Tony Reid offers his weekly dose of happenings inside Sports Zone, the Central Pennsylvania shop where he works. Day after day and week after week, we can feel the holiday season approaching. Our back room continues to fill up more each day, getting closer and closer to its breaking point. Concerns about the potential that we might not get enough product come holiday season … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Prepping for Holiday Season, Sales Leaders, Football Restocks
Todd Marinovich Q&A: Rookie Card Photos, Autographs, Uniform Police
Before he was old enough to go to school, Todd Marinovich was being groomed to be an athlete. His father Marv, a former USC football standout, made it his mission to turn his son into a football player through a unique training regimen, unyielding nutrition demands... and a heavy hand. Young Todd excelled from an early age, becoming the first freshman quarterback to start a … [Read more...] about Todd Marinovich Q&A: Rookie Card Photos, Autographs, Uniform Police
Chad Brown Q&A: Lifelong Passion for Collecting, “Beef” with Levon Kirkland’s Signature, Seeing His RCs
Altadena, CA native Chad Brown was a defensive star at John Muir High School in the late 1980s.Brown took his defensive talents to the University of Colorado where he was a four-year starter for the Buffaloes.Drafted by the Pittsburgh, the linebacker became an integral part of the famed Blitzburgh defense which included Greg Lloyd, Kevin Greene and Levon Kirkland.Brown also … [Read more...] about Chad Brown Q&A: Lifelong Passion for Collecting, “Beef” with Levon Kirkland’s Signature, Seeing His RCs
Card Back Q&A: Cris Dishman Talks Emotional Play, Ball Hawking Mentality and Trash Talking the G.O.A.T.
Known as one of the better defensive backs of his era in The National Football League, Louisville, Kentucky’s Cris Dishman was actually a standout wide receiver at St. Francis DeSales High School. When the speed burner arrived at Purdue University, Dishman transitioned to the defensive side of the ball, becoming a standout defensive back for the Boilermakers. The emerging star … [Read more...] about Card Back Q&A: Cris Dishman Talks Emotional Play, Ball Hawking Mentality and Trash Talking the G.O.A.T.
Shop Talk: Vacations, Deliveries and New Releases
Tony Reid offers his weekly dose of happenings inside Sports Zone, the Central Pennsylvania shop where he works. Last week meant rallying the troops to pitch in. The owner of the shop was away on vacation and for the most part, I had ample amount of help over the course of the week. Our longtime associate Zach comes in to help me out for two or three hours each … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Vacations, Deliveries and New Releases
1988 Topps Football Set Brought Bo and Boz; End of an Era
The year 1988 was right in my adolescent wheelhouse. I was 10 years old and a full-fledged, all in sports fan. I couldn't get enough baseball, basketball and football. I played sports, watched sports, talked about sports and, you guessed it, collected sports cards. With that being said, 1988 was a great year for sports and sports fans in general. 1988 Was Full of Moments, … [Read more...] about 1988 Topps Football Set Brought Bo and Boz; End of an Era
Shop Talk: Special Shop Visitors, Rated Rookies, Weekend Football
Tony Reid offers his weekly dose of happenings inside Sports Zone, the Central Pennsylvania shop where he works. It was another fun week at the shop.Sometime early in the week my buddy and former NFL quarterback Gus Frerotte texted me asking for the address of the store. His son Gabe was traveling from Delaware and headed back home but wanted to stop by and check us out on … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Special Shop Visitors, Rated Rookies, Weekend Football
New Brittney Palmer Art of Fergie Jenkins, Jermaine Dye Will Raise Money for UChicago Medicine’s GI Research
New artwork featuring Baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins and retired MLB veteran Jermaine Dye is being turned into baseball cards with proceeds going to charity. Jenkins and Dye are the subjects of the works created by artist Brittney Palmer and the paintings have been turned into Topps Project 70 styled encased cards. The cards are numbered to 200 and signed by … [Read more...] about New Brittney Palmer Art of Fergie Jenkins, Jermaine Dye Will Raise Money for UChicago Medicine’s GI Research
Vince Biegel Q&A: Collecting Autographs as a Kid, Investing in Cards as an Adult
The game of football is a family tradition for Vince Biegel and his talented relatives. Vince's grandfather Ken Biegel played linebacker and offensive guard in Division III college football. His father Rocky was a linebacker at BYU 1988 to 1992. Vince's uncle T.D. played fullback on the same Brigham Young squad as his father from 1989 to 1993. Vince played outside linebacker … [Read more...] about Vince Biegel Q&A: Collecting Autographs as a Kid, Investing in Cards as an Adult
Shop Talk: Flashy Helmets, Vintage Slabs and Robbery Hits Close to Home
As I've mentioned in past Shop Talk installments, we really continue to make a concerted effort to buy higher-end, iconic slabbed rookie cards to have in store. We are currently focused on vintage pieces with a sprinkling of some modern rookie cards in baseball, basketball and football. We have also (slowly) skated into the hockey rink and picked up a few 1979 Topps and … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Flashy Helmets, Vintage Slabs and Robbery Hits Close to Home