Jeremiah Trotter Signing Autographs At The Ephrata Lions Club’s 43rd Annual Sports Card Show and Auction

Former Eagles, Redskins, and Buccaneers linebacker Jeremiah Trotter is scheduled to sign autographs at the 43rd Ephrata Lions Club Annual Sports Card Show and Auction.

When: Saturday, March 25, 2023

Where: Ephrata Recreation Center – 130 South Academy Drive, Ephrata, PA 17522

Show Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Autograph Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Show Admission: $5.00/adult and $1.00 for children under 12

Autograph Price: $25.00 – $35.00 depending on the item

The Ephrata Lions Club Sports Card Show and Auction is the longest running one-day show in the country.

Lots of Phillies, Eagles, Steelers, and Penn State memorabilia spread over (70) vendor tables.

Official Trailer | She-Hulk: Attorney at Law | Disney+

Official Trailer | She-Hulk: Attorney at Law | Disney+

Trace McSorley Signing Autographs At The Ephrata Lions Club’s 42nd Annual Sports Card Show and Auction

Former Penn State QB Trace McSorley will be signing autographs at the Ephrata Lions Club’s 42nd Annual Sports Card Show and Auction.

Trace McSorley is currently one of the backup QB’s to Lamar Jackson from the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ephrata Lions Club’s 42nd Annual Sports Card Show and Auction is the longest running one-day show in the country.

Show Details:

When: Saturday, March 26, 2022

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Ephrata Recreation Center, 130 South Academy Drive, Ephrata, PA 17522

Admission: $5.00/adult, $1.00 for children under 12

Autograph Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Autograph Price: $25.00 to $35.00 – only (200) tickets will be sold

Show Size: 70 tables

2020/21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition Box Pop-Ups At Local Card Show

And the plot thickens…

Over the weekend I reported about how an eBay seller seemed to have singles listed that look to have come from 2020/21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition. Pretty interesting considering this product hasn’t even been announced by Topps yet.

Blowout Cards forum user ybomber attended a local card show over the weekend where a dealer had at least (1) box of 2020/21 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition for sale. These are either completely legit or someone did a fantastic job counterfeiting the entire line. I’m thinking they are the real deal though.

One major difference between the 2019/20 and 2020/21 set is where they were printed. The 2019/20 set was printed in Canada, whereas the 2020/21 set looks to have been printed in Italy. Many of their non-U.S. sports products have switched to being printed in the Italy facility.

How it made it out of Italy and on the U.S. streets already is the big mystery. Maybe Topps plans to release it soon. When it is officially released it looks to be another Topps online-exclusive. Most likely Topps 582 Montgomery Club members will get first dibs.

Pro Set’s Failed Attempt At Entering The Baseball Card Market

Pro Set released a steady run of products starting in 1989, and continued to do so until they met their demise in 1994.  During that time period, Pro Set produced cards for football, hockey, golf, soccer, and racing.  They also released a handful of entertainment sets.  It was football and hockey that they were mostly known for though.  Pro Set was the king when it came to error cards.  Some of these errors continue to bring in big dollars today.

You wouldn’t know to look at them, but 1992 Flopps was made by Pro Set.  It was a project that didn’t get that far off of the ground.  To put it simply, it was Pro Set’s attempt at making a baseball card product.  Without obtaining a license from MLB or getting permission from the MLBPA, Pro Set decided to throw these spoof cards out there to see how collectors would react.

Pro Set made 5-card promo packs that were distributed to dealers.  Each pack contained the same cards – Barry Bones, Ken Groovy, Jr., Stickey Henderson, Wade Bugs, and Lance Perishable.  Of all the products that Pro Set made, these were probably the most artistic.  I wonder what happened to the original artwork?  The card backs feature fun write-ups too.

