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You are here: Home / Around the Hobby / Notes: 1954 Mays Bat, Rickwood Field Items Up for Auction; Expo Brings Crowds to MA; Whatnot’s Rewards Program

Notes: 1954 Mays Bat, Rickwood Field Items Up for Auction; Expo Brings Crowds to MA; Whatnot’s Rewards Program

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One of three bats ordered by Willie Mays ahead of the 1954 World Series is on the market–with a bit of a unique story behind it.

This bat was designed and created for Mays but because its dimensions are smaller that what Mays used, it’s believed the bat may have been gifted to teammate Willie McCovey. 

The bat is an inch shorter and three ounces lighter than Mays’ typical game bats.

Authenticated by PSA/DNA, it’s the only ’54 Mays World Series bat that has surfaced to date.

The bat has a faded Mays signature and his number 24 is written on the knob.

Bidding at Pristine Auction runs through June 30.

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Game-used memorabilia from last week’s Major League Baseball game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham is at MLB Auctions will proceeds going to charity.

Throwback helmets, game-used bases, locker name plates and other items used on the night the Giants and Cardinals met in a nationally televised game at the historic venue  Items from the celebrity softball game are also on the block.

Proceeds from the auctions will go to the Boys and Girls Club of Birmingham, the Southern Negro Leagues Museum and the Players Alliance.

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Collectors in New England turned out for the first Northeast Sports Card Expo in Marlborough, MA last weekend.

The Best Western Royal Hotel and Trade Center hosted the event, which took place Saturday and Sunday.

Collectors line up to enter the Northeast Sports Card Expo at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center. -Photos courtesy Shawn Harding & Shawn Kreckie.

The location just west of Boston proved to be the company’s highest attended show ever with thousands streaming through the doors over the show’s two-day run.

Collectors had the chance to browse over 400 dealer tables at the show.

A program with collecting tips for kids was part of the show agenda.
Former NBA guard Dana Barros grabbed a copy of his 1990-91 Hoops rookie card as he talked basketball with kids.
Attendees could have their picture taken with two Boston Red Sox World Series trophies.

The show will return to Marlborough May 31-June 1, 2025. The next NE Sports Expo show is in Stamford, CT Sept. 14-15.

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Whatnot is rolling out a new “Rewards Club” program for sellers. It will enable sellers to create personalized loyalty programs for their customers.

Coupons and free shipping upgrades and exclusive shows are part of the program. Customers who complete a certain number of purchases, spend over a certain threshold or tune in regularly to the seller’s shows can earn perks.

Whatnot buyers typically patronize sellers more than once if the seller offers what the buyer collects and streams regularly.

Rewards Club is launching first in beta with sellers having to apply.  The company says the program opens to all sellers in September.

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 40 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected].