Fans of one of the most popular players of all-time will soon have a new pilgrimage to make.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb was among those on hand for the announcement of a new Larry Bird Museum in his old college stomping grounds of Terre Haute, IN.
Vigo County (IN) officials say Bird has thrown his support behind the project, promising to loan his career memorabilia including jerseys, trophies, milestone basketballs and even his 1992 US Olympic Gold medal to the museum, which will be housed in a soon-to-be-built convention center downtown. Terre Haute is the home of Indiana State University where Bird played his college basketball and led the Sycamores to the 1979 NCAA championship against Magic Johnson and the Michigan State Spartans.
The convention center and museum is still in the planning stages, but 2020 appears to be the target date for the opening and Bird has pledged to attend, according to a this story about the project.
Collectors in the Midwest had a chance to shop for cards and meet some former players during a three-day show over the weekend.
The Westport Sports Collectibles Show returned to the Doubletree Inn Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with autograph guests appearing throughout the weekend. Traffic was light on Friday but demand for tables inside the smallish ballroom was heavy. Having the autograph guests in the same room as the show sometimes made for crowded conditions near the front entrance. PSA, JSA and Beckett also had booths, accepting submissions.
Most dealers stocked vintage cards and memorabilia but there were also new and recently-issued products including singles and unopened.
Dale Murphy signing autographs at the Westport Sports Collectibles Show in St. Louis today. pic.twitter.com/pNh9Ub3Rxj
— Sports Collector (@SportsCollector) October 20, 2018
Denny McLain, who won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers 50 seasons ago was set up, selling autographs and other items related to his career and talking with fans about the 1968 World Series, in which the Tigers knocked off St. Louis. Cardinals ace Bob Gibson was scheduled to sign autographs on Sunday.
Additional signers included Brett and Bobby Hull, Dale Murphy, Lou Brock, Ted Simmons, Ozzie Smith, Dick Allen, Carlos Martinez, Ted Simmons and others.
MeiGray Auctions is selling the jerseys worn by the New Jersey Devils during the Global Series game against Edmonton in Gothenburg, Sweden on October 6.
The jerseys have the special patch worn by players and were tagged for the NHL/MeiGray Authentication program.
Jerseys worn by Brian Boyle, Nico Hischier and Taylor Hall are among 32 red jerseys on the block, with the auction scheduled to run through November 7 at MeiGrayAuctions.com.
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