Bill Huggins, co-founder of one of the sports collecting hobby’s longest running auction companies passed away, according to an announcement from the company late Tuesday afternoon.
He was 64.
Along with John Scott, he founded Huggins & Scott Auctions in 2002 and continued to serve as president. However, Huggins’ hobby roots went much further back. Collectors on the east coast first knew him as the owner of House of Cards in Silver Spring, MD, a store that opened in the 1970s. The shop remains in operation today.
“Anyone who has ever known Bill will agree with me that he was a loyal friend, devoted family man, savvy entrepreneur and widely respected expert in all fields of cards and memorabilia,” Scott wrote Tuesday.
Huggins is survived by his wife Nancy, two children and two grandchildren.
Scott said Ron Oser will take over duties as the auction company’s president and consignment director.
“Huggins & Scott’s commitment to the hobby and to the H&S community is unwavering, and we look forward to carrying on Bill’s looming legacy with our trademark quality of auction services.”
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Hundreds of unlicensed replica championship rings were seized from a hobby shop in South Carolina last week. It’s the latest in a long line of ring seizures by federal agents looking to protect intellectual property.
South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond announced the seizure of counterfeit merchandise from Kirk’s Collectibles at the Anderson Mall in a joint operation involving Homeland Security Investigations, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Secretary of State’s Office.
Items seized include counterfeit Super Bowl rings, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL and NCAA rings for various teams. The rings are typically made overseas and federal authorities have been aggressive trying to stop businesses here from selling them. The homemade rings typically cost less than $100 and aren’t marketed as authentic but authorities say it’s a serious case of intellectual property theft, among other issues.
“The sale of counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime,” said Secretary Hammond. “In addition to causing billions in damage to the nation’s economy each year, trafficking in counterfeit funds organized crime and terrorism. Manufacturers of counterfeit goods do not adhere to health, safety, and environmental standards, and many counterfeit items contain dangerous ingredients. There is no such thing as ‘harmless’ counterfeit merchandise.”
No arrests were made, but the investigation remains ongoing.
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A copy of Steph Curry’s 2009 National Treasures Century Platinum rookie patch autograph trading card – one of only five copies in existence – is up for auction in the PWCC February Premier Auction.
“A copy of this card has shown up for sale just four times in the past 14 years,” says PWCC’s VP of Sales Jesse Craig.
Bidding on the card was at $160,000 as of Tuesday evening and the auction runs through Feb 16.
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Who better to open packs of 1981 Topps Football cards than the guy whose rookie card is the big catch?
Goldin is selling some major game-worn gear from the Hall of Fame quarterback and as part of the promotion, he sat down with Ken Goldin to break some packs.
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Lelands has set the dates for its Spring auction. It’s set for April 2 – April 22.
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Upper Deck has new release dates for several upcoming hockey products:
- 2020-21 The Cup – 2/23
- 2022-23 OPC (Hobby and retail) – 3/1
- NHL SP Signature Editions Legends – 3/8
- 2021-22 NHL Allure – 3/8
- 2021-22 NHL SPx – 3/22
- 2022-23 NHL Rookie Box Set – 3/22
- 2022-23 Series 2 Hockey (hobby) – 3/29