Some news and notes to close out the week:
Leaf Trading Cards is suing the Industry Summit, the annual Las Vegas confab of hobby manufacturers, distributors and shop owners as well as ten ‘John Does’ he believes may have conspired to keep him out.
It seems after paying nearly $10,000, Leaf owner Brian Gray’s payment was refunded and he was asked to take a “sabbatical”. Gray claims breach of contract and that his company will be harmed by not being able to go. His presentation to attendees last year caused a bit of a stir and the lawsuit makes it sound as if Gray believes others—perhaps major sports league licensees who attend—may have preferred Leaf not be invited.
The lawsuit is here.
———–
Meanwhile, Leaf is marching on with more product releases. Their latest is 2014 Legends of the Links Golf. Cut signatures tournament scorecards signed by golf greats are included.
One cut signature card (single or dual-cut) and one tournament-used, hand-signed scorecard is in every box. Each of the cut signatures has been Beckett-slabbed and all of the scorecards have been slabbed and certified by PSA/DNA.
Every scorecard boasts two signatures apiece as either side of the slabbed collectible reveals an authentic autograph. Scorecard pairings include the likes of Jack Nicklaus/Chi Chi Rodriguez, Ben Crenshaw/Mark O’Meara, Curtis Strange/Fred Funk, Craig Stadler/Rocco Mediate and Billy Casper/Calvin Peete.
One of the big prizes will be a Bobby Jones autograph. Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Payne Stewart sigs are also in the mix as are dual-cut signature combos of Byron Nelson/Jack Nicklaus, Jack Nicklaus/Tiger Woods and Tiger Woods/Vijay Singh.
Production was limited to 165 numbered 12-box cases.
Quite a few boxes have been ripped and some of the autographs–including scorecards from Woods, Nicklaus and Mickelson/Steve Stricker have been listed. Click here to see them.
——–
You’ve probably heard about 49ers’ coach Jim Harbaugh and his preference for cheapo khakis that his wife can’t stand. She’d prefer no pleats and a nicer brand but the coach sticks with Walmart.
On Thursday, a Twitter user in the Bay Area named Lindsay tweeted that the Niners are taking advantage of the publicity by offering a pair of ‘game worn’ Harbaugh pants in its memorabilia shop…for 500 bucks.
——-
It’s easy to forget how different sports were just one generation ago. One of the items up for bid on eBay right now is this signed program from a 1946 barnstorming game between the ‘Bob Feller All Stars’ and the ‘Satchel Paige All Stars’.
Signed by 20 players including the two headliners, the game took place a year before integration and that tour in some way, probably helped make the road to ‘white ball’ at least a little easier for Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby and others who followed.
You can see this little piece of history here.
Related Stories:
Nick Faldo Signed Masters Prints Benefit Junior Golf
5 Baseball Cards of the Legendary Bob Feller as a Teenager
Green Jacket Auctions Suing Augusta National Golf Club
Arnold Palmer’s 1961 British Open Driver Helped Make Pro Golf Global
Leaf Babe Ruth Collection Released
Veterans Day: Honoring Athletes Who Served
Montana Signs for Charity Ahead of ‘Final Game’ at Candlestick
