Longtime dealer Johnny Adams Jr. trimmed vintage cards and sold thru PWCC for years

[corndog]

***There is no discernable alteration with this card that received a 2 grade bump resulting in a 6.5K profit for Johnny Adams, Jr.

PSA Cert #26975956

PSA Set Registry: private

1952 Topps Look 'N See Amerigo Vespucci #118 - Population 1 of 1

Value gain of $6,554.00

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller PWCC as a PSA 8 for $46.00 on October 30, 2016.
PWCC link: https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1374688

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 10 for $6,600.00 on December 20, 2017.
PWCC link: https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1596506

Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
No circled identifiers needed - every chip and border cut matches.
No discernable alteration has been noticed.

[superdan49]

Originally Posted by pip

My favorite quote from the article:

“Trimming may be the worst alteration we have to deal with in our hobby,” wrote Andy Broome, the Senior Vintage Card Grader with Beckett Grading Services (BGS) in Beckett Vintage Collector. “No card is immune from it, from pre-war to the latest Bowman Chrome.”

....and it is most commonly found inside BGS slabs. Could any grader be more clueless than him?

This quote should be remembered in case any of the card doctors claim in court that trimming is standard industry practice or is widely accepted by collectors.

[corndog]

PSA Cert #27755552

PSA Set Registry: Vintage Corvette - 1951 Bowman

1951 Bowman Larry Jansen #162

Value gain of $437.17

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller www,stevenovella,com as a PSA 8 for $77.00 on June 14, 2016.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...62/69815/PSA/8

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 9 for $514.17 on October 09, 2017.
PWCC link: https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1556006

Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
Red box identifies trimmed left edge.

[Ryanm84]

This isn’t necessarily a question tied to this thread but in general...how far back do these online tools go? What about purchases from 15 years ago or so? I have a couple of cards bought in the 2000 to 2002 timeframe. One from a dealer that I’m sure is recognized the other off eBay from a reputable (?) seller still around. In checking the PSA carts around the one in question there are a lot of 50s TOPPS and bowman in mid grades to 8s. Most don’t have a registry owner or auction histories. I’m assuming these are the types of searches that are super manual, investigating using all various methods to try to determine provenance. Cards measure to specs but with all that is going on I’m taking a look at what I’ve got and if it is part of a preservation activity. Thanks!

Edited: if easier PM responses to keep the thread clean.

[3124508 on COMC]

Originally Posted by Ryanm84

This isn’t necessarily a question tied to this thread but in general...how far back do these online tools go? What about purchases from 15 years ago or so? I have a couple of cards bought in the 2000 to 2002 timeframe. One from a dealer that I’m sure is recognized the other off eBay from a reputable (?) seller still around. In checking the PSA carts around the one in question there are a lot of 50s TOPPS and bowman in mid grades to 8s. Most don’t have a registry owner or auction histories. I’m assuming these are the types of searches that are super manual, investigating using all various methods to try to determine provenance. Cards measure to specs but with all that is going on I’m taking a look at what I’ve got and if it is part of a preservation activity. Thanks!

2010 or so is as early as cards are frequently found. That can push back to as early as 2005 in some cases, especially if just searching for provenance. You're out of luck imo if earlier than that.

[Ryanm84]

Thanks 312. That’s what I was afraid of. I guess minimally I can go back through PayPal transactions looking at sellers and doing some CSI work. I check all of these threads regularly as the work done here is truly amazing.

[Bruins1993]

I would like to see PSA forced to make public all the PSA cert #'s submitted by known card doctors.

[corndog]

PSA Cert #27755525

PSA Set Registry: private

1948 Bowman Buddy Rosar #10 - Population 1 of 1

Value gain of $2,835.83

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller sport_cards_gems as a PSA 8 for $103.17 on January 03, 2017.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...10/52491/PSA/8

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 10 for $2,939.00 on October 09, 2017.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...0/52491/PSA/10

Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
Red box identifies trimmed right edge.

[pspa123]

Originally Posted by Bruins1993

I would like to see PSA forced to make public all the PSA cert #'s submitted by known card doctors.

On the day after hell freezes.

[Vintage Collector]

Shouldn't this guy be in jail or something.

[palmetto7]

Originally Posted by Vintage Collector

Shouldn't this guy be in jail or something.

It's fraud for sure. I think we are all waiting for the hammer to drop. That could be awhile as the scope of this keeps getting larger and larger involving so many people. At least thats what I'm assuming.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

[alias21]

Originally Posted by jofinn36

Yes it was a Hank Aaron or Willie Mays. I was really upset and didn’t want to cough up 800 or so dollars for a refund. I was more on a mission to make it public that trimming was going on. I had been to many card shows and heard many stories about reholders and trimming. I sent PSA an email to the thread as I wrote it. Shortly after that PSA launched their new holders. By the way I had absolutely no support from this community as I was posting about this about 5 years ago. I have learned and enjoyed more from going to minor league games and watching young players. Buying a cards of prospects and seeing how they play the game has been one of the most wonderful learning experiences of my life. Anyway I just wanted the girl.

Let me guess some douche bag showed up and said PSA RULES!!!, called you a pbm and asked you to take your pants down. (Insert gif of same as it ever was)

[corndog]

PSA Cert #27755522

PSA Set Registry: CUGoldenBuffalo

1951 Bowman Neil Berry #213

Value gain of $182.23

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller www,stevenovella,com as a PSA 8 for $78.77 on June 14, 2016.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...13/69761/PSA/8

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 9 for $261.00 on October 09, 2017.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...13/69761/PSA/9

Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
Red box identifies trimmed right edge.

