What does it take for you to believe a story?

**beantown** · 10-30-2007, 05:53 PM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

I agree there are a lot of stories and who knows if this one involving "Big Papi" is true....however, if your going to spend $5k on a "Big Papi" jersey, just purchase one through Steiner...no questions on authenticity there....

**JETEFAN** · 10-30-2007, 05:58 PM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

Originally posted by beantown

I agree there are a lot of stories and who knows if this one involving "Big Papi" is true....however, if your going to spend $5k on a "Big Papi" jersey, just purchase one through Steiner...no questions on authenticity there....

I have to disagree with you on this one, even some of Steiners stuff in the past have been questionable !!!!!!!

**beantown** · 10-30-2007, 06:01 PM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

Originally posted by JETEFAN

I have to disagree with you on this one, even some of Steiners stuff in the past have been questionable !!!!!!!

Really? I didn't know that...I thought if I were to go to this link...

http://redsox.auction.mlb.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=87759370&prmenbr=33338039&aunbr=88106080

and purchase the jersey w/ the Steiner contract w/ the Red Sox, that I would have a 100% game used "Big Papi" jersey...can you tell me specifically the issues w/ Steiner?

**Vintagedeputy** · 10-30-2007, 07:27 PM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

I cant speak for Red Sox items but I have seen at least one Steiner certified "Posada game used bat" that was most assuredly not used in a game by Posada.

**bigtruck260** · 10-30-2007, 08:51 PM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

I don't believe 99% of dealers (even the good ones)...sorry. Stories are just that. There are instances where a dealer or card store owner has told me a line of obvious BS about an item, and I go by my own purchasing guidelines. A bad story does not always mean the item isn't legit (though it usally does unfortunately).

I bought an "early Wille McGee bat" recently on eBay that is a 50/50 shot of being authentic. I got a good deal, so I took a chance. I asked the seller about it, and he told me that he got it in trade from a Cards bat boy. The auction listing said NOTHING about this. I told our resident Birdbats expert...and we had a good chuckle. Sometimes the stories are hilarious.

But, a few times, they are just what the doctor ordered. I have some items in my collection that came from my Grandfather that make the items priceless. They are Indians pieces, and the only non-Cardinals items I own.

Dave

**Vintagedeputy** · 10-30-2007, 09:47 PM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

You have to take some stories and really think, kind of like detective work. I've purchased obscure things that are area specific and found that the seller lives in that area. Not necessarily like the Pujols bat that Pujols allegedly gave to someone at his house, but each story is different.

**Vintagedeputy** · 10-30-2007, 09:52 PM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

Here's an example of what I mean - I live in Richmond, Va. Former Phillies Whiz Kid Granny Hamner lived in Richmond.

I went to an estate sale held by the family of a guy that used to own his own construction company.

At the sale, they had a construction contract signed by Hamner and his wife from 1958 along with all of the cancelled checks that the contractor paid the sub-contractors, and a 1959 Topps card of Hamner. The land that the house was built on was a parcel in a then new subdivision a few miles away. More than likely, Hamner gave the guy a card when the house was finished in '59.

Something like that you can believe that the auto is real. You have to be the judge.

Jim

**Nathan** · 10-30-2007, 11:54 PM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

I love absurd stories. One guy tried to sell me a signed bat from a Hall of Famer came from an encounter at an airport when he was picking up a relative. I looked at him and said "You chased an old man around an airport with a baseball bat and no one thought anything of it?"

It's just as well, as I don't do autographs for the most part and I don't do signed bats without there being a good reason.

