A Dilemma Any Auction House Employee Could Face

For the past few years I’ve been working on a book about the demise of Mastro Auctions. It has been a slog but I’m not giving up. Literary agents tell me it’s a great story but too niche. In other words, it’s not destined for The New York Times bestseller list. I’m fine with that. I just believe it’s important to document what occurred fully and fairly.

            What I’ve found is that most people who worked at Mastro Auctions don’t want to talk about their experiences. Why? Fear. Fear of Bill Mastro. Fear of the FBI. That’s understandable. They want to move forward with their lives, not dwell on the past.

            Those former Mastro Auctions employees who are willing to discuss their experiences occasionally will share with me something I didn’t know. Or they talk to an outsider who shares information with me.

            For example, in the course of doing my homework earlier this year I heard a rumor that a former Mastro Auctions employee (perhaps more than one?) would regularly “prepare” cards before the auction house would submit them to third-party graders. But you can’t publish a rumor unless you want to run the risk of a defamation lawsuit. So I tracked down an “alleged” witness to this activity. And this gets to the crux of this blog.

            What did he say when I asked him about this rumor?

            “Here’s the thing. I did work at the office [of the auction house]. Mostly I worked remotely so I wasn’t in there all the time. I really don’t want to comment on anything while I was there…All those people are my friends. We were friends and I’m still friendly with all of them.”

            Another alleged witness said he had “nothing to gain except hurting people or families.” Obviously I didn’t get anywhere here. Besides, they could be wrong about their assumptions.

            So what’s the point? We’ll never know what occurred for real. And I can’t help but wonder if what allegedly happened were to occur today whether an auction house employee would keep quiet or say something to someone.

But then, who would he go to? A quick review of the approximately 30 sports memorabilia auction houses reveals that with one or two exceptions most would be categorized as small businesses with anywhere from 5 to 40 employees. So forget a human resources department. Could he (or she) tell the boss? Would the boss investigate? If he were to find a rogue employee guilty of malfeasance would he fire him? I would hope so. But maybe the boss is behind the shenanigans and approves of them.

One employee blowing the whistle on another one could backfire, especially in smaller companies. So how about turning to the trade press? Let’s list the trade publications and websites that cover this industry today (I’m sure I’m missing some):

·      Sports Collectors Digest

·      Beckett Vintage Collector

·      SMR

·      Sports Collectors Daily

·      Net54baseball

·      Blowout Cards

All of these are supported by auction houses to one degree or another. So they’re not very likely going to investigate any wrongdoing at an auction house when the auction house provides them with revenue. Of course, people can post threads on websites but as we’ve seen, it can be tough to make changes this way.

I do tip my cap to Sports Collectors Daily’s Rich Mueller, who publishes on his website articles written by outside media outlets revealing the seamier side of the hobby. He recently told me that he’s not an investigative reporter. He wouldn’t write about auction house wrongdoing until a lawsuit had been filed and he had the opportunity to review documents.

I also must credit 3124508 on the Blowout Cards forum, who has done some excellent work callout out the trimming he says is being done by David Thorn at Small Traditions. And he backs it up with visual proof, using before and after pictures. But he’s the exception, not the rule and states that Small Traditions isn’t an auction house in the traditional sense since the majority of the cards aren’t consigned.

            Am I saying I’ve learned of skullduggery occurring today at any sports memorabilia auction house? No. But people’s lives change in unforeseen ways. I’m talking about divorce or a drug or gambling problem that gets out of control. And then a line is crossed.

            Today’s top auction house executives must be constantly diligent. If I were one I’d conduct an all-employees-must-attend meeting (in-person or through Zoom) and remind them that they will face consequences for any unethical behavior.

            And what would I do if I worked at a sports memorabilia auction house and witnessed one of my colleagues doing something improper? I’d first ask him what he’s doing. If it turned out that he had crossed the line I’d ask him why he’s doing it. Depending on his answer I’d either tell him to stop or report him to the boss. But if he tells me the boss knows what he’s doing and approves it I’d know that I could risk my job if I said anything to anyone. So if I’m honest here I’d probably keep mum (especially if I had a family to support) and immediately start looking for another job.

I remember something my father told me decades ago as he was driving me to college my freshman year: Remember your upbringing. I’ve never forgotten those words. My late parents shaped my moral code. Thanks, mom and dad.