All big-time baseball memorabilia collectors need to make sure they check out Hunt’s MLB Live Auction at DHL All-Star Fanfest, which will take place tomorrow at 10am PDT.

Widely recognized as one of the best auctions of the year, the sale will feature a Babe Ruth bat used in the 1923 World Series, as well as a 1955 Ted Williams game-worn jersey, killer single-signed Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig balls, the original line-up cards from the 1933 All-Star game and tons of other cool (and very valuable) relics.

Recently, I was checking out the Network 54 Vintage Card message board and there was a post about someone who purchased a graded card that had a copy (fake) in an SGC holder.
This got me thinking… how can collectors make sure the graded card they are buying is actually legit?

First off, even though a professionally graded card is almost always fine, I would advise everyone to still be very careful when buying one. It never hurts to be too careful, especially when hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars can be at stake.

In the past some crooks have been known to crack open a graded card case and reseal it with a counterfeit card or a lower-grade card. Remember, just because a card is not a counterfeit doesn’t mean a crook isn’t trying to deceive you.

For instance, there may be a 1954 Topps Hank Aaron for sale in a PSA 9 case. What you have to make sure is that the card inside is actually a 9 and not swapped with a lower grade; like an EX example. The difference could mean thousands…

Also, check the edges of the slab. Tampering may show up as a cloudy-white appearance, glue residue may be present, etc.
Make sure the label is legit. I have seen PSA labels counterfeited. With the help of computers crooks can be very good at deceiving collectors. Reprinting fake labels is one of many ways graded cards can be messed with.

Another way to spot a fake graded card is by double-checking a card’s serial number. This may help, but also remember that if the crook is using a fake label there is nothing to stop them using a legit serial number.

If I was going to potentially spend a lot of money on a card and was suspicious, I would probably contact the grading company to get its opinion on it. If they had second thoughts then I would be stay away.

American Joey Chestnut proved me wrong on the 4th of July, when he defeated his longtime nemesis, Takeru Kobayashi, in the 2007 Nathan’s Hotdog Eating Contest. You’ve gotta hand it to Kobayashi however. Anyone who can have a “reversal,” (as the announcers so delicately put it) and put it back in his mouth like nothing even happen gets my respect. For those of you who don’t know what a “reversal” is in hotdog eating competitions, I would ask you to CLICK HERE.

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Next week I am getting DirectTV hooked up at my house. As of right now I do not get the NFL Network and I am going through withdrawal. While I don’t think it’s right that the NFL is holding the cable networks hostage by forcing them to pay tons of money for this channel, I still am going to get the dish specifically for channel 212.
There is no way I can miss all those Thursday night games on the NFL Network.

Just to be clear, the only reason I decided to mention the Nathan’s Hotdog Eating Contest in today’s blog is because I have a feeling at some point in the near future you will see some competitive eating memorabilia for sale. How about a signed package of wieners from Takeru Kobayashi or maybe some brats used in the Johnsonville event by the Black Widow… You know it’s only a matter of time.
Anyway, I see that Mr. Kobayashi, the undefeated king of eating, is actually an underdog to the American Joey Chestnut… Oooo, the excitement. I know what I will be watching on my 4th of July holiday.

Check this out. There is actually betting being taken on this event! Crazy. You can win even money if you take the slight-dog Kobayashi. Supposedly he has some sort of jaw injury, otherwise he would be the favorite. I am calling it right here on Gavel Chat – Kobayashi will once again prevail in a Jordan-like performance, just like when he dominated in the NBA Finals with the flu!

Wow… I guess I really couldn’t come up with anything better for today’s blog… Sorry guys. I will have some better stuff Friday… By the way. I will be gone Wednesday and a Thursday. Have a great holiday.

First of all, I would like to welcome everyone who has visited my blog via deadspin.com. I really appreciate all the new readers. Please feel free to chime inn whenever you have anything interesting to share with the Gavel Chat nation.



Here’s a humorous eBay auction you guys need to check out… CLICK HERE
I guess it probably isn’t too humorous for the poor guy who is getting taken to the cleaners by his ex-girlfriend however.
This girl supposedly got a hold of all this dude’s card, including some nice PSA rookies and vintage baseball cards, from the looks of the scans.
For crumps sakes… these kids weren’t married. The girl isn’t really entitled to any of the guy’s property. Isn’t this called stealing??? Hmm.


