Are these Dimaggios real or fake?

philipjgolden · July 1, 2008 3:37PM

Hello all. Hope there are some Play Ball experts out there. I bought a collection from out of state based on photos. It was a kid's grandfathers. It came with many Play Balls 39, 40, 41 including these two Dimaggios. I am not an expert on this, but I'm suspicious. The darker one has round corners, but not from wear. Either a square card was cut at some point or this was printed onto this shape of cardboard. Does anyone have any good advice on how to tell whether either is real? They are very clearly old and worn so if fakes, they're old fakes. Smell old like they should, etc.

BlueDevil · July 1, 2008 8:35PM

Here's an example of a real 1939 Play Ball card...

The Dimaggio cards that you have are reprints. You can tell by the color of the card stock on the reverse side of the cards. Also, the purple tinge on the picture at the bottom of the post gives it away as an obvious copy. The reprints are likely not that old (perhaps 10 - 15 years), but have been artificially aged.

Vintage Baseball Cards 1909 - 1976

http://www.freewebs.com/cassidyssportscards/

Flintboy · July 2, 2008 8:01AM

Mr. Blue Devil,

I think this is your first post that was not peddling your website!!!! Congrats, I knew you could do it.....

SDSportsFan · July 2, 2008 11:34AM

I don't like the color of the paper on the backs...my guess is they're both fakes.

Steve

mickeymantle24 · July 2, 2008 2:01PM

<< <i>I don't like the color of the paper on the backs...my guess is they're both fakes.

Steve >>

Yes, I agree with Steve, they do look to be like a reprint or something, definitly not real

philipjgolden · July 2, 2008 2:39PM

Thanks guys. I got seller to agree to buy these back off the price i paid. will severely limit how much i can make by selling all, but at least i'm not holding the bag.

The other more common playballs all look like each other and real. hopefully the berra rookie real. doesn't look suspicious.

KbKards · July 3, 2008 4:13AM

The Berra is also a commonly faked card. Where there's smoke there's fire. There's different kinds of fake Play Balls and most don't come with the obviously fake white backs like you pictured. Just because the others look alike doesn't make them real. Post more scans of anything of value as there's a good chance you have more bad stuff.

philipjgolden · July 3, 2008 5:34AM

Thanks. Here is Berra front and back. The color slightly shifted by the scan, but mainly right. Thanks.

KbKards · July 3, 2008 6:45AM

The Berra is okay.

mickeymantle24 · July 3, 2008 7:10AM

I actually believe the Berra looks to be authentic! NICE

philipjgolden · July 3, 2008 7:38AM

thanks for that guys! big relief.
bunch of mantles on ebay right now, btw. i'm philipjgolden at ebay.

philipjgolden · July 3, 2008 8:54AM

BTW - regarding that Berra - worth grading? Is it worse than a 5 and if so, any reason to do it?

Fastlane80 · July 3, 2008 10:22AM

<< <i>BTW - regarding that Berra - worth grading? Is it worse than a 5 and if so, any reason to do it? >>

I think it would be if you ever intend on selling it. It may help the confidence of the potential buyer since there are so many vintage fakes out there. You yourself even questioned it's authenticity which would all be removed if it were to be graded. I believe there would be less apprehension purchasing a fine Berra such as that if it were graded. Personal opinion of course

<< <i>thanks for that guys! big relief.
bunch of mantles on ebay right now, btw. i'm philipjgolden at ebay. >>

I bid on a few of those items

mickeymantle24 · July 3, 2008 11:41AM

Yes, for a card like that berra, I would whole lot better buy one psa graded instead of raw since they are so many counterfits of this card. I still think the card looks to be authentic and would get a decent grade by psa.

philipjgolden · July 3, 2008 12:47PM

Great guys. Thanks.

Are these Dimaggios real or fake?

Comments