Mr. Mint?

asphaltman76 · August 29, 2006 7:21PM

what ever happened to Mr. Mint, Al Rosen, did he take all those mint cards and make a fortune having them graded and now lives in Costa Rica or what??

lostdart58 · August 29, 2006 7:36PM

Hell no....................he is still seen heckling at the big shows............and telling you that your cards ain't worth chit......(but he will buy them anyway.)

ping4u43 · August 29, 2006 7:50PM

Last seen crying at the National over his table location. Making statements that he will never do the National again.

flatfoot816 · August 29, 2006 8:16PM

His sour attitude and piss poor customer service skills have alienated him from the hobby. People will put up with jerks for only so long. He has worn out his welcome and that is why he got out of the auction business. He will tell you it was a voluntary move, but everyone knows he simply could not keep up with others who are more proffesional and customer service oriented. RIP, Alan, glad to see you go.

gradeddream · August 29, 2006 8:32PM

u guys make me laugh. jealousy will get you no where!

i was just with him in nj & he'll be doing the boston & chicago show in nov.

packCollector · August 29, 2006 9:50PM

<< he'll be doing the boston & chicago show in nov.
>>

what will he be doing ? last year it didn't look like he did much but talk to the security guard at the boston show. I suspect the same this year. with the internet and more professional national dealers in this day and age , his gig is up

itzagoner · August 29, 2006 10:49PM

Al Rosen = Barry Bonds [insert waving good-bye icon]

kudos to both for their contributions to their crafts, as well as social growth

now, please go away

zippy · August 29, 2006 11:05PM

ROSEN is a dinosaur in the card business....
the market changed dramatically yrs ago & it left him in the dust as he didn't change with new innovations like card grading which he despises...
in the business world you change with the times or get left behind.......
Alan.......I suggest you go ahead with your current obsession & go buy a few more toy robots which you can play with when you retire which I see happening sooner than later

gemint · August 29, 2006 11:44PM

<< 

<< he'll be doing the boston & chicago show in nov.
>>

what will he be doing ? last year it didn't look like he did much but talk to the security guard at the boston show. I suspect the same this year. with the internet and more professional national dealers in this day and age , his gig is up >>

He'll be "selling" his book and telling people how great he is. He's still a legend in his own mind.

PSARich · August 29, 2006 11:59PM

You know I hear and read all the negativeness toward Mr. Mint but my few experiences weren't that bad at all. I sold a collection of vintage (from a deceased relative) for a friend at a major show a few years ago. I set the prices as to what I thought were reasonable and Mr. Mint bought a few and told me the others were more than he wanted to pay. I said fine and took those cards around to others and he said thanks for the business...deal done. I've talked to him a few times and if he knows you know the market he is fairly decent. He has a large ego but much of that is for image because few people try to sell themselves like he does. Despite his flaws I believe the hobby does owe him something for bringing vintage sports cards to the forefront in the media. He comes to Michigan a couple times a year at Gibraltor Trade Center. He advertises big time in the local papers before the show and people flock to him with their old stuff. I hear other dealers complaining that they would pay more than he does if only those people would bring it to them. Well, he is successful because he promotes himself and makes it easy for people to bring their stuff in. Would others pay more? Probably, but they don't do what he does to get the business. How would you like to pay his advertsing fess for the year? That's the point, he spends money to make money and he does that very well.

RipublicaninMass · August 30, 2006 12:16AM

<< 

<< he'll be doing the boston & chicago show in nov.
>>

what will he be doing ? last year it didn't look like he did much but talk to the security guard at the boston show. I suspect the same this year. with the internet and more professional national dealers in this day and age , his gig is up >>

Ditto, maybe but some cards cheap and sell them to other dealers to turn a quick buck. other than that

Stone193 · August 30, 2006 12:17AM

One thing's for sure...

Everybody knows who he is.

mike

bishop · August 30, 2006 12:31AM

...and has an opinion about him.

RipublicaninMass · August 30, 2006 12:43AM

MUAH

Ruthfan · August 30, 2006 12:53AM

Yes, he has gotten his name out there more than any other dealer, but to most people in the hobby he is considered an A$$ and a huge cry baby.

asphaltman76 · August 30, 2006 12:57AM

so is it safe to say we will never see PSA graded cards with the Mr. Mint collection on the label?

gonzoa · August 30, 2006 12:58AM

i've never seen the guy in action, but from all the print ads i've seen, i've always pictured him as the car dealership owner who does the crappy local commercials.
i see him walking through the "card lot" pointing to cards and screaming about what a deal it is.....and maybe wearing that question mark/ riddler suit that that mathew lesko guy wears in his irrating commercials.
and i never understood him holding up all that money in an ad. I would prefer a dealer NOT show me all the money is making off of me.
everything else aside, that visual alone is enough to keep me away.

