Dear GameUsedUniverse Collectors,
I believe that a particular batboy may be falsely listing items. While I don't know this with 100% certainty, it merits enough attention for you guys to really scrutinize this one. I do see that there have been a few threads about eBay seller, manica71, but not enough true debunking has been done.
Two days ago, he called me up asking if I wanted to buy a Jeff Bagwell TBTC batting helmet. He also said that I could make a trade with him. I suggested that I would throw in my Hunter Pence bat, if I indeed thought his helmet to be legitimate. From our conversation, it sounded as if he only vaguely knew who Pence was, yet seemed thrilled at the prospect of acquiring a bat from a player he hardly even knew of. Red flag number one. After talking with Chris Boyd of Houston Sports Investments, he said that I should definitely stay away, because a similar helmet could be found at Walmart. Plus, no commons have turned up for these TBTC hats, and why have only stars turned up?
So today I go on eBay, as I always do, and I find that he has listed both of these Jeff Bagwell items:
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/JEFF-BAGWELL-GAM...QQcmdZViewItem.
I went on GettyImages and tried to find a photomatch, and there were no 1999 TBTC pictures period, much less any of Bagwell wearing a similar helmet. Red flag number two. When he did offer me the Bagwell 1990s alternate hat, he gave me a price tag of $100. That is just ridiculous. Hartel Sports offered me a Bagwell hat for over twice the price, and I would imagine they would command even more than that. Red flag number three. Why would someone sell an authentic Jeff Bagwell hat at a starting bid of $0.99, if it is indeed real? Red flag number four.
Notice manica71's other auctions: there are no common players. Only the best of the best. I am really wondering why he's selling a Ken Griffey, Jr. game-used bat if he was a National League batboy. Red flag number five. I don't want to sit here and make baseless accusations, but I have stated enough concerns that I think anyone would be suspicious. Could all of you experts please take a look at the Bagwell stuff in question and try and mount a convincing case about this seller one way or another? I think people like me who aren't the most educated about game-used stuff really deserve a good education on this piece. And please feel free to defend the seller if I am indeed wrong. Talking with him on the phone, he didn't seem like a jerk or anything.
Look forward to hearing from fellow collectors.
Sincerely,
Leslie
I believe that a particular batboy may be falsely listing items. While I don't know this with 100% certainty, it merits enough attention for you guys to really scrutinize this one. I do see that there have been a few threads about eBay seller, manica71, but not enough true debunking has been done.
Two days ago, he called me up asking if I wanted to buy a Jeff Bagwell TBTC batting helmet. He also said that I could make a trade with him. I suggested that I would throw in my Hunter Pence bat, if I indeed thought his helmet to be legitimate. From our conversation, it sounded as if he only vaguely knew who Pence was, yet seemed thrilled at the prospect of acquiring a bat from a player he hardly even knew of. Red flag number one. After talking with Chris Boyd of Houston Sports Investments, he said that I should definitely stay away, because a similar helmet could be found at Walmart. Plus, no commons have turned up for these TBTC hats, and why have only stars turned up?
So today I go on eBay, as I always do, and I find that he has listed both of these Jeff Bagwell items:
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/JEFF-BAGWELL-GAM...QQcmdZViewItem.
I went on GettyImages and tried to find a photomatch, and there were no 1999 TBTC pictures period, much less any of Bagwell wearing a similar helmet. Red flag number two. When he did offer me the Bagwell 1990s alternate hat, he gave me a price tag of $100. That is just ridiculous. Hartel Sports offered me a Bagwell hat for over twice the price, and I would imagine they would command even more than that. Red flag number three. Why would someone sell an authentic Jeff Bagwell hat at a starting bid of $0.99, if it is indeed real? Red flag number four.
Notice manica71's other auctions: there are no common players. Only the best of the best. I am really wondering why he's selling a Ken Griffey, Jr. game-used bat if he was a National League batboy. Red flag number five. I don't want to sit here and make baseless accusations, but I have stated enough concerns that I think anyone would be suspicious. Could all of you experts please take a look at the Bagwell stuff in question and try and mount a convincing case about this seller one way or another? I think people like me who aren't the most educated about game-used stuff really deserve a good education on this piece. And please feel free to defend the seller if I am indeed wrong. Talking with him on the phone, he didn't seem like a jerk or anything.
Look forward to hearing from fellow collectors.
Sincerely,
Leslie
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