Any good films/documentaries about sportscard collecting/card producing?

[zackmak]

There's another thread that was recently started by 'Triple B' that triggered me to start this one.

Triple B's thread was on the 'Card Sharks' book, and him stating that it was a great read. It's about Upper Deck and their history in the sportscard market, and what they went through to achieve success (and failure) during the early 1990's.

With all the pro and indie films/documentaries out there, I'm thinking there has to be a couple good ones that focus on the sportscard collecting market, as well as the major companies that produce them and what they (and fans) go through. Even addressing the 'dark side' of it. Maybe there are even youtube videos.

Any recommendations?

 

[GoalieFan89]

I really enjoyed "Diminished Capacity" although it's fiction. An elderly man (Alzheimer's-impaired) is taken across country by his Nephew trying to sell his rare baseball card collection.

 

[weasel-king]

There is a short documentary called The Last American Hobby, but it is so short I hesitate to call it a documentary. More like a short interview or news segment. I think it's on YouTube.

Strangely, IMDB lists an untitled documentary for 2017 about it:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6360394/

It is strange there is not more representation. If a documentary about a guy eating McDonalds for a month wins awards, or someone winning a high score in Donkey Kong, it is odd that hobbies with a fanbase as big as card collecting doesn't have anything out there.

 

[will-411]

Hmmm... I know there have been news segments done about Bruce McNall and the T206 Honus Wagner he bought, though usually as part of his whole pyramid scheme to overvalue sports and coin collectibles... Will have to see what's out there.

Cory

 

[winniescards]

I believe TSN had a half hour show that ran for 6-8 weeks back in the 90's.There must be archive video of that show somewhere. I even forget what it was called.

 

[bamlinden]

There was a ‘30 for 30 Short’ done on the Honus Wagner card. Really enjoyed that.

I believe Topps put out a documentary a few years back called Cardboard Treasure that ran on the MLB Network. Never did see it but heard it was more fluff than anything.

I vaguely remember a CBC/Tom Harrington piece on hockey cards. This was back in the 90’s and included some talk on Patrick Roy’s collection.

Or maybe I’m imagining things.

But you’re right....there really isn’t much out there.

 

[wrek68]

There was an ESPN episode 30 in 30 about fake autos back in the 90's not so much about about cards but on memorabilia and pictures. Very interesting. I believe Upper Deck tweeted out the link a month ago. That's how I was able to watch it.

 

[Triple B]

This one...ESPN's The Counterfeiter

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=21011515

This will shake your faith in anything that is autographed.

 

[hockeyguy2006]

There is an episode of American Greed about Bill Mastro and his auction house including the shenanigans they got up to.

http://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/american-greed/full-episode/fraud-collectors/1029670979712

 

[theslurpee]

Ultimate Auctions is a show on the History Channel which features the stuff sold by Heritage Auctions and often showcases amazing sportscard and other sports memorabilia.

 

[Krakenfan]

There is a movie called the "swindler" about a Honus Wagner card.

 

[nybravest]

This one...ESPN's The Counterfeiter

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=21011515

This will shake your faith in anything that is autographed.

I remember trying to sign my parents names on tests that I failed in school. Couldn’t even come close and this guy is doing hundreds of different people. Unreal that he was that good and so many people to this day think they have a real auto.

 

[zackmak]

Just saw a bunch of the above on youtube. All were neat, in their own way.