Seven 1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb cards found in deceased grandpa's home in a paper bag.

[regularp]

Great story.

Million Dollar Find in a Paper Bag (http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/million-dollar-find-in-a-paper-bag/)

http://d8bixwancjkpp.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Ty-Cobb-Tobacco-cards.png

http://d8bixwancjkpp.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/T206-Cobb-back.png

http://d8bixwancjkpp.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Ty-Cobb-Tobacco-Back.png

The population of one of the rarest baseball cards in the world has grown by seven after an amazing discovery in the rural South. Only about 15 of the rare 1909-1911 T206 Ty Cobb variation, distributed only in tins of the short-lived Ty Cobb Tobacco product, were known to exist until a family began going through the belongings of a family’s deceased great-grandfather. While not immediately certain of the scarcity of what they’d found, it became apparent last month that they’d stumbled upon a small fortune inside the dilapidated home.

It’s one of those stories that makes collectors swoon.

T206 Cobb Cards Had a Humble Home

According to PSA President Joe Orlando, the cards were sitting inside a crumpled paper bag that contained other items, including some old postcards. The family almost tossed the bag away but decided to flip through the contents when the cards, turned face down, caught their eye. Having seen a TV report on the Black Swamp Find, they contacted South Carolina vintage card dealer Rick Snyder of Mint State, Inc.

“My initial reaction was absolute skepticism. I doubted they were authentic because finding seven of these cards at one place at one time seemed almost impossible,” Snyder recalled.

The Cobb rarity can easily be differentiated from all other T206 cards by the back, which reads “TY COBB – KING OF THE SMOKING TOBACCO WORLD” in green ink.

After about a week of phone calls with the family and examining emailed photos of the cards, Snyder finally saw them in a person and was convinced they were authentic.

“I told the family, ‘I’m going to help change your life.’ This is a historic find. It is something every single individual whoever unearthed anything in their family’s basement or garage has dreamed about: finding something important and valuable,” Snyder said.

Arrangements were made to have the seven cards shipped to PSA for authentication and grading.

The Real Deal

Orlando also was skeptical when he first learned about the cards’ discovery, and remained so until the shipment arrived at PSA’s southern California headquarters and he saw them with his own eyes.

“Our senior staff examined the cards. Due to the magnitude of the find I even had an outside expert come to our offices to examine the cards as well. They all shared the same assessment. No matter how improbable, each of the seven cards was undoubtedly authentic,” said Orlando.

“This is one of the greatest discoveries in the history of our hobby involving one of the greatest rarities in baseball cards from arguably the most popular baseball card set ever produced.”

Small creases and other light wear meant the technical grades were relatively low, but one was labeled a 4.5 (VG-EX+) and another a 3.5, making them the highest graded examples in existence. Four others were graded 2.5 and another was assigned a grade of 1.5.

T206 Cobb with Cobb Back Values

The combined value of the seven cards, should they be sold at auction, is likely well over $1 million.

In April of 2015, Robert Edward Auctions sold a Cobb with Cobb back graded SGC 30 for $132,000. They had sold a PSA 1 for $154,050 the year before. Goldin Auctions sold one in July of 2013 for $120,1098. With the values of rare vintage baseball cards continuing to rise, it’s likely the newly discovered examples will set new records.

“There have been some spectacular finds over the years, such as the 1952 Topps baseball card find of 1986 and ‘The Black Swamp Find’ of 1910 E98 cards found in 2012. As incredible as those were, and both were certainly larger in terms of sheer size, I am not sure if any other baseball card find is more remarkable than this new discovery,” stated Orlando.

The find is somewhat similar to a group discovered in Georgia about 20 years ago, when five of the Cobb Tobacco variations were pulled from an old book where they’d apparently been left decades earlier. They were all sold in through REA in 1997.

“Prior to this revelation, there were about 15 of these rare Ty Cobb cards known,” Orlando stated. “This group of seven previously-unknown Cobb cards raises the total to approximately 22 or so, which increases the population by around 50 percent. To put this in proper context from a scarcity standpoint it would be the equivalent of finding 30 to 40 newly-discovered T206 Honus Wagner cards in one shot. It is simply miraculous.”

