The Coronavirus is having an impact on autograph collectors at spring training. New MLB policies discourage players from accepting items from fans and collectors seeking autograph, choosing instead to have players pass out pre-signed baseballs, cards and photos.
Spring training is typically when autograph hounds descend on Florida and Arizona, hoping to score as many signed items as possible since so many teams are headquartered in one general location.
The NBA and NHL have implemented similar plans to keep players from potentially coming in contact with someone who has the virus.
Not every team is asking players to avoid close contact with fans, but with teams keeping fans further away from players even before the virus became news, it’s safe to say gathering autographs in person is more challenging than ever.
Are you missing some hockey cards? The West Vancouver, BC Police Department has been looking for the owner of more than 70 cards recovered from a duo facing theft charges. It’s not a bad looking collection that includes some autographed cards and rookies.
Do you recognize these cards?
Officers seized over 70 cards from a suspect in a recent break and enter investigation.
If you think you might be able to help us return them to their rightful owner, please contact Det/Cpl English at 604-925-7300. File #20-1544 pic.twitter.com/Nw0EmSM4AQ
— Cst Kevin Goodmurphy (@GoodMurphyWVPD) March 4, 2020
Topps will be producing a trading card product for the upcoming Summer Olympics. No full preview images are available yet, but boxes will contain n24 packs with three hits inside including one autograph. Each pack will have eight cards including at least one parallel.
2020 Topps Olympics and Paralympics cards will hit the market on June 24. The Summer Games in Tokyo will be held July 24-August 9.
We’ve written about the new sports museum at Florida Atlantic University, a newly-opened facility that houses over 1,200 items from the collection of long-time Boca Raton resident and former Kansas City Royals owner Avon Fogelman.
The Palm Beach Post now has an extensive photo gallery and story about the 3,500 square-foot facility that certainly appears worth your time if you’re in the area.
Fogelman’s gift to the school was a permanent home for his remarkable collection. Card collectors may be interested to know that it’s less than a ten-minute drive from the offices of SGC.
The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Arnold Palmer with a new Forever stamp. It was dedicated during a special event at the Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
The stamp features James Drake’s action photograph of Palmer at the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD. Palmer’s name appears in the top left corner and the words “Forever” and “USA” are printed along the bottom of the left edge.
Palmer helped transform a game once seen as a pastime for the elite into a sport enjoyed by the masses. A seven-time major champion, he won 62 PGA tournaments in all during his long career.
“Mr. Palmer was a transformative figure in the game of golf. He made it happen with his charisma, his personality and his rivalries with other golf greats,” Roman Martinez IV, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, said.
“But beyond golf, Arnold was really a great man. He had great character; he was a philanthropist and a great businessman. He was the perfect role model.”
The Arnold Palmer stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Related Stories:
“Waiting for a Sign” Tells Tales of Autograph Seeking
Signatures for Soldiers Turns Autographs into Assistance
Rockies’ Neshek Burns Greinke Over Autograph Snub
Autographs at Pebble Beach are Par for the Course
Spring Training: Chasing Autographs
Thousands of Items from Jack Smalling Autograph Collection at Auction
Spring Training Means More Returns in Less Time for the TTM Autograph Collector
Notes: Card Makers Deal with COVID-19; New Griffey; Hunt Chips In; Big $ for Kobe Card
