In 1925, Turf Cigarettes, a UK tobacco product, distributed a set of 50 cards called the Sports Records set. The cards were distributed in their packages of cigarettes and split into two separate series, each with 25 cards. The cards featured a variety of sports, including baseball, golf, boxing, tennis, and swimming, among others. The key card in the set for most collectors is … [Read more...]
Photo Shows 1939 Baseball Centennial Covers
Collecting was a big part of the opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame back in 1939. Proof of that can be seen in a rare photograph from the archives of The Sporting News. The 5 ¾” x 7 ¼” image shows stacks of envelopes and a woman holding sheets of the new Baseball Centennial stamps as workers in the Cooperstown, New York post office piece together first day covers with the … [Read more...]
Autographs in Cooperstown Sometimes a Business
The Baseball Hall of Fame has some new members and thousands of fans have some new autographs thanks to another induction weekend in Cooperstown, NY. While some of the visitors were simply there to honor Randy Johnson, Craig Biggio, John Smoltz and Pedro Martinez, hear the speeches and tour baseball’s ultimate shrine, others were there to chase autographs. Reggie Jackson … [Read more...]
Panini Promising 2 Autographs in 2015 Cooperstown Product
Panini America will release a fourth trading card set as part of its license with the Baseball Hall of Fame. The company announced the planned release of 2015 Cooperstown Baseball on Wednesday, promising two autographed cards per box. Panini also says it will have Babe Ruth inside a Cooperstown product for the first time with base cards, parallels, inserts and cut autograph … [Read more...]
Autographs from Hall’s First Induction Class Up for Bid
It must have been quite a party for little Cooperstown, NY. Seventy-five years ago this summer, the upstate village honored the first inductees into the brand new Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and invited all of the new living members to come. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson and others did show up, dressed in their best suits. At the little post office … [Read more...]
Police: Cooperstown Shop Owner Shoots After Masked, Armed Man Storms In
Most days this time of year, it’s a pretty quiet little village in upstate New York. Monday, however, was a different story in Cooperstown when police say a man wearing a mask walked into a sports memorabilia store and threatened the owner with a gun. That man, police say, is now on the loose and they’re considering him ‘armed and dangerous’. Seventh Inning Stretch is … [Read more...]
Baseball Hall of Fame VIP Experience to Offer More Access to Artifacts
Ordinary baseball fans will soon have an opportunity can even delve deeper into the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s collections, archives and exhibits through the Hall’s exclusive program known as the “VIP Experience.” Beginning in March and running through mid-May, Cooperstown visitors will have four opportunities to take an up-close look at baseball’s most honored … [Read more...]
2012 Panini Cooperstown: Hall Partnership Paying Dividends?
Panini will show off its partnership with the Baseball Hall of Fame when its 2012 Cooperstown Baseball product hits the hobby next week. It's a potentially important release for the company formerly known as Donruss. Traditionally, card manufacturers that don't have licensing agreements with the various leagues struggle to produce products that find real success in the … [Read more...]
Baseball Hall of Fame Creates New Mobile Apps
Baseball fans can now have Cooperstown in the palm of their hand, thanks to new mobile applications for Apple and Android devices available from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Through a new licensing relationship with Celebrity Apps of Pleasanton, Calif., the Museum has launched its first mobile device application: “Baseball Hall of Fame Trivia.” … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Gigantic Old Signed Photo Collection, HOF Podcast, Heritage Auction Facts
So you think collecting autographs through the mail is a relatively new phenomenon? Check out this story from the Mankato (MN) Free Press. The most interesting part of the story is that it's a collection owned by a municipality. The photos and autographs collected by late local resident Fred Johnson were obtained over a 50-year period dating back to the 19th … [Read more...]