Three sports memorabilia dealers pleaded guilty Monday in Federal Court to separate but related fraud schemes involving counterfeit game worn jerseys. Bernard Gernay, 37, a resident of Howell, N.J., involved in the business operations of Pro Sports Investments, Inc., a New Jersey business; Bradley Horne, 39, a Sunset, S.C. resident, involved in the business operations of … [Read more...]
FBI Agent: Large Numbers of Jerseys or Jersey Pieces in Evidence
The FBI says none of the six sports memorabilia dealers charged with fraud on Tuesday are facing conspiracy charges, but the accumulated total of jerseys and pieces of jerseys taken into evidence during its investigation in those cases runs into the thousands. The Bureau announced Tuesday that Eric Inselberg of New Jersey (Taylor Huff Inc. and Pasadena Trading Corp.) and … [Read more...]
FBI: Six Memorabilia Dealers Charged With Fraud Involving “Hundreds of Thousands” of Dollars
Federal prosecutors have charged six men with selling, consigning or auctioning jerseys to individuals--and card companies-- purported to have been worn by pro and college athletes that were never actually donned in competition. It's the second time in less than four months, fraud charges have been filed against dealers accused of selling bogus jerseys. Four defendants were … [Read more...]
Stan the Man Makes Dad’s Day
The stories of his warmth and generosity are numbered in the thousands. Virtually every person who has ever met...or even been in close proximity to Stan Musial, has something good to say about the experience. Demands for his autograph are such, though, that he does a thriving business making them available to collectors and fans via mail order. Eight years ago, in … [Read more...]
An NFL Team and its Fan Mail
Fans have been writing to players for decades. They send gifts, offer unsolicited advice and of course, ask for autographs. Like most teams, the Baltimore Ravens try to treat players' correspondence from fans with respect. Just about every piece of mail is delivered and opened by someone. It's a monumental job for those given the task of sorting it all out. Players … [Read more...]
Bobby Thomson Remembered
Bobby Thomson passed away last week at the age of 86. While collectors under age 65 aren't likely to remember his playing days, those who know their baseball history know a lot about one of baseball's most famous names. Those who met him or got an autograph through the mail or in person remembered a pleasant man with an easy smile. "My uncle had a box in one of his rooms … [Read more...]
Ex-Postal Employee Sentenced for Mail Theft
A former postal employee from Elizabethtown, Kentucky has been sentenced to a year in jail for stealing items out of packages and obtaining controlled substances by fraud. Joseph Bourg, 45, was sentenced by a federal judge this week in Louisville. The federal indictment alleged that between 2008 through August of 2009, while he was a postal employee, Bourg rifled … [Read more...]
Delayed Response: Autograph Request 15 Years Late
A kid from New York spent part of his youth sending letters to ballplayers asking them to sign his baseball cards. He's now 27...and just gone one back in the mail. … [Read more...]
Using Social Media to Build Your Hobby Business
Building your business, finding collections or locating new revenue sources ain't what it used to be. … [Read more...]
Letters to Stan the Man: Secretary Kept Fans Happy
Pat Anthony helps Stan Musial with his fan mail...just as she's done for over 45 years. … [Read more...]