The cards will be sold through MINT State but there was no immediate word on when they would be available or whether they’d be offered through a straight sale or auction.

[WhacksPacks]

I found a stack of 1989 Classic™ Kevin Maas cards once. That....That was cool too

[Bhenry4]

This happens to me all the time.

[duwal]

This is nothing though, have you seen those Ebay auctions where some girl is selling her husband/boyfriend's collection because they're getting divorced/he cheated on her/etc. and she has no clue how valuable the cards are.........

[Brad]

If it were me I'd be tempted to keep the discovery quiet and grade/sell one at a time in increasing order of condition and not let potential buyers know there are others soon to be available.

[Turnitin2004]

If it were me I'd be tempted to keep the discovery quiet and grade/sell one at a time in increasing order of condition and not let potential buyers know there are others soon to be available.

That would be the correct way to do it probably. Though this story might get enough attention that the publicity of them being available is worth it. Have people bidding against each other.

[Hollywood42]

That's amazing

[texmcpherson]

This is insane, I'm going to check all of my paper bags right now. Be back in a sec.

[theblemishedone]

When these go up for auction, possibly around the time of the National, get ready...

These cards will net a minimum of $300K each.

I love hearing stories like this. So awesome.

[ericg531]

That is pretty amazing, makes you wonder how many older people have extra special things stashed away that they may have even forgotten about themselves due to the rigors of aging. I tried to get into estate sales there for a while but I always felt strange digging through someones personal effects looking for a needle in a haystack.

You just never know. I had a family member pass away, and we later found out had a big box of golden/silver aged comic books stashed in a camper. He was a construction worker so nobody even had any idea he had these. His kids sold them and split the money, made out real nice.

Another guy who lives next door to my father's house supposedly checked a book out of the local library when he was a kid, goes home and opened it up and a Babe Ruth card falls out onto the floor. He claims its in a safe deposit box at the bank, and he strangely kept asking me if I wanted to borrow it as a kid but my dad thought it was some kind of trap and the guy was potentially a chester or something so he told him to stay away from me lol

[Crazybella8]

If it were me I'd be tempted to keep the discovery quiet and grade/sell one at a time in increasing order of condition and not let potential buyers know there are others soon to be available.

I couldn't see the clowns at the grading company keeping their mouths shut to keep it quiet.

[texmcpherson]

Bill Mastro can't wait to trim them up.

[base set]

This is insane, I'm going to check all of my paper bags right now. Be back in a sec.

any luck?


my Dad found a rubber banded stack of T206 cards in an old abandoned house once. now he can't find them himself in his own house.

[VeedonFleece]

This is nothing though, have you seen those Ebay auctions where some girl is selling her husband/boyfriend's collection because they're getting divorced/he cheated on her/etc. and she has no clue how valuable the cards are.........

I'd not seen these before. I think I'm going to take advantage of these suckers...

[Hess687]

The fact you're the number one grading card company in the world (next to BGS) and you need an outside source to come in and verify the cards, I find somewhat hilarious.

[Big35Hurt]

Pfft....this is nothing. I saw a listing on Craigslist for some baseball cards found in a storage locker that was bought out. There had to be hundreds of cards from the late 80's and early 90's. The guy wanted $500 for the collection. I didn't want to miss out, so I texted him right away and bought the cards. Score!

[Turd Ferguson]

Can you request anything to be put in the third row of the label?

[coachnip13]

The fact you're the number one grading card company in the world (next to BGS) and you need an outside source to come in and verify the cards, I find somewhat hilarious.

Lame. When you're about to put your name on a seven-figure collection, there is nothing wrong with doing your due diligence. And I love how you twisted it to say that they "need" an outside source.

Are you so naive as to think that leaders in any industry don't occasionally seek an outside opinion in major situations?

I'm guessing that you're just another guy who thought he had 10's but got back a box full of 8's.

