Hobby Quick Hits Ep.129 Hobby History:Alan"Mr.Mint"Rosen

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Delivering that breaking happy news. 

Welcome to another edition of hobby quick hits. Today, we're going to do another hobby history episode. We did one of these a few months back pertaining to J. Warren Bowman. And today we're going to do another one and I picked a gentleman who knows name has kind of come out front, stalled the hobby again, even though he's no longer with us, we all know about the 9.5 SGC, man. No, that just went for twelve point, six million dollars via Heritage auctions. Well, that came from this gentleman's purchase and find and you know, if you're younger in the hobby, you may or may not have heard of Alan Rosen, more known as mr. MIT, and he was really the first guy, the hobby, very outspoken, very braggadocious. Sort of, you know, had a used cars salesman sort of vibe, but no one can deny his importance and no one can deny his smart and intelligent. He saw some stuff sort of ahead of its time. And when you ask someone who knew him, you know, whether they, you know, like them or not, it's one or two answers, you either got, you know, I like them a lot or love them or I couldn't stand the guy. 

This no in-betweens for as long as I've been in the hobby. I only really had one interaction with with him. I'd say it was around 1985. It was at a car show in the New York City area. Okay, I actually don't remember the venue, but I remember going to the show and I was actually working at Rudy's Booth the the card shop. I work for, and But I got a chance to walk around and he was, you know, he's always with set up at the front of shows. And I went to his table and heard about them. I went to his table and he had a an unopened pack. I forgot. What year was it was old and I asked him how much it wasn't and truth be told I was asking more out of curiosity than, you know, being able to afford it and rather than just saying the price which again, would Ben not in my budget. He kind of responded to me. Like, you don't have enough money kid and that was, you know, while he was telling the truth. It's still, you know, not a great response, kind of gave me the brush-off and if you know sort of my M alright, I'm a kids in the hobby guy, I think it's important. And you know, if I was if the situation were reversed that would never, you know, No come out of my mouth. But, you know, Alan didn't really care. Alan was sort of about Alan. So that's the answer I got. That was my one brush with him. I've seen him at that shows where I was at the same show, but that was my only interaction with mr. Rose. So definitely a unique personality. Some people thought he was bad for the hobby. Something we're, you know, 

People will tell you where, where where we are now, he's partly responsible for that. So when I learn a little bit more about him, we're going to hear from a great sponsor. Do our hobby news, new releases, and then we're going to get into Alan Rose and mr. Matt, we're going to learn some stuff even before he became who he was in the hobby. So don't go away. We'll get the show started right after we hear from Mojo brake. Mojo breaks. Dot-com is the best place to get your sealed wax products. And breaks they not only have the best selection but the best prices, whether it's a box or a whole case, they are your guys, they ship worldwide to your doorstep. Their reputation as one of the most trusted in the hobby goes unmatched. They are the 2021 tops. Rip party Champion Breakers from sports car to Pokemon cards. There are selection can't be beat, they Offer daily deals and pre-orders. Hey guys, John Newman here. Mojo's prices are already great, but to save an additional ten percent off anything in their store, used to code, quick hits. That's Q UI, CK h, i TS check out the full service store that's open. Seven days a week in Santa Clara California or the website at Mojo break.com. Let's check out this week's new releases. Take it away. Max. Hey guys, this is Max a sports car Nut Shop in New Buffalo. Once again, with the weekly releases for the sports Carnation podcast. This week to start us off on the 14th, we had twenty Twenty-One twenty-two, tops, UEFA Champions League, Merlin Chrome soccer. Then we have also on the Fourteen twenty Twenty-One Upper Deck, Skybox metal Universe champion Ins and on the 16th, we had 20 22, Panini Immaculate basketball, and that is the weekly releases this week. Appreciate you guys soon and podcast, enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you. Let's Go Round The Hobby verse and catch up on this week's hubby news few bigger stories this week. Let's start with PSA. They've announced another price drop down to As for the economy service, you do have to be a member of their collectors club to get that price. But that's the the lowest BSA price. We've seen in a while. And as I always say, when PSA drops their prices, let's see, you know what, the other competing grading companies do or not do in response, the tops 2023 design has been released. White borders, very clean. This is just my assessment. Going back to the inlet picture that we've seen like an eighty three, top 63 tops 2003. It's someone mentioned seems like every 20 years by Clockwork, I don't know. I'm assuming that's done on purpose by tops. I like those little picture in sets. The one, you know, complaint from a few people is that Your black sort of the team name but the logo is very prominent. So sort of a trade out there. I like it especially when compared to recent designs where little busy look kind of computer like graphics and pixels and this is just very clean and sort of tradition. You know I'm a modern spin on a traditional look is how I would describe. And I like it. I'm looking for Word to it. I don't open the ton of new stuff as I once did, but the design itself, probably will have me open and a few more packs than I traditionally would as well. Derek Jeter is not the Miami Marlins GM anymore, but he's got a new gig. So to sort of I just, you know, I think we all know Derek doesn't have to work anymore at this point, it's got that exclusive autograph deal with top. But now he is an investor in The Arena Club. The Arena Club is going to great ass. Another Grading Company we need, we need more grading companies and very short on grading companies, but they're thrown their hat in the ring grading and authentication this company Arena Club was started by Brian Lee. You may not know that name, but that gentleman is the creator of Zoom.com may remember those commercials the managing partner is Bam Ventures which is a venture capital firm, the grading prices are as follows $25, if you're going to keep the cards on their site or $35 if you want the cards back in your possession, which they're saying should happen within a 30-day period, they will have a vault. No mention on where the This is Mike. Educated guess is Delaware like many but we that's unconfirmed but they will have a vault. It's free to put your Arena Club. Graded cards on the Vault. If you sell one of the card, one of your cards from there. Well they're going to take a 5% commission, couple interesting notes Here on Arena Club for more top CEO Ryan, O'Hara. It is their board advisor and ultrapro will be making their slabs and providing them with Ultra Pro sleeves. For the inner sleeve that the card is in in the slab. So there you're going new Grading Company. Which like I said, we need about a million more of those. Our final story for the week is PwC. See has a 1 His 75 million dollar backing from White Hawk Capital Partners. This will allow the intent of this backing is to allow PWC see to lend money for people's cards in their vault. So let's say you have you know, a hundred thousand dollar card in their vault. For example, you'll be able to get cash for, you know, Borrow cash, I should say as that being the least. So if you wanted some cash in advance, so to speak with the intent to pay it back, you know, this backing allows PWC see to become a lender in the card space and we've seen that happen with a few different companies. Now, PWC, see, now being the latest. 

