Innholdsfortegnelse for March 29, 2019 i Sports Collectors Digest

As you page through this issue of Sports Collectors Digest you will notice the usual articles about sports collectibles, as well as several previews of upcoming auctions. As I edited this issue, one theme kept yelling at me. That theme being the sports collectibles Hobby is strong. In recent weeks the Hobby has received national attention. First it was when a 1997-98 Fleer Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card of Michael Jordan sold for $350,100. The spotlight was once again on the Hobby when a 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Tom Brady autograph card soared in online bidding and sold for $400,100. Larry Canale recaps these sales in Online Auctioneer and also shares examples of other modern trading cards that have recently sold for big bucks. In this issue of…

Dick Kempthorn Former Michigan Wolverines football player Dick Kempthorn died Feb. 8. He was 92. Kempthorn was a star linebacker at Michigan, and was a member of the unbeaten 1947 and 1948 teams, as well as the 1949 team. After spending time in the military, Kempthorn returned home to the Canton, Ohio area. He volunteered on the board for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Red Cashion Former NFL referee Red Cashion died Feb. 10. He was 87. Cashion began his officiating career while finishing his studies at Texas A&M. He spent 25 years as an NFL referee, and retired in 1997. During his career as an NFL official he worked two Super Bowls. Cashion was well-known for his boisterous first down calls. Anthony “T.J.” Cunningham Former Seattle Seahawks player…

Here’s one for the program collectors out there: An “Official Score Book and Souvenir” from the July 16, 1914 game between the Red Sox and Tigers. It sold for $2,980 on 27 bids. What makes it special? The game marked the first career loss by a young pitcher named George Herman “Babe” Ruth, who was appearing in only his second major-league game ever. Ruth gave up two runs in three innings as the Red Sox fell to the Tigers, 5-2. The star attractions of those teams were Tris Speaker and Smokey Joe Wood of Boston and Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford of Detroit. Despite its age, the program remains in impressive condition, save for some transparent tape used to repair a short tear on the spine. The scorecard within is…

When a team has not reached the playoffs for a decade, and it has been even longer since the team’s last championship, you would think that the team’s fans would have absolutely no reason to rally around the franchise until it once again proved itself worthy. But if the attendance at this year’s sold out Soxfest showed us anything, it was that hope springs eternal when a team has an actual plan for improvement. The Chicago White Sox last went to the playoffs in 2008, and they last won a World Series in 2005. Before that, the team’s championship drought had lasted almost a century. So, we all know that White Sox fans have to have faith and be in it for the long run if they are going to…

2019 Topps Opening Day Baseball Promoted as an entry-level baseball card release for collectors of all ages, 2019 Topps Opening Day will include cards with in-game photography of fan favorite players and mascots, inserts that celebrate “America’s Pastime,” rare base card parallels, autographs, and relic cards. The base set includes 200 of the game’s most popular superstars, rising young players, and new rookies. Parallels of the base set include: Opening Day Edition (Limited to 2019), Opening Day 1/1/ Edition (Numbered 1 of 1), and Printing Plates (Numbered 1 of 1). Inserts include: 150 Years of Fun, Sock It To Me!, Rally Time!, Opening Day, Mascots, Team Traditions & Celebrations, and Dugout Peeks. Base Card Variations includes 30 players who will receive an image variation base card featuring a completely different…

When it comes to grabbing the notice of sports memorabilia collectors, there is no denying that Babe Ruth is the player who receives a majority of the attention. For collectors looking for Ruth items to purchase, there are plenty to choose from in Steiner Auctions’ Winter Classic Auction. Bidding is currently open for the auction that contains more than 1,500 lots. Bidding is scheduled to end March 24. One of the top Ruth items available is a 4”x5” sepia toned Tour of Japan photograph featuring Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx. The photograph contains signatures from all three players. According to the auction lot description, autographs from these three players on one item are “seldom seen together and photographs of just the three of them are nearly unheard of.” Staying…

BIDDING FRENZIES — What’s going on out there? The online auction marketplace is flying high, with heavy bidding pushing cream-of-the-crop items into stratospheric price levels. To wit: A 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Tom Brady autograph card inspired 118 bids and soared to $400,100. Listed on eBay in mid-February by PWCC Auctions, the Near-Mint (BGS 9) specimen rode the wave of another Patriots Super Bowl win. Its rarity helped, of course: As PWCC’s listing noted, there were “just 100 copies ever made of the Championship Ticket parallel,” adding that it’s “one of the most condition-sensitive trading card issues ever made.” The Brady rookie wasn’t the only item to whip bidders into a frenzy. A 1997-98 Fleer Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card of Michael Jordan—No. 2 on our chart—attracted even…

Pieced together over decades of collecting, the world’s finest collection of Willie Mays baseball cards is about to hit the auction block. Dubbed, the “Mays Fan Club Collection,” it includes some of the rarest Mays cards in existence with many in the highest possible grades. The compilation arguably resides as the finest group of individual player lots ever offered to the public. The 282-card collection has long been ranked as the best on PSA’s Set Registry with a 92.16 percent completion rate and a weighted GPA of 8.07. The owner, who left no stone unturned in his quest to acquire the best examples of each card, is offering the collection in Memory Lane Inc.’s 2019 Spring Break Auction, which is set to open March 16 and closes April 6. Most…