flatfoot816 · August 30, 2006 1:13AM

my last experience with Rosen? Went to a card show where he was set up to buy and approached him with my 2 young daughters in tow. We started to talk and when he realized I was not selling he turned his back to me. My daughter--8 years old--asked him if he collected anything. His response? "the only thing I collect is dead presidents"(his reference to $100 bills I assume). My daughter was startled and she wanted to leave the show. How do you explain that to a kid? See ya Alan--don't let the door hit you on the way out of the hobby!Text

ctsoxfan · August 30, 2006 4:27AM

You know the old saying - "There's no such thing as bad publicity"?

Mr. Mint is the exception to that rule. Everyone, everywhere, is on to him - with so many professional dealers to pick from today, why even bother with him?

ToppsCo1lector · August 30, 2006 4:31AM

I can't knock on a guy who's "apparently" made a killing in the card trading industry. I've never met him, but yet again I have yet to attend a National or other big show. I'll go the eBay route and pickup what I like for cheap. If I want to buy and sell I'll go with the stock market over cardboard.

SoFLPhillyFan · August 30, 2006 4:35AM

I hear his fastball has lost a bit but he's still willing to demonstrate it at any show.

TheCARDKid · August 30, 2006 5:54AM

I liked his books as a kid, but I'm glad I didn't buy his "gem mint blazers" and cross them over to PSA.

On his site, he advertises that he found "6,000 Gem Mint high numbers". And of course in the pop report, there's only been 51 PSA 10's for the entire set! 9's aren't exactly easy either.

Where did all those "blazers" go?

Did anyone buy from this auctions (the yellow newspaper ones in SCD) and eventually cross them over to PSA or SGC? What would the results be out of a random 100 card assortment of the '50's?

digicat · August 30, 2006 6:17AM

Everyone says that Rosen did a lot of good for the hobby as a whole. What did he do that's so great?

itzagoner · August 30, 2006 6:21AM

<< Everyone says that Rosen did a lot of good for the hobby as a whole. What did he do that's so great? >>

pretty much set the table for all of us

digicat · August 30, 2006 6:42AM

<< pretty much set the table for all of us >>

Please explain.

Is it just that he drew attention to the hobby?

Is he to blame for the flooded market of the late 80s and early 90s?

itzagoner · August 30, 2006 6:58AM

<< 

<< pretty much set the table for all of us >>

Please explain.

Is it just that he drew attention to the hobby?

Is he to blame for the flooded market of the late 80s and early 90s? >>

he has helped set the market along with many other prominent players, by emptying out virtually every basement, attic and safe-deposit box in the private sector.....without his assistance in establishing firm values for cards, there may be less $$$$ available to today's average Weekend Warrior, much less the big-time dealers.....more than anything, and be sure you are sitting down, his greatest asset was earning "TRUST", as more and more folks in the private sector found out about him and those like him, they became much more willing to turn the key on the long locked door to their goodies....i'm sure even PSA owes him a nod of gratitude, again, because more good stuff started coming out, the need for authentication and grading became more urgent....not my fave guy in the world, but thanks Al for starting something good for us all!!!!!

digicat · August 30, 2006 7:31AM

Heh. Well, in that respect, I guess a retired police officer could also give a nod of thanks to the criminals who made his career (and pension) possible.

GDM67 · August 30, 2006 1:38PM

<< i've never seen the guy in action, but from all the print ads i've seen, i've always pictured him as the car dealership owner who does the crappy local commercials. >>

Like Morrie, from Goodfellas (although he sold toupés...)

ToppsCo1lector · August 30, 2006 1:47PM

GD-By far one of my favorite movies of all time.

ctsoxfan · August 30, 2006 2:16PM

<< 

<< 

<< pretty much set the table for all of us >>

Please explain.

Is it just that he drew attention to the hobby?

Is he to blame for the flooded market of the late 80s and early 90s? >>

he has helped set the market along with many other prominent players, by emptying out virtually every basement, attic and safe-deposit box in the private sector.....without his assistance in establishing firm values for cards, there may be less $$$$ available to today's average Weekend Warrior, much less the big-time dealers.....more than anything, and be sure you are sitting down, his greatest asset was earning "TRUST", as more and more folks in the private sector found out about him and those like him, they became much more willing to turn the key on the long locked door to their goodies....i'm sure even PSA owes him a nod of gratitude, again, because more good stuff started coming out, the need for authentication and grading became more urgent....not my fave guy in the world, but thanks Al for starting something good for us all!!!!! >>

Sorry, but that's the biggest bunch of baloney I've read in a long time. Are you Mr. Mint (or Mrs. Mint)?