Our feature presentation. 

My name is mr. Ed Alan Rosen, generally known as the largest buyer and seller of vintage sports memorabilia and the world. All right? You heard the man introduced himself and he was not shy to tell you what he was about there. He talks about him in this Hobby and card life. Let's talk about before that, right? Everyone is usually something before there's something else and mr. Mittai. Rosen is no exception. He was born in New Jersey, Patterson, before he got into sports card, he was an insurance salesman got into selling jewelry and clothes. And what did the last thing he did before he can went into sports cards? Full time, was he owned a copy machine and antique business and then he went into cards full. Time, he was married to his wife. Money to Children, Jenny and Blake and Blake was actually one of his right-hand men when he was making a lot of his purchases. Allen was the first self-promoter really in the hobby. I mean he does this guy would take full page ads out in many of the trade Publications and he was willing to travel, you know, very few dealers. Around this time with travel significant miles to make purchases, you know, today that seems kind of, I like a lot of people traveling to show circuit and buying, but back in this time in the, you know, early 80s, late 80s, early 90s, you know, travel while possible obviously, for dealers, who was sort of unheard of actually, many dealers, were not full-time, right? Most dealers had. Regular job and dealing cards that shows was a side hustle. Well for mr. Meant it was his job, so he was willing to advertise more travel more. I don't want to say spending this is say more. Well, I'll say this, he had more cash than most dealers, which allowed him to buy more Collections, and that really started to put him. On the map. Like I said, he would travel, he would buy Collections and a lot of famous collections that became famous for what we know of them now where I leave the house. Basically, I tween 20 and 50 thousand what he did mention there. That was Ellen himself. Again, Buzz besides the cash on hand. He also carried a weapon, you know, he was known for carrying cash. 

