Fanatics boss Michael Rubin and Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan have stated their goal is to “bring players closer to the fans” as they work through their takeover of the majority of the sports card world. They visited Burbank Sportscards over the weekend and gave one young Devin Booker fan a thrill… View this post … [Read more...] about Notes: Booker Fan Gets Surprise; Ashe RC Record; REA on Display; Volpe Goes from Autograph Seeker to Yankee; Ohtani Autos
Editor's Blog
Notes: Giannis, Curry Jerseys at Auction; Topps WBC Cards; More
Bidding is underway in Goldin’s March Elite Auction, which includes game worn jerseys and cards from a few guys you might have heard of. One dates to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rookie season. The twice-signed green Milwaukee Bucks road model comes with MeiGray authentication that dates it to a Dec. 20, 2013 game at Cleveland in which the young Greek Freak scored just … [Read more...] about Notes: Giannis, Curry Jerseys at Auction; Topps WBC Cards; More
Notes: Fanatics Collectibles Team Visiting Shows; Bat Auction; Randy Johnson to Talk Photos, in Deal with Topps
Fanatics executives, including some of the company's newest hires for its Collectibles division have been spending time at some of the larger card shows. CEO Michael Rubin has attended at least two larger events this month. A week after attending the Philly Show, he traveled to Chicago and brought several other members of the management team with him to the Chicago Sports … [Read more...] about Notes: Fanatics Collectibles Team Visiting Shows; Bat Auction; Randy Johnson to Talk Photos, in Deal with Topps
50 Years Later: Memories of the First WHA Trading Card Set and the Deal That Gave the League Its Big Star
I cringe when I say I am going to write about what I was doing 50 years ago this week. The reason I cringe is that it was 50 years ago and it feels like it was not that long ago. I have become that old guy that I used to make fun of for saying exactly what I just did. I will be honest, though, I don’t remember every wax box I cracked open in my lifetime. But this one, 50 … [Read more...] about 50 Years Later: Memories of the First WHA Trading Card Set and the Deal That Gave the League Its Big Star
Pinnacle’s Wild Weekend: Bobby Hull, The Commish and Massive Layoffs
For the last few weeks, I have been thinking about all of my encounters with Bobby Hull. I thought about doing a story on his passing a couple of weeks ago, but a story would not come near sufficing the magnitude of his personality and his importance in the hockey world and specifically in the hobby. As I was writing the story on how we resurrected the Bee Hive brand at … [Read more...] about Pinnacle’s Wild Weekend: Bobby Hull, The Commish and Massive Layoffs
Recalling When Pinnacle Resurrected Bee Hive Hockey
There were so many sports card sets produced in 1997-98 that you could probably have a 25th anniversary celebration of any given release on any given day this year. However, for me, there is one that is special to my heart. When I arrived at Pinnacle as their NHL hockey brand manager in March, 1997, we were in the planning stages for the 1997-98 season. There was one set … [Read more...] about Recalling When Pinnacle Resurrected Bee Hive Hockey
XFL: Why I Still Love He Hate Me
If you are a football junkie – for me that term would be an understatement – 2023 will go down as the year where the offseason last only five days. The XFL kicked off Saturday with four games over the first weekend. The football fan in me was completely stoked to turn on the games and check out the new league. The collector in me made me do a deep dive into the league and … [Read more...] about XFL: Why I Still Love He Hate Me
Notes: Kareem Milestone Basketballs; New Advisory Business; Shop Burglary, WNBA Card Record
The career scoring torch has been passed and now a couple of key items from the former NBA career scoring champ are on the auction block. Goldin Auctions is offering the final final regular season game ball of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career, used to score the last of his 38,387 career points. The current high bid is $100,000. Also on the block is the ball used in the … [Read more...] about Notes: Kareem Milestone Basketballs; New Advisory Business; Shop Burglary, WNBA Card Record
Notes: Micah Parsons Kicks Off Beckett Ticket Biz; McDavid Auction; Brewing with the 1954 Giants
Beckett has brought in Steve Lee as the head of ticket grading and authentication to oversee operations of its new division, which launched Monday. Lee has been an active figure in the hobby for decades, with over 30 years of experience as both a collector and grader of cards and tickets. They're promising a 30-day turnaround time with custom labeling available. Grading will … [Read more...] about Notes: Micah Parsons Kicks Off Beckett Ticket Biz; McDavid Auction; Brewing with the 1954 Giants
Notes: Fanatics’ Rubin Makes Promise; Big Hurts Sale; SoCal Show; Beckett Grading Tickets; NBA Player’s Auction for Turkey Aid
Fanatics recently hired a new CEO for its Fanatics Live brand, which will pivot to become a live event site for collectibles. Case and box breaks are expected to be at the center of it for the company that bought Topps early last year and will eventually take over the rights to produce cards for the NFL and NBA, among other licenses. “I think the collectibles space has … [Read more...] about Notes: Fanatics’ Rubin Makes Promise; Big Hurts Sale; SoCal Show; Beckett Grading Tickets; NBA Player’s Auction for Turkey Aid