Cooper’s Yankees Dream Scene Is Complete & Heading To Chicago

What if, for one brief shining moment, the greatest Bronx Bombers in history could gather together—each in the ultimate prime of their careers—to swap stories, talk shop, pal around and have a ball…and what if WE were lucky enough to be flies on the clubhouse wall bearing witness to it all.

As I reported back in February, artist Jamie Cooper was beginning to work on the Yankees Dream Scene painting.  After numerous sketches and hours of hard work, Mr. Cooper has finished another one of his masterpieces.  This 4.5′ x 5.5′ painting will be auctioned off by Legendary Auctions on August 2nd in Chicago, right in time for the National Sports Collectors Convention.  Many Phillies fans are familiar with Cooper’s work as he is the artist behind the Phillies Dream Scene that now hangs in the Diamond Club at Citizens Bank Park.  The amount of research that Mr. Cooper puts into his pieces is amazing.  The Yankees Dream Scene consists of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and Derek Jeter.  Just like with the Phillies Dream Scene, Mr. Cooper has thrown in a lot of little historical details that you might not see right away.

There is no word yet on whether or not reproduction prints will be made, but I’m sure if enough Yankees fans inquiry about it you’ll see it happen.  According to Mr. Cooper, “My goal is to get this out to all Yankees fans and drive interest in a full size Yankees piece on the scale of the Phillies Dream scene.”

Upper Deck Unveils Their VIP Set For The 34th National

Here we go!  Today Upper Deck unveiled the 6-card set that VIPs will find in their packages while attending the 34th National Sports Collectors Convention.  I don’t know what it is about these cards, but they make me crave Hi-C juice that comes in those little boxes.  Maybe its those green backgrounds.

I would like to see Upper Deck make specially colored Precious Metal Gems parallels and/or a National exclusive Animal Kingdom patch to give away during their redemption programs this year.  Promos that can be integrated into an already existing product are the most desired.

Eddie Lacy’s ’52 Bowman Style Portrait Readies For The 34th National

Artist James Henry Smith just finished up this Eddie Lacy portrait that Topps will use for their ’52 Bowman style promo set which will be given away during the 34th National Sports Collectors Convention this year.  Other players in the set will include Mike Trout, Ernie Banks, Bryce Harper, Frank Thomas, Geno Smith, Tavon Austin, and EJ Manuel.  Topps will give away 100 copies of each card every day of the NSCC to those who open (5) packs of a Topps or Bowman product at their booth.  Then they’ll wrap things up by giving away the original pieces of art that will be autographed by the players.

Tickets To The 34th National Are Now On Sale

Advanced tickets to the 34th National Sports Collectors Convention are now on sale.  This year’s National takes place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.  The National is one of the greatest places for collectors to gather, show off their collections, get autographs, and pick-up an endless amount of promos.  If you can’t find it at the National, it most likely doesn’t exist.  TRISTAR has already scheduled a bunch of athletes to sign autographs with plenty more to come.  In a few months we’ll start hearing what Topps, Upper Deck, Panini, and all the other major players have in store for collectors.  Lots of great memories can be made while attending The National.  You never know what might happen or who you’ll meet.

Here are a few links to the past NSCC I’ve attended:

• 2009 NSCC
• 2010 NSCC
• 2012 NSCC

Now this is a blast from the past.  Check out this program from the very first National back in 1980.  I think we’ve come a long way since the Airport Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles.  Someone snagged this program up recently for $60.00.