Innholdsfortegnelse for March 1, 2024 i Sports Collectors Digest

LEADING OFF Sunday, Feb. 4 was Willie Mays Day as MLB and the San Francisco Giants honored the Giants great and baseball legend to kick off Black History Month. It was a fitting tribute to the Say Hey Kid, baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. The date of the tribute—2/4/24—was significant, with the numbers corresponding to Mays’ famous No. 24. “The game of baseball has been great to me, and not only was I given the opportunity to play, but I was also given the opportunity to help kids all around the world,” the 92-year-old Mays said in a statement issued by the Giants and MLB. “To me, this day means I am loved.” Say Hey! Willie Mays is indeed one of the most beloved players in baseball history, as…

The release of Topps Series One Baseball each season signifies so much in the hobby and the sport itself. Topps leads off the baseball card collecting season with its iconic flagship set. The 2024 design is electric with a neon sign feel, a deep black upper border, and the team name in matching neon lights with a thin, multi-layered border wrapping around the card. The border fades from black at the top to a lighter, whiter color at the bottom base of the card. The famous Topps logo is featured prominently. At the bottom of the card, you will find the team logo wrapped in more neon and the player's name and position scrolled across the bottom within the neon border. Within the sport and hobby, Topps’ first installment of…

When the 2020 pandemic led to a dramatic boom in the sports card industry, two iconic rookie cards surged to the forefront, becoming two of the most valuable and sought-after cards in the hobby. Michael Jordan’s 1986-87 Fleer rookie card suddenly soared in value, selling for six figures and topping out at over $1 million at auction. Even more dramatic was the rise of the rookie card of another sports legend—hockey great Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky’s 1979 O-Pee-Chee rookie card sold at Heritage Auctions in 2020 for $1.29 million. Two years later, Heritage auctioned the 1979 Topps version of the card for $1.2 million. Heritage later brokered a private sale of a Gem Mint 10 copy of Gretzky’s OPC rookie for an astounding $3.75 million, shattering the previous record. Imagine owning…

NOTE: If you have a show listing, follow the style below and send to jowens@aimmedia.com. ALABAMA March 16 AL, Vestavia Hills. The Flip Sports Card & Collectibles Trade Show, Vestavia Civic Center, 1090 Montgomery Hwy., Vestavia Hills AL, 35216. SH: 10am-5pm. T: 200+ ($80-$95). A: $7. Contact: Daniel TheFlipTradeShow@Gmail.com March 23 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 ARKANSAS March 9 AR, Conway. Conway Sports Cards Show, ELITE, 1400 Old Morrilton Hwy #3513, Conway, AR. SH: 9am-3pm. T: 70. A: Free. Contact: Clay Winn conwaycard-show@gmail.com ARIZONA March 15-17 AZ, Phoenix (Downtown). Collectibles on College — Arizona State Card Show, Phoenix Convention Center (West Hall 1 & 2), 100 N. 3rd Street,…

THE HOBBY IS THE PEOPLE Nick Andrews is not afraid of a challenge. As a kid collector in the 1980s, an early school assignment had him sending some Ryan Sandberg and Red Sox player cards through the mail for autographs. Little did he know then that it would set the table for a couple of impressive hobby feats he would pursue many years later. Andrews stopped collecting for a while but returned just before COVID because his love of sports and collecting was shared by his son, who was beginning to collect cards, too. Andrews quickly realized, however, that his passion fell more on the vintage side of the house than the modern side. He started to collect not only vintage cards but signed vintage cards. Any set collector knows…

There’s no denying that rookies continue to drive both prices and interest when it comes to trading cards. It was another big year when it came to sales of rookie cards in 2023. Indeed, last year saw the emergence of several young stars. The NBA saw the arrival of Victor Wembanyama, a native of France, who was chosen No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. On the ice, another No. 1 pick, Connor Bedard—considered a once-in-a-generation talent—was chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks. In the process, both players took the hobby by storm by dominating sales for much of the year. Their popularity—in addition to the release of more rookies in a variety of 2024 sets—means demand for both Wembanyama and Bedard cards will continue well…

Collectors continue doling out five-figure sums for pro hoop heroes. Regular SCD readers got plenty of examples in a recent cover story (Feb. 1 issue). You’ll find more evidence here in our Top 10 listing and (below) in our “next 10” chart. But wait, there’s more! Check out these hot hoop sales from eBay auctions in January and early February. • JORDAN AND JAMES, TOGETHER:Love combo cards? They don’t get much better than this: a 2006-07 Upper Deck Hardcourt “Dual Auto Floor” insert card featuring perhaps the two greatest hoop players ever: Michael Jordan and LeBron James. The card was made in an edition of 23; this one is numbered #18.vIt was graded BGS 9.5 (with a 10 for the sigs). The condition helped it soar to $14,607 on 36…

Wayne Gretzky cards have been part of the hobby for more than 40 years. In that time, over 12,000 different cards and stickers featuring The Great One have been released. Whether you’re looking to start a Gretzky collection or need to know which one of his cardboard appearances demand the most attention, here’s a list of his top cards: 1979-80 O-PEE-CHEE #18 Considered a grail card by hockey collectors, Gretzky’s rookie card—depending on the grade—can sell for six or seven figures. In 2020, a PSA 10 sold for $1.29 million at Heritage Auctions. A year later, a PSA 10 sold for $3.75 million in a private sale brokered through Heritage. Lower grades can still run in the thousands of dollars. 1979-80 TOPPS #18 The Topps Gretzky rookie is a cheaper…