A Minnesota-based sports memorabilia dealer arrested at the National Sports Collectors Convention last summer has pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud charges. Steve Jensen, 40, owner of Vintage Authentics, agreed to the deal with government prosecutors Thursday. A sentencing hearing has been set for May 29 and Jensen has agreed to cooperate with authorities in any ongoing … [Read more...]
Topps’ Golden Ticket Baseball Pulled by Shop Owner
It'll be a nice payday, a great little advertising tool--or a nice display piece for his shop. Either way, it's a win-win for a northern California card store owner. Chris Seibel, owner of D&P Sports Cards in Sacramento, has landed one of the ten 'Golden Ticket' gold baseballs that are the big prizes in 2012 Topps Series One. The redemption cards were placed inside boxes … [Read more...]
Despite ‘Terrible’ Location, San Diego Shop Rolls On
The hobby was hot in 1987. Tens of thousands of people were discovering or rediscovering baseball cards. It still wasn't peak time. Over the next five years or so, dozens of new stores opened on the west coast. Many of them are gone...but not All Star Cards. Owner Jerry Mudra was 33 when he opened his doors in the San Diego area community of Santee. He's seen the ups … [Read more...]
AU Sports in New Owner’s Hands
A long-time Chicago area sports card shop has a new lease on life. Its future was secured recently when a long-time friend of the Gold family who had been managing the store, decided to buy it. AU Sports may look a little different and do a few things differently, but it still boasts a huge inventory of more than four million cards, not to mention vintage publications … [Read more...]
D’Backs Owner Shows Off Collection to Colleagues
The Ultimate Set, an exhibit that opened in April of last year at the Baseball Hall of Fame, features the collection of Ken Kendrick, long-time collector and managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The group of 25 cards includes some of the hobby's most iconic and highest quality cards. The exhibit features cards from Kendrick’s collection, which he began as … [Read more...]
Card Shop Owner a Hobby Lifer
Even in St. Louis--where baseball is practically religion--not all sports card shops have survived over the years. The Sports Card Dugout, located between Affton and Shrewsbury, not far from I-44, rolls on. Owner Randy Fauth has been working at a card shop since he was 15. He's now 44...and owns this place, which carries a little bit of everything. "It’s a passion I … [Read more...]
Game Worn Hockey Specialist Byron Hopes for Rebound
His business name is a familiar one to long-time hobbyists. The man who turned his love of hockey memorabilia into Byron’s Hockeyland has been buying and selling game-worn jerseys, game-used sticks, helmets and other memorabilia for more than 30 years. Owner Milt Byron stocks thousands of items, selling to collectors around the world. He once advertised in collecting … [Read more...]
Jailed Shop Owner Wins Judgment McCoy Over Autograph Fee
They call him Shady, and if you ask a couple of folks in Pennsylvania, LeSean McCoy's nickname fits. He's been sued by a sports memorabilia shop owner and a bar/restaurant, both of which say he failed to repay appearance fees for autograph sessions. The Philadelphia Eagles' running back was one of several players scheduled to sign at a Wilkes-Barre store last year. … [Read more...]
St. Louis Shop Owner Shot to Death
St. Louis police are investigating the shooting death of St. Louis card and comic shop owner Kenneth McClure. The 57-year-old owner of Legends Comics and Sports Cards was found dead in Route 66 State Park on Tuesday. He had been shot in the head. McClure had been charged with the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl last month and held police at bay for three hours, … [Read more...]
Shop Owner Plays to What’s Popular
Selling baseball cards only won't keep you in the hobby shop business these days. Successful shops almost always have to have a flexible approach and be willing to step outside what once may have been their comfort zone. For long-time dealer Lou Brown, that's meant not only selling a wide variety of items, but also catering to a broader clientele. Brown just moved his … [Read more...]