When Hunt Auctions first announced that Babe Ruth's grandchildren had consigned items from his life and times late last year, it seemed like a pretty big deal. Most people wouldn't have been surprised to know his descendants owned a few things, most of which were likely one-of-a-kind. What family wouldn't have a few items from a beloved family relative, especially … [Read more...]
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Editor’s Blog: Online Tools, Dogged Collectors Put Focus on Card Makeovers
Hobby message boards have been buzzing with threads centered around a variety of questionable practices including cards that have been graded, cracked out of their holders and then reappear with fewer defects and higher grades. The image research by forum members to make those connections has resulted in enough glaring examples of both vintage and modern cards to make a … [Read more...]
Ad from 1916 Touts Baseball Card Giveaway at Everybody’s Department Store
While they're best known as a set issued by The Sporting News, the 1916 M101-4 baseball cards were distributed in several different ways by several different companies. Clothing stores that sold boys apparel were one popular outlet. We've seen ads for Gimbel's in Milwaukee, which offered groups of cards from the 200-card issue over a period of … [Read more...]
Original Drawings Reveal What Topps Did to Jim Lemon’s Weird 1969 Card
Jim Lemon had enjoyed a nice, long career as a big league player and was getting his chance to manage the Washington Senators. Little did he know in January of 1969 that he’d not only be fired a few weeks before the start of spring training but his misfortune would be subject to a rather cruel taunt from Topps. Collectors who pulled his card from packs in the third … [Read more...]
Gary V Touts Sports Card Market on Rich Eisen Show
"Sports cards are about to become a cultural phenomenon again." -Gary Vaynerchuk Gary Vaynerchuk has a big platform. An energetic entrepreneur and digital marketing guru, he's the owner of New York-based Vayner Media, which created the recent Dwyane Wade ad that had the sports world buzzing earlier this month. An early champion of social media, his followers … [Read more...]
Notes: Khalil Mack Finally Signs; Tiger Putter Brings Big $; Canseco to Hit Homers, Sign Autos for Card Shop
It’s taken awhile—and apparently taken a small army to get it done—but Khalil Mack has finally signed his 2014 Playoff Contenders rookie cards. Panini America announced Monday that it would begin fulfilling redemption cards that were issued upon the product’s January 15 release. No specific reason was given as to why it took so long to get Mack to sign, but Panini says … [Read more...]
Rare 1912, 1914 Boston Garter Cards Hit Auction Block
Some of the rarest and most unusual card-related pieces featuring early 20th century baseball greats are on the auction block this month. Even if men's sock garters didn't stand the test of time, the little pieces of baseball history have done just fine. The only graded example of the 1912 Christy Mathewson leads a trio of three Boston Garter advertising cards in the … [Read more...]
Recent Hobby Innovations Have Been Fast, Numerous
The concept that gave us the internet turned 30 earlier this month. As with any new invention, there have been moments of greatness associated with this watershed change in communication and moments when we wish it had never been invented at all. It's changed how many of us live, how we shop, how we communicate and really changed how we learn. It's also … [Read more...]
Notes: NSCC Signers; GQ Checklist; Topps NOW Kicks off with Ichiro
The first wave of autograph signers who've signed contracts to appear at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention is out. The group includes several new Baseball Hall of Famers including Jeff Bagwell, Chipper Jones, Harold Baines, Lee Smith and Edgar Martinez, who is making his first ever appearance at the show. Relief ace Trevor Hoffman is also on … [Read more...]
Sporting News Writes of Collaboration on Topps Heritage All-Stars
The 2019 Topps Heritage set’s homage to the company’s 1970 set includes a run of cards mimicking the original Sporting News All-Star cards. It turns out they didn’t just ask to borrow the name. Topps and The Sporting News worked together for the first time in several years to create the cards, rekindling a partnership that had been in place off and on from … [Read more...]