Check out the list of all these Chris Benoit items currently for sale on the Bay… More than 1500 pieces are being sold and these people are obviously taking advantage of the disturbed wrestler’s death. This raises an important question. Should sellers not be selling Benoit items out of respect for his family, or do you guys say it doesn’t really matter.
Honestly, I am torn on this subject, but would love to hear your thoughts.

Gonna be a quick blog today, as I have been working on a number of stories and one breaking story, which I will be publishing tomorrow (trust me, you won't wanna miss this one).

Today I received the initial list of the items that will be featured in Mastro's live auction at The National. Some very nice pieces, including Mickey Mantle's 500th home run ball and a T206 Honus Wagner.
Here are some of the items:

 Mid 70s Pistol Pete Maravich Jazz game-used jersey
 1970 Topps Pete Maravich PSA 10
 1921-23 Babe Ruth game-used bat
 1907-08 Ty Cobb game-used bat
 Rookie era DiMaggio game-used bat
 "Momen" Clemente Rookie-era game-used bat
 1910 T215 Pirates Tobacco near set
 T206 Honus Wagner
 1950 Toleteros Josh Gibson
 1914 Boston Garter Joe Jackson
 1933 Nap Lajoie
 Mickey Mantle 500th home run ball
 1915 contract for Rupert's purchase of Yankees
 Casey Sengel's 1958 World Series ring
 Barry Bond #70 home run ball
 Christy Mathewson single-singed ball
 Early 80's Gretzky jersey
 1969 game-worn Hank Aaron jersey

The event will be held Aug. 3 at the House of Blues in Cleveland. I just booked my flight and will be reporting from the event. Can't wait to go to the convention center with the big ferris wheel in the middle of the building.

Seriously, you'll want to check out my blog tomorrow, as I will be interviewing a very interesting former Major League ball player tomorrow afternoon.

In the past couple months I have participated in quite a few auctions. I have bought things and sold things, and definitely have lost out on MANY things.

In the past couple weeks I have both won items and sold items, and in both cases, am left asking a couple questions.

Now, I am not going to name names, mainly because I feel that it is any business’ right to charge whatever it wishes, but I also have the right as a customer to stop doing business with anybody I choose. (It hasn't come to that yet, but it might some day soon)

For my first question, I will indirectly ask the auction house who charged me a $60 processing fee to sell my items, why they feel the need to charge me this fee?

I understand that there are many costs into producing an auction, but why wouldn’t the company just incorporate all fees in the sellers’ fee?

As if the 15 and 20 percent it took from the final sale price wasn’t bad enough, the company also charged me this extra chunk of change.

Not a big deal, but seemed kind of petty to me.

On the buyer side I also have a question to a different auction house. I bought a nice signed book about a month ago. If I were to ship an item like this it cost me about five bucks. I understand that the workers at the auction have to pick the item out of inventory and that costs money, but I was charged $15 for shipping and an additional $10 service charge. I just about dropped out of my chair.

Anyway, all this isn’t that big of a deal. In fact, all this didn’t stop me from bidding in Mastro’s sale that ended last night. I even was fortunate enough to win the pictured Babe Ruth Called Shot ticket stub.

Happy hunting folks. Have a great weekend!

The obvious answer is no. Sammy Sosa hit his 600th career home run last night and nobody seems to be talking about what it would sell for in auction. From what I understand, the ball actually made its way into the Rangers’ bullpen, so it may never end up being sold publicly. I just wonder if anybody would give this the hype that a ball of this historic magnitude would presumably deserve, or if it is just another piece of Sosa’s rather-sad history.

We may never find out. Maybe the better question is “Will he make the Hall of Fame?” Thoughts?

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Tonight Mastro, American Memorabilia and Premier Auctions are all closing.

Not to change the subject, but a Mastro representative called me today about its live event that is going to take place at The National in Cleveland August 3. According to the representative, Mastro will be offering some of the best material they ever have, including Mickey Mantle’s 500th home run ball. Talk about a museum piece!

I am currently trying to get a complete list of items that will be featured in its auction. Stay tuned.