[Dranide]

And this is why I go to estate sales. Nothing good yet, but one day, maybe. Probably mot though.

[kinar]

Lame. When you're about to put your name on a seven-figure collection, there is nothing wrong with doing your due diligence. And I love how you twisted it to say that they "need" an outside source.

Are you so naive as to think that leaders in any industry don't occasionally seek an outside opinion in major situations?

I'm guessing that you're just another guy who thought he had 10's but got back a box full of 8's.

I agree with this.

I wonder who the outside source was. would be awesome if it were someone from SGC or BVG

[FunnyBoxBreak20]

This is nothing though, have you seen those Ebay auctions where some girl is selling her husband/boyfriend's collection because they're getting divorced/he cheated on her/etc. and she has no clue how valuable the cards are.........

that is my wife and I cheated on her because she was selling my cards

[ALBASKETBALL]

I once found a flaming paper bag on my door step. Stomped on it to put the fire out. Always wondered what was in it. Knew I should have investigated some more

[mr_yoshi_san]

Ty Cobb baseball cards dating to early 1900s found (http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14888670/ty-cobb-baseball-cards-dating-early-1900s-found)

[jasonm2121]

Baseball cards but pretty crazy find in a paper bag, wowza

Family Makes 'Miraculous' Find of Ty Cobb Cards in Paper Bag, Valued at $1M | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2621558-family-makes-miraculous-find-of-ty-cobb-cards-in-paper-bag-valued-at-1m?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial)

[houstonrules51]

So didn't the value of the 15 known to exist just drop significantly? I mean they are still worth a ton, but this has got a put a dent in them.

[rainbowkiller]

So didn't the value of the 15 known to exist just drop significantly? I mean they are still worth a ton, but this has got a put a dent in them.

Heh, that's the first thing I thought of as well. Not sure if the buyers here would've paid as much as they did if they knew the print run was about to grow 50%!

"In April of 2015, Robert Edward Auctions sold a Cobb with Cobb back graded SGC 30 for $132,000. They had sold a PSA 1 for $154,050 the year before. Goldin Auctions sold one in July of 2013 for $120,1098. With the values of rare vintage baseball cards continuing to rise, it’s likely the newly discovered examples will set new records."

Also this made me laugh a bit:
"The population of one of the rarest baseball cards in the world"

I guess the article's author isn't familiar with all of today's 1/1s :confused:

[Cactuspies]

jason mars must be listing his again. these finds are crazy.

[smapdi]

No, the people with the money to buy these aren't going to be worried about that. If anything, they might be worth more with the slab pedigree, and would sell for a ton as one big lot.

Isn't this the second time a cache of these was found? I recall a decade or more ago someone found about 5 Cobb backs, along with other top-tier T206s (no Wagner). Theory was they were samples for traveling salesmen.

[bktochi4]

love it. amazing story

[jbrown1128]

Now that's crazy

[rats60]

So didn't the value of the 15 known to exist just drop significantly? I mean they are still worth a ton, but this has got a put a dent in them.

No chance. Anyone wanting to sell theirs would have buyers lining up to pay 150k +. The 52 Mantle find did not hurt the price of 52 Mantles and there were many more of those found. This is one of the most iconic cards in the hobby. Now there are 22, there are way more than 22 people who want these. The 4.5 is going to go high. I wouldn't be surprised if it brought a million dollars. The last Wagner 3 brought 1.2 million.

[awz50]

Why cant I have an old paper bag with millions in it

[rainbowkiller]

Why cant I have an old paper bag with millions in it

Millions of what?

[Hollywood42]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned this yet.... But good thing he didn't decide to store hot sauce in that bag too :coffee:

[JWBlue]

Awesome story.

[davidk]

should take it to Hardcore Pawn. Just for fun. See what they offer.

"What's the lowest you'll take?"

"Eight hundred thousand."

"Dollars?! Now, how did you come up with that number?"

"It's all over the internet. Retail value at like a million dollars or more."

"Let me go do some research."

They go back and do their very extensive scientific research (eBay). Comes back.

