Pujols Family Foundation

[suave1477]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

I personally take offense to that bcuz I feel Rob is a good guy have dealings with him in the past. Even if thst is the truth that Rob has a hook up SO WHAT!!! Thats the nature of the business and there is nothing wrong with it thats how people get there hands on items and the way america has been working for the past hundreds of years and if you have a peoblem call up congress and let them know your pissed off about how the country is run and post George W Bush's response to you here so we can all read it.

[astros*bats]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

I agree. It was made out to seem like Rob was a bad guy for buying up items from the Pujols foundation or having a connection inside the Pujols foundation. Even if he did buy EVERYTHING they had, what's so wrong with that. If anyone else would have had the opportunity they would have done it too. I don't see anything wrong with it, if that's what happened.

[BAT-DNA]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

I personally take offense to that bcuz I feel Rob is a good guy have dealings with him in the past. Even if thst is the truth that Rob has a hook up SO WHAT!!! Thats the nature of the business and there is nothing wrong with it thats how people get there hands on items and the way america has been working for the past hundreds of years and if you have a peoblem call up congress and let them know your pissed off about how the country is run and post George W Bush's response to you here so we can all read it.

Which "america" are you talking about, North America, South America, or the United States of America? Also to get a response from the President of the United States, George W Bush, you might want to "call up" the White House, not "congress". Just a side note, can you point out specific events dating back "hundreds of years" of how people "get there hands on items" through a "hook up".

[skipcareyisfat]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

Do I understand correctly that if Albert Pujols - or anyone else for that matter - offered you some game used stuff before he offered it to anyone else, you would turn it down because it wasn't fair to other collectors? As the immortal Jim Gosger once put it, Yeahhhhh Surrrreeee.

The fact of the matter is that the head of Pujols Family Foundation is a buddy with Rob Steinmetz and a few other big time Pujols collectors. I don't doubt they were tipped off when the avarage person would not have had a clue. Maybe they can release a date and time in the future when the stuff will go on sale and put limits on the amount of items you can buy the first day. I bet Rob snatched up a few items if he was tipped off.

[suave1477]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

BAT/DNA if you dont know history of where you live, ( I am assuming you live in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ) I am not going to explain it to you!!!

[worldchamps]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

I will share how I bought a hat, for anyone that cares. I saw on this site, I believe it was Chris Boyd, said he just got off the phone with Todd Perry and he said the prices had been lowered and he wsa going to be selling items in the next few weeks. I called Todd personally and spoke with him, he was a great guy. He told me the same thing, how Pujols wants his fans to be able to purchase items, he said the bats go for a lot so they were only going to do those in auctions for the foundation to try to raise money. He told me they would post more gloves and hats, but they were only about 5 of each left. He told me there were no waiting lists, bc there are so many people that want them. So I checked the site every morning when I come to work, I still check it everyday to see if anything else pops up. I bought one hat, and nothing else, not everyone is in the hobby to make money. As soon as I bought it, I logged on and posted on this site that items were available for sale. Went back to the site and everything was sold. I don't know if you can assume that one person bought everything or if 10 did. I don't know Rob, but if his business is selling sports memorabilia, then he would have been smart to buy them all. Unless a dealer is selling fake memorabilia than I don't see a reason to attack him. The more important thing to is all of this stuff was sold on a site where all the money goes to a good cause.

My recommendation is if you want something, check everyday. Pujols is going to be playing for a long time and there is no reason why his stuff will quit be solded on his site.

[sportscentury]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

Guys, I find myself always behind on the threads anymore. I am just reading this one. If Rob Steinmetz is now the bad guy, then the collecting hobby has officially become part of the bizarro world. Rob is one of the fairest, most honest guys out there and the first to offer a helping hand when someone needs it. I know it is frustrating when you hear of a good deal only to find that someone else has beaten you to it (believe me, I've been there, too) ... but that's just life sometimes.

[sportsgameused]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

Nobody said he was a bad guy for this...............just that it appears he may have been tipped off. The problem is/would be -- if there are no limits on what a single person can purchase in a non-bidding situation -- if in fact Rob was tipped oof and made multiple purchases at a low price. If the price is low and only he knows they are about to go up for sale -- he would be an idiot to not buy multiples. So where does it say he is a bad guy? Nowhere. Just that maybe people miss out in this situation in a way that could be changed to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people/collectors.

[sportsgameused]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

Does anyone disagree with that stance---if in fact Rob or some others were tipped off that the items were about to go up for sale from a charity.

[Eric]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

Does anyone disagree with that stance---if in fact Rob or some others were tipped off that the items were about to go up for sale from a charity.

You're asking what people's opinions are on something that you're guessing about?

