Industry Summit retailers had predictably strong reactions to Panini’s first-of-its-kind Black Friday trading card promotion, ranging from ecstatic to nonplussed. Panini America created more than 20,000 promotional packs for Black Friday, providing independent hobby retailers with an innovative incentive to purchase and market slower-moving Panini releases. Analysts … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Promote Your Black Friday Event Free; Penny Listings
As we did last year, we'll be offering up some hobby-related online black Friday specials from various merchants we've discovered. It's likely the list will be up late Wednesday or Thursday. If you have a hobby business have a legitimate and specific Black Friday promotion (it can be something that runs Wed-Sunday), shoot us an email ([email protected]) and … [Read more...]
2011 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Baseball Preview
by Chris Harris A little over two months ago, Panini America reacquired their Major League Baseball Players Association license. Since then, baseball card collectors have been anticipating what they planned on doing with it. Last week, Panini released some information for their first PA-licensed baseball set in six years. But curiously though, 2011 Donruss Elite Extra … [Read more...]
Bryant Signs Stacks of Cards for Panini
There's no such thing as complete down time for elite pro athletes, but summer is as close as it gets for Kobe Bryant. Last week, he found time to sign hundreds of cards for Panini America's upcoming National Treasures and Elite Black Box insert cards Brian Bayne, Panini's Memorabilia Business Manager, is the guy who rounds up autographs from Panini pitchmen like Bryant, … [Read more...]
Chicago Sports Memorabilia Always Percolating
by Diane Carter Several American cities rate high when it comes to sports fans and collectors--New York, Boston, Detroit and St. Louis to name a few. But, no list would be complete without Chicago positioned near the top as well. Whether it be the Cubs, White Sox, Bears or Blackhawks, fans fill the stands and Chicago sports memorabilia is among the most active in the … [Read more...]
2011 Upper Deck Legendary Cuts Baseball Released
Upper Deck has released its first baseball-themed trading card set since January 2010. 2011 SP Legendary Cuts Baseball continues one of the company's most popular lines. The high-end product is focused on autographs of past and present players. “We’re extremely excited about this particular release,” said Grant Sandground, Upper Deck’s product manager. “Collectors … [Read more...]
A House of Black and Gold
He lives in Georgia now, but George Danesky is a Pennsylvania guy. More specifically, he's a Steelers guy. No one is more excited for Sunday's AFC Championship than the semi-retired fan whose home bears tribute to his favorite team. Danesky is a collector of Steelers memorabilia. Jerseys, helmets, autographs, prints...and the stuff that's not archive material, … [Read more...]
Rare 1919 World Series Championship Pin Consigned to Auction
It’s rare when the losing team in a championship series is remembered more than the winners. Such was the fate of the 1919 Cincinnati Reds, victorious over the infamous 1919 Chicago “Black Sox” in a nine-game series tainted by the scandal that resulted in the lifetime ban of Shoeless Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver and six others. Now, though, perhaps the most important of all … [Read more...]
2010-11 Black Diamond Hockey Skates In
Upper Deck has released its 2010-11 Black Diamond Hockey set. This year’s version will include one “Ice Premieres” rookie card in every box. A non-signed, non-memorabilia-based rookie card, the Ice Premieres are considered very valuable RCs in the secondary market. First-year standouts Taylor Hall (Edmonton), Tyler Seguin (Boston) and Nazem Kadri (Toronto) are included in … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: MEARS, Madec, Panini Tour
If you've about had enough of Black Friday ads, dive back in where you belong: shopping for sports memorabilia. MEARS Online has an auction closing Saturday night. Highlites include the 1975 Hank Aaron Milwaukee Brewers game used bat (MEARS A10), the 1978 Steve Carlton Home Phillies Game Worn jersey (MEARS A10), thousands of Type 1 newspaper archive photos being sold … [Read more...]