Super Rare Arod Autograph Error Question 1:614,088 Packs

davepeters239 · 03-18-2012, 11:44 AM

I am new to this site but I see there are a lot of nice people here and wanted to ask for some advice if I could.

I don't collect very much anymore and haven't for years. I do save and collect error cards though. Over the years I have gotten some really interesting errors but mostly they are like pack pulled autographed cards missing the autograph. How so many of these cards ever make it into packs I will never know.

Well a couple of years back I came across the rarest of the rare autograph cards missing the autograph. At the time when I bought it I knew it was an Arod autograph error but I didn't know what card it was.

After receiving it I was not sure why the previous owner did not get it corrected but was soon able to maybe figure out why.

Since it was a Bowman card I went straight to Topps and after much frustration with back and forth messages they wanted me to send the card in to them without telling me what they would do or send in return. This didn't sound very good to me at the time so I declined.

I then contacted MLB amd the Yankees and again did not get any help whatsoever and was always referred back to Topps.

I then tried to search for whoever his agent or manager might be but seemed to just keep missing him as he kept changing who represented him.

Finally I came across an Alex Rodriguez car dealership in Texas and thought what the heck and contacted them. It turns out it was a dealership associated with Arod and that I should contact them through the web form and they would try to help me.

I spoke with a few people through the dealership and they went above and beyond to get help with this card and get it signed. Just this Friday I received an email from someone within his organization who says they are going to set something up where I can meet him and get the card signed.

I then contacted Topps again late Friday evening and the customer service guy was amazed at how I did not give up with getting this card signed. I asked him if we could maybe get someone from Topps to be there to witness the signature and to affix the two security holograms on the back of the card. I eagerly await their response.

The card is a 2005 Bowman Chrome A-Rod Throwback Autographs 94A-AR. It was maybe the best card and toughest pull from that set. The odds to pull this card from a pack was listed at 1:614,088 packs.

In December 2005 the original owner of this card wrote into Beckett magazine and Clay Luraschi responded. The response was that, "During production, chrome cards have a tendency to stick together. This is what most likely happened and an unknown number of unsigned cards were accidentally inserted into packs. Any collector in possession of these cards needs to contact our customer service department so we can resolve the situation."

It has taken years but I think I am very close now to getting it signed.

It is inside a BGS graded case so I am unsure how to safely remove it and will wait I guess until it is ready to be signed to remove it.

Has anyone removed cards from a BGS case and is it hard to do? I of course don't want to damage the card so am very scared about that part.

Could it maybe be sent to Beckett to be removed?

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions please let me know.

Thanks

mnvikingstwins · 03-18-2012, 11:49 AM

Take pliers to the corners and hammer a flat screwdriver into the edges to pop the case open, card should be in a sealed plastic sleeve so it won't get scratched.

davepeters239 · 03-18-2012, 11:56 AM

Sorry the scans are not as clear as they could be but the card is inside a BGS case.

THE(NEXT)LEVEL · 03-18-2012, 11:16 PM

Can't be too rare, I have one. Maybe I can get mine signed too

dthimesch · 03-18-2012, 11:25 PM

First off, to crack a case watch this video and follow what this guy does. I did this and after my first one it was easy as pie.

How To Crack / Bust Open BGS Case - BuyMMAcards.com - YouTube

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE(NEXT)LEVEL

Can't be too rare, I have one. Maybe I can get mine signed too

Secondly, now this post made this story get REAL interesting.

Welcome to the boards, that is a pretty cool story also. Crazy how far you have gone, but appears it may pay off in the end

THE(NEXT)LEVEL · 03-18-2012, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dthimesch

First off, to crack a case watch this video and follow what this guy does. I did this and after my first one it was easy as pie.

How To Crack / Bust Open BGS Case - BuyMMAcards.com - YouTube

Secondly, now this post made this story get REAL interesting.

Welcome to the boards, that is a pretty cool story also. Crazy how far you have gone, but appears it may pay off in the end

Crazy part, is I think mine has the stickers on back. I'll have to check when I get a chance.

WCTYSON · 03-18-2012, 11:39 PM

Seems like a lot of trouble to get the auto on the error card. Why not buy the auto version and keep the error to go with it? Another issue with this is I have heard a lot of people post that autos can easily be removed from cards, so that greatly takes away value of the error card, right?

THE(NEXT)LEVEL · 03-18-2012, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCTYSON

Seems like a lot of trouble to get the auto on the error card. Why not buy the auto version and keep the error to go with it? Another issue with this is I have heard a lot of people post that autos can easily be removed from cards, so that greatly takes away value of the error card, right?

This was a 1/1 auto, toughest to pull of his reprint rookie autos.

purejd86p · 03-18-2012, 11:45 PM

I hope Topps and Alex can come through for you good luck!!!!!!

davepeters239 · 03-18-2012, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the help with the BGS case and getting it opened.

