Lawrenceburg, Kentucky resident Jerry Milburn is on his way to fulfilling a pledge to give kids in the area a million reasons to smile. In just five months, the collector has given away more than 76,000 sports cards to area youth who wouldn't otherwise be able to have a collection through his Commons for Kids program. He says he'd like to get that number to one … [Read more...] about Commons for Kids: Kentucky Collector Doing His Own “Million Card Giveaway”
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1990s Card Giveaway Attempt Leads to Bomb Squad Visit
You can't make this stuff up, folks. Someone in Worcester, Mass., who may have realized that no card store was buying his collection of 1990s sports cards decided to leave them in a box and write "FREE" on them. Nice gesture. Except for the part about where he left them. The box containing what appeared to be several thousand cards was sealed shut and left outside the … [Read more...] about 1990s Card Giveaway Attempt Leads to Bomb Squad Visit
Child of the Overproduction Era
We knew they were making a lot of them. We didn't know there were THAT many. Sports cards produced during the 1980s and early 90s met what was becoming a nearly insatiable demand. New collectors came into the market. Moms and dads invested for their kids' education. It was a crazy time. Now, we all know the emphasis should have been on the word 'crazy'. Far too many … [Read more...] about Child of the Overproduction Era
Some People Will Do Anything For Free Cards
You can see the evidence of pack searching in nearly every big box department store that carries sports cards. Those with a pure profit motive in mind will figure out which cards hold the valuable inserts and cherry pick them out of an open box. Sometimes they'll even use a digital scale, standing in full view of other customers, most of whom probably have no idea what's … [Read more...] about Some People Will Do Anything For Free Cards
A Tale of Two Sports Card Businesses
In the early 1990s, southern California's phone books had listing after listing for "Sports Cards". From San Diego up the coast and through the Los Angeles area, there was always a place to buy the latest wax box or fill your want list with singles. Not anymore. Dozens of shops have come and gone, but two long-time dealers are still at it. Baseball Card Company in … [Read more...] about A Tale of Two Sports Card Businesses
Vick Signing Session Draws Protest
He's served his time for operating a dog fighting ring and admittedly killing several underperforming animals, but some aren't letting Michael Vick forget. The Eagles' quarterback showed up as promised for an autograph signing session in New Jersey over the weekend. Butler is Eagles' country for the most part, and dozens of fans lined up to pay for a Vick … [Read more...] about Vick Signing Session Draws Protest
Vick Autograph Signing Draws Attention
It won't be his first autograph signing since taking over as the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback last season, but Michael Vick's appearance at a New Jersey sports card shop is generating some controversy. Vick is scheduled to appear June 19 at Butler Sports Cards. His paid signing session is drawing the ire of those still outraged by details of the dogfighting … [Read more...] about Vick Autograph Signing Draws Attention
Partnership Puts 0% Selling Fees in Play
Long-time sports card and memorabilia agent Just Collect Inc. and eBay have partnered to offer eBay's first 0% Commission Consignment Program. The new concept is for sellers who are looking to sell sports cards worth more than $1,000 without the unknown risk. The idea allows sellers to set the price they want for each card consigned, knowing they’ll either get that amount … [Read more...] about Partnership Puts 0% Selling Fees in Play
Face-to-Face Offer Leads to Big Consignment
Sports card shops and shows were once the venues where the majority of buying, selling and trading of sports cards and memorabilia took place. That changed in the 1990s, when thousands of collectors began to discover the internet. Most transactions are done between complete strangers with email correspondence the only interaction. Some dealers have discovered that there … [Read more...] about Face-to-Face Offer Leads to Big Consignment
Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA in Sponsorship Deal
Professional Sports Authenticator, the world's largest sports memorabilia and trading card authentication and grading company, is now in the official lineup at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Under a new three-year agreement, PSA now becomes a corporate sponsor of the Hall of Fame. PSA was scheduled to have a special booth at the … [Read more...] about Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA in Sponsorship Deal