Biggest hit of my life! So I thought!

[jratliff70]

Went to Walmart a couple days back and bought a retail box of Gems of the Game Series 1 that is put out by MJ Holding Company LLC aka Beckett Associates that is headquartered in Bedford Park, IL outside of Chicago. Each box guarantees 1 auto, graded, rookie, or game used per box plus an additional 10 packs of baseball cards. I opened the box, and in the middle of all the packs was a piece of cardboard with a rubber band around it. It was the hit of the box, and I thought the hit of a lifetime. Until I started looking closer at the card and noticed the date. Below is a picture of the back and front of the card.

the front:


and the auto on the card:



Now if I had ever seen a Mickey Mantle auto before, I would have instantly known this was a fake. But I hadn't. I just kept staring at the card in disbelief thinking this was just too good to be true. So I looked on down at the year of the card, which was produced in 2008. Hmmm is Mickey pulling mysterious appearances 13 years after his death?

So I instantly googled this company and found their number to give them a call. The lady tried telling me this was one of their huge chasers in this series. I mentioned the fact that Mickey Mantle died in 95, and this card was made in 2008. She instantly said that there was some sort of mistake, and was going to ship me something to send them the whole box and the Mantle. She then said they would review the card, and give me something "reasonable".

Do any of y'all know anything about this company, and how reputable they are? They've been in buisness 21 years according to their website, and I figured to be associates with Beckett, they have to be a fairly reputable company.

[key2win]

I dont know anything about the company, but I think I can help you with some information on that Mantle card. When I used to collect baseball cards way back in the early 90s, I remember buying packs of cards in 1992 which were Topps Archives Baseball. They made reprints of all the cards from 1953 Topps. I had the Mantle Reprint card.

My guess is that Topps reprinted some of the 1953 cards as inserts in 2008 Topps Chrome and that was the Gold Refractor version of it?

[key2win]

Found a few auctions on EBAY with the card.

2008 Topps 1953 Mickey Mantle Gold Refractor Reprint #MMR-53 | eBay

[jratliff70]

Yeah I believe so. But someone made a bad attempt at forging Mickey's signature in red ink on the back lol. I guess they buy collections from people and distribute the big hits in every so many boxes. They took for granted that this was a legitimate Mickey Mantle auto.

[key2win]

The original 1953 Topps cards has fascimile signatures on the back of the cards. My Topps Archives Reprint Mantle also had it on there too. I think all reprints of 1953 Topps cards still had the fascimile autos on the back for continuity. That third party company thought it was real. LOL!

If that was "The Hit" of the box, I would ask for a refund. But considering it is a Mantle, a Topps Chrome Card, and a Gold Refractor version, I would guess its worth maybe $15-$20? I dont know baseball card values though.

[jratliff70]

Here is an actual autograph of Mickey. So I'm pretty sure someone tried to forge it, very badly I may add, on the back of the card lol. I don't think even a facsimile auto would be that far off from his actual signature.

[thebighurt035]

It may not be the exact same card but it has the exact same signature on the back.

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

[jratliff70]

thanks buddy. have never seen that one before. that might have been their "hit". Which I mean is a decent card, but it's not an auto, gu'd, graded, or rookie card like their boxes say. Will just have to wait and see what they say after reviewing the box.

[thebighurt035]

Not a bad card but you are right it isn't an auto or g/u

You said that the company is located in Bedford Park IL. I live close by.

Do you have the actual address? I can stop by them and tell them off for you,lol

[thebighurt035]

Mj Holding Company, LLC

7001 S Harlem Avenue
Bedford Park, IL60638-4713map

They are real close,lol
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[jratliff70]

lol not sure of their physical address. but the lady was very nice about it, and told me they would give me something reasonable. Would be sweet if it was an MJ auto since their former name, or their current name, is MJ Holding Company lol. But their automated phone system says it's now called Beckett Associates.

[jratliff70]

Lol. Have some family up in that area too I believe. Isn't that the north side of Chicago?

[thebighurt035]

Lol. Have some family up in that area too I believe. Isn't that the north side of Chicago?

No sir,
it is the Southside,no Cubbies fans here just White Sox fans


Beckett Associates is a registered assumed name of MJ Holding Company, LLC, an Illinois limited liability company.
Beckett Associates and MJ Holding Company, LLC have no affiliation or other legal relationship with Beckett Media, LP, Beckett, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates.
The information contained on this site is confidential and proprietary and may not be reproduced, copied, or disclosed without prior written consent of MJ Holding Company, LLC. All information contained on this site is subject to change without notice. MJ Holding Company, LLC is not responsible for any errors contained on this site.
If you have any questions about the content of this disclaimer or the content of this site, you may contact us as follows:
MJ Holding Company, LLC
d/b/a Beckett Associates
P.O. Box 007
Bedford Park, IL 60499

Phone: (708) 793-5800

[arod1973]

That was an insert in 2008 Topps Factory sets at some retail stores...actually not a bad card and probably better than some of the autos and game used i've seen come out of those things..

[bobjah]

I got one of these boxes to night got a 20cent graded card . very very disappointed !!I was thinking 10 dollors a box maybe a $5 card .I will be calling tomarrow makeing a complaint.Your card as better than mine.