Innholdsfortegnelse for February 15, 2025 i Sports Collectors Digest

Bob Uecker loved to make fun of himself. Had he not been a former major league catcher and a lifelong baseball man, you might have thought his self-deprecating humor was his profession, or favorite pastime. In a sense, it was. That was his shtick, his gimmick, the comic routine that made him famous. And no one did it better. Uecker, aka “Mr. Baseball,” was known more for his wit, charm and humor than for anything he did on the playing field. And that’s just the way he liked it. His meager career provided him with plenty of material. One of baseball’s greatest announcers and the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers passed away on Jan. 16 at age 90. A beloved figure, Uecker’s passing was mourned by the entire baseball world,…

Six NBA championships. Five regular-season MVP awards. Six NBA Finals MVPs. Ten NBA scoring titles. A 30.1 career scoring average. Fourteen All-Star berths. Nine NBA All-Defensive awards. Two Olympic medals, an NBA Rookie of the Year award, Hall of Fame honors and, of course, a no-brainer place on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. Those accolades (and countless others) can point only to Michael Jordan. All of it adds up to Air Jordan’s place in the hobby stratosphere, up there with Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. Just like his style of play, there’s no “give” in Michael Jordan as a hobby icon. To wit: Between our Top 10 chart and our “next 10” list, Jordan items hog 11 of the 20 spots. And no, they’re not all Fleer rookie card sales.…

When collector Brad Sauder was looking for a way to introduce the most valuable and iconic cards in the hobby to average collectors, the idea for The Trading Card Hall of Fame was conceived. Established in March of 2024, The Trading Card Hall of Fame seeks to serve as the authority for the most iconic trading cards in history. “It was conceived while I was thinking of a way to bring these iconic cards to the average collector and celebrate them throughout the hobby,” said Sauder, president of The Trading Card Hall of Fame. Sauder created a voting panel of experts from around the hobby, including card companies, card shop owners, show promoters, hobby media, and lifelong collectors. Nominees also were submitted by collectors via social media and the Hall…

"How much for that Caitlin Clark card?” That’s become a very popular request at card shows across North America over the past year. The answer when it comes to Clark’s rookie cards often involves many zeroes. That’s because Clark has become a phenom both on the hardwood and cardboard. “As an NBA card collector, it’s been great to see the explosion of women’s basketball cards to chase,” said John O’Hara, who has been collecting basketball cards since 2018. “Caitlin Clark has given us all a reason to go after her cards and other rookies.” O’Hara is like a lot of collectors gripped by the Clark craze. He attended the Toronto Sport Card Expo this past fall on the hunt for her cards. He wasn’t alone. Card shops across the country…

In the last issue I used this platform to write about something not so good happening in the hobby. This time I figured it's time to get back on the positivity horse to highlight someone who is a great representative of our great hobby. Lauren Rizzo Shaffer. As a young girl, her entrance to the hobby was via the Pokémon door, but being a sports fan would lead her to that side of the hobby years later. Former NBA superstar Vince Carter was a local hero and Lauren and her brother, Daniel, enjoyed following him and picking up local cards and collectibles where possible. It didn't hurt that her stepfather played pickup basketball with Carter at the local YMCA. Years later, her boyfriend and future husband, Bryan, opened the door…

When the calendar flipped to 2025, Topps and Panini began rolling out fresh, new card sets for the new year, including Topps iconic Series One Baseball. New baseball, football and basketball cards are hitting the market, including a unique WNBA set featuring women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark. Here’s a look at three new sets to look for as you begin your card-collecting quests in 2025. TOPPS SERIES ONE The flagship Topps Series One Baseball set leads off the new baseball season and sets the tone for the entire sports card year to come. Since Fanatics’ purchase of the legendary Topps brand, it has continued the strong Topps traditions while also ushering in a new, ultra-modern feel of each cardboard product. The Series One base set consist of 350 cards with…

Goldin is honoring one of soccer’s most historic clubs with a special FC Barcelona Auction of game-used and historic memorabilia. The auction opened Jan. 23 and runs through Feb. 12. Items used by FC Barcelona legends throughout the club’s distinguished history at Spotify Camp Nou stadium will be up for auction. The legendary venue has undergone extensive renovations and the auction honors Barça's rich history as it begins a new era in the renovated stadium. The auction will feature unique pieces of sports memorabilia, including lockers and benches used by such FC Barcelona legends as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Ladislao Kubala, Pep Guardiola, Gerard Piqué, Ronaldinho, Neymar, Robert Lewandowski, and more. The auction also includes the field crest from the home and visiting coaching areas, UEFA Champions League…

Dubbed the “biggest threat to our industry” four years ago by a prominent business owner in the sports memorabilia field, a long-suspected forger and his alleged accomplice have been arrested and charged with counterfeiting. Wendell Gidden-Rogers and Lisa Skolnick, both of McKinney, Texas, were arrested on Jan. 15 when investigators with the Collin County Sheriff ’s Office Criminal Investigations Division executed a search warrant. According to a press release from the Collin County Sheriff ’s Office, “The warrant was obtained as part of an ongoing investigation into the online sale of fraudulently manufactured and authenticated sports memorabilia.” Sports Collectors Digest published a story in December 2020 after a months-long investigation into Wendell Rogers, which is one of his many aliases. According to the report, a number of businesses that deal…

For a complete listing of upcoming shows, visit www.sportscollectorsdigest.com NOTE: If you have a show listing, follow the style below and send to jowens@aimmedia.com. ALABAMA Feb 15 Al. Sheffield, Muscle Shoals Sportscards and Memorabilia Show, Clarion Inn, Sheffield, AL, 4900 Hatch Boulevard 35660, SH: 8am-2pm. T: 30. A: Free. Contact: Leroy Willis 256-412-2184; popandhoney@yahoo.com March 1 AL, Huntsville. The Flip Sports Card & Collectibles Trade Show, Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe St. SW, Huntsville, AL 35801. SH: 10am-4pm. T: 200+ ($80-95). A: $7 Contact: DanielTheFlipTradeshow.com ARKANSAS Feb 27-Mar 2 AR, Ft Smith. Vintage Sports Collectibles Show, Central Mall, 5111 Rogers Ave, Ft. Smith, AR 72903. SH: Thurs-Sat 10 am-7 pm; Sun Noon-5 pm. T: 50. A: Free. Contact: Larry Yeager 918 845 4257; vinsprtcrds@hotmail.com ARIZONA Feb 23 AZ, Sun City West…