**gameused** · 10-31-2007, 01:07 AM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

Originally posted by kingjammy24

lots of pieces in this hobby come with colorful stories of their source. i'm curious what the litmus test is for people to take a story seriously. do you guys only believe a story if there's tangible proof backing it up? do you believe a story if you know the person? do you believe any story?

i ran into this description pertaining to a david ortiz game-used jersey currently for sale on the GFC website:

"This jersey was worn by Big Papi on 10/21/07 when the Red Sox won the American League Pennant. On the left front tail is the â€œMajesticâ€ manufacturers tag. Below is a strip tag with â€œ34 54 07.â€ There is an autograph on back done in black marker with inscription â€œB.P. Game Use!â€ The B.P. stands for Big Papi. The signature rates an 8. Accompanied by a MEARS LOA grading an A10 and backed by our JSA guarantee. Ortiz took this jersey off after the game and gave it to his friend seated in the stands at Fenway. We obtained this jersey from him who has written a LOA stating this."

http://www.greyflannel.com/sales_mai...?updateID=2923

i don't know if it comes with any evidence supporting this person's relationship to ortiz or the exchange of the jersey, beyond the person simply saying it happened. it's a nice story. maybe it's true, maybe it isn't. how would you know though? i can write an LOA stating anything. i really hope MEARS' A10 isn't solely based on this single story.

thoughts?

rudy.

I can tell you for a fact that this statment is false "Ortiz took this jersey off after the game and gave it to his friend seated in the stands at Fenway."

David Ortiz started the celebration early by taking off his jersey and wearing goggles as the Red Sox took a big lead in the eighth inning.

Attached Files

**skipcareyisfat** · 10-31-2007, 08:35 AM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

Great background stories and really nice looking COAs have a lot in common. Many are worthless and none make an item good or bad. I tend not to put a lot of faith in whatever story I'm being told unless I know and trust the person I'm buying from. That's not to say that I think the seller's lying. A good story, however, too often leads to the buyer looking at the item with one eye shut.

Two quick examples from personal experience:

On the old message board, I posted about the time I bought a Phillies helmet signed by and supposedly used by Pete Rose in 1981. The seller, David Drozen, told me about how he bought it from an old lady. When he took it to Rose to get signed, he said Rose told him that he wore it one Saturday night in 1981. None of this turned out to be true. See here for the full story:

Tapatalk - Connecting Communities

http://www.network54.com/Forum/379976/thread/1111818045/

Tapatalk brings you to people who share your own passions and interests. Millions of members are online now, sharing their expert opinions with others who can truly appreciate them. Tapatalk is different from traditional social media--the people you meet will be as excited by your hobby as you are.

When I bought Ivan Calderone's 1991 Expos helmet, the seller told me that he got it and a bunch of other equipment directly from Marquis Grissom after a game at Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium in the middle of the '91 season. I liked the helmet but I didn't buy the story--until I photo-matched the helmet to a '91 shot of Calderone taken at Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium.

**cards-bats** · 10-31-2007, 09:14 AM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

I've found out that two of the stories I was told by Grey Flannel were totally bogus. I've also found out that they DO NOT stand behind their LOA when it you point out that their stories are bogus.

**hblakewolf** · 10-31-2007, 09:38 AM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

Originally posted by cards-bats

I've found out that two of the stories I was told by Grey Flannel were totally bogus. I've also found out that they DO NOT stand behind their LOA when it you point out that their stories are bogus.

Cards Bats-

Extremely interesting. Can you elaborate on your situation and how it was or was not taken care of by the folks at GFC? Was a refund in order?

Thanks.
Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@patmedia.net

**bigtruck260** · 10-31-2007, 09:53 AM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

Originally posted by hblakewolf

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Cards Bats-

Extremely interesting. Can you elaborate on your situation and how it was or was not taken care of by the folks at GFC? Was a refund in order?

Thanks.
Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@patmedia.net

Second that CB. I have several items from Grey Flannel...

Thn

**kingjammy24** · 10-31-2007, 06:12 PM

Re: What does it take for you to believe a story?

Originally posted by gameused

I can tell you for a fact that this statment is false "Ortiz took this jersey off after the game and gave it to his friend seated in the stands at Fenway."

David Ortiz started the celebration early by taking off his jersey and wearing goggles as the Red Sox took a big lead in the eighth inning.

this game just happened. does anyone have any footage showing ortiz taking his jersey off and/or from the time he took it off to the time he went back to the dugout? it'd be great to visually track ortiz's jersey during that game.

without any corroborating evidence, the story is rubbish and not even worthy of taking into consideration.

rudy.

What does it take for you to believe a story?

What does it take for you to believe a story?

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