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He also usually traveled with an Entourage of 425 folks. A lot of times I can mention his son Blake and his team. So there was a group of them but you know, pack some heat to protect, you know, his money. Another thing about Alan that I I don't think it's talk enough about or gets overlooked, you know. We know like the big auction houses the way we know them today, right? At the heritage is the Goldens Etc. Will Allen started really one of the first auction houses pertaining exclusively to sports cards and he ran it out of his New Jersey home via telephone. So people would call and place bids. He set, you know what time limit on the auction and people would call and phone and B. I got to remember this is before the computer age in the so 

The media age, as we know it today, today, you can go online and place all your beds, but this was predates that so he really was, you know, sort of a Pioneer in auctions starting that via the phone out of his house. At one point, he owned nine separate, T, 2006 honest Wagner's, he wrote two books. I don't own the book. It's anymore but I read both of them and you know, few I don't have many more love to refer back to some of the things but you know one book talks about how to buy and and make money and a lot of the stuff in there really Rings accurate today. Again like them or not like them. He you know, had his finger on the pulse knew what he was doing, had the wherewithal and the capital to make 

Happened. But many of those, those mantras that he put in his books. Still really ring true today and you hear other people talk about it and he was one of the first to really kind of put it out there. Couple quotes from Allen that I think sort of epitomizes who he was and his style. He said, quote never fall in love with anything, you've bought be prepared to disown it for the right price at any time. It's funny hearing that quote, really hits home to me. I've talked about this on an episode of hobby quick hits, way back. When about my store days from 92 to 97 and how I got attached to certain cars and wouldn't sell on while I was you know, doing a store. Now I you know, made a mistake by getting attached to cards and you know if I ever did a story again, It's something I would learn from that past mistake. That, if you're running a business, you can't get attached to the cart if you're not like, I'm not really no. I mean, I sell cards, but you more, you know, able to have a PC. So to speak the shit, you know, your mortgage doesn't rely on you having to sell cards. So interesting quote there from, you know, Oh Alan and I think it really Rings true depending on the situation. You're in a previously. You got to remember for him. This was his full-time 100% business. So he did not get attached to the cars while he wanted things and memorabilia, he and go was to sell them and make a profit. Another quote. He said I collect money hundred dollar bills. I'm loud braggart 

I'm Brash, but I'm the best most will tell you. He did not have a great bedside manner as may be you know that clip illustrates and that's why many didn't like him Mr. Met wasn't opportunist to say the least in the early to mid-90s when the vintage Star Wars mark? Kit. Loaded much like he did would baseball cards, there's and sports cards. He took out big full page ads, saying that he was buying vintage Star Wars collection and even referred to himself as mr. C 10. I will say that his Star Wars buying was not as fruitful as his, you know, baseball collection and sports card collection bind. But again, it just Just shows you how he you know sees the market and tries to take advantage of where it is and where it's going. Now I've heard some you know people talk about key rip people off took advantage of people. Here's my take on that now you know well he may be carrying a gun. He didn't point it at anyone and tell him that that's they have to take their offer. Negotiate these deals with folks many times in their own home at shows. And you know, it was them that had to say. Okay, you know, I'll take it and it's negotiation, you know we I think sometimes we're guilty of this, right? We look at deals, he made in the 80s and 90s and what he paid for things and we relate them to what they bring now. And we say man You know we bought that for, you know, that mantle for ten thousand dollars and it's you know that's a seven million dollar card now what was it seven million dollars that and so we can't do that that you can't criticize him for that. So you know, he made off, people accepted them, you know, was he shrewd kid. He be overbearing and domineering sure, you know, but a lot of people Can be that ultimately people did always sell their stuff to him, he'll you know, in his book he said that, you know, he didn't get the deal every time he went to someone's house or every time he was negotiating at a card table. So, I mean, people didn't always sell to him. So, you know, the people like the price, they paid for. So I, you know, when I hear ripping someone off, you know, 

For the someone off is maybe when you someone who doesn't know, you know, a younger kid or something, that doesn't know what they have and I don't think, you know, that was mr. Mintz Mo while the bedside manner? Left a lot to be desired. I think he said what he could pay and it was up to that Cellar, to pull the trigger, or not, pull the trigger, and like it or not, you know, Alan was really one of the faces. I don't want to say the face. But one of the faces in the hobby during this time period, he was appearing on Good Morning, America Sports Illustrated and Sport magazine. Did major feature articles about them, he was even featured in an Archie comic as himself. There is a mr. Minton Beanie Baby. Yep. You heard me correct? A mr. Meant be any baby. The 2008 movie diminished capacity. Starring Bobby kind of Ali also had a character in that movie that was 100% based on Mr. Met Alan Rosen. It was played by Bobby Cannavale e and that character's name in the film. The MIT, man. So two minutes, the MIT man and Alan Rosen was very critical was not enthralled and enthused. By the way, he was portrayed in that movie, he was the sponsor and driving force. Behind the New York, Yankees, 1961 30th reunions show in Atlantic City. He was even a sponsor of some of the gift bags given out at some of the Nationals longest-running dealer than, and I don't sell anything at the show. So on their Bible and I like to be noticed as a matter of fact that you come. So obnoxious that I don't do a show. Unless I have the front table, 