"I can offer you nine hundred dollars for them."

================================================


But seriously, if the person takes it to Hardcore Pawn, what would they offer? over or under?

$100,000.... over or under?

[Whodey14]

should take it to Hardcore Pawn. Just for fun. See what they offer.

"What's the lowest you'll take?"

"Eight hundred thousand."

"Dollars?! Now, how did you come up with that number?"

"It's all over the internet. Retail value at like a million dollars or more."

"Let me go do some research."

They go back and do their very extensive scientific research (eBay). Comes back.

"I can offer you nine hundred dollars for them."

================================================


But seriously, if the person takes it to Hardcore Pawn, what would they offer? over or under?

$100,000.... over or under?
Over, I would guess 200-250k but never close to value haha.

[rainbowkiller]

The one (and only??) positive benefit from tobacco and smoking: tobacco cards.

[themboyz]

have not seen this posted if it is sorry, wish i had this kind of luck.. Ty Cobb baseball cards dating to early 1900s found (http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14888670/ty-cobb-baseball-cards-dating-early-1900s-found)

[SaveMeTheGum]

I didn't even know that T206 had a "Ty Cobb" back. Show's what I know...

[cnewby]

What a great find!

[crohrer]

I once found a flaming paper bag on my door step. Stomped on it to put the fire out. Always wondered what was in it. Knew I should have investigated some more


Don't put it out with your boot, Stan

[Hess687]

Lame. When you're about to put your name on a seven-figure collection, there is nothing wrong with doing your due diligence. And I love how you twisted it to say that they "need" an outside source.

Are you so naive as to think that leaders in any industry don't occasionally seek an outside opinion in major situations?

I'm guessing that you're just another guy who thought he had 10's but got back a box full of 8's.

Don't get stuff graded, but nice try though. And didn't twist....they needed an outside source to come in, true or not? True. When you're about to put your name on a seven figure collection you should have the staff at the leading grading card company to be able to tell whether these are real or not. If you don't, then you hired the wrong people. You mean to tell me they couldn't find enough "experts" within their own company to do their due diligence? That's sad.

[coachnip13]

Don't get stuff graded, but nice try though. And didn't twist....they needed an outside source to come in, true or not? True. When you're about to put your name on a seven figure collection you should have the staff at the leading grading card company to be able to tell whether these are real or not. If you don't, then you hired the wrong people. You mean to tell me they couldn't find enough "experts" within their own company to do their due diligence? That's sad.

No, they didn't "need" an outside source. They chose to bring in an expert in order to make sure they got this one right.

Are you suggesting that PSA should have hired the country's foremost expert on T206 cards just in case a stash like this came in? Or do you think it's possible that this expert just doesn't want to move to Newport Beach to work for PSA?

Like I already said once, great leaders look for outside opinions all the time. You struck out once on this, and shockingly came back for more.

[Dielon]

Don't put it out with your boot, Stan

Don't tell me my business devil woman!

[NickM]

IMO the most important find was the Tango Eggs find, since the entire set was unknown until the find.

[Hess687]

No, they didn't "need" an outside source. They chose to bring in an expert in order to make sure they got this one right.

Are you suggesting that PSA should have hired the country's foremost expert on T206 cards just in case a stash like this came in? Or do you think it's possible that this expert just doesn't want to move to Newport Beach to work for PSA?

Like I already said once, great leaders look for outside opinions all the time. You struck out once on this, and shockingly came back for more.

Great leaders should trust their instinct. Especially when they're the leading authentication company in the world! If your senior staff (staff being plural) examined the card and came to the conclusion they are real then you shouldn't have to go to an outside source. It's a slap in the face to the senior staff to say, "Okay, I hired you and you guys are my utmost knowledgeable guys, BUT I'm gonna bring in this guy as well."

If you want to bring in the other guy just to say, "Hey come check this out! How awesome is this." Then so be it, but to bring in an outside party to authenticate something, when once again, you're the leading authenticator in the world is hilarious.

