Major League Baseball once had two All-Star games during a season and endless controversy over who belongs and who doesn't. The NFL's Pro Bowl is kind of a joke. The NHL All-Star Game changes formats like players chance their socks. The NBA? You can argue there's not much defense being played but in terms of historic consistency and general entertainment value, it's not … [Read more...]
Upper Deck Company Lays Off Five
The loss of its major trading card licenses has forced Upper Deck through several rounds of layoffs over the last three years. A few more workers were let go last month including public relations manager Terry Melia. "On Friday, July 22, I was laid off from the Upper Deck Company," Melia wrote in an email. "After 14 years of dedicated service, my number finally came up. I … [Read more...]
MLB: Stop or We’ll Sue!
A New York newspaper reports that Major League Baseball fired off an angry letter to a Ridgeway, N.J. sports memorabilia retailer Thursday, telling them to stop the sale of some Derek Jeter autographed baseballs. National Collectors Gallery had purchased some Jeter-signed baseballs from Steiner Sports, then added an engraved notation about Jeter’s 3,000th hit. It sounds … [Read more...]
MLB Prepares for Thome’s 600th
Twins' slugger Jim Thome is just five home runs away from becoming just the eighth player in big league history to reach 600 homers and at Major League Baseball's authentication division, Thome Watch has begun. Once he hits home run #598, MLB will give the opposing pitchers specially marked baseballs to ensure that the milestone ball will be properly identified. So what's … [Read more...]
Gold Home Run Derby Balls to Debut
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., Gold Sport Collectibles and Major League Baseball Properties have unveiled the new, special edition “gold ball” for the 2011 State Farm Home Run Derby in Phoenix, Monday, July 11. The authentic baseball, featuring one leather panel infused with actual 24-karat gold leather crafted by Rawlings and Gold Sport Collectibles, will be thrown to … [Read more...]
MLB Pink Bat, Gear Auction Underway
It's a pink out on Major League Baseball's ongoing auction platform. Bidding is now under way for many of those pink hued game -used and game-worn items that were in play on Mother's Day. All proceeds go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The number of players participating in the program has increased in each of the seven years of the program. Dozens of items have … [Read more...]
FBI Won’t Pursue Missing Puck; Not Fans of COA
Nearly a year has passed now and no one is really sure what happened to the puck that pushed the Chicago Blackhawks to Stanley Cup greatness. Accusations have flown. Rewards have been offered but the puck Patrick Kane shot is still MIA. Strange, considering the depth to which some pro sports organizations now value even the most insignificant pieces of everyday game-used … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Pink Bats, Stolen Sigs, Pawn Star on Dave
Game-used bat collectors anxiously await something new to chase each Mother's Day and once again on Sunday, players will grab special pink-tinted lumber to support breast cancer programs. Many will be sold on the MLB Auctions online platform starting several days after they're used in competition. Louisville Slugger created the pink bat initiative with … [Read more...]
Upper Deck Offers Up 2011 MLS Card Set
Upper Deck may have been shut out on MLB and NFL licenses, but the company is the exclusive licensee for Major League Soccer and the company has just released its 2011 MLS trading card set. The set, headlined by Upper Deck’s new pitchman for soccer, Landon Donovan of the LA Galaxy, includes the league’s top stars including Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez (New York Red Bulls), … [Read more...]
Panel to Examine the Story of Baseball’s Beginnings
Whether they'll examine early baseball memorabilia isn't certain, but a new panel has been formed to help piece together the story of how baseball began. John Thorn, the recently named Official Historian of Major League Baseball, will serve as chairman of the "Baseball Origins Committee" as his first official task in his new capacity, Commissioner Bud Selig announced … [Read more...]