Toucher & Rich: Saugus Memorabilia Shop Owner Speaks About Selling Hernandez Letter
BOSTON (CBS) - When a fan walked into Sports World in Saugus with a prison letter from Aaron Hernandez, shop owner Phil Castinetti knew he had to buy it.
"As soon as i say the contents of the letter I said, you know what I gotta buy this letter. I figured it could be good, I didn't realize it would be as popular as it is all over the country right now," Castinetti told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Tuesday morning.
T&R wondered how Castinetti was able to authenticate the letter before turning over $5,000 for it.
"I've been doing the sports memorabilia business for 28 years, I'm pretty good with the autographs," Castinetti said. "You know we've done some stuff with Hernandez in the past so I mean I matched it up, looked at it. It was pretty easy, it wasn't difficult at all. Plus, the envelope from the prison he's in and his prison ID number, so it was a no-brainer."
One of Castinetti's employees used social media and ended up negotiating the $18,000 price tag that TMZ ended paying for the letter.