This I guess is about to get real interesting since there are more than one of these unsigned cards? How can there be two unsigned 1/1 cards?

Wow I didn't think this story could get any crazier.

When you get chance please let me know if your card does have the stickers on the back?

Thanks

WCTYSON · 03-18-2012, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE(NEXT)LEVEL

This was a 1/1 auto, toughest to pull of his reprint rookie autos.

Sorry, I did not know that. I saw the posted odds from the o.p, but I did not realize it was a 1/1.........or should I say a 2/1.

WilsonValdez · 03-19-2012, 12:01 AM

Wow, this is an epic story....Epically retarded.

Sorry OP, but wtf.

Edit- Wait a second Dave Peters...are you from Florida by any chance?

EDIT- OMG, IT'S DAVID PETERS!!

Hellwig · 03-19-2012, 12:02 AM

If the card is that rare won't A-rod signing it hurt the value of the card. I realize you get to meet him because of it so it's worth it that way but overall... have him sign something else

THE(NEXT)LEVEL · 03-19-2012, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellwig

If the card is that rare won't A-rod signing it hurt the value of the card. I realize you get to meet him because of it so it's worth it that way but overall... have him sign something else

The point is that that card is supposed to be a 1/1 Topps certified auto. If you can get it signed, and if you could get Topps to sticker it, it would be worth decent money. Topps isn't going to do that though.

WCTYSON · 03-19-2012, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE(NEXT)LEVEL

The point is that that card is supposed to be a 1/1 Topps certified auto. If you can get it signed, and if you could get Topps to sticker it, it would be worth decent money. Topps isn't going to do that though.

Enough of all that, where is the back of yours?

THE(NEXT)LEVEL · 03-19-2012, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCTYSON

Enough of all that, where is the back of yours?

I don't scan the backs of my cards in my photobucket, and all are in my safe deposit boxes, so I can't check it yet, but I will when I get to it again.

WCTYSON · 03-19-2012, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE(NEXT)LEVEL

I don't scan the backs of my cards in my photobucket, and all are in my safe deposit boxes, so I can't check it yet, but I will when I get to it again.

You are going to make us all wait that long?

davepeters239 · 03-19-2012, 12:21 AM

I am kinda sad now and very confused.

I could see there being two of these cards for like incase one got damaged and they needed another to be replaced.

But for two of them to be unsigned and make it into the marketplace just blows my mind.

WilsonValdez · 03-19-2012, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davepeters239

I am kinda sad now and very confused.

I could see there being two of these cards for like incase one got damaged and they needed another to be replaced.

But for two of them to be unsigned and make it into the marketplace just blows my mind.

Back up guys...this man is a VIP and my guest of honor. Please treat him with the same respect and dignity with which you would treat me

Gibberish · 03-19-2012, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE(NEXT)LEVEL

Can't be too rare, I have one. Maybe I can get mine signed too

Yours says Not valid without sticker on the back as well ?

WCTYSON · 03-19-2012, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibberish

Yours says Not valid without sticker on the back as well ?

Did you bother to read?

davepeters239 · 03-19-2012, 12:29 AM

Mine has two spots that say not valid without sticker on back. The little square box and the harder to see little triangle.

The other fella thinks there may be stickers on the back of his card but he doesn't have the card handy to check.

WilsonValdez · 03-19-2012, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davepeters239

Mine has two spots that say not valid without sticker on back. The little square box and the harder to see little triangle.

The other fella thinks there may be stickers on the back of his card but he doesn't have the card handy to check.

David, I'm sorry to tell you, but your super rare error is not worth much. We've been through this dance before...still holds the same as it did 10 years ago.

dmogull · 03-19-2012, 12:33 AM

Good luck having Topps and A-Rod fly out to the dealership for your baseball card! It seems you have the persistence to at least make it a possibility, so the power to ya, just seems like a remote possibility bro...

WilsonValdez · 03-19-2012, 12:34 AM

Oh...........I will offer you 20 dollers for your A-Rod.

