Innholdsfortegnelse for January 1, 2024 i Sports Collectors Digest

LEADING OFF The last time I saw collector and friend Jeff Baker, he was right where I expected him to be — hanging out at the TRISTAR Autograph Pavilion at the 43rd annual National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. An avid sports memorabilia and autograph collector and the host of the popular TTMCast podcast, Jeff sadly passed away on Dec. 2 at age 58. At The National in July, I was making one of my daily stops at the autograph pavilion to check out which sports legends were signing and what kind of crowds they were attracting when I ran into Jeff, who was hanging out near the front of the pavilion watching his heroes sign and plotting who he was going to go after next. He showed me one…

The NBA’s next big thing — literally and figuratively —is rookie Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 rookie from France has quickly become the San Antonio Spurs’ centerpiece. He’s only 19, so who knows? He may grow another inch. No doubt he’ll at least add muscle mass. For now, Wembanyama’s thin frame is encountering lots of traffic in the paint, where the NBA’s wide-body bruisers take up residence. No problem: Wembanyama loves the 3-point line. At this early juncture, he’s been heaving up an average of five 3-pointers per game. He’s making only 27 percent of them, but his inside game is good enough that through mid-December, he was averaging 19 points per game along with 10 rebounds and 2.5 assists. As Wembanyama fills out and gains more experience, he’ll become a…

NOTE: If you have a show listing, follow the style below and send to jowens@aimmedia.com. ALABAMA Jan 20 AL, Sheffield. Muscle Shoals Sportscards and Memorabilia Show, Clarion Inn, 4900 Hatch Blvd., Sheffield, AL 35660. SH: 8am-2pm. T: 30. A: Free. Contact: Leroy Willis 256-412-2184, popandhoney@yahoo.com Jan 20-21 AL, Trussville (East Birmingham). The Flip Sports Card & Collectibles Trade Show, Trussville Civic Center, 5381 Trussville Clay Rd, Trussville, AL 35173 SH: Sat 10am-5pm; Sunday 11am-4pm. T: 135+ ($100-$150). A: $6. Contact: Daniel TheFlipTradeShow@Gmail.com Feb 3 AL, Dothan. The Flip Sports Card & Collectibles Trade Show, Dothan Civic Center, 126 N. St. Andrews St. #214, Dothan, AL 36303. SH: 10am-4pm. T: 125 ($75-$95). A: $6. Contact: Daniel TheFlipTradeShow@Gmail.com ARIZONA Jan 6 AZ, Sun City West. Diamond in the Ruff Sportscard & Collectibles…

THE HOBBY IS THE PEOPLE Sometimes when something happens you don't immediately realize the long-term significance of it. It's not until years later that the reality of the impact reveals itself. The innovation in the 1990s by Mike Cramer of Pacific Trading Cards fits that description aptly. I recently had Mike on Sports Card Nation on episodes 254 and 255, but before I did I read an advance copy of his new book “Cramer's Choice,” which I highly recommend by the way. While I knew quite a bit about Mike and his company, the biography was a great behind-the-scenes look at the rise of a little sports card company that could into one that took on the big boys and competed. But in many ways, Cramer and his company led…

A rare 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card sold for a record $7.2 million in the Fall Auction at Robert Edward Auctions. The sale is a record for a Ruth card or memorabilia and the third highest-selling sports card of all time. It fell short, however, of the $10 million predicted by REA. Graded SGC VG 3, the card is one of only 10 examples in existence and the highest grade to appear at auction in more than 15 years, according to REA. “This auction was a watershed moment for the Baltimore News Babe Ruth card, for REA, and for the hobby. We are thrilled to see Babe Ruth stake his spot in the top three all time with this record-setting result,” REA President Brian Dwyer said. The auction…

EDITOR’S NOTE SCD encourages a diversity of voices and views. Please limit letters to 200-400 words and include your name, city and state. SCD reserves the right to edit all letters for length and clarity. Please email letters to jowens@aimmedia.com. Thanks for the great article on Dusty Baker. It was one of the most enjoyable articles I’ve read this year in SCD. I can relate well to your admiration for Dusty as he was also one of my very favorite players during that era and my favorite manager for many years. Growing up in Birmingham, I was fortunate to see him play a few times at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium before the trade to the Dodgers. Being a Giants fan, I was crushed when he left San Francisco to manage the…

From Dick Butkus and Jim Brown to Bobby Hull, Brooks Robinson and Willis Reed, the sports world and collecting hobby lost some true sports legends in 2023. Butkus, the hard-hitting linebacker for the Chicago Bears, was one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the NFL. Brown, meanwhile, retired as the league’s leading rusher. Both are in the conversation as the greatest players of all time. Baseball lost the greatest defensive third baseman of all time in Robinson, the Orioles legend, AL MVP and World Series hero. Hull, meanwhile, was one of the greatest players in NHL history. “The Golden Jet” was a two-time MVP, three-time leading scorer and led the Original Six Chicago Blackhawks to the 1961 Stanley Cup. Reed was a six-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion…