Integration in the Major Leagues was still a long way from even being considered by the most progressive minds. In 1916, players of African-American descent were unwelcome on baseball's biggest stage. But in Oakland, California...at least for a moment...there was a tiny glimmer of hope. Jimmy Claxton was a 23 year-old pitcher who landed with the Pacific Coast League's … [Read more...]
Baseball Memorabilia: 25 Cool Ways to Collect
If the whole sports collecting thing has you a little confused, or if you're a veteran collector feeling bored, we've channeled our inner pack rat to come up with a list of twenty-five genres of baseball memorabilia that should get your creative juices flowing.You'll notice a theme throughout, though. We've tried to keep the cost factor in mind because not everyone is blessed … [Read more...]
Rich’s Ramblings: Now Catching… Dr. Jim Beckett
by Rich Klein To begin, I received a nice email from my old friend Lou Orfanella about our trip to see Joe DiMaggio back in 1982. He still remembers the details of what I had signed (it was an off-quality 1939 Play Ball) and he still has his signed DiMaggio picture to this day. Always a pleasure when 30 years later, the details are still fresh in our mind. He also told me he … [Read more...]
Commons for Kids: Kentucky Collector Doing His Own “Million Card Giveaway”
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...]
Top Selling Sports Ticket Stubs on eBay
Tickets to this year's Super Bowl start at around $2,500 for a rotten seat. You'll pay at least $4,000 to get a good look at the two teams. Worth it? Maybe if you're a big fan of either team with a lot of money to burn. But vintage sports ticket stubs offer a little better long term investment. Besides, they're way more cool. We tracked the top ten stub sales on eBay over … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Rich’s Own ‘Future Prospect’
by Rich Klein Like many other proud relatives, I have a niece who is not only impossibly beautiful but also impossibly talented. In case you want proof of both of these facts, please go to her web site (SarahWittMusic.com) to both see what I mean and listen to her sing. This past Sunday she performed five songs at the annual D-Bat Mustangs baseball club general meeting at … [Read more...]
Tips for selling on eBay: Listings that Rock
by Craig Paulson Sellers can make excellent profits on their collectibles when they list them on eBay, and there are several tips that can increase your opportunities. Niche markets are one of the primary areas that appeals to individual sellers, as these are not prone to the competition that is found in other sectors. Collectibles such as sports cards and memorabilia are … [Read more...]
Chris Paul Rookie Cards Getting Long Term Boost With Trade to L.A?
by Juan Martinez I knew what Chris Paul looked like as a Clipper years before it actually happened. It was a scenario that I allowed myself to dream up every year; I would pick up the latest game in the NBA 2K franchise and create a Los Angeles Clippers team that wasn’t a total piece of garbage. Prior to Vinny Del Negro taking over as head coach, I would fire … [Read more...]
USOC Partners With Topps for 2012 Olympics Cards
The U.S. Olympic Committee today announced the Topps Company as the exclusive trading card producer of Team USA for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Through the terms of the agreement, Topps will release its first Team USA offering in the spring of 2012 in preparation for the upcoming London Games. The collection will feature the country's top Olympians, … [Read more...]
Top 5 Vintage Sports Program Sales
We may not always think of sports publications--even old ones--on the same level as vintage baseball cards or hard to find autographs. The numbers prove otherwise. Vintage sports publications are actually considered 'hot' in terms of total sales. Unique pieces often find their way to eBay, generating a crowd of bidders who appreciate their scarcity. From simple quality to … [Read more...]