PORTAGE | A Hobart man struck out when he apparently tried to sell two vintage baseball cards that earlier had been reported stolen.
Kevin Wayne Newcomb, 42, was charged with possession of stolen property Tuesday when he took a 1954 Mickey Mantle and an Eddie Mathews baseball card to The eState, 3101 Willowcreek Road, just before 5 p.m.
The cards were reported stolen either Monday or Tuesday from The Foul Ball, a Valparaiso sports card and memorabilia store.
Newcomb, who told police he was an "avid sports card collector," said he obtained the cards on Saturday after meeting a man he didn't know at a gas station on Ind. 130 and made a trade. Newcomb allegedly told police the meeting had been set up by a friend.
But Newcomb's friend cried foul when contacted by police, saying he had never set up the meeting.
Newcomb allegedly couldn't explain to police how he could have obtained the cards on Saturday if they had been stolen Monday or Tuesday. Newcomb did tell police he was at The Four Ball on Monday afternoon to buy a banner, but denied he touched any cards during that visit.
Newcomb was arrested and taken to the Porter County Jail.
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