If the average collector wants to secure an autograph from Tom Brady, it'll cost you at least $1,600+ as part of Brady’s Fanatics signing deal. If you had access, though, Brady was unfailingly generous with autograph requests for family and friends of fellow players. Kyle Rudolph was Brady’s teammate during his final season with the Tampa Bay Bucs and told NFL reporter Peter … [Read more...] about Notes: Brady Autograph Story; Burbank Signers; Trio Steals Cards from Store; Heat Finals Gear
Fernando Valenzuela
1981 Topps Baseball Capped A New Era For Cards
Baseball cards in 1981 entered a new era. Competition was alive and well again, and it was important for Topps to produce a product that would be superior to longtime rival Fleer and newcomer Donruss. It was a turbulent time for Topps as it ended a long and winding legal road. That led to competition from the other two companies, but it also spurred Topps to produce a … [Read more...] about 1981 Topps Baseball Capped A New Era For Cards
1981 Topps Traded Introduced Mainstream Update Sets
Nowadays, traded and update sets are a popular staple of card collecting for most brands. That, however, wasn't always the case. Until the 1981 Topps Traded set was produced, collectors were forced to wait later to acquire cards of newly-traded players and individual cards of rookies. 1981 Topps Traded Introduction Topps actually introduced the idea of traded cards in the … [Read more...] about 1981 Topps Traded Introduced Mainstream Update Sets
1981 Fleer Helped Usher In New Era
By the winter of 1980-81, the collecting landscape had changed dramatically. A long Topps monopoly had ended earlier in the year when Fleer and Donruss began producing MLB-licensed baseball cards. In the fall came the first Topps Traded/Update set. Fleer was not an unknown name, having created a short-lived 1963 set packed with cookies, all-time greats sets in … [Read more...] about 1981 Fleer Helped Usher In New Era
Ramblings: 20 Years From Nomo; Finding a Shop Autograph Guest
The other night, while watching the MLB network, I heard the great Vin Scully (and there is still such a thrill in hearing the master announce a game) mention this night was the 20th anniversary of Hideo Nomo's major league debut. He’d come from Japan with a unique windup, led the league in strikeouts and had fans talking from here to Tokyo. It’s difficult to explain just … [Read more...] about Ramblings: 20 Years From Nomo; Finding a Shop Autograph Guest
Ramblings: Late Ripening Rookie Cards, the Managerial Edition
For two decades between 1962 and 1982 Topps published multi-player rookie cards each season. At least one of the players in those sets usually wound up being enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame. There are a few exceptions of course, but what’s interesting is sometimes it can take up to 20 years to really determine who will be the key person in any of those rookie classes. … [Read more...] about Ramblings: Late Ripening Rookie Cards, the Managerial Edition
When “Fernand” Valenzuela Was an Early 80’s Smash Hit
At the end of the 1980 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers called up a pudgy Mexican-born pitcher who electrified fans by pitching 17 2/3 innings in relief in the final two weeks of that season without allowing an earned run. He won two games and saved one during that streak, and helped the Dodgers nearly catch the Houston Astros from behind to win the N.L. West Division title. In … [Read more...] about When “Fernand” Valenzuela Was an Early 80’s Smash Hit