In 1981, a scam artist sold fake 1963 Topps Pete Rose rookie cards at the Philly Show. Three years later, 10,000 fake Rose cards were confiscated in California. They were among the first widely reported instances in which the growing values of baseball cards led to outright efforts to use fakes as a way of making a handsome profit. In some ways, the fake Rose cards marked … [Read more...] about Identifying Fake Cards as Counterfeiters, Scammers Gain Better Technology
altered cards
Tom Brady Rookie Card Appears Altered; $54,000 Sale Voided
A sale of an expensive modern football card has been voided and a buyer may have avoided an expensive mistake. Using a tip from a source that wasn't identified, a collector posted video Sunday of a 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady rookie autograph card that appeared to show the card had been altered. The card had originally been graded 6 by PSA but appears to … [Read more...] about Tom Brady Rookie Card Appears Altered; $54,000 Sale Voided
More People, More Tech, More Space: Nat Turner Outlines Plans for PSA
Spending time at his parents’ house in North Carolina last year as COVID-19 put the clamps on normalcy, Nat Turner was pondering his next move. The co-founder and CEO of Flatiron Health kept coming back to the hobby that occupied his newly expanded down time. “I was kind of thinking about what’s next and thought ‘how cool would it be to do something with cards?’” A few … [Read more...] about More People, More Tech, More Space: Nat Turner Outlines Plans for PSA
PSA Parent Company Moves to Dismiss Lawsuit
Collectors Universe, the parent company of PSA, has filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit brought by a Southern California collector earlier this year over altered cards. Eric Savoy had originally filed his suit in state court in February but CU moved it to U.S. District Court. Savoy had also named two major online dealers, alleging a conspiracy existed … [Read more...] about PSA Parent Company Moves to Dismiss Lawsuit
Class Action Suit Filed Over Altered Cards
A Southern California collector has filed a class action lawsuit over the ongoing allegations of altered sports and non-sports cards. Eric Savoy of El Cajon, CA filed the civil case in Orange County Superior Court this week, naming PSA and two major card dealers, PWCC Marketplace and Rick Probstein as defendants. A group of unnamed defendants is also listed in the … [Read more...] about Class Action Suit Filed Over Altered Cards
Editor’s Blog: More Altered Cards Outed But No Legal Action Yet
No legal action been filed yet in connection with the ongoing revelations of altered trading cards uncovered by members of the Blowout Cards forum since last spring, but the work to identify them continues. More cards alleged to have been purchased, altered and re-graded for profit are being revealed on almost a daily basis. Members have recently highlighted … [Read more...] about Editor’s Blog: More Altered Cards Outed But No Legal Action Yet
Finds and Revelations: 2019 Sports Collecting Year in Review (Part I)
There were phenomenal finds and disturbing discoveries. Record revenue and sensational selling prices. No matter the month, there was something collectors were talking about this year. In the first of a two-part series, we look back at the last year in the hobby with some happenings from the first half of 2019. The year began in strange fashion with the viral … [Read more...] about Finds and Revelations: 2019 Sports Collecting Year in Review (Part I)
Revenue, Submissions, Backlog Still Growing at PSA
Collectors Universe, the parent company of PSA and PSA/DNA, reported record revenues for fiscal year 2019 on Wednesday. The company took in $72.5 million in fiscal 2019, which ended June 30. That figure includes a record $5.4 million, or 25% increase in trading card and autograph authentication revenues. Revenue from trading card and autograph submissions in … [Read more...] about Revenue, Submissions, Backlog Still Growing at PSA
Altered Cards Update: Pre-War HOFers Impacted
Some more notes on recent developments and a few observations surrounding the revelation of altered cards.... *A group of pre-War cards with evidence of "cleaning" and perhaps other alterations has emerged through the research of collectors who've been looking into the issue for the last several months. Among them: a 1921 Exhibit Babe Ruth (the first Exhibit card … [Read more...] about Altered Cards Update: Pre-War HOFers Impacted
Card Alteration Probe Hits USA Today
The hobby's card doctoring problem was on the front page of the USA Today sports section Tuesday afternoon. The paper published a story outlining the ongoing issues over trimming and other trading card alterations that have ignited a federal investigation. Writer A.J. Perez confirmed Sports Collectors Daily's earlier report that FBI agents handed out subpoenas at … [Read more...] about Card Alteration Probe Hits USA Today