More will likely be added in the next couple of weeks, but the TriStar Productions has revealed the list of autograph signers for this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. The lineup includes more than 80 names from baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Many have signed at the National or other big shows before but several will be making their … [Read more...]
Notes: Brewers Collector’s Charitable Heart; Brady Card Paid with Crypto; Broker’s Euro Trip, More
One collector’s long-time passion for chasing down autographed baseballs from every guy who has ever played for the Milwaukee Brewers is coming to an end…and now he’s giving them all away. Ben Nummerdor started with the 1982 American League champions and just kept going, all the way back to the players who were on the club when it moved from Seattle just before Opening Day … [Read more...]
Dribbles and Scribbles: Al McGuire and the Strangest Autographed Item in My Collection
In the second of an ongoing series, long-time collector Tim Gallagher takes over the Editor’s Blog to share stories from 50+ years of chasing basketball autographs. An early morning visit with legendary coach and broadcaster Al McGuire after a sports talk radio interview more than 25 years ago led to my friends and I getting the strangest signed "collectable" in all … [Read more...]
Dribbles & Scribbles: A Little 80s “Magic” Restarts a Collecting Journey
In the first of an ongoing series, long-time collector Tim Gallagher takes over the Editor's Blog to share 50+ years of memories from chasing basketball autographs. ---- In the early 1980's a fortuitous convergence of geography, hotel ownership and a superstar player's absence from my collection reignited my passion for pursuing basketball autographs. COLLECTING … [Read more...]
Signing Day Q&A: From Preparation to Dealing with Athletes
It's an easy way for an athlete to make a very nice hourly rate of pay. Agree to sit down for an hour or two--maybe more if he's willing--and sign items sent in by fans and collectors. The private autograph session has become popular with current and former players who are willing to risk writer's cramp to satisfy the demand for their … [Read more...]
Private Autograph Signing Q&A: Selecting an Item to Be Signed
The opportunity is there. A current or former player or coach is doing a private signing session and the company handling the event has the breakdown on what it'll cost you to have your item autographed. The price is right and you’re ready to commit to finally snaring that signature you’ve been hoping to get. Now all you have to do is decide what to … [Read more...]
Tips for Submitting Your Items to Private Autograph Sessions
Not every player signs autographs through the mail, but even some big name stars are amenable to sitting down for an hour or two on their own time through paid private autograph sessions. Typically working through the player's agent but sometimes directly with the athlete, promoters will take in memorabilia and cards sent in by collectors and dealers and work with the … [Read more...]
COVID’s Autograph Impact: Private Signings Picking Up
While sports cards and memorabilia have been on a major roll during the pandemic, there's no denying it's been a disruptive force, too. For collectors used to lining up at shows for a chance to get a photo and an autograph from a player, it's been a long wait. Signings are still happening, though. In the first of a series on autographs and private … [Read more...]
Kiner’s Kindness: How Hall of Famer’s Wife Helped Young Friend Build Autograph Collection
It has often been said that in life it’s not so much as to what you know but who you know. It’s especially true in the case of Hank Bentley. Now a successful song writer and producer of mostly Christian music living in Nashville, Bentley grew up in Texas during the late 1980s and early 90s as a big baseball fan. When he wasn’t playing with friends during … [Read more...]
Audience with “The King” a Memorable Ride
It was a unique consignment, but Keith Vari of Paragon Auctions thought it could use a personal touch. A consignor had turned over Richard Petty’s 1973 Daytona 500 trophy that he’d purchased from an insurance company. It seems the original trophy had a small break in it, a claim was filed and a new one was created. The 1973 victory was one of seven the legendary … [Read more...]