Beckett Can’t Tell The Difference Between Harry Houdini and Martin Luther King Jr.

A recently deleted Facebook post from Beckett has collectors scratching their heads.

Within this ad for their autograph authentication service (posted on 12/24/22) Beckett is supposedly showing off a slabbed autograph of Harry Houdini.

Unfortunately the item inside the slab is an American Express receipt that looks to be signed by civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.

The label on the slab states “Cut Signature” “Harry Houdini” “Authentic Autograph”.

When looking up it’s serial number 9623169, Beckett’s website has it listed as a Harry Houdini Cut Signature authenticated on Tuesday, January 17, 2017.

Is this incorrectly labeled item still floating around? Possibly. Did the individual who submitted it for authentication have Beckett fix it? Maybe. Will we ever know the truth? Most likely not.

The line on Beckett’s now deleted post read “Have you ever seen a Harry Houdini autograph? Neither have we, until now.” What did they mean “Neither have we, until now.”? They apparently thought they saw one six years ago.

SGC Grades Fake Derek Jeter 1994 Signature Rookies Auto

Blowout Forums user superdan49 recently discovered that SGC graded a fake Derek Jeter 1994 Signature Rookies Auto.

According to the fake card’s SGC certification #7701181 it was graded in September 2022.

Comparing the fake card to an authentic example you can clearly see the major differences in the signature.

As of this writing the fake card is up for sale on eBay with bids.

This isn’t the first time one of the major grading companies has let a fake card slip past them. It has happened many times before. Not too long ago BGS graded a fake 1990 Topps Frank Thomas No Name On Front Error.

Fake

Authentic

2023 Topps Baseball Flagship Design Unveiled

Topps has pulled back the curtain to show collectors what the 2023 Topps Baseball flagship design will be.

This design will be used on a variety of products such as Series 1, Series 2, Update, Chrome, and a whole lot more.

Future National Sports Collectors Convention Sites Announced

Per an e-mail from the National Sports Collectors Convention, here is a list of the next three locations they plan to hold the show:

• 2023 Chicago (Rosemont)  July 26-30, 2023
• 2024 Cleveland IX Center July 24-28, 2024
• 2025 Chicago (Rosemont) July 30-August 3, 2025

I’m glad to see that Atlantic City is off the list, and Cleveland is back on. Cleveland has always been my favorite location. Its possible I might even try to get back there in 2024.

I Lost $3,500,000 On Fake Pokémon Cards

Bad day for Meelypops and BBCE. BBCE will no longer be authenticating Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cases.

COVID-19 Reflected In Many 2020 Little League World Series Pin Designs

Even though the Little League World Series has been canceled this year, many local businesses and organizations in Williamsport and the surrounding areas made new pins for 2020.  Collectible lapel pins are very popular to buy/sell/trade when the Little League World Series is taking place.  Its one of the main attractions.

COVID-19 and the lack of Little League Baseball are truly reflected in some of the 2020 pin designs.  Many pins feature people, places, and things wearing masks.  Cool, yet kinda creepy.  This event in world history will forever be remembered on these pins.

Others take a more traditional route, and don’t mention COVID-19 at all.

Despite lots of places having pins, I’ve noticed each place didn’t order the quantity they usually do.  It makes perfect sense as to why.  No need to order as many if the Little League World Series isn’t happening.

Below is a list of places that I’ve compiled which have pins for 2020.  Some may have run out, and they’re ordering more.  Others may not order more.  I ran into others who’s pins haven’t even arrived yet.

• Boy Scouts of America
• The Clothier
• ARC Heating and Service
• Robert M. Sides Family Music Centers
• BAM! Book Store
• James V. Brown Library
• K&W Tire
• Tebbs Brothers Landscaping
• Industrial Piping Systems
• Plankenhorn Stationary
• Williamsport Sun-Gazette
• Farrington Place
• Horizon Federal Credit Union
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Corter’s Flooring America
• West Branch Valley Federal Credit Union
• It’s My Party Store
• Thomas T. Taber Museum
• Mileto’s Sub Shop
• D&W Disposal
• WILQ 105.1 FM
• Finn Pest Control
• Arthaus Projects
• UPMC Susquehanna
• C.J. Mertes Plumbing & Heating
• Wine & Design
• DJ Cory
• Billtown Welding & Fabricating
• The Break Room of Williamsport
• Susquehanna Community Bank
• Valley View Rehab & Nursing Center
• Kriger Fence Co.
• Yoder Insurance Inc.
• Daves Repair
• Heltman’s Excavation
• Lycoming County 911
• IPT Williamsport Regional Airport

Topps Unveils The 2021 Baseball Flagship Design

I think the entire world is ready for 2020 to be over.  Many people wish to put this whole year behind us and look ahead to 2021.

A new year means a new Topps Baseball flagship set design.  Today Topps unveiled what that design plans to look like.

The flagship set sets the tone of the entire baseball card collecting year.  Between Series 1, Series 2, Update, Chrome, and Chrome Sapphire Edition its a design that you’ll be seeing quite often over a variety of products.

Looking Back On The 2016 National – Atlantic City, NJ

Today is July 29, 2020.  This was suppose to be the first day of the 41st National Sports Collectors Convention making it’s return to Atlantic City, NJ.  Thanks to COVID-19 this won’t be happening right now.  Currently it has been postponed until December 12-16, 2020.  Honestly, I don’t see that date sticking either.  Between COVID-19, weather, and the holiday season you’re just asking for trouble.  It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the National eventually gets cancelled altogether for 2020.