Establishing firm values for cards? If he can rob the cards from an unsavvy collector, do you think he's going to go with a "firm value" or go with as little as he can pay? I don't think I have to answer that.

Trust? I'd like to put 20 of those laughing emoticons here, but I'll spare you.

If there was no Mr. Mint type dealers out there, the virtual card show on Ebay would still be rolling along, and people would still be selling their own things on there, or gravitating to the more professional dealers and auction houses. To give him credit for something, anything, is really a stretch of the imagination.

RedHeart54 · August 30, 2006 3:48PM

He had timing on his side. The famous find of mint 1952 Topps was a watershed moment in the history of card collecting. At that time, someone paying six figures for a collection was a rarity to say the least and like it or not, he marketed that find well. That find established a chain reaction of raids on attics and basements across the country and there's no doubt that some of the gems floating around today would have not been discovered otherwise.

DeutscherGeist · August 30, 2006 4:42PM

I never understood why all the hype with Mr Mint. Sure he advertises, but that doesn't mean he is a nice considerate human being that does not want an unhappy customer.

The guy seems to be a good business man, but it does not mean he is an honest seller who really cares about helping you with your collection.

If Al Rosen never became Mr Mint, someone else would have filled the void. When there is money to be made, that vacuum fills up real quick.

itzagoner · August 30, 2006 8:10PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< pretty much set the table for all of us >>

Please explain.

Is it just that he drew attention to the hobby?

Is he to blame for the flooded market of the late 80s and early 90s? >>

he has helped set the market along with many other prominent players, by emptying out virtually every basement, attic and safe-deposit box in the private sector.....without his assistance in establishing firm values for cards, there may be less $$$$ available to today's average Weekend Warrior, much less the big-time dealers.....more than anything, and be sure you are sitting down, his greatest asset was earning "TRUST", as more and more folks in the private sector found out about him and those like him, they became much more willing to turn the key on the long locked door to their goodies....i'm sure even PSA owes him a nod of gratitude, again, because more good stuff started coming out, the need for authentication and grading became more urgent....not my fave guy in the world, but thanks Al for starting something good for us all!!!!! >>

Sorry, but that's the biggest bunch of baloney I've read in a long time. Are you Mr. Mint (or Mrs. Mint)?

Establishing firm values for cards? If he can rob the cards from an unsavvy collector, do you think he's going to go with a "firm value" or go with as little as he can pay? I don't think I have to answer that.

Trust? I'd like to put 20 of those laughing emoticons here, but I'll spare you.

If there was no Mr. Mint type dealers out there, the virtual card show on Ebay would still be rolling along, and people would still be selling their own things on there, or gravitating to the more professional dealers and auction houses. To give him credit for something, anything, is really a stretch of the imagination. >>

assistance in establishing firm values.....as in, helped.....i don't think i stated that Al is a vital cog, however, releasing material to the mainstream as he has by FLIPPING it, and then having OTHER dealers resell and establish values could be considered a contribution....

trust.....laugh all you want, he did establish trust among those who wished to share it.....not saying those people were necessarily well enough EDUCATED to instill that kind of trust in a man who certainly was only there to squeeze every last available dollar out of Joe Public's pocket.....BTW, I DON'T TRUST HIM, and I have my reasons....

Mr Mint/Mrs Mint.....laughable....if you get a chance to read any of my other Mr Mint related posts, you would see that i'm more likely to piss on 'im than shake his hand....i've had my share of Mr Mint moments, they date all the way back to the early 90's, and i stopped dealing with him long ago....

Yep, he is/was one lucky bastige thanks to timing and a good sense of where to find his PREY....he still has friggin suitcase fulla money, but can't spend it anywhere.....he has become for better or worse, quite like a Las Vegas niteclub act, someone who once commanded the stage, but now must pay just to step on it.....

i hope this clears up how i feel just a little

fandango · August 30, 2006 11:00PM

If anyone opens a Beckett Magazine these days, the first page is a full page ad of Mr mint, with his bald head, terrible crowns, and hes flashing money in front of your face....very surprised (not really) that Beckett would want this to be their main advertiser...He has gotten page 1 for 6 months now...very nauseating
to me, he is what is wrong with the hobby, not what is good.....

gemint · August 30, 2006 11:52PM

A few of my experiences with Mr Mint:

1) I had a Ted Williams autographed ball that I bought under market value at a National. This was before PSA/DNA and other well known authentication companies were in existance. I went to the "expert" Mr Mint and asked him if he knew of a company that could certify the autograph. He asked to see the ball, took a 1 second look at it, tossed it back to me and said "looks good to me". I later submitted it to PSA and they found 8 areas of concern and did not authenticate it.

