Whether they’re avid collectors or just fans whose lifetime of pain has been eased, folks who have been waiting for the opportunity to buy 2016 Cubs World Series championship memorabilia finally get their chance.
Within seconds of the moment when Kris Bryant fielded the ground ball that wound up in Anthony Rizzo’s back pocket, Cubs championship baseball cards, collectibles, t-shirts, caps, banners and just about anything else was on the market. And the market will be strong.
Some didn’t care that it was after midnight. They got in line…a long line at a sporting goods shop that was open in the wee hours. The store let a few people in at a time.
The line outside Dick’s Sporting Goods in Naperville. @WBBMNewsradio pic.twitter.com/0o1IazS1gt
— Cisco Cotto (@CiscoCotto) November 3, 2016
Online retailer Fanatics, which carries 2016 World Series memorabilia and fan gear, was expecting projecting its’ previous high selling hot market record, set by Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in early 2015, to fall.
According to online shopping analysis from Slice.com, The Cubs sold over five times more merchandise online than the average major league team did this year and have had a 118% growth in merchandise sales over the last year.
“We have had an extremely high volume of traffic from fans wanting to purchase exclusive pieces to commemorate the Cubs monumental victory,” said Brandon Steiner, CEO of Steiner Sports.
Here’s a look at some of the Cubs World Series memorabilia that’s on the market.
Cubs Autographs
If you want Cubs autographs, you can stand in line at a card show or just order online. Fanatics and its sister sites scored big when they wrapped up exclusive autograph deals with a few players over the last year including Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and Kyle Hendricks, among others.
Employees went to work right after the final out to secure 20 players’ autographs on various items. Team-signed baseballs and bats have been in high demand and there’s no guarantee they’ll be available for much longer. You can find tons of individual Cubs players autographed baseballs, photos and other items here. If you need a case for a signed bat, ball or just about anything else that doesn’t already have one, you can find what you need here.
If you want something big and bold and are willing to go all in with your checkbook to jazz up your fan cave, they’ve introduced a 40”x35” shadowbox that comes with a dozen autographed baseballs personally hand-signed by Hendricks, Baez, Dexter Fowler, Addison Russell, Rizzo, Jon Lester, Bryant, David Ross, Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber, Wilson Contreras and Aroldis Chapman.
The baseballs are mounted into a collage photograph which contains images of the players, the Cub’s logo, the W flag, the 2016 post season results along with their three championship years inside a black frame.
For a slightly smaller investment, there’s a team-signed celebration photo.
Cubs Baseball Cards
Moments after the game, we learned Topps NOW is producing a special set of Cubs World Series champions baseball cards through its online store. There’s a regular version and another that includes a random autograph in the box. They’re only available for a week.
They also planned a blaster box type 25-card set for distribution through Target and Walmart for the World Series champion–but only if it was the Cubs (Cleveland apparently wouldn’t have produced the necessary sales figures I guess). You can buy those on eBay for around $25.
Of course, there’s the traditional Topps team set for those on a limited budget. The factory packs offer every Cubs card from Series 1 and 2 for a modest price.
Sales of prospect and rookie cards of guys like Bryant have been hot since they were produced but the World Series title means you’ll see plenty offered for sale and auction and prices won’t be going down anytime soon considering the youth of the stars on the roster.
The low-numbered Bryant Bowman Chrome autographed parallels are the most valuable. You can see which of his cards are hot at auction right now by clicking here.
2016 World Series programs
There were three versions issued for the World Series: one for each team’s home park and a national version.
You can buy them for $15 each.
Bobbleheads
Who doesn’t love a bobblehead? And yes, there are Cubs World Series champion bobbleheads on the market, picturing several different players and Joe Maddon with each holding up the 2016 World Series trophy. Each is available for around $35.
2016 World Series Champions Official Collectors Books
At least two books hit the market in the moments after Game 7.
MLB will piece together memorable photos, interviews and other features, toss in some stats and offer one for $18. The Chicago Sun-Times is doing a hardcover for $25.
Cubs ‘W’ flags
Cubs “W” flags are, of course, a take-off on the long-running tradition of the flag that’s raised above Wrigley Field whenever the team has won a game. Smaller versions you’ve seen during the series are around $35 and are starting to become popular with autograph seekers.
2016 World Series DVDs
You can already order the official 2016 World Series DVD which features all of the highlights from the seven games and some other surprises. Wonder how many of these will be holiday gifts?
There’s a highlight version that’s not very expensive and an eight-disc set that is comprised of complete broadcasts from all seven games and includes some other Cubs post-season action as well. You can see both DVD products here.
Sports Illustrated/LIFE
SI has always been very good at the championship commemoration business and they produced a few different covers and publications surrounding the Cubs’ big win.
There’s even a 96-page special edition of LIFE Magazine with great photos, essays and coverage that comes with having great access, outstanding writers and great photographers.
The best part is that these are all under 20 bucks.
Cubs World Series Champions Apparel
The Yankees always sell a lot. The Red Sox sold a ton when they broke their own curse earlier this millennium, but reasonable expectations are that Cubs championship t-shirts, caps and jackets will outsell any other team’s championship stuff by a wide margin.
Among the most popular items will be the same t-shirt the players were wearing while swilling that champagne in the locker room.
Cubs fans have had holes burning in their wallets their entire lives and the holidays are just weeks away.
It’s a perfect storm baseball analysts have been forecasting since the “new Cubs” were formed.
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