Keep throwing me softballs and I'll keep swinging. You have your point of view, I have mine. It's okay to not see eye to eye.

You can tell me I'm wrong in my way of thinking and I may not care. People can have difference of opinion. It's okay.

[coachnip13]

Great leaders should trust their instinct. Especially when they're the leading authentication company in the world! If your senior staff (staff being plural) examined the card and came to the conclusion they are real then you shouldn't have to go to an outside source. It's a slap in the face to the senior staff to say, "Okay, I hired you and you guys are my utmost knowledgeable guys, BUT I'm gonna bring in this guy as well."

If you want to bring in the other guy just to say, "Hey come check this out! How awesome is this." Then so be it, but to bring in an outside party to authenticate something, when once again, you're the leading authenticator in the world is hilarious.

Keep throwing me softballs and I'll keep swinging. You have your point of view, I have mine. It's okay to not see eye to eye.

You can tell me I'm wrong in my way of thinking and I may not care. People can have difference of opinion. It's okay.

I can also point out that your difference in opinion is absurd. That is also okay.

I employ a staff. When I have a really big decision or situation, I have other experienced colleagues with whom I consult. Those people don't work for me. Getting an outside opinion is a trait of great leaders. "Trust your instinct?" I'd wager that every CEO in the Fortune 500 has people outside the company who they trust and consult with. It's something that happens in the real world.

This was a no-brainer by PSA.

[Hess687]

I can also point out that your difference in opinion is absurd. That is also okay.

I employ a staff. When I have a really big decision or situation, I have other experienced colleagues with whom I consult. Those people don't work for me. Getting an outside opinion is a trait of great leaders. "Trust your instinct?" I'd wager that every CEO in the Fortune 500 has people outside the company who they trust and consult with. It's something that happens in the real world.

This was a no-brainer by PSA.

I love wagers on things there will never be a real answer to...they're almost as great as the Who's Better Peyton Manning or Tom Brady threads. They never really find an answer, just a lot of people with a difference of opinion. Which is much like the two of us.

Congratulations on employing a staff. Next time when you have a big decision you should look within your own staff to help you make that decision, if not then you've hired the wrong people. The person you're going to for advice? Hire him instead. If he's not willing then find a very similar person to him. If you have to go outside your company for decisions, then your staff isn't that bright. But what do I know, I'm sure Coke asks Pepsi what drink they should come out with next. Or RJ Reynolds asks Phillip Morris what cigarette should be next.

The point is, if PSA comes out and says, "We consulted with BGS" then as a customer I'm looking to go to BGS for my next grading order because if PSA is going to them, they must be better. Which will then mean less customers for PSA, which means less profit and so forth and so on.

You hire the right staff and you'll never have to look outside the company ever again.

[coachnip13]

I love wagers on things there will never be a real answer to...they're almost as great as the Who's Better Peyton Manning or Tom Brady threads. They never really find an answer, just a lot of people with a difference of opinion. Which is much like the two of us.

Congratulations on employing a staff. Next time when you have a big decision you should look within your own staff to help you make that decision, if not then you've hired the wrong people. The person you're going to for advice? Hire him instead. If he's not willing then find a very similar person to him. If you have to go outside your company for decisions, then your staff isn't that bright. But what do I know, I'm sure Coke asks Pepsi what drink they should come out with next. Or RJ Reynolds asks Phillip Morris what cigarette should be next.

The point is, if PSA comes out and says, "We consulted with BGS" then as a customer I'm looking to go to BGS for my next grading order because if PSA is going to them, they must be better. Which will then mean less customers for PSA, which means less profit and so forth and so on.

You hire the right staff and you'll never have to look outside the company ever again.

100% chance you're trolling. Or 15. Or unemployed. Or any combination.

Coke and Pepsi are competitors. Insanely stupid analogy.

You are so naive as to think that the only people anyone should ever consult with can only be under that person's control? Sleep on it and maybe you will realize in the morning how stupid that sounds. Ever heard of Steve Jobs? Try reading his biography. Read up on the people he turned to for advice. Then tell me how many of those people worked for Apple, NeXT, or Pixar.

