Lost and Found: The value of networking

A month back, I lamented missing out on a much-needed eBay auction. After a frustrated Facebook post about missing out on it and cursing the universe for its timing in my being unable to buy it due to the upcoming trip to the National Sports Collectors Convention, I put out a call to find out who bought it.

It wasn't Rob, or Ray, or Doc; but Ray and I did email the seller asking him to pass our information on to the buyer if possible.

So then local collector and friend Brian messaged me on Facebook, asking me about the lot that I was interested in. And a day later as we were both getting prepared for 'graphing the NHL Draft (quite a fruitful weekend, I must say; if you're a hockey fan I recapped it on my other blog) I get a call from him.

He said after seeing my post and frustration that he was hesitating to tell me, but he was the buyer of it! Which actually was the best possible result I could have gotten from it. More than anything I just wanted to know where they were because of some set rarities, like the aforementioned Scoop Stanisic corrected version.

It was an amazing coincidence. I have an eBay saved search for any signed Pacific MISL cards, so any time some come up for auction I get an email notification. I didn't get one on this. Brian and I both happened to search on the same day for soccer autographs on a total whim, came across it, both put in offers a few hours apart, and his got picked.

Brian offered me even better-- there were some he wanted for his own collection, mostly any MISL guys that he didn't have anything from and the Dominic Mobilio sigs, but after that he was willing to give me a good deal on any that I might need that he didn't-- including most of the 1992-93 NPSL ones.

I'm still considering the 1992-93 Pacific NPSL set to be non-canon and a side project, but I have 2/3 of it finished it off thanks to his offer.

The moral of the story: get in good with your fellow collectors. You never know when they can help you out (and you them).

It DOES exist!

Was just hacking around through eBay a few minutes ago and found a nice lot of MISL autographs and non-autographs.

A while back I mentioned I was still doubting the existence of the Scoop Stanisic corrected version of the 1989-90 card, mostly since I had never seen one aside from a photo on a website. I figured maybe it was a fan-made custom, but a commenter on here told me it does exist and where I could find it.

So I tried. And got the error version.

Today, I found an eBay auction.  And the corrected Stanisic is part of it.

And signed.

Along with several others I need.

I put in an offer. There are over 200 signed cards, plus complete sets of all of the indoor sets. They wanted $140 shipped which I can't justify when I may only need half of what's in there, but for several that I know I need, I figure a lower offer might be worth a try. For all I know the seller may be desperate to move them for cheap.

My fingers are crossed, but at least I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Scoop card is truly real.

EDIT: It sold for $75 plus $35 shipping.  If you bought it and are interested in selling or trading any, please let me know. I talked to Ray in Baltimore and it wasn't him. Rob Parker? You perhaps?

Dammit...

Debunking theories: the 1987-88 Tatu "Promo" and 89-90 Scoop headshot card

Well, that was quick!

Ray in Maryland emailed me yesterday to show me the source of the blank-back Tatu.

In most sports, a card displayed on a box is taken straight from the normal set (see all of Topps Baseball in the 1980s). This is the rare situation where it was completely different. Granted, other sports collectors may also recall that several companies did put cards for cut-out on the bottom or sides of boxes, however I highly doubt that was the intention with these Pacific boxes.

I also won't count the Michael King card on the 1988-89 box either.

Ray also said he hadn't seen the 1989-90 Scoop Stanisic headshot card anywhere except on the site that I saw it on, so I believe it is just a well-made graphic and not an actual physical card.

So it appears we can lay the concerns to rest and have a nice, even 800 sigs needed for the project.

Another error found, plus a rare promo

Well, at least now the project is at a nice, round 800 sigs needed.

The bad news is the new one is Slobo Ilijevski, who is deceased.

Look at Scoop Stanisic's 1989-90 Pacific card. That's not him. Big thanks to Rob Parker for pointing that out. He thought it was Scott Manning, but upon further review it's Slobo. He's wearing the same shirt on his 1988-89 All-Decade card.

I did also see this card of Scoop-- a corrected version. However, I don't know if this was a fan mock-up or an actual card. Can someone confirm?

If real: well, that puts us at a not-so-round 801.

ADDENDUM

Or was at 800.

I forgot about being shown this blank-back Tatu card, evidently a pre-press promotional/proof card that has been making the rounds on eBay. I would love to know more about it. Bottom right, photo lifted from an eBay auction that currently has it.

So we're at 801, maybe 802.

EDIT: Check the comments. I'm leaning more toward Manning again.