Card of the Day: Sebastian Valle 2011 Bowman Draft Auto

I’ve Turned Into Where’s Waldo!

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This is another photo from the Phillies dinner I attended Monday night.  The Williamsport Crosscutters posted it earlier today.  I bet you can’t find me in it.  This is not a trick.  I’m in there.  I feel like Where’s Waldo?

“Pin-Up” of the Week: Welcome Home, Joe Pa Pin

This is an interesting image of Bear Bryant welcoming Joe Paterno into what looks like heaven.  I think its a cool picture.  This image emerged online after Joe Paterno passed away and its found its way onto items such as pins.  They can be found for $2.00.  R.I.P. Joe Pa.

Card of the Day: Ricky Rubio 2009-2010 UD Exquisite RC Auto

Card traders’ fortunes shift over time

My local newspaper, The Daily Item, published an article on one of my local card shops – Shaffer’s Trading Cards.  They have been in business for 35 years and keep on going.  I’m sure if you’ve been to any of the major shows you’ve seen Bill Shaffer and his wife Darlene.  It was an interesting read.  I thought you would enjoy.  I’ve pulled some great stuff from his shop, including a Willie Mays 2004 Topps Tribute Cut Signature Edition Auto #’ed 1/1.  Enjoy!

By Francis Scarcella
Daily Item

“LEWISBURG — You may have $2.2 million sitting in a box in your attic and you don’t even know it.

In the early 1990s, baseball cards were being produced at an estimated 81 billion cards per year with some of those cards being worth hundreds of dollars each, but more than 20 years later popularity and price have seen ups and downs, said Bill Shaffer, owner of Shaffer’s Trading Cards.

Except for the T-206 1909 Honus Wagner rookie card.

In 1979, the Wagner rookie card was thought to be one of 10 produced. About 40 that have been discovered.

The most recent Wagner card to be sold was in 2009, where a buyer fromCaliforniapaid $2.2 million for it.

“The vintage stuff has skyrocketed in price,” Shaffer said. “It’s the newer stuff that isn’t as much or has stayed the same.”

Shaffer has been dealing with trading cards for 35 years and it’s the living he and his wife Darlene chose to have.

More than 35 years ago the Topps Company was the only company selling trading cards of Major League Baseball.

A few companies came along, and in 1981 Fleer and Donruss card companies made their debuts.

“Then a bunch more started to pop up,” Shaffer said.

“One after one, companies began buying each other and in the end only one company was left standing.”

The Topps Company remained the leader in trading cards, Shaffer said.

“They never did attempt to buy anyone or do anything. They stayed doing exactly what they were doing and they are now the only licensed company to sell Major League Baseball cards.”

The Topps Company issued its first cards in 1951 and was founded in 1938 as Topps Chewing Gum. In its early years, Topps produced a popular penny “Topps Gum” from a factory inBrooklyn,N.Y.In 1950, Topps added trading cards to its product line. Baseball cards appeared in 1951 now the company produces trading cards that features football basketball players, in addition to entertainment cards and stickers and albums.

Shaffer said that even though it appears that children are the collectors, it is an adult business.

“They started with putting cards in cigarette packs,” he said.

A pack of cards in 1979 cost around 15 cents, Shaffer said.

“Now the price is at $2 per pack,” he said.

“I’ve lived through all the changes and price changes.”

Packs of cards used to have bubble gum included with them, but that practice has since stopped, Shaffer said.

Searching value of what you may have, or may have found hidden away, is as easy as buying a price guide, Shaffer said.

“You would be surprised at some of the prices,” he said.

“Most of the cards that were made in the early 90s were over made which lead to price being brought down.”

Shaffer said if you are a rookie and looking to start a collection — start with rookies.

That’s where people go,” he said.

“They get a hot rookie and collect from there.”

But if you are looking for that Wagner card and you get lucky and find one, even if its ripped it could buy you a new house.

“I saw one that was missing a piece of the card at a trade show and it sold for $150,000,” Shaffer said.

“They say there is only 40, but they just keep popping up.”"

Flashback Product of the Week: 1985 Topps Baseball Photo Rub-Downs

Topps has literally tested millions of different ways collectors can enjoy the hobby.  Stickers, tattoos, posters, and even collectible masks have been some of the ideas they’ve ran with in the past.  In 1985 Topps released their Baseball Photo Rub-Downs product.  The set consists of 112 players featured on 32 different rub-down sheets.  If you take a coin and rub it over the paper backing of the sheet you can transfer the image to another surface.  Stuff like this was popular back in the 80′s, so it makes sense that Topps would try it.  There are 36 packs per box each containing 2 sheets.  Boxes can be found for under $10.00.

Card of the Day: Prince Fielder 2002 Upper Deck Minor League Signature Collection Auto

Crosscutters 6th Annual Hot Stove Dinner with the Phillies

Last night I attended the Williamsport Crosscutters 6th Annual Hot Stove League Dinner & Auction with the Phillies.  Guest speakers included Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr, Phillies Broadcaster Tom McCarthy, Phillies Special Consultant Ed Wade, Phillies Assistant Director of Minor Leagues Steve Noworyta, Crosscutters 2012 Manager Andy Tracy, and Dave Bresnahan of “The Great Potato Caper”.

This was a fantastic event where the proceeds benefited Andrew’s Special Kids Foundation.  I’ve been to four out of the six Hot Stove Dinner’s they’ve held, and I think this was the most entertaining, but its still not the same without Harry Kalas.  Hearing Bresnahan’s potato story was very funny, and something I’d never heard before.  In between speakers they would auction a few items off.  Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr purchased a Jim Kelly signed football, and bid up a few other auctions to help raise more money.  There was a heated battle between a few bidders for a Placido Polanco signed bat which ended up selling for around $640.00.  Ruben Amaro, Jr asked the person who lost the auction if they would be willing to spend the same amount if he got Polanco to sign another one.  The bidder said yes.

Every table had a prize on it.  Whoever had a baseball card taped to the bottom of their chair won the prize.  I ended up with a $20.00 gift certificate to Dick’s Sporting Goods.  This dinner and auction had some really great items you could win.  I tried to win a bobblehead but was unsuccessful.  One lucky winner went home with an autographed Dave Bresnahan 2007 Williamsport Crosscutters bobblehead showing him holding a potato.  Its a very rare bobblehead that is worth into the hundreds.

The event was completely sold out, just like a Phillies home game.  The food was excellent too.  Be sure to read the Crosscutters write-up on the evening.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr (left) and Williamsport Crosscutters VP Marketing Gabe Sinicropi (right)

Ruben Amaro, Jr

Phillies T.V. Broadcaster Tom McCarthy

Phillies Special Consultant Ed Wade (left) Williamsport Crosscutters VP Marketing Gabe Sinicropi (right)

Dave Bresnahan (left) played for the Williamsport Bills.  In 1987 he gained notoriety for playing a trick on the field that involved a potato in a game against the Reading Phillies.  Last night he was inducted into the Bowman Field Hall of Fame.  Williamsport Crosscutters VP Marketing Gabe Sinicropi (right)

Ruben Amaro, Jr’s signature on my bat.  Right beneath Jimmy Rollins.

Card of the Day: Pancho Herrera 1958 Topps #433

Card of the Day: Billy Cundiff 2002 Fleer Platinum RC #278