Here's what you don't get: there are some phenomenal resources in the world who have no interest in working under you or me or Joe Orlando. Those people can still be great resources without having my name on their paycheck.

[caflisch78]

A buddy of mine works over at PSA and got to see them in person. I wonder if he got to see them before or after they were slabbed. Either way, incredible. Comparable to finding sunken treasure!

[Hess687]

100% chance you're trolling. Or 15. Or unemployed. Or any combination.

Coke and Pepsi are competitors. Insanely stupid analogy.

You are so naive as to think that the only people anyone should ever consult with can only be under that person's control? Sleep on it and maybe you will realize in the morning how stupid that sounds. Ever heard of Steve Jobs? Try reading his biography. Read up on the people he turned to for advice. Then tell me how many of those people worked for Apple, NeXT, or Pixar.

Here's what you don't get: there are some phenomenal resources in the world who have no interest in working under you or me or Joe Orlando. Those people can still be great resources without having my name on their paycheck.

Okay I slept on it. And to think PSA and BGS aren't competitors is laughable! Just like Coke doesn't want people to drink Pepsi, PSA doesn't want people to use BGS. If I send in a Bryce Harper auto card to PSA, you mean to tell me they aren't going to grade it but instead tell me to go to BGS because PSA mainly deal with vintage grading. Lol.....okay.

Steve Jobs was an a$$hole. That was a fact. It's no wonder he turned to other people outside his own company for help. Nobody liked the guy. Once again, if you're turning to other people OUTSIDE of your own company, you've hired the wrong people. I understand people may not want to work for you, but find the guy with a similar set of skills who does and your business will be even better. It sounds like you're hiring the wrong people.

I understand there are phenomenal resources outside of a company......those are called competitors.

[coachnip13]

Okay I slept on it. And to think PSA and BGS aren't competitors is laughable! Just like Coke doesn't want people to drink Pepsi, PSA doesn't want people to use BGS. If I send in a Bryce Harper auto card to PSA, you mean to tell me they aren't going to grade it but instead tell me to go to BGS because PSA mainly deal with vintage grading. Lol.....okay.

Steve Jobs was an a$$hole. That was a fact. It's no wonder he turned to other people outside his own company for help. Nobody liked the guy. Once again, if you're turning to other people OUTSIDE of your own company, you've hired the wrong people. I understand people may not want to work for you, but find the guy with a similar set of skills who does and your business will be even better. It sounds like you're hiring the wrong people.

I understand there are phenomenal resources outside of a company......those are called competitors.

How did you manage to bring BGS into this?

I can see that you aren't involved with any kind of professional career. The people outside my organization that I confer with are at the same level I am at. They are leaders. They don't work for other people. When I have a delicate situation, I want the opinion of someone who has been there and done that. The people who work under me are not yet at that level. One day, when they branch out and are on their own, they might call me to ask how I would handle something.

The fact that this is all news to you speaks volumes.

I'm guessing that you would be shocked to find out that Nick Saban would seek advice from Bill Belichick. Why not just hire Bill Belichick, right?

[Hess687]

How did you manage to bring BGS into this?

I can see that you aren't involved with any kind of professional career. The people outside my organization that I confer with are at the same level I am at. They are leaders. They don't work for other people. When I have a delicate situation, I want the opinion of someone who has been there and done that. The people who work under me are not yet at that level. One day, when they branch out and are on their own, they might call me to ask how I would handle something.

The fact that this is all news to you speaks volumes.

I'm guessing that you would be shocked to find out that Nick Saban would seek advice from Bill Belichick. Why not just hire Bill Belichick, right?

Well according to your reasoning Nick Saban should go to Bill Belicheck for advice. He's a college coach or to put it in your own words (he works underneath Bill Belicheck) Belicheck is an NFL coach which is the next level above college coach (or to dumb it down once again it's like an assistant manager going to the manager for advice). So terrible analogy on your part.

