I’m finally sitting down to write my favorite piece of the year, the Mikey Awards. It’s my chance to offer up my own personal sentiments over what I thought worked, failed epically, made this season a winner, worked in spite of things, got hobby egg on its face and basically helped hobby shops in 2017. Looking back, this is going to be remembered as one of the … [Read more...]
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Search Results for: Mike Fruitman
Fruitman: ‘Tis the Season for Cardboard Promos
When I first opened in December 1992, I was not around long enough to fully enjoy my first holiday season in retail. Heck, I was happy to stay open each day and run to the bank each morning with whatever I had sold the day before. Over the next few decades I came to look forward to the holiday season since it’s a chance to have the inside track on what each of my … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Mike Has Definitive Answers (and Some Concerns)
Hello boys and girls. As always, it is an interesting time in the hobby. While hobby shop owners like myself should be elated over the return of football and the inevitable buzz and sales that go with it. Then again, that would this hobby be without a little controversy? Recently Panini announced the start of First Off The Line program where anyone with a … [Read more...]
Mike: 2017 Baseball Cards Remain En Fuego
As many of you know, I live in Colorado which is home among other things, to Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The reason I bring this up is because in 2001, Pollstar kinda gave up and instead of putting it up to a vote about what is the Best Outdoor Concert Venue, they just renamed the award after Red Rocks and gave other places a chance to get recognized. As I sat down to … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: It’s a Bowman World (and Mike’s Giving Away a GQ Correa Auto)
While I’m not from Edmonton, as a card shop owner and a fan, I do root for teams that have incredibly popular young players on them. As I’m writing this, the Oilers have just been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Did I wallow in pity? No. Did I grab a 12 pack of Molson beer and drown my sorrows as many Connor McDavid fans did? Nah. I … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: Presenting The 2016 Mikey Awards
This is normally where we read about the hottest selling sports card products but the calendar tells us it's time to take stock of the year that was. The Mikey Awards is my annual non-scientific, incredibly personal and sometimes self-serving take on the last 12 months. If you're scoring along, this is the 4th annual edition. It’s the good, the bad and the … [Read more...]
What’s Hot: We’re Live (Sort of) at Mike’s for Fresh Releases
Post-season hockey and hoops and one of the year's first football card releases are all making their hobby debuts this week.Collectors have been making box break reservations and checking out some new products from Panini and Upper Deck, one of which comes with sort of a 90s twist. Normally, Mike Fruitman of Mike's Stadium Sports Cards grabs the keyboard and runs down the … [Read more...]
Mikey Awards, 2015 Edition
It’s time for the annual Mikey Awards where the best and brightest get ignored as I choose what I liked in 2015. Well, more specifically what my collectors liked. It’s my list of the sports card releases (and some other things) that, in one way or another, had folks in my shop talking. I do not expect you all to agree, but please enjoy what I found interesting in the … [Read more...]
What’s Hot in the Shop: The 2014 Mikey Awards
Hello fellow card maniacs, It’s time for the second annual Mikey Awards. This is easily my most favorite piece to share each year and yes, I do put more than 20 minutes into this article. I still write it after midnight just like my other reports just to make it as cool and culturally relevant as possible.Since I’m writing this on Christmas morning, I hope that you were … [Read more...]
What’s Hot in the Shop: The 2013 Mikey Awards
Editor’s Note: It’s the first of what will no doubt become a revered holiday tradition for millions around the globe. Mike Fruitman, who claims responsibility for our What’s Hot in the Shop column chronicling the new trading card releases that are generating a buzz, puts a bow on 2013 this week with a look back at The Hobby’s best, the worst and most mediocre brands and … [Read more...]
