About Us

I started collecting tobacco cards at flea markets in 1971 for just 25 cents each! They were in display cases alongside silver spoons and pocket watches. I loved the artwork and bought up as many as I could find.

Back in those days, we also played card flipping games at the local grocery store, and I was pretty good at it—I won thousands of cards in the early ’70s! In high school, I made the tough decision to sell my collection to buy my dream car: a 1972 454 Monte Carlo, which I later transformed into an award-winning show car.

About 10 years later, I hit a garage sale and scored a large card collection, which I sold for a great profit. That reignited my excitement for the hobby. Not long after, I found another collection for sale in NYC and sold it to my friend John Brigandi, who owned Brigandi Coins and Collectibles on 44th Street and later 57th Street, for over 50 years.

When I went to sell John that collection, he did something I’d never seen before—he turned off the lights and used a blue light on the cards. He explained that some sellers had been restoring cards and selling them as original. These techniques came from the art restoration world, and the blue light helped detect areas that had been altered. I was blown away.

The first two purchases from the seller were fine, but the third—and largest—batch turned out to be completely restored. John showed me everything. Fortunately, I was able to get a refund, but that experience sparked an idea: create a portable device that collectors could use to check their cards for restoration. That’s how the InspectorScope was born!

I designed the first-ever card inspection device combining blue light, white light, and powerful magnification—all in a periscope-style tool. It created complete darkness when the card was inside, revealing hidden creases, wrinkles, and restoration work. Restored areas would glow deep purple under the blue light. It was incredibly effective.

At one point, I brought the InspectorScope to the National Card Show in Houston, Texas, and it ended up at nearly every dealer’s table—even Mr. Mint had one! I sold a ton of units and helped clean up bad actors in the industry who were restoring cards and selling them as originals. This device laid the foundation for card grading as we know it. The industry took it to the next level—encapsulation and formal grading—and we played a big part in that evolution.

Yankee Stadium and a Dream Come True

Fast forward to 2009: Yankee Stadium reopens. I noticed all the memorabilia for current players but not much celebrating the team’s full history. I saw a huge opportunity to bring vintage Yankees cards and collectibles into the stadium.

Through a lucky connection and now a long-time friendship with Mike Loparo from Legends Hospitality, I got the chance to do just that. They built me a huge kiosk next to the Yankee Museum on the second deck—fans could tour the museum and then walk right out to buy authentic vintage items. It was amazing!

Sales took off. Collectors loved it. I even got to meet players regularly—Derek Jeter for seven straight years at batting practice! I was on the field a few times, participated in a home run derby, and supported Jorge Posada’s charity.

There were so many unforgettable moments: meeting the Rizzuto and DiMaggio families, the Maris sons, and especially Linda Ruth, Babe Ruth’s granddaughter and a dear friend. At the end of the 2009 season, we won the World Series—and I received a 2009 Yankees World Series ring, fulfilling a lifelong dream. My brother and our manager, Fernando Colon, also received rings for their contributions.

Expanding the Passion

Today, we still have our vintage cards for sale in the main Yankees team store behind home plate, featuring legends from Ruth, Gehrig, and DiMaggio to Mantle, Mattingly, Jeter, and Judge.

We expanded to cover all the New York teams—except the Mets. And after meeting Linda Ruth, I even went into business with the Ruth family to launch Longball Licorice—the best-tasting licorice you’ve ever had! It was sold in 65 stadiums before COVID, and was also in Albertsons and Cracker Barrel. Though we’re currently out of stock and facing sourcing challenges from Australia, it was an incredible journey, and there’s always a chance we’ll bring it back.

For now, our full focus is on selling through eBay, Whatnot, and Facebook—you’ll find all the links on our site. We love the hobby, and we’ll always be part of it. Our goal is to help others achieve their collecting dreams and enjoy this amazing hobby together.