03-18-2012, 11:44 AM	#1
davepeters239 Banned Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 455	Super Rare Arod Autograph Error Question 1:614,088 Packs I am new to this site but I see there are a lot of nice people here and wanted to ask for some advice if I could. I don't collect very much anymore and haven't for years. I do save and collect error cards though. Over the years I have gotten some really interesting errors but mostly they are like pack pulled autographed cards missing the autograph. How so many of these cards ever make it into packs I will never know. Well a couple of years back I came across the rarest of the rare autograph cards missing the autograph. At the time when I bought it I knew it was an Arod autograph error but I didn't know what card it was. After receiving it I was not sure why the previous owner did not get it corrected but was soon able to maybe figure out why. Since it was a Bowman card I went straight to Topps and after much frustration with back and forth messages they wanted me to send the card in to them without telling me what they would do or send in return. This didn't sound very good to me at the time so I declined. I then contacted MLB amd the Yankees and again did not get any help whatsoever and was always referred back to Topps. I then tried to search for whoever his agent or manager might be but seemed to just keep missing him as he kept changing who represented him. Finally I came across an Alex Rodriguez car dealership in Texas and thought what the heck and contacted them. It turns out it was a dealership associated with Arod and that I should contact them through the web form and they would try to help me. I spoke with a few people through the dealership and they went above and beyond to get help with this card and get it signed. Just this Friday I received an email from someone within his organization who says they are going to set something up where I can meet him and get the card signed. I then contacted Topps again late Friday evening and the customer service guy was amazed at how I did not give up with getting this card signed. I asked him if we could maybe get someone from Topps to be there to witness the signature and to affix the two security holograms on the back of the card. I eagerly await their response. The card is a 2005 Bowman Chrome A-Rod Throwback Autographs 94A-AR. It was maybe the best card and toughest pull from that set. The odds to pull this card from a pack was listed at 1:614,088 packs. In December 2005 the original owner of this card wrote into Beckett magazine and Clay Luraschi responded. The response was that, "During production, chrome cards have a tendency to stick together. This is what most likely happened and an unknown number of unsigned cards were accidentally inserted into packs. Any collector in possession of these cards needs to contact our customer service department so we can resolve the situation." It has taken years but I think I am very close now to getting it signed. It is inside a BGS graded case so I am unsure how to safely remove it and will wait I guess until it is ready to be signed to remove it. Has anyone removed cards from a BGS case and is it hard to do? I of course don't want to damage the card so am very scared about that part. Could it maybe be sent to Beckett to be removed? If anyone has any ideas or suggestions please let me know. Thanks

03-19-2012, 12:01 AM	#12
WilsonValdez Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Temporarily Suspended Posts: 9,938 wilsonvaldez	Wow, this is an epic story....Epically retarded. Sorry OP, but wtf. Edit- Wait a second Dave Peters...are you from Florida by any chance? EDIT- OMG, IT'S DAVID PETERS!! __________________ Mostly gone. Last edited by WilsonValdez; 03-19-2012 at 12:05 AM.

03-19-2012, 12:34 AM	#25
WilsonValdez Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Temporarily Suspended Posts: 9,938 wilsonvaldez	Oh...........I will offer you 20 dollers for your A-Rod. __________________ Mostly gone. Last edited by WilsonValdez; 03-19-2012 at 12:41 AM.

03-18-2012, 11:49 AM	#2
mnvikingstwins Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 42,181 ski_4 ski_4	Take pliers to the corners and hammer a flat screwdriver into the edges to pop the case open, card should be in a sealed plastic sleeve so it won't get scratched.

03-18-2012, 11:56 AM	#3
davepeters239 Banned Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 455	Sorry the scans are not as clear as they could be but the card is inside a BGS case.

03-18-2012, 11:16 PM	#4
THE(NEXT)LEVEL Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 4,645	Can't be too rare, I have one. Maybe I can get mine signed too

03-18-2012, 11:39 PM	#7
WCTYSON Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 16,597	Seems like a lot of trouble to get the auto on the error card. Why not buy the auto version and keep the error to go with it? Another issue with this is I have heard a lot of people post that autos can easily be removed from cards, so that greatly takes away value of the error card, right?

03-18-2012, 11:45 PM	#9
purejd86p Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SacTown Posts: 4,490	I hope Topps and Alex can come through for you good luck!!!!!!

03-18-2012, 11:49 PM	#10
davepeters239 Banned Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 455	Thanks for the help with the BGS case and getting it opened. This I guess is about to get real interesting since there are more than one of these unsigned cards? How can there be two unsigned 1/1 cards? Wow I didn't think this story could get any crazier. When you get chance please let me know if your card does have the stickers on the back? Thanks

03-19-2012, 12:02 AM	#13
Hellwig Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 326 ratmjam hellwigfan	If the card is that rare won't A-rod signing it hurt the value of the card. I realize you get to meet him because of it so it's worth it that way but overall... have him sign something else

03-19-2012, 12:21 AM	#18
davepeters239 Banned Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 455	I am kinda sad now and very confused. I could see there being two of these cards for like incase one got damaged and they needed another to be replaced. But for two of them to be unsigned and make it into the marketplace just blows my mind.

03-19-2012, 12:29 AM	#22
davepeters239 Banned Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 455	Mine has two spots that say not valid without sticker on back. The little square box and the harder to see little triangle. The other fella thinks there may be stickers on the back of his card but he doesn't have the card handy to check.

03-19-2012, 12:33 AM	#24
dmogull Banned Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NY/NJ Posts: 4,038 m3equals333	Good luck having Topps and A-Rod fly out to the dealership for your baseball card! It seems you have the persistence to at least make it a possibility, so the power to ya, just seems like a remote possibility bro...