Eric

[RobSteinmetz]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

After several days of trying not to dignify this thread with a reply, I am responding today for two reasons. First and foremost, to thank those who came to my defense with some very flattering posts. I appreciate your support. Secondly, to shed some light on my relationship with the PFF and to address these wild accusations about being "tipped off".

For those who don't know anything about me outside of this hobby, I have spent the last 10 years working in the nonprofit sector. In addition to working for 2 national organizations and 2 community-based organizations in marketing and development, I also taught on the subject at Columbia College in Chicago. Although my friendship with Todd Perry (Executive Director of the PFF) predates the formation of the PFF, my expertise in this field was utilized by the PFF prior to their incorporation. I spent many hours consulting with Todd on several issues related to the formation of the PFF, all free of charge. For those who have visited the PFF website, you may have even seen my name listed as a member of the Events Committee last year. I remain active as a volunteer for the PFF because of this expertise, not because of anything related to the hobby.

My friendship with Todd Perry supercedes the PFF, this hobby, and any piece of game used memorabilia. I would not, nor have I ever, asked him to compromise his position with the PFF for the purpose of acquiring an item for my collection or for resale. The fact is, I was "tipped off" by this forum when the game used batting gloves and caps were offered up for sale - not Todd Perry. I did purchase the last 6 pairs of batting gloves from Albert's MVP season of 2005, thanks to the original post by "worldchamps". It was just good timing, nothing more.

Regarding the accusation of my being "tipped off" about what items are being sold at PFF fundraising events, this simply is not the case. If you were to call Todd Perry directly, he would tell you that he typically does not know what game used material will be auctioned off until the day of the event. This was the case last year, when I donated several hundred dollars (and drove to St. Louis from Chicago) just for the priveledge of attending the golf outing and Christmas Gala. This was the same price paid by everyone else who attended - once again, no special treatment. For the record, I also purchased Albert's 2005 1B glove at the Gala last year, in a live auction witnessed by everyone in attendance. No tipping off, no special treatment, no freebies.

I don't know why these accusations have been posted in a public forum, as I have never been contacted by the individual who brought up my name. If anyone has any additional questions or would like clarification on any of the facts listed above, please feel free to email me directly at authenticgamers@aol.com. You can also call me anytime at 708.250.5220. I'm probably one of the most accessible and responsive dealers in the hobby, so you can count on a very prompt and thorough reply.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify these issues.

Best,

[hblakewolf]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

Rob-
No reason to defend yourself, as those of us who know you have only the highest respect for you.

What I once again find interesting on this site is the fact that "unnamed" posters are allowed to take cheap shots, all the while doing this with the shroud of mystery behind whom they actually are. I thought that Eric had a policy that posts had to be signed with an actual name, correct? If this is not a policy, then possibly it should be considered an enacted immediately. I for one simply don't have time to constantly respond to posts that I have no idea where they are being generated from or who the individual is behind the user name. Once people are accountable, I for one will be inclined to continue to post.

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@patmedia.net

[sportsgameused]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

Thanks for the reply. I never said that you were tipped off by Todd Perry. Keep that in mind. Just that I bet you were tipped off by someone.

That was a nice and honest response. I still think it is wrong that a dealer can come in and purchase that many items before others have a chance.

I think most people would agree that the PFF would be better off to limit what one person can but in one day in a non-auction setting. Not because I missed out..just because others missed out too. The prices seemed to be well below market value hence why a dealer can buy that many items and know there is still a profit to be made. If Pujols wants his fans to get a chance to buy the items, common sense would be to not let a dealer buy 5 sets of gloves that came with 15 autos (1 auto per glove plus an auto'd letter).

Did you know the glove was going up for sale at the Christmas Gala? That is one nice fielding glove you bought!

[sportsgameused]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

You're asking what people's opinions are on something that you're guessing about?

Eric

Not just the tipped off part--he already said he was tipped off by someone on this forum. I was curious to hear what others think about a dealer being able to purchase that many items within the first 17 minutes of a charity sale? Does anyone else agree that it seems to be a bad policy? Just like you could not be first in line for WS tickets and buy 500 of them.

[skipcareyisfat]

Re: Pujols Family Foundation

I still think it is wrong that a dealer can come in and purchase that many items before others have a chance.

I don't know how long you've been collecting g/u, but when I started you almost always had to buy directly from dealers. Most teams didn't sell individual items. And forget about players doing it. Where's the outcry over the Yankees/Steiner partnership? As crazy as their prices are, Steiner single-handedly opened the vault to some of the most sought-after stuff in sports. Without them you'd still be fighting three other guys over Henry Cotto's road jersey with a number change.

My name is Jason