The Infamous 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols Refractor Autograph 5/500 Is Back On Ebay ...

JackWESQ · July 16, 2008 2:52PM

The infamous 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols Refractor Autograph 5/500 is back on ebay. Notwithstanding the $8,999.00 BIN price, the seller has included a letter that he wrote to Topps requesting further information regarding the legitimacy of the card. Interesting to say the least. (No sarcasm here), but I hope he receives a response from Topps. I'm curious as to what they would say.

/s/ JackWESQ

metalmike · July 16, 2008 4:18PM

This post would have been a bit more interesting with a bit of backstory, as not everyone knows what the two hockey sticks about what you speak.

ripkenintheminors · July 16, 2008 4:30PM

<< This post would have been a bit more interesting with a bit of backstory, as not everyone knows what the two hockey sticks about what you speak. >>

There's a lot of discussion about the card because of the premium that others would place on the card with Albert's jersey number. With that extra premium, some people have gone the route of adjusting the number on the back. For example, if a person had card 195/500, they could rub off the 19 and make it 5/500. I'm not too up on all of the specifics, but I'm pretty sure that there are several copies with a 5/500 on the back.

storm888 · July 16, 2008 4:59PM

1. Lightly moisten strip with distilled-water.

2. Place moist strip on suspected surface. (Press ever-so-lightly).

3. The strip will alert to nano-presence of rubbing alcohol.

Test Strips

///////////////////////////////////

The reason that isopropyl is suspected is, in part, because the card does
not have any apparent marks where the "missing digits" were. This result
is typical of IA reaction when soaking cardboard; even a submerged card
will often dry to "mint state."

Even the unsophisticated test above should solve the "mystery." Obviously,
more sophisticated tests would remove any doubt.

The arson investigator has some stuff that he puts on a Q-Tip to test for
alcohol, too. Some local fire departments may have the test fluid, too.

///////////////////////////////////////

EDITED TO ADD:

My totally corrupt friend just told me that the best way to go is to soak
six of the strips in a teaspoon of distilled water for 10-minutes.

Dip a Q-Tip in the mixture and rub the QT across the suspect area.

Color change on the QT indicates alcohol.

metalmike · July 16, 2008 5:14PM

Color change on the QT indicates alcohol. Does that trick work with Mick cards also?

StanTheManMusial · July 16, 2008 6:29PM

Long story short, 401kards has it back for sale thanks to myself alerting the previous buyer(Jeff) as to it being an altered card. He had no clue that there was a history of problems with this card's serial numbering until I informed him.

Jeff, the last guy to aquire it from 401kards cards lives close to me, and we discussed it on several occasions. He guy traded a BGS 9.5 1986 Fleer Jordan and some cash for this Pujols card. Once Jeff received the evidence I provided him, as well as other card dealer's opinions in the local area, he contacted 401kards and made him take it back. The card's serial numbering is 100% bogus.

The serial numbering should be 005/500. Here is a correct example of how the single digit cards were numbered from Topps.

Edit: to add scan/explain a bit better

hofautos · July 16, 2008 10:55PM

I believe STans story, but I am AMAZED that there are those out there that risk altering that expensive of a card.
Not that i condone any such behavior, but I could understand someone that would trim a "bad" card, but to actually
tamper a perfectly good card is just beyond me....then again, I think it is absolutely silly to pay double for a card
just because it is numbered the same as their jersey...that is lunacy.

BobaFett72 · July 16, 2008 11:10PM

"then again, I think it is absolutely silly to pay double for a card
just because it is numbered the same as their jersey..."

amen brother.

billwaltonsbeard · July 16, 2008 11:16PM

<< I believe STans story, but I am AMAZED that there are those out there that risk altering that expensive of a card.
Not that i condone any such behavior, but I could understand someone that would trim a "bad" card, but to actually
tamper a perfectly good card is just beyond me....then again, I think it is absolutely silly to pay double for a card
just because it is numbered the same as their jersey...that is lunacy. >>

I was thinking the exact same thing. That's a very risky move....to alter a card like that. I'm wondering two things....if someone were to go to those lengths to alter a card, why didnt they write in their own zeroes to finish it off? And if this is indeed an altered card, how could PSA let it slip through and slab it?

lawnmowerman · July 16, 2008 11:32PM

<< if someone were to go to those lengths to alter a card, why didnt they write in their own zeroes to finish it off? >>

Because Pujols jersey number is 5 not 005. He is trying to cash in on someone who collects that "same number as jersey card"

BobaFett72 · July 16, 2008 11:34PM

pardon my ignorance, but its still slabbed and graded right?

swartz1 · July 16, 2008 11:43PM

its legit - too much paranoia...

StanTheManMusial · July 16, 2008 11:46PM

<< pardon my ignorance, but its still slabbed and graded right? >>

Yes, still slabbed..

There is also a BGS 8 that is slabbed, and it has 5/500 on it too..

And for the ones who ask why didn't they write the 2 zeros in front of the 5?? Well, here are 2 possibilities.

1. They had no clue how Topps originally numbered them, because they never seen another low number example at the time they altered the card.

2. It's much easier to just wipe off the digits in front of the "5", than to attempt an exact match on the blue colored ink by placing 2 zeros in front of the 5.

lawnmowerman · July 16, 2008 11:47PM

<< And if this is indeed an altered card, how could PSA let it slip through and slab it? >>

I don't think PSA takes into account during grading, the serial numbers put on cards. This would most likely explain why it was "missed"

I have never seen a serial number listed on a PSA flip.

StanTheManMusial · July 16, 2008 11:48PM

<< 

<< And if this is indeed an altered card, how could PSA let it slip through and slab it? >>

I don't think PSA takes into account during grading, the serial numbers put on cards. This would most likely explain why it was "missed"

I have never seen a serial number listed on a PSA flip. >>

Yes, both PSA and BGS dropped the ball on this issue.

StanTheManMusial · July 16, 2008 11:54PM

And for further follow up, Topps dropped the zeros in front of the number on all the cards, after the single digits(001-009).

So the legit cards go: 001/500, 002/500, 003/500, 004/500, 005/500, 006/500, 007/500, 008/500, 009/500, 10/500, 11/500, ect....

CDsNuts · July 16, 2008 11:54PM

Don't tell fandango about this. The combination of PSA screwing up and a fake Pujols RC might be enough to send him over the edge.

StanTheManMusial · July 17, 2008 12:08AM

<< Don't tell fandango about this. The combination of PSA screwing up and a fake Pujols RC might be enough to send him over the edge. >>

The card is not fake, just an altered serial number.

dizzle · July 17, 2008 12:12AM

<< Don't tell fandango about this. The combination of PSA screwing up and a fake Pujols RC might be enough to send him over the edge. >>

Too Late for that I think..

The Infamous 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols Refractor Autograph 5/500 Is Back On Ebay ...

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