MARCH 15: 2018 Panini National Treasures Football 20: 2019 Topps Inception Baseball 20: 2018-19 Panini Cornerstones Basketball 22: 2019 Topps Alliance of American Football AAF 27: 2018 Panini Flawless Football 27: 2019 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Collegiate Football 27: 2018-19 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Hockey 27: 2019 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball 27: 2019 Topps MLS Major League Soccer 28: 2018 Piece of the Game Authenticated Masterpieces Baseball 29: 2019 Leaf Metal Draft Football 29: 2019 Onyx Vintage Collection Baseball APRIL 3: 2018-19 Panini Court Kings Basketball 3: 2018-19 Upper Deck AHL Hockey 7: 2019 Topps Now Road to Opening Day Baseball 10: 2018-19 Donruss Soccer 10: 2019 Panini Diamond Kings Baseball 10: 2018-19 Upper Deck Ice Hockey 17: 2019 Bowman Baseball 17: 2019 Panini Contenders Draft Picks Collegiate Football 17: 2018 Panini…

ALABAMA May 18 AL, Scottsboro. Scottsboro Sports Card & Memorabilia Show, Goose Pond Civic Center, 1165 Ed Hembree Dr., Scottsboro, AL. T: 75, F: $25-$30, A: Free. Contact: Stephen Moore – PH: 256-599-0989, Website: www.jacksonssportscards.com ARIZONA Mar 23 AZ, Phoenix. Northwest Valley Coin & Card Show, La-Quinta Inn, 2510 W Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023. SH: 9am-3pm, T: 35, F: $40-$50, A: Free. Apr 20 AZ, Phoenix. Northwest Valley Coin & Card Show, La-Quinta Inn, 2510 W Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023. SH: 9am-3pm, T: 35, F: $40-$50, A: Free. May 18 AZ, Phoenix. Northwest Valley Coin & Card Show, La-Quinta Inn, 2510 W Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023. SH: 9am-3pm, T: 35, F: $40-$50, A: Free. CALIFORNIA Mar 23 CA, Sacramento. Sports Cards & Collectibles Show, Crowne Plaza Hotel,…

LOU GEHRIG COLLECTION, ELITE TRADING CARDS SET WORLD RECORDS DURING HERITAGE AUCTION – The Platinum Night auction hosted by Heritage Auctions lived up to its hype with each item averaging more than $10,000. A dozen items reached six-figure results. “Death, taxes and world-record Platinum Night prices,” said Chris Ivy, director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. “You can be certain about all three.” The Lou Gehrig Collection contributed nearly half a million dollars to the Platinum Night total, with a $312,000 result for his game-worn New York Yankees cap becoming the second-highest result for a game-worn hat after the famous Babe Ruth model once owned by former Yankees ace David Wells. A trio of high-grade signed checks from the Hall of Famer each soared past $20,000. “Shoeless Joe” was peerless in…

1. $400,100: 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Championship Rookie Ticket, #41/100, auto (BGS 9, auto 10) 2. $350,100: 1997-98 Fleer Metal Universe Michael Jordan Precious Gems (PSA 10) 3. $275,000: 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Championship Rookie Ticket, #66/100, auto (BGS 9, auto 10) 4. $150,100: 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James Limited Logo, #23/75, auto patch (PSA 10) 5. $80,287: 2005-06 Upper Deck The Cup Sidney Crosby, #59/99, auto patch (BGS 9.5) 6. $64,317: 1998 Tiger Woods Champions of Gold Masters (PSA 10) 7. $62,600: 1996-97 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant Refractor (BGS 10) 8. $55,000: 2009-10 Panini National Treasures Stephen Curry, #93/99, auto patch (BGS 9.5) 9. $53,769: 2003-04 Upper Deck LeBron James Ultimate Collection, #218/250, auto (BGS 9.5) 10. $35,755: 2004-05 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Michael Jordan…

It was hard to top the 32nd TRISTAR Collectors Show in Houston last February, when members of the then-defending World Series-winning Houston Astros were among the autograph-signers. But this year’s show, the 33rd edition, held Feb. 8-10 at NRG Arena in Houston, shined brighter. “This show was the best (January/ February show from TRISTAR Productions) in five or six years,” said longtime dealer Carl Gerjes. “There was a really good crowd and the show was very well promoted.” Dealer Marty Davis added, “This was the best show in years. Doncic really helped push sales.” Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic (LOO-kuh DON-chitch) is the reigning EuroLeague Most Valuable Player and EuroLeague Final 4 Most Valuable Player after leading Real Madrid to the 2017-18 EuroLeague title. He was the youngest player ever…

As vintage sports trading cards continue to increase in value, more and more collectors are seeking ways to get in on the action. The problem is unopened packs of vintage cards can be expensive, selling for many thousands of dollars. Some companies have started hosting events in which collectors, through randomization, purchase a card position in an unopened pack. Then, when the pack is opened, usually during a live event, the collector receives the card that was in their numerical position in the pack. This creates plenty of anticipation when the pack is opened, but it also creates disappointment among collectors if there was a good card in the pack and they didn’t get that card. To help alleviate the disappointment with collectors, Charlie Parrino, owner and founder of Just…