Some of the best ideas come from the people underneath you, if you're not doing your due diligence to groom these guys to become leaders then your company will tank in the future.

The fact you don't understand it's okay for people to have a difference of opinion leads me to believe you're hard to work for as well. No wonder you go outside your own company for advice.

So we can continue to lob sarcastic/snarky comments each others way or we can both agree to disagree and go our own merry ways.

On a side note, because I never like to leave an argument without complimenting the other. I wish nothing but the best in your company, this was nothing more than a debate back and forth. As I'm sure you are, take what you believe to be my idiotic comments with a grain of salt. Trust me, I already know you are. I hope your staff does well not only for themselves but for you as well.

If you'd like we can continue the conversation but I don't think it's gonna get us anywhere.

[coachnip13]

Well according to your reasoning Nick Saban should go to Bill Belicheck for advice. He's a college coach or to put it in your own words (he works underneath Bill Belicheck) Belicheck is an NFL coach which is the next level above college coach (or to dumb it down once again it's like an assistant manager going to the manager for advice). So terrible analogy on your part.

Some of the best ideas come from the people underneath you, if you're not doing your due diligence to groom these guys to become leaders then your company will tank in the future.

The fact you don't understand it's okay for people to have a difference of opinion leads me to believe you're hard to work for as well. No wonder you go outside your own company for advice.

So we can continue to lob sarcastic/snarky comments each others way or we can both agree to disagree and go our own merry ways.

On a side note, because I never like to leave an argument without complimenting the other. I wish nothing but the best in your company, this was nothing more than a debate back and forth. As I'm sure you are, take what you believe to be my idiotic comments with a grain of salt. Trust me, I already know you are. I hope your staff does well not only for themselves but for you as well.

If you'd like we can continue the conversation but I don't think it's gonna get us anywhere.

Nick Saban does lean on Bill Belichick for advice. That's the whole point. It's someone outside of his organization that he trusts and who has the experience to back it up.

You keep talking about the people underneath you as though we are discussing daily job functions. When it comes to authenticating cards, PSA does it themselves 99.99999999% of the time. In this once in a lifetime case, Joe Orlando thought it would be best to get the opinion of an expert on the outside. Best decision of the year. Nick Saban's program is almost entirely run within his staff. But if he runs into something that his 35 year old assistants haven't dealt with, it's best to talk to someone like Belichick.

This is so basic and understood that I have to assume you're playing devil's advocate just for fun.

[aro13]

It was a smart move for PSA to ask for an outside expert as well. They are not the foremost expert on every type of trading card. People who have collected T206 and T213 cards their whole lives and have seen all of the Cobb's would be pretty highly qualified to offer an opinion. I found it refreshing they did not take the "arrogant" attitude of we know best and everyone else knows nothing.

Offering them all at once has its positive side. It is an honest way to do it. It will generate a lot of hype - it has already reached the mainstream media. Also, the fact that a stash of 5 was discovered in the last 20 years and now this group - what happens if another group of 5 cards comes out?

[mjohnatgt]

I agree that PSA should have outside help authenticate these cards; they are slightly different than standard T206 cards, since they have a light gloss applied to the front. Normally glossy T206s would be a sign of forgeries. If PSA authenticates them, they are on the hook for losses in the case it comes out later that they are fakes. So asking for outside help is quite useful in this situation. It spreads the risk. There is a debate about whether these cards should be considered T206 cards or whether they deserve a different catalog number (Jefferson Burdick grouped them with the T206 set in the 1950s and they've stuck there since) due to only having a single player front on the back and the gloss difference, and that they might not have been inserted into packs.

I have submitted more common cards to PSA and they've gotten them labeled wrong (T51 variations, T56). I have to stop orders and have them fixed before they mail them to me. I consider that a cost of doing business with them. They are willing to fix those errors on their dime.

[Archangel1775]

I thought the outside expert was the one that was originally called by PSA to look at the cards considering they were from a Southern state? I suppose they could have sent a grader out there to do it but they are getting paid to look at cards in the dark. I'm sure the guy was excited after seeing the pictures anyway.