Griffey Collector's Thread

[jpcz]

Steve,
Your conversation with this guy could go on and on forever! I would just wish him good luck and be done with it. I think we are all in agreement that this card is not real. He could have bought it from someone who put that COA sticker that matched that holo on the card (taken from another one). The problem is UD doesnt really get involved with these things, and they seem to refuse to go back into their database they "claim" they have to look it up...personally, i dont think they have the information anymore.

I would just forget it and move on. No need to keep going with him. Just my opinion though, i do get a kick out of the back and forth erspnses though!!

 

[brinn1]

John I agree with you- this is his last email ever here- He does involve the whole group in his disccussion so I think everyone deserves to read it.
I'm blocking him after this

Steve
I can see where a hologram could be switched, But how could somebody
get the card description to match in Upper Decks data base?
Wouldn't the description be of the card it was originally intended for?

The description given to me was a 1989 Ken Griffey Jr autograph card.

You know Upper Deck has released this type of hologram in the past, I have seen
more than one in your own photo bucket album. Certificates of authenticity that
look just like mine. You accept them but this one is a fake. Is it possible that you
simply wrote them off as fakes with out researching until you knew for sure?

To many things line up for the answer to be "FAKE CARD"

This card was released by Upper Deck in 1994, I just don't know what format.
When / if I find out I'll forward you the information.

I sent the scans of the Beckett because I believed that to be the card listing. - I think
I already covered that.

I could just as easily twist your words to form a random conclusions also, like

First you tell me nobody has ever see this card before. When I call you on it
your reply is that they have seen it but reguarded it as a fake . . like I should have done?

Even though your statement was clearly false, that's not enough to make you a liar. The reason
is I understood the intent of the statement. Just as you should understand the intent of the scans.
you believed your statement to be accurate because you have repeated several times and I believed
mine to be accurate.

I can provide proof that I bought this recently on E-bay and you ignore it. Is it because it dosn't fit the
"I am counterfitting them" theory ? or something like that seller was in on it with me?

In closing I will have to say it's time to look elsewhere, I need objective opinions that are focused
on solving the questions not argumentive statements that serve no positve function.

Happy collecting in 2010 - Brian

 

[Roy Birchler]

Steve,
UDA may have issue a 1989 rookie autoed in 1994, but I doubt it. The auto looks a lot like the fake buybacks that came out. Has anyone tried calling UD on this?

 

[brinn1]

Steve,
UDA may have issue a 1989 rookie autoed in 1994, but I doubt it. The auto looks a lot like the fake buybacks that came out. Has anyone tried calling UD on this?

Roy,
Many others have suggested calling UD. I guess I'm the expected caller. My problem is that I have had so many problems getting any answers out of Upper Deck over the last 2 years that I don't want to call them. I frankly don't even believe what they say. I don't think they keep good records and sometimes they are plain rude. My past experience has been horrible. I actually am in the minority perhaps in rejoicing that Topps gets exclusive MLB rights to cards in 2 days. I think UD has gone out of their way to be unhelpful to the collector and has been even worse when it comes to redemptions. I think MLB was just as upset with them and their high price entry level products and alienation of kids from collecting, their arrogance and their flooding the market with autos to the extent that if a card doesn't have an auto, its not even worth consideration at this point. Anyway, I have a history with UD.

I'd invite anyone else who would care to clear this up to call them, maybe someone with a better relationship with some of the UD people. I do think as a group of collectors, we should know for sure 100% whether there was a 1994 release or not and if so how many and how we can identify a card as part of that release- I, personally don't think there was but would like the issue cleared up and forgotten.
S

 

[Roy Birchler]

Steve,
I sent UD an email with the info. Will see if I hear back from them.