2) Though I guess I can't fault him for #1. He sponsored a give-a-way of a Babe Ruth autographed baseball at the 1996(?) National in Anaheim. The ball turned out to be a fake.

5STAT · August 31, 2006 12:15AM

Remember, he made his claim to fame back in the 80's and 90's when condition was questionable at best. They standards weren't as stringent as they are today..
Vintage "mint" cards that were sold back in those days..turned out to be alot of NM cards by todays standards.

gemint>> like you, I had a similar issue with him. It was over a 1967 Yankees team ball that Joe Dimaggio had given my father on the USO Tour, in the Phillipines. There a whole story behind it and volumes of photos of the trip...as my father was his (as well as Pete Rose) escort for 3 days while there.
Anyways, the ball that was given to my father went to a show with me...as Jim Spence was there to authenticate for PSA.

Rosen was sitting dead nuts at the 1st table of the show. Asked to see what was in the brief case..immediately wanted my 59 Fleer Ted Williams set (EX+/NM)...and a 1960 Fleer set...about the same condition maybe NM+...so he plopped down 9- $100 bills and says to take it or leave it...

It went in my pocket quickly...as I didn't have much into either set.

Then he looks at the ball and offers me $500 and says that it didn't matter to grade it..it " looked good enough". Then came the "oh yah, if it's legit..it's worth alot more...but you're going to have to spend $100 to find out...this is a one time offer"...again...I walked.

The ball was graded...all signatures were authentic....BUT the Mantle was deemed a most likely club house signature. But hey, atleast I now know. I can't for the life of me figure out why the NY Yankees would send a player out on a USO tour with club house balls....but hey..it is what it is..

The next run in was over a complete 1960 Fleer Baseball PSA 8 set. At the time, it was #2 in the Registry.
Again, 1st by the door and he wants it for $1700....
The book was still $2750.....and at the time, the break down by singles was much better than todays market...it was like $3000.
I walked away....he signaled me back....says he can't do any better than $1800. and then gives me the "what, you just made $100 in 15 seconds..gimme a break" bit.

I walked away...went to Levi from 707 Sportscards and was handed a check for $2100..no questions asked.

Upon leaving the show, Rosen asked what happend to the set..and I told him where it had gone. His response was...

"Paying 70% for that set....unheard of!!"

I quickly waved the check in his direction and left....

He gets all pompous because he thinks he's the only one with money out there...

chaz43 · August 31, 2006 12:17AM

Say alll you what about Mr. Mint but he has his place in the hobby. I think he takes a bum rap for alot of things. I met him in the early 90's at the Fort Washington show but never had any dealings with him.... on purpose. I just always felt I had to watch my money with this guy.... a gut feeling.I laugh my ass off every time I see the pic with him holding all those "dead President" bills with the big smile on his face. chaz

jdalymgd · August 31, 2006 1:40AM

mikeschmidt · August 31, 2006 1:43AM

<< "the only thing I collect is dead presidents"(his reference to $100 bills I assume). Text >>

Which dead president is on the $100 bill...?

theczar · August 31, 2006 6:58AM

i used to set up as shows as MR. VG. it had mixed results...

plifter · August 31, 2006 8:23AM

I always see his ads about buying but I never see him selling anything in the magazines.

jmbkb4 · August 31, 2006 8:53AM

Excellent point. To whom does Al Rosen sell?

bobsbbcards · August 31, 2006 8:57AM

<< Excellent point. To whom does Al Rosen sell? >>

Mr. EX/MT?

bishop · August 31, 2006 8:59AM

Mrs.

flatfoot816 · August 31, 2006 9:09AM

Good point Schmidtty--I guess Benjamin was not a president, tho he sure did a hell of a lot for the country in our run for independance, arguably more than many presidents. Maybe Alan only collects 20s and 50s...or actual dead presidents!

ctsoxfan · August 31, 2006 12:02PM

<< I always see his ads about buying but I never see him selling anything in the magazines. >>

Actually, he did have a few sales I noticed in recent issues of SCD. One page, selling 20-25 of his recent heists, at premium prices. I have no idea if anyone was foolish enough to partake.

Griffins · August 31, 2006 12:19PM

I called him about a year ago about a "find" he said to call B-E collectables, there were his retailer.
I think for the most part he flips stuff immediately at shows for a 30% markup.

bobbybakeriv · August 31, 2006 12:58PM

"I used to set up as shows as MR. VG. it had mixed results... "

Too funny. Quips like these make this board even more worthwhile.

Mr. Mint?

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