The last time the National was held in Atlantic City, NJ was back in 2016.  I attended this one.  Meeting people in-person who you only talk to online, sharing photos of high-end artifacts that only Mike Trout could afford, and participating in wrapper redemption programs were all major highlights.  If I remember correctly, 2016 Topps Chrome Baseball was released around this time and it was on fire.  Everyone was looking for rookies of Corey Seager, Trevor Story, Kenta Maeda, and Luis Severino to name a few.

Collectors should be picking-up their VIP packages, and running to the Topps booth to sign-up for their Q&A session.  But not today.  Hopefully one day we can return to normal.

In the meantime, enjoy these photos I got when I was there in 2016.

Getting my own baseball card made at the Topps booth.

Babe Ruth baseball bat from the 1930s.

Bobbleheads!

You never know what you’re going to find.

Pulled this Kevin Smith autograph #’ed/25 from an Upper Deck wrapper redemption pack.

Pulled this Julio Urias autograph #’ed/30 from a Topps wrapper redemption pack.

Great prices on boxes.

Wade Boggs not looking too happy.  Get him some chicken!

Fidel Castro Vintage Single-Signed Cuban Baseball.

Merry Christmas!  Shitter was full!

2020 Topps Baseball’s Finest Flashbacks Hits A Home Run With Collectors

As a member of the Topps 582 Montgomery Club I was able to purchase (3) boxes of the new online-exclusive 2020 Topps Baseball’s Finest Flashbacks for $55/box.  The design pays tribute to 1993 Topps Finest which introduced collectors to the Refractor.

Not only is the design a nod to the original set, this new version also consists of (199) cards and contains (1) refractor per box.  With that being said, most people ripping find at least (2) refractors on average.  Parallels include Base Refractors, Gold Refractors #’ed/50, Black Refractors #’ed/25, Red Refractors #’ed/5, and Superfractors #’ed 1/1.  Even though the Base Refractors aren’t serial numbered, its speculated that no more than (50) copies exist for each card.

Opening a single box doesn’t guarantee an autograph.  Autographs fall about 1:6 boxes.  Base Autograph parallels include Base Refractor #’ed/20, Gold Refractors #’ed/15, Orange Refractors #’ed/10, Red Refractors #’ed/5, and Superfractors #’ed 1/1.  Base All-Stars Autographs are #’ed/20, and have parallels which include Gold Refractors #’ed/15, Orange Refractors #’ed/10, Red Refractors #’ed/5, and Superfractors #’ed 1/1.

Andre Dawson, Ivan Rodriguez, John Smoltz, Mark McGwire, and Roberto Alomar each have original Autograph Buybacks #’ed/20 or less.

Inserts come in the form of All-Stars Jumbo Box Toppers.

(18) packs come in a single box.

Pack Odds

Base Parallels:

• Refractor (1:18)
• Gold Refractor #’ed/50 (1:18)
• Black Refractor #’ed/25 (1:36)
• Red Refractor #’ed/5 (1:176)
• Superfractor #’ed 1/1 (1:880)

Autograph Parallels:

• Refractor #’ed/20 (1:296)
• Gold Refractor #’ed/15 (1:381)
• Orange Refractor #’ed/10 (1:573)
• Red Refractor #’ed/5 (1:1,138)
• Superfractor #’ed 1/1 (1:5,765)

The odds of finding an Autograph Buyback is (1:2,260).

Given that the odds of pulling a non-autographed Superfractor are (1:880) packs should tell you how limited this product actually is.  Normally that number is in the thousands.

This was a no-brainer buy for me.  Where else are you guaranteed (2) cards #’ed/50 or less for the price of $55/box?  The answer is nowhere.

Nostalgic design.  Colorful, low-numbered parallels.  On-card autographs.  It doesn’t surprise me that these boxes are selling for hundreds on the secondary market.  Nobody knows what the ceiling will be for these boxes.

Is Pete Rose Back In Major League Baseball?… Kinda, Maybe, Probably Not

Pete Rose’s banishment from MLB for gambling on baseball while playing for and managing the Reds will go down in history as one of the most debated sports topics.  Should the banishment be forgotten allowing him entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame?  This is a question that plaques the minds of many baseball fans today, and will continue to do so for years to come.

Legendary baseball player, and sometimes controversial pop-culture figure Pete Rose hasn’t appeared on an MLB-licensed Topps baseball card since 1989.  The last time he was featured in a licensed product showing team names and/or logos comes from 1994 Upper Deck: The American Epic.  Since then he has been seen countless times in other non-licensed baseball products made by Leaf and Panini.

Collectors opening 2020 Topps Series 2 Baseball are finding a familiar looking fellow on the Philadelphia Phillies Decades’ Best insert.  With his back turned, no team name and/or logos visible, you can just make out the cockeyed name across the back of the jersey which says “ROSE”.  Other players on the card include Steve Carlton and Bob Boone.

This isn’t something that Topps made a point to alert collectors about.  Collectors are discovering this all on their own.  Self-discovering moments such as this add a bit of excitement to the brand.  Pulling a card out and saying “I wonder if anyone else has noticed this?” can be fun.

In no way is this card rare.  Topps didn’t issue a corrected version.  Each one, including the parallels, looks just like this.  That won’t stop some folks from attempting to sell their cards for a premium.  This reminds me of the 2019 Topps Stadium Club Shane Bieber “error” which calls him Justin on the back.