 

[flarick]

UPPER DECK’S “ELITE” DIAMOND CLUB

I WAS INTRIGUED WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT UD’S DIAMOND CLUB WHICH WAS CREATED FOR HIGH ROLLERS WHO BUY AND BUST A LOT OF WAX FROM BRICK AND MORTAR STORE OWNERS WHO ARE UPPER DECK DEALERS. I HAD HEARD THAT THEY GOT A NICE ‘GOODIE’ BOX WITH “UNIQUE” UD ITEMS WHEN THEY WERE SELECTED AS “DIAMOND CLUB” MEMBERS FOR THE YEAR. SEEMED LIKE AN EXCELLENT IDEA AND A NICE WAY TO REWARD COLLECTORS WHO ARE DEDICATED TO BUYING UD PRODUCTS.

THE FIRST 2009 ‘GOODIE’ I NOTICED ON EBAY WAS THE UPPER DECK KEN GRIFFEY, JR. 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPORTS MEMORABILIA PATCH CARD THAT WAS SIGNED BY CEO RICHARD P. MCWILLIAM AND PERSONALIZED WITH “OWNER” AND WAS HAND NUMBERED 1/1. I CONTACTED UD/FIT AND THEY ADVISED THAT THIS WAS THE “REAL DEAL”. I BOUGHT IT AND THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY COOL!

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ANOTHER GRIFFEY ‘GOODIE’ APPEARS ON EBAY – THIS ONE SIGNED BY MCWILLIAM AND HAND NUMBERED 1/1 BUT WITH NO “OWNER” INSCRIPTION. I’M THINKING ANOTHER VARIATION SO I BUY THIS ONE TOO! NOW I THINK I HAVE BOTH OF THE GRIFFEY UNIQUE ISSUES………TAKE THAT DIAMOND CLUB MEMBERS!!!

WELL IT LOOKS LIKE UPPER DECK’S CEO MR. MCWILLIAM IS A LESS THAN HONORABLE GENTLEMAN AS MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, UP POPS YET ANOTHER GRIFFEY CARD SIGNED BY MCWILLIAM, INSCRIBED “OWNER” AND HAND NUMBERED 1/1. I CONTACTED UD/FIT AND ASKED HOW COULD THIS BE???? IN TYPICAL FASHION WHICH WE ARE ALL USED TO, I’M STILL WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE. I BUY THIS CARD TOO FIGURING THERE MUST BE SOME EXPANATION.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE………STEVE BRINN PICKS UP YET THE THIRD UNIQUE GRIFFEY 1/1 SIGNED BY MCWILLIAM AND PERSONALLY INCRIBED “OWNER”. WOW, THREE, COUNT ‘EM THREE, 1 OF 1 UNIQUE CARDS. YEP, THAT’S RIGHT – THREE EXACT 1/1 ISSUES. DO YOU THINK THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE 1/3, 2/3 AND 3/3???

WELL I GUESS THAT BEING A DIAMOND CLUB MEMBER ISN’T SO SPECIAL AFTER ALL GIVEN THAT THE PURPORTED “UNIQUE” CARDS AREN’T SO “UNIQUE” AT ALL. I’VE ONLY ACCOUNTED FOR SEVEN (7) OF THESE GRIFFEY CARDS SO FAR, BUT I’M ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT AREN’T SO UNIQUE EITHER. I HAVE CARDS #1-#5 IN THE SCAN, STEVE HAS CARD #6 AND #7 SOLD ON EBAY A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT OTHERS HAVE FOUND AS A NICE ARTICLE IN SCD AND BECKETT APPEARS TO BE IN ORDER DISCUSSING UD’S QUALITY CONTROL AND INTEGRITY.


http://s610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... NScopy.jpg

 

[brinn1]

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE………STEVE BRINN PICKS UP YET THE THIRD UNIQUE GRIFFEY 1/1 SIGNED BY MCWILLIAM AND PERSONALLY INCRIBED “OWNER”. WOW, THREE, COUNT ‘EM THREE, 1 OF 1 UNIQUE CARDS. YEP, THAT’S RIGHT – THREE EXACT 1/1 ISSUES. DO YOU THINK THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE 1/3, 2/3 AND 3/3???

