It took a few days but there’s now an official response from NFLPA Communications regarding the letter it sent to agents indicating it was ending its licensing deal with Panini three years before it was set to expire and moving to Fanatics: “No comment at this time.” Meanwhile, Panini continues to sell cards and hold its Dutch-style auctions for football products it has … [Read more...] about Notes: NFLPA Mum; Judge Rules Against Fanatics’ Stay Request; WNBC Story on Hobby; 1920 Ruth Photo; More
1920
Early Ruth Yankees Photo with Tigers Up for Auction
He was a superstitious sort and so it's no surprise Babe Ruth immediately considered the diamond-studded charm he received from the Knights of Columbus during his first season with the New York Yankees to be "lucky." Even then, he was also more than willing to pose for photographers and spend a few minutes with well wishers. A rare photo from The Babe's … [Read more...] about Early Ruth Yankees Photo with Tigers Up for Auction
1920 Tribe Photo, with Chapman, Reaches Auction
It was a season of tragedy that ended in triumph. A year in which off the field headlines about what had transpired the season before often overshadowed what was playing out on the diamond. Against the backdrop of a scandal that threatened the integrity of professional baseball itself, the Cleveland Indians quietly put together a championship run 101 years ago. … [Read more...] about 1920 Tribe Photo, with Chapman, Reaches Auction
Earliest Photo of Babe Ruth Signing Autographs Up for Auction
He may have signed more free autographs than any player in sports history. You could almost say Babe Ruth made collecting baseball autographs popular. The large, flowing, eminently legible strokes seemed to get better as his career and life went on. Now, the earliest photo of the Bambino putting his name on a piece of memorabilia is up for auction. RMY … [Read more...] about Earliest Photo of Babe Ruth Signing Autographs Up for Auction
Signed, Inscribed 1920 Babe Ruth Bat Set for Auction
While there weren't any giant catalog auctions or authenticators around, collecting game used bats has been around for 100 years. Proof of that comes in the form of an autographed relic from Babe Ruth--personalized to one such collector--that's coming to auction this summer. Heritage Auctions will offer the Ruth bat, dating to early in the young slugger's … [Read more...] about Signed, Inscribed 1920 Babe Ruth Bat Set for Auction
Sports Card Release Calendar: 6/19/20 – 6/30/20
If you're looking for inexpensive sports card boxes to rip, the last half of June will be a good month. Several new products are set to hit the market, with most on the inexpensive side. Here's a roundup of some of the products you can expect: 6/19 Topps Big League Baseball: A kid-oriented product, Big League comes in two forms this year. There's a standard … [Read more...] about Sports Card Release Calendar: 6/19/20 – 6/30/20
Fans Flocked When Young Babe Ruth Signed Baseballs Sold for Charity
The autographed baseball as a fundraiser may not have originated with Babe Ruth but it’s pretty clear he spent a lot of time signing balls for that purpose. Paging through some newspapers from a century ago, I stumbled on a few clippings that make it clear there were plenty of Ruth signed baseballs in circulation by the time he completed his first calendar year with the … [Read more...] about Fans Flocked When Young Babe Ruth Signed Baseballs Sold for Charity
Mantle Jersey Sells for $575,912 at Auction
A jersey worn by Mickey Mantle during the 1953 World Series and 1954 season sold for $575,912 in the last major catalog auction of 2018. The jersey, signed by Mantle on the front, was graded A10 by Dave Grob during his MEARS tenure. It’s believed to be the second highest auction price ever paid for a Mantle jersey, trailing only the $1.32 million paid for a 1964 Mantle road … [Read more...] about Mantle Jersey Sells for $575,912 at Auction
Let’s Finally Hear That Babe Ruth Song from 1920
Babe Ruth hit the final three home runs of his career on May 25, 1935. His last hurrah came with the Boston Braves and it was clear his era had passed. But what a ride it had been. The country was crazy about him even before he started setting home run records and winning World Series titles with the Yankees. Long before talk shows and Facebook, folks often … [Read more...] about Let’s Finally Hear That Babe Ruth Song from 1920
Photo of the Day: Young Rogers Hornsby
He was the greatest right-handed hitter in major-league baseball history. Rogers Hornsby was intense, cantankerous, blunt and did not suffer fools easily. He was not well loved, and frankly, he didn’t care what others thought. But Hornsby was a magician with a bat, as his .358 career average shows. And an image taken by noted photographer Charles Conlon captured “Rajah” at … [Read more...] about Photo of the Day: Young Rogers Hornsby