Comments (0)Yossi Dina
Just A Pawn
September 21, 2009
Still steaming about the Mets beating the Red Sox in the fall classic of ’86? Want to own Lenny Dykstra’s World Series ring, just for revenge?
Talk to Yossi Dina, the “Pawnbroker to the Stars” and president of Yossi Dina Ben Jewelry of Beverly Hills, and maybe he’ll give you a good deal, habibi. Maybe.
Mr. Dina, a former Israel Defense Forces commando leader and son of a Jaffa baker, recently made headlines when Mr. Dykstra, 46, pawned his rings and other career memorabilia after filing for bankruptcy protection ($31 million in debt—ouch!).
The L.A.-based Mr. Dina, 54, in return, contacted Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage, said Mr. Dykstra’s ring and foot-high trophy from the World Series should each bring in $20,000.
“Dykstra was a huge part of that team, and his name has been out there since he retired,” Mr. Ivy said. Bidding for Mr. Dykstra’s memorabilia will end next Friday, Oct. 2.
So what’s it like to be the pawnbroker to the stars? “What makes me different is that I appreciate this stuff,” Mr. Dina said in an interview last year with All Business.com. “I don’t try to kill people. I don’t cheat people who come in and are desperate. I might give them 80 percent sometimes of the value, which is more than typical, because I know I can sell it for a lot more eventually. … I know what the market is. I know that I can sell it for much more.”
Obviously Lenny’s loss is Yossi’s gain.