WELL I GUESS THAT BEING A DIAMOND CLUB MEMBER ISN’T SO SPECIAL AFTER ALL GIVEN THAT THE PURPORTED “UNIQUE” CARDS AREN’T SO “UNIQUE” AT ALL. I’VE ONLY ACCOUNTED FOR SEVEN (7) OF THESE GRIFFEY CARDS SO FAR, BUT I’M ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT AREN’T SO UNIQUE EITHER. I HAVE CARDS #1-#5 IN THE SCAN, STEVE HAS CARD #6 AND #7 SOLD ON EBAY A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO.

Rick,
Thanks so much for the enlightening message on the upper deck cards. I saw the 2nd one on ebay immediately after buying my first one and even kidded the seller about the 1/1 business. THIS IS TYPICAL SLEEZY UPPER DECK DOINGS. THEY DO IT CONSTANTLY. LOOK AT THE EIGHT 1/1 GRIFFEY / JETER DUAL AUTO CARDS (It would make too much sense when people chose the players they wanted on their redemption card, to cross off those names so they could not be picked over and over). I BOUGHT A 1/1 BAT BARREL CARD SOMETIME AGO AND THEN 2 WEEKS LATER I SEE THE SAME CARD ON EBAY WITH GRIFFEY LOOKING TO THE RIGHT INSTEAD OF TO THE LEFT. HOW MANY EXAMPLES CAN WE ALL COME UP WITH- HUNDREDS PROBABLY. ITS WHY I FEEL UD CARES NOTHING ABOUT THE HIGH END COLLECTOR WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEM AND USING THEM. GO TOPPS!
Steve B

 

[Roy Birchler]

Rick & Steve,
I agree with almost everything that you say about UD. Their customer service is beyond terrible. As far as the 1/1s, Topps does the same thing. UD and Topps both need to spend more money on product design, they are just pumping out more of the same year after year. You will find very few new cards in my collection, because the new releases do not excite me.
MLBs agreement with Topps is only going to make matters worse. Why will Topps try if they are the only game in town? Hopefully UD will become more inventive and customer service will improve so that they survive.

 

[brinn1]

Rick & Steve,
I agree with almost everything that you say about UD. Their customer service is beyond terrible. As far as the 1/1s, Topps does the same thing. UD and Topps both need to spend more money on product design, they are just pumping out more of the same year after year. You will find very few new cards in my collection, because the new releases do not excite me.
MLBs agreement with Topps is only going to make matters worse. Why will Topps try if they are the only game in town? Hopefully UD will become more inventive and customer service will improve so that they survive.

Roy
Well for sure Topps could screw up the deal even worse than UD (hard to believe tho). But I think its a chance to get back on the right footing. Topps has made alot of decisions about products in response to competing with Upper Deck. UD ALONE though is responsible for the onslaught of autographs since 1997 where they've gone from 5,000 in a year to where we are now. UD led the way and was the rabbit all the other dogs were chasing to compete in the market. Upper Deck raised the stakes. Topps more or less responded to UD's activities. Now Topps has a chance to take us backwards, to make collecting more fun again. I think the MLB contract will insist on it and Topps will be monitored By MLB over the next year to see if they fulfill their promises of making Baseball Card Collecting more fun and having more lower end fun products. Perhaps if Topps does not have to “keep up with the Jones” and can create their own path from scratch without worrying about UD, perhaps we will get back to more sanity. I predict they will upgrade their service dept and end up much more user friendly than UD has been. UD simply BLEW IT over the last 20 years. They were given the ball and could have run forever with it- they were in control. They consistently have shot themselves in the foot. Time will tell if Topps can change things, but I’d bet on Topps before I’d bet on Upper Deck. One thing I do know- MLB isn’t going to keep Topps exclusive if Topps can’t get the job done. I hope they can. While I wait to find out, I’ll be smiling when I see those UD “generic” cards, with the best players in baseball not shown in their team uniforms or with any logo connected to mlb. I can think of no one more deserving of this demotion than Upper Deck.
Steve B

 

[RandomH]

Saw this on The Bench. Thought you guys may be interested.
http://www.thebenchtrading.com/thebench ... p?t=310901

 

[Guest]

Happy new year guys. It'll be real interesting to see what comes out of the new exclusive agreement with Topps. Sounds like we're all pretty disappointed with the last few years in cards.