[3124508 on COMC]

Originally Posted by alias21

Let me guess some douche bag showed up and said PSA RULES!!!, called you a pbm and asked you to take your pants down. (Insert gif of same as it ever was)

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by alias21

Let me guess some douche bag showed up and said PSA RULES!!!, called you a pbm and asked you to take your pants down. (Insert gif of same as it ever was)

[corndog]

PSA Cert #27755507

PSA Set Registry: private

1959 Topps Harmon Killebrew #515

Value gain of $2,172.52

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller PWCC as a PSA 8 for $432.98 on March 09, 2016.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...=&limit=999999

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 9 for $2,605.50 on October 11, 2017.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...15/64821/PSA/9

Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
Red boxes identify trimmed left and right edges.

[corndog]

PSA Cert #27755491

PSA Set Registry: MavFanIngle

1957 Topps Randy Jackson #190

Value gain of $97.00

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller probstein123 as a PSA 8.5 for $92.50 on September 26, 2016.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b.../66218/PSA/8.5

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 9 for $189.50 on October 10, 2017.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...90/66218/PSA/9

Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
Red box identifies trimmed top edge.

[ken161]

The 1959 Topps Killebrew in PSA9 below sold on 10/11/17. According to VCP, there were seven sales between 10/11/17 and 10/17/18 of this card in a PSA9 holder. This is the breakdown of these sales:

5 sold by PWCC
1 sold by sSs Sportscards
1 sold by Memory Lane


10/11/17 PWCC
(Johnny Adams card - confirmed trimmed by corndog 12/1/19 - serial #2775507)

3/1/18 sSs Sportscards

3/13/18 PWCC

5/13/18 PWCC
(same serial # 28483671 that sSs sold on 3/1/18. Not sure what's going on here. 312 didn't out the twins as trimmers until 7/30/19)

8/11/18 Memory Lane

8/14/18 PWCC
(Moser card - confirmed trimmed by corndog 6/14/19 - serial #41170461)

10/17/18 PWCC



A few observations:

1) Of the six cards (seven sales) in this one year time period, two (33%) have been outed as altered. I realize this does not include sales at shows, private sales, etc...

2) No evidence has been uncovered yet that proves the others were altered, but we know that PWCC and Memory Lane are two favorite places for card doctors to launder their dirty goods, as seller identity is masked. We also know that sSs Sportscards have been outed as card doctors.

3) Sales of this card in PSA9 have risen exponentially in the recent years.
They're popping up like mushrooms

4) Yes, this is only one card, but this seems to make a mockery of the .02% goalkeeper argument by PSA apologists.

Originally Posted by corndog

PSA Cert #27755507

PSA Set Registry: private

1959 Topps Harmon Killebrew #515

Value gain of $2,172.52

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller PWCC as a PSA 8 for $432.98 on March 09, 2016.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...=&limit=999999

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 9 for $2,605.50 on October 11, 2017.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...15/64821/PSA/9

Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
Red boxes identify trimmed left and right edges.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Yup, magic PSA 9 and 10 mushrooms are gonna start popping up like crazy where there had never been any before.

How surprising...

[corndog]

PSA Cert #25090197

PSA Set Registry: none

1966 Topps Willie McCovey #550

Value gain of $303.99

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller PWCC as a PSA 8 for $189.01 on September 13, 2015.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...=&limit=999999

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 9 for $493.00 on February 10, 2016.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...t/149421/PSA/9

***Card was just recently sold again by PWCC for $577.33 on 10/15/2019.
VCP link: https://vintagecardprices.com/card/b...t/149421/PSA/9

Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
Red box identifies trimmed top edge.

[corndog]

PSA Cert #27745896

PSA Set Registry: none

1966 Topps Joe Morgan #195

Value gain of $712.12

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller PWCC as a PSA 8.5 for $316.88 on March 14, 2017.
PWCC link: https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1447452

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 9 for $1,029.00 on October 12, 2017.
PWCC link: https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1558316

Pack fresh?



Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
Red box identifies trimmed bottom edge.

[vwnut13]

Originally Posted by Bruins1993

I would like to see PSA forced to make public all the PSA cert #'s submitted by known card doctors.

I would like to see PSA forced to admit that they do not have the ability to catch altered cards, and that any and all cards in a PSA case are potentially altered.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by vwnut13

I would like to see PSA forced to admit that they do not have the ability to catch altered cards, and that any and all cards in a PSA case are potentially altered.

Same here. But mostly, I'd like to see groups of "White Hat" card doctors submit altered cards to see how effective the grading companies are in detecting them then responsibly publish the results.

If the grading companies had any faith in their processes, they'd fund (truly independent and truly anonymous) White Hat groups themselves.

[corndog]

PSA Cert #27745900

PSA Set Registry: none

1961 Topps Don Drysdale #260

Value gain of $125.51

This card was purchased by masked VCP ID m***h (Johnny Adams, Jr.) from Ebay seller PWCC as a PSA 8 for $92.99 on February 06, 2014.
PWCC link: https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/851140

Same card was sold by PWCC as a PSA 9 for $218.50 on October 11, 2017.
PWCC link: https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1018137

Yellow circles are print, fiber, or chipping identifiers.
Red box identifies trimmed left edge.

[Jtoole]

You guys really do some amazing detective work. Thank you for what you guys do to keep everybody informed! I wish PSA would own up to their repeated messups.