Notes: Top NFL eBay Sales; How MJ Finals Jersey Was Matched; Serena Championship Nets Anyone?; HOF Baseball Card Program

Fans and collectors were active as Week 1 of the NFL season played out.

Some sales and search numbers from Saturday to Sunday via eBay’s data:

• Sales of Josh Allen collectibles increased 109% (September 7-8).
• Sales of Cooper Kupp collectibles increased 64% (September 7-8).
• Sales of Buffalo Bills collectibles increased 85% (September 7-8).
• Sales of Patrick Mahomes collectibles increased 68% (September 10-11).
• Sales of Chicago Bears collectibles increased 62% (September 10-11).
• Searches for Justin Jefferson collectibles increased 219% (September 10-11).
• Searches for Tampa Bay Buccaneers collectibles increased 91% (September 10-11).
• Searches for Miami Dolphins collectibles increased 72% (September 10-11). 

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Bidding for Michael Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 jersey at Sotheby’s was closing in on $3 million Wednesday night.  Bidding was set to close Thursday.

MeiGray, which provided authentication of what will be one of the most valuable game-worn jerseys ever sold, outlined the key factors in its successful photo match of the red road jersey.

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While match-used items from Serena Williams’ career are a little hard to come by, there are two very large items that are out there for the taking.

The nets used on the court where she won both the 2013 and 2014 U.S. Open titles are on eBay through MeiGray.

“In 2012, we reached out to the USTA, and for four years we were the official authenticators in the U.S. Open,” says MeiGray’s Barry Meisel. ““We literally were on the grounds, collecting match-used balls, the chairs that were on the courts, and we would take the nets after each championship match.”

The 2013 and ‘14 men’s finals also used the nets that were in place during Williams’ wins. Superstars Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic used it in 2013.  The 2014 net is $3,499.  The 2013 net is actually cheaper at $2,999.

It seems like a no-brainer for some company to buy them for use on smaller pieces of memorabilia. Upper Deck, you out there?

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If you can get to Cooperstown, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has launched a new in-person series of themed presentations and this week’s discussion is about baseball cards.

The “Friday Focus” segment will examine the history of the hobby, from 19^th century tobacco to the candy and gum cards of the 20^th century and beyond. They’ll look at how cards changed, how Topps altered the course of baseball history and more.

Friday Focus presentations are free with museum admission and begin at 1 PM. 

Related Stories:

eBay: Sales, Searches of Burrow Cards Booming Notes: World Series Game-Used Items at Auction; NBA Tip-Off Jerseys, eBay Card Data; More Consignment of the Week: Battle of the Playoff QB Autographed Cards Kobe Finals Jersey, MJ Jersey from Last MVP Season, Mays Uniform Up for Auction Michael Jordan’s Last NBA Jersey Headed to Auction Notes: No Philly Show; MJ Signing Jersey; Mantle Cards; Denehy on Sharing Seaver Rookie Card, More Notes: The Athletic Visits Panini; Wagner Update; Charity Jersey Auctions; Holiday Sales Goldin Auctions Summer Sale Nets $4 Million

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].