The inserts, parallels, and designs of the last 5 years or so have been terrible. It's almost gotten to the cookie-cutter stage, where they slap a gold, silver, and bronze parallel and call it good. And what was the last great insert set? I'm thinking about 2008-2009, and don't recall anything.

But there is hope. UD has revived the chase insert set in some of their hockey products and I hope topps does the same for baseball. Take a look at this one:
Upper Deck Clearly Canadian: http://cgi.ebay.com/M-A-Fleury-09-10-Up ... 0512133634


Soap-box time! these are some changes I'd like to see:

1. Stop milking the "Vintage" collector

Oh yes, because I'm 22, I remember all about those classic Topps designs of the 60's. Honestly, I don't give a sh*t about vintage anything. Pretty soon all those 60-70 year olds are gonna be dead. These sets a probably a cash cow for manufacturers, but they're not helping the future of the hobby

2. bring back Themed Sets

I would pay money for a 'draft-busts of the 90's' super tough insert set. You'd never outbid me on the Travis Lee. There should be a set that chronicles the development of each franchise. There should be sets that are more in-touch with pop-culture.

3. bring back Cool Inserts

I want my foil back!

4. Complete-able Sets

Can I get a master set that I might actually be able to complete? What a concept

5. Stop Print-Run Manipulation

Issuing 10 versions of a card numbered to 10 is effectively issuing a card #'d /100. We all know this

In the end, we need to vote with our money. That's the only way changes will get made. If we complain about things, but continue to buy them, then the manufacturers will just keep the gravy train on rolling.

 

[brinn1]

Oh yes, because I'm 22, I remember all about those classic Topps designs of the 60's. Honestly, I don't give a sh*t about vintage anything. Pretty soon all those 60-70 year olds are gonna be dead. These sets a probably a cash cow for manufacturers, but they're not helping the future of the hobby

I have to go on the record and say I take issue with this heartless statement and the prediction of my demise. I turned 60 on 12/28 and now I have to hear I'm almost dead- thanks alot

Steve B

 

[Russ S.]

Oh yes, because I'm 22, I remember all about those classic Topps designs of the 60's. Honestly, I don't give a sh*t about vintage anything. Pretty soon all those 60-70 year olds are gonna be dead. These sets a probably a cash cow for manufacturers, but they're not helping the future of the hobby

I have to go on the record and say I take issue with this heartless statement and the prediction of my demise. I turned 60 on 12/28 and now I have to hear I'm almost dead- thanks alot

Steve B

Any plans for your collect Steve??

 

[bojacksoncollector]

Can anyone tell me what card number(s) Griffey was in the 2007 Topps M&M set? Also, does anyone have any spare Griffey cards in that set (#/29 and/or #/150) or in the 2005 Studio Portraits (56-card) set they'd sell/trade to me? Thanks, MG

 

[Russ S.]

Can anyone tell me what card number(s) Griffey was in the 2007 Topps M&M set? Also, does anyone have any spare Griffey cards in that set (#/29 and/or #/150) or in the 2005 Studio Portraits (56-card) set they'd sell/trade to me? Thanks, MG

With a simple ebay search I was able to find the RBI card is #33 & the HR card is #45

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=griffe ... &_osacat=0

 

[Pinbreaker]

Traded for this card today with the person who pulled it a few weeks ago..

 

[pghbuccos]

:shock: :shock:

congrats on the awesome Griffey Kevin.

 

[jpcz]

Traded for this card today with the person who pulled it a few weeks ago..

I don't go nuts over sweet spots personally but that combination of black bat and gold ink is pretty sweet. Nice card!

 

[Pinbreaker]

Traded for this card today with the person who pulled it a few weeks ago..

I don't go nuts over sweet spots personally but that combination of black bat and gold ink is pretty sweet. Nice card!

Yes the gold ink does look good on Black Bats..

But I think the gold hue in he background makes the Griffey pop vs the Edgar..

 

[Be8el0ve]