Everyone likes my ass. Not a very impressive one of those people, as you heard from him himself, he when he set up at shows he had Adam and he wanted to be that front first table. When you walk in to show that everyone sees, I know he's declines setting up at a show where the promoter did not allow that to happen. Most promoters acquiesced. You know, he paid Probably a little extra for sometimes for those spots. He only did shows that he perceived were good. So if Mr. Met asked to set up at your show, it was perceived as a compliment that your show was mr. Myth worthy. Like I said, he was always demanded that right up front table to be the first thing you'd see as you walked in. He was known for standing out in front. Out of it. And, you know, being a promoter in himself and talking to people and, you know, garnering attention. I do know in talking to some dealers who set up at shows with them. And like I said, I was working at the time for someone who was setting up at the shows. You know, some of the dealers were not fond of that that preferential treatment and just his And sort of Carnival Barker if you will, but as you just heard from that quote, from Alan Rosen, themself, he really didn't care what other people thought. And again, I think that's, you know, something to be sad, right? He did kind of he, he was himself, we like them or not, and that was his whole Mo, believe it or not, for as big as he was in The Hobby and weirdo. All the purchases he made, I don't know how many of you know this but he was not a fan of graded grading or graded cards. He chose to buy Cards, Rob based on condition. I mean obviously he tried to buy the best condition cards but he did not necessarily believe in grading. He obviously loves to travel traveled, the country in search of deal setting up at shows and search of 

More deals and he traveled so much. He got to know, you know, in certain towns, he loved fine dining and he got to know, you know, the restaurant owners and had favorite places he would like to eat dinner. Maybe entertain a potential client. Got to know the owner of the restaurant, got whatever seat in the house he wanted. And you know made the restaurant tour as well. I think about that even us. Right? When we go to Nationals and we find a restaurant, we were find out. When we like right, we tend to go back there again. You know, the next time that National is in that City and up. So I mean that's just I think human nature there unfortunately. Alan was struck by leukemia but in the early stages he was still doing the show circuit traveling and working so to speak. 

Even after his diagnosis. But eventually succumb to his illness in 2017 at the age of 70 years old that's going to be the hobby history of Mr. Met Alan Rosen, you know definitely a polarizing figure of the hobby but again whether you love them, hate them that rare in between person. You can't argue with sort of what he brought to the table, right? We have outspoken, folks in the hobby today, you know, I don't have to mention names, but, you know, many can point to three or five people in the hobby with big voices. Big, you know, big platforms, braggadocio something in some cases, right? Well Allen created that in the have he was the 

Trendsetter there. Even back before social media, imagine him in his prime with the social media. We have now Instagrams, Tick-Tock Twitter. You know, he think he was a big personality then he'd probably be an even bigger personality. Had he been in the Heyday of today's social media age so I hope you learned some stuff. I know I did and the 

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The process of researching. For this episode, many of the stuff I didn't know when ready being my age and you know, being a Northeast kit myself, New York City and you know, seeing them sort of in action at at the Northeast shows. Like I said, I only really had one interaction with them. As I said in the intro. Not a good one to say the least but it is what it is. So there you go. I hope you learn something. I know I did. Be enjoyed the episode. Let me know what you think. Again, we're going to do these hobby histories every probably couple months. I don't want to overdo them, but every couple months will select another person from The Hobby. That's no longer with us and kind of talk about what they what they did for the Hobby and what their accolades and accomplishments were. If you have someone in mind that you'd like to see me cover by all means, let me know. And let me know what you think of these Type of episodes. All right. That's gonna do it for this happy quick. Hits episode hobby. History, Mr. Met Alan Rosen. Hope you enjoyed that. I hope you you learned some things. Even if you knew quite a bit, I hope there was a few tidbits in there that to add on to your knowledge of Alan Rosen. And if you don't know Alan Rosen, I hope maybe this episode went away ways to, you know, help you learn a little bit more about You know I say legend of the hobby I mean if even if you don't like them even people don't like him should be able to you know talk about his contributions or what he brought to the table. You no pun intended but again, love them hate them. You know, a big figure in the hobby one we have to acknowledge and talk about and that's hopefully this again, this episode. Enlightened you a little bit and what he was about. So we're going to bid you adieu, wish you. Well stay safe and we'll see you very soon.