Most people will remember her from Laverne and Shirley or as the director of movies like A League of Their Own but in addition to her contributions to TV and film, Penny Marshall had a remarkable collection of sports memorabilia. Marshall died Monday of complications from diabetes. She was 75. An avid Yankees fan, she was a regular at sporting events throughout her … [Read more...]
Utah Fan’s Amazing Collection of Alumni Autographs
When it comes to autographs, Ben Gillis is spearheading a Ute movement. The University of Utah graduate is trying to collect autographs from every Ute who turned pro, including those who made it to the NFL, NBA and major-league baseball. Minor-league baseball players, too. If they don’t have a card, then a photograph will do. And if that doesn’t work, Gillis will … [Read more...]
News & Notes from the 2015 National
It's pretty clear the National Sports Collectors Convention is a summer vacation destination. Thursday was the first full day of the show and a look at the crowd that was lined up for the 10 AM opening made for a pretty impressive sight. Weekday or not, the dealer booths saw pretty solid traffic. National officials called it the "largest Thursday crowd in recent … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: State of the Hobby as a New Year Begins
Every Christmas, my mind wanders back to 1971. A day or two before the holiday, my older sister’s boyfriend arrived at our door with a couple of gifts including what turned out to be a complete, unopened box of 1971-72 Topps basketball cards. As a kid who never had enough money to buy more than a couple of packs at a time, my little brain was on sensory … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Sometimes, the Dealer is to Blame
As many of you know, I’ve been known to set up at card shows for a good deal of my life. Having experience behind the table, helping out at card shops and working with card dealers, I usually love to take the side of the under-appreciated card dealer/store owner in these Ramblings. But sometimes, the problems that arise are the card dealers’ fault. I saw several cases of this … [Read more...]
PSA Registry Users Offered Selling Platform
PSA is now offering its customers the opportunity to sell their Set Registry cards with no listing fees on a company-owned website. Cards can be offered for sale via Collectors Corner, a marketplace PSA and PSA/DNA-certified items. "Over the years I have had many requests to build a place that will give Set Registry members an opportunity to sell their cards. Our own … [Read more...]
On the Road or at Home, Neshek a Dedicated Collector
He was once a kid collector, just like us. He chased down autographs as a young adult, just like so many others. Unlike most of us, though, Pat Neshek had a serious talent for pitching. He was good enough to get drafted and eventually good enough to make the major leagues, where his sinker ball has proven--at times--to be pretty deadly on hitters. Unlike some players, … [Read more...]
Vintage Rookie Cards Still the Gold Standard
by Eamon Donlyn It’s one of those concepts that is generally accepted among all circles in the collecting world. Much like 'guy codes' that are just accepted whether we think about them (or like them) or not: The QB always gets the lead cheerleader Don’t drink another man’s last beer Don’t bring your wife to the poker game Just like quarterbacks, rookie cards … [Read more...]
Mike Piazza Marlins Cards a Fixation for Dueling Collectors
Collectors can find all different kinds of ways to collect. Some save baseball cards of guys who are in the Hall of Fame. You can find others who who chase after guys who will someday be there. Some collect obscure players or those who've been all but forgotten to everyone else. Then there are the two guys who collect cards and other items that represent the five day period … [Read more...]
eBay Debuts Setify; New Site Aimed at Collectors and Collections
It’s not ready for sports collectors yet and the whole concept is still in beta testing, but eBay is launching something called Setify, which it says can be used to create and share collections online. It’s the latest in a string of moves this year aimed at reaching out to collectors, including the current free listing promotion in the Sports Memorabilia and Card … [Read more...]