It took 16½ years, but Dale Case finally got those autographed baseball cards of former major-league infielder Glenn Hubbard he sent through the mail. But don’t blame the Postal Service. In fact, give an Arkansas mailman an assist. Case, 52, the principal the past six years at Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School in Jonesboro, Arkansas, used to mail baseball cards … [Read more...]
Evers Autograph Collection; Mantle Rookie Photo in Huggins & Scott Sale
A collection of signed items from a long-time autograph collector and a rare rookie contact photo of Mickey Mantle—wearing number 6— highlight Huggins and Scott’s 2018 Spring Auction, which is set to run through May 10. The 186-page catalog features the collection of Charles Evers, a New York native who hunted autographs from the 1940s through the early … [Read more...]
Newly Discovered Early Autograph Collection Includes Scarce Hall of Famers
What is believed to be the earliest documented baseball autograph collection hits the auction block on Friday, one that includes some names even advanced collectors don’t have. Originally gathered inside one of two autograph books, the collection features over 44 signatures from 19th and early 20th century baseball greats including 19th century Hall of Famer George S. Davis, … [Read more...]
Finding Affordable Baseball Autographs
I travel the country and do several public speaking engagements each year on vintage baseball cards and sports memorabilia. One question that is always asked is, “What are some of the more affordable autographs?” Generally speaking, an autograph on a piece of paper is worth less than the same autograph on a jersey, football, or other premium item. Paper … [Read more...]
Free Autographs, Q&A at All-Star FanFest
Hall of Famers and other former players will sign free autographs at the 2017 MLB All-Star FanFest July 7-11 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The autograph signings, Q&A sessions and baseball clinics with the athletes are included with admission to the annual pre-All-Star Game festivities. Orlando Cepeda, Andre Dawson, Fergie Jenkins, Juan Marichal, Dave Winfield, … [Read more...]
Baseball Autograph Book Wins IBPA Award
The newest book by Tom Zappala and Ellen Zappala, The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs, has been awarded top honors at the 29th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards ceremony in Portland, Oregon. The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) annually recognizes excellence in book editorial content and design with their prestigious Benjamin Franklin awards. The … [Read more...]
Notes: Ichiro Loves the HOF; Griffey Notes and More
This may come as a shock to some but the active player who loves baseball history—and memorabilia—more than any other just might be the first Japanese player who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. According to the New York Times, Ichiro has visited Cooperstown six times. Most of his visits have been very quiet, with Ichiro accompanied by a “small entourage” and … [Read more...]
2016 All-Star FanFest Autograph Schedule Includes Over 40 Names
More than 40 current and former major leaguers will make appearances at the MLB All-Star FanFest Friday through Tuesday at the San Diego Convention Center. Collectors and fans will have the opportunity to get free autographs from the players and participate in question-and-answer sessions and clinics. Among the players scheduled to appear are Kurt Bevacqua, Bert … [Read more...]
100 Greatest Baseball Autographs Book Set for Summer Release
The latest in a series of coffee table-type books focused on baseball cards and sports memorabilia will launch during this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs is the third volume in the set of award-winning publications authored by Tom and Ellen Zappala. It follows The T206 Collection: The … [Read more...]
Hand-Written Questionnaires from Former Baseball Greats at Auction
The first of what will be thousands of hand-written questionnaires filled out by Major League Baseball players decades ago are about to be sold at auction, with proceeds aimed at making them accessible online for baseball fans around the world. The questionnaires were in the archives of Bill Weiss, a baseball historian who accumulated about 125,000 of them before his death … [Read more...]