's that can really be proven legit are MeiGray tags and MLB hologram ones.

 

[mrniceguy1126]

Class action lawsuit coming to the card companies. And then they will settle were everyone gets a GU card of Angel Pagan in the settlement.

An Angel for ALL! I can see the headlines now. :lol:

 

[sportscardtheory]

When someone throws down $500 to $7,000 for one of those Logoman patches and the like, I don't think they are spending that much on them because they look cool.

 

[matchpenalty]

When someone throws down $500 to $7,000 for one of those Logoman patches and the like, I don't think they are spending that much on them because they look cool.

I thought people here rave about how card design is on them and 1/1 stamp. I think the majority of card collectors want the card. If they really wanted a game used jersey. I would think they know they could win a authenticated one from MLB.com auctions. For less and know where it came from and know it's real no questions asked. If you took the logo out of the card. Card collectors I'm sure would have no interest in just buying some random logo jersey piece worn in a game by who knows who. That could never be proven real. While the card missing the logo and still a 1/1 stamped in it. Would fetch decent bucks to a card collector.

 

[goldenegg1]

When someone throws down $500 to $7,000 for one of those Logoman patches and the like, I don't think they are spending that much on them because they look cool.

Exactly!
If people want to buy some cards because of the looks of the game used piece, I can fire up the printer, buy a cheap jersey from overseas and make a ton of money. Bottom line is the card companies need to be held accountable here. I think it would be great for the Feds to take down the people who bought the fake jerseys to resell as game used items.

 

[jrinne]

If I'm spending 7g its for the whole Jersey.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Sports Cards by Freedom Card Board.com

 

[morgoth]

For huge cards like Logomen and Bat Knobs there should be much more transparency on where Topps got their items for sure. I don't think people care about silly A&G jersey cards its the big name stuff that people get mad about.

Also I truly do believe if enough people just sent an email to MLB about this they would listen as Topps is representing them and the term "FRAUD" and "MLB" used together would make them very unhappy.

 

[Mahoody]

For huge cards like Logomen and Bat Knobs there should be much more transparency on where Topps got their items for sure. I don't think people care about silly A&G jersey cards its the big name stuff that people get mad about.

Also I truly do believe if enough people just sent an email to MLB about this they would listen as Topps is representing them and the term "FRAUD" and "MLB" used together would make them very unhappy.

Why would MLB or Bud Selig give a ratz azz about any of this???
Attendance is up, TV & Radio revenue is up & merchandise sales are up
Why would they care about fraudulent game used baseball cards that represent a small fraction of income ??

 

[morgoth]

Why would MLB or Bud Selig give a ratz azz about any of this???
Attendance is up, TV & Radio revenue is up & merchandise sales are up
Why would they care about fraudulent game used baseball cards that represent a small fraction of income ??

You should take a class on public relations and business.

 

[jrinne]

You should take a class on public relations and business.

He's right, the average Joe which is about 98% of the general public could care less about this. Nothing major will be done.

 

[MansGame]

He's right, the average Joe which is about 98% of the general public could care less about this. Nothing major will be done.

You guys should join the convo and thread regarding the Topps exclusive license. People there claim there are full time staff of the MLB who continually monitor sportscards, how the market is, is the product solid, etc.

 

[jrinne]

You guys should join the convo and thread regarding the Topps exclusive license. People there claim there are full time staff of the MLB who continually monitor sportscards, how the market is, is the product solid, etc.

The key words "people there claim". im sure they have people who monitor this but if it was an issue something would have been done years ago.

 

[DaClyde]

What I'm hoping will come out of this is a complete crash in the value of all GU cards, so I can finally make some serious headway on my Winfield collection! Sadly, I know demand will prevent that, but I'd gladly scoop up a ton of Winfield GU cards at $1 each if I could find them.

 

[21ccl]

Well this sucks....

 

[zach]

Was anyone REALLY 110% confident that these "game used" pieces were real?

I like the novelty of them but was always hesitant to think they were what the companies claimed they were.

 

[Leaf]

The bottom line is that this is fraud. The card companies are "knowingly" selling fake items. There have been many stories over the past year about the feds putting people way for the same thing. I would like to see one of two things happen. The card companies have to purchase game used items directly from MLB In the case of retired players, they have to use an MLB authorized authenticator. The second is the feds make them to stop using any "game used" items. I think the whole game used thing is getting old anyway.

I was quoted in the NY papers this weekend as saying....

"I believe these companies had BAD JUDGEMENT, not BAD INTENTIONS"...
The only bad intentions here are their unwillingness to say anything to their customers....
BG

p.s.- LEAF is pleased to report we never purchased a single GU item form any of the recently identified fraudsters...