ATTN: Probstein $150k Luka Neon Green Prizm Graded SGC 9.5/MBA Gold has Repair Work

[superdan49]

Good evening,

I received a tip today about an alteration on a high-end Luka Doncic card. The card, a 2018-19 Panini Prizm Luka Doncic Neon Green rookie, serial numbered 5/5 is currently for sale with Probstein on eBay for $150,000. It has been graded SGC 9.5 and the grade has been further certified as "Gold" by Mike Baker Authenticated:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2018-19-Pan...D/373320322434






The tipster told me that the card was being offered for sale raw a few months ago on Facebook, and that the seller disclosed that one of the corners was dinged and there was a surface issue. A recent discussion in the FB group "NBA Hot Spot Worldwide Trade & Sell Cards" confirms that when the card was offered raw there was damage to the bottom right corner and also a surface issue:






Further research shows that the card was offered for sale back in March 2019 by Blowout member lane121, who included huge photos of the card confirming a dinged lower right corner on the reverse and a surface flaw, which appears to be a horizontal print line on the front:
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1277518
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1277592







A quick comparison of the lower right reverse corner pre- and post-grading confirms that the card has been doctored.

Without in-person examination, it is difficult to tell if it has been pressed down, recolored, or trimmed to erase the damage. Perhaps lane121, who pulled the card from a pack, can offer more details on how extensive the damage is.





In case you are wondering, the first public appearance of the card in an SGC holder that was uncovered was a from July 11 FB post from Forever Young Cards. It is unknown if Forever Young bought it already in the SGC 9.5 holder or submitted it to SGC:

https://www.facebook.com/ForeverYoun...1202282817641/






The elephant in the room here is how did SGC grade this a Mint+ 9.5 given the very noticeable print line on the front (and missing the repaired corner) and then Mike Baker Authenticated, which purports to grade graded cards, then certify it as a high-end copy for its grade with an MBA Gold sticker?

There are more questions raised than answers for sure, but any prospective buyers of this card should be aware of its history before considering its purchase.

[pcptrade]

Nice work as always. Thanks

[KhalDrogo]

Nice job SGC and Mike Baker!

[hairyangryfella]

The MBA thing is just laughable. The only person I'd trust to verify graded cards is 3124508 on COMC, and there's no way he'd charge for this kind of thing.
To have someone random 'certify' already graded cards implies that grading companies do a poor job (which we know, but is somewhat damning), and that this random guy is supposedly someone with clout enough to put buyers at ease, when he can't even spell basic words on his paperwork.

In terms of this card, any chance Panini replaced it? Or is it definitely the actual same card?

[PSA2Pac]

Originally Posted by hairyangryfella

In terms of this card, any chance Panini replaced it? Or is it definitely the actual same card?

Which then begs the question: has anybody ever received a replacement serial numbered card with the same serial number back?

Guessing prob not..

shout to OP - good sleuthing

[TSonn]

Originally Posted by PSA2Pac

Which then begs the question: has anybody ever received a replacement serial numbered card with the same serial number back?

Guessing prob not..

shout to OP - good sleuthing

I have. They did a new serial number (same number) and I assume destroyed the old one.

[strider_boi]

Originally Posted by PSA2Pac

Which then begs the question: has anybody ever received a replacement serial numbered card with the same serial number back?

Guessing prob not..

shout to OP - good sleuthing

I've sent many cards to panini and received the same serial #. If the card doesn't have the print line i'm guessing it's been replaced.

[Luni]

Seriously.... who the F is Mike Baker?

[patchgenie]

Originally Posted by Luni

Seriously.... who the F is Mike Baker?

some guy in a basement

[dkcardman]

Originally Posted by patchgenie

some guy in a basement

Or a jail cell.

[anusinha]

Do people actually care about the Mike Baker sticker thing?

[Braswell10]

Is an Mike Baker an athlete?

[cking]

Originally Posted by Braswell10

Is an Mike Baker an athlete?

LOL

And good job SCG

And Mike Baker, whoever this yokel is

[kobebeast2020]

Originally Posted by Braswell10

Is an Mike Baker an athlete?

That was vin Baker

[3124508 on COMC]

100% the same card. Fast break patterning is not the same card to card, but it is on the two 5/5 images shown. As far as the corner, whoever has it in hand should be able to tell pretty easily if it has been trimmed or not using the photos in the OP. The Probstein scan is just not quite cutting it.

[Duke14]

Amazing research superdan49, thanks.

Grading procedure is questionable.
Grading the Grading card is completely ridiculous.

[ovrcollect]

So, this alone should completely discredit whatever service "Mike Baker" is offering...

[PSA2Pac]

Originally Posted by ovrcollect

So, this alone should completely discredit whatever service "Mike Baker" is offering...

or.....


















its now been TRIPLE CERTIFIED AS A MIKE BAKER FUGAZI BRONZE CUBIC ZIRCONIA

re-stamp it with a hologram and send the invoice

[pokemaniac]

If anyone's interested, I've graded the grader that graded the third best grader at mike baker's firm.

[cking]

Originally Posted by pokemaniac

If anyone's interested, I've graded the grader that graded the third best grader at mike baker's firm.

I certify your work

We all win

[Luni]

Originally Posted by cking

I certify your work

We all win

I've certified this post as a Golden 5 Star Ultra post.

[superdan49]

BUYER BEWARE

Rick Probstein has now sent this card to auction:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2018-19-Pan...D/373362197862

[pip]

Apparently, it's now time to start black lighting modern cards to check for the micro-recoloring of corners. A high-end UV device -- similar to that used in University chemistry and physics labs -- can be purchased for about $300. I guess that's too much of a cash outlay for some TPGs when grading $100k cards.

[stalemonkey30]

This type of detective work makes me start to wonder how widespread this type of thing really is.

At least if I buy flawed cards then I know they aren't altered...

[Bob824]

Originally Posted by stalemonkey30

This type of detective work makes me start to wonder how widespread this type of thing really is.

At least if I buy flawed cards then I know they aren't altered...

I think this is the second time I've quoted you this week, @stalemonkey.

The saddest part of this situation is that the amazing work done by superdan, 312, and others cannot be applied to non-serial numbered cards. Think of all the recently submitted 1986 Fleer Jordan RCs that have received a high grade. None of them have serial numbers. Cards that have been shown to have "light trimming" have passed muster from PSA, BGS, and now SGC. The BO experts can only catch them because they have a serial number.

Assuming card trimming was NOT rampant in the early days of the hobby, I am interested to find out the oldest/lowest slab number from those grading companies where there is convincing evidence of trimming. Higher than those slab numbers, everything is suspect.

Full disclosure: I almost only collect slabbed cards. I agree that my statements actually call into question cards I own myself. It is terrible, but it's just the nature of the hobby right now.