The name “Pro Set” doesn’t appear anywhere on these cards.  They made it look like “Flopps” was an official company.  Maybe that’s what Pro Set wanted because they knew there was a chance that someone was going to step in.  And that’s exactly what happened.  The MLBPA took legal action, and Pro Set never tried to make baseball cards again.  The actual set was suppose to contain (66) cards – (55) base, (10) Scratch N’ Sniff, and (1) collectible card.  I have no idea what the collectible card was going to be.  Holograms were big at the time, so perhaps something like that.

The only cards Pro Set officially released were the 1992 Flopps promo packs.  The MLBPA jumped in before Pro Set could go any further.  Occasionally a Scratch N’ Sniff card will popup.  Those probably found their way out the backdoor.  You would think a canceled product such as 1992 Flopps would be rare, but that’s not the case.  Sealed promo packs can easily be found for next to nothing.  Even the Scratch N’ Sniff cards barely draw much attention.

R.I.P. Frank Robinson – I Got Yelled At For Taking His Picture

Frank Robinson was one hell of a baseball player and manager.  He is the first player in history to be named MVP in both leagues, and the first African American manager in Major League Baseball.  For those looking for his rookie card, it can be found in the 1957 Topps set card #35.

For years Frank Robinson was on the autograph circuit.  He was a regular signer at the National Sports Collectors Convention, and various other shows throughout the country.  While I never got his autograph, I did run in to him during the March 2009 Philly Show and 2016 National in Atlantic City.

In March of 2009, the Philly Show recently moved from Reading to Valley Forge.  In my opinion, that wasn’t a great move.  I attended the show a few more times after that, but then decided to stop going.  I just didn’t enjoy the setup, and it became more focused on the autograph guests.  Lots of my favorite dealers began dropping out.  The attendance wasn’t there, and the price for booth space kept rising.  I’m not too sure what the state of the show is right now.  It still goes on in Valley Forge, but I haven’t been there since 2011.

Lets go back to that March 2009 show.  Former Phillies pitcher Marty Bystrom was one of the autograph guests.  He loved interacting with fans, and not once did he talk on his phone while signing autographs.  Yeah right!

Shortly before lunchtime, I remember buying a box and taking it over to the food court to open.  I think it was a box of 2009 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Football.  While sitting at the table, I saw Frank Robinson walk in.

As soon as Frank Robinson walked in, I quickly snapped a picture from across the room.  I then continued going through my box.  The next thing I know he’s sitting at the table with me eating a muffin.  It was just us at the table, and nobody else around.  He made it well known to me that he didn’t like that his picture was taken without asking permission.  No “Hi.  Nice to meet you.”, he went right to the fact that I took his picture.  He acted like I shoved the camera in his face.  I was way on the other side of the room.  My thinking is this, in a world where everyone has a camera in their pocket and you walk into a show to sign autographs, people are going to take pictures whether you want them to or not.

Perhaps he woke up on the wrong side of the bed that morning.  I don’t know.  Once I was finished opening my box, I left.  While waiting to enter the National in Atlantic City, he walked by.  The second he was gone, other people in line began exchanging similar stories.  It made me chuckle to know I wasn’t alone.

State College Spikes ’18 Topps Pro Debut Relic Contest! – NOW CLOSED

This contest is for a Zach Kirtley 2018 Topps Pro Debut Fragments of the Farm New York-Penn League Championship Banner From Medlar Field At Lubrano Park Relic.  I will be attending the National Sports Collectors Convention this week, so this contest will run a little longer.  Good luck!!!

Contest Details:

• This contest will end Sunday, August 5, 2018 @ 8:00 p.m. EST.
• To enter, please leave a comment in this post.
• You can enter once per day.
• The winner will be selected at random.
• Please provide a valid e-mail address when entering.
• The winner will receive an e-mail when the contest is over.
• The winner has one week to send me their contact information or the contest will be held again.
• Once the contest is over, I will need the winner’s mailing address so I can ship them this card for FREE!!!

“Pin-Up” of the Week: Sports Legends Museum At Camden Yards Logo Pin

Anyone that’s been to an Orioles game since 2005 or even attended the National Sports Collectors Convention in 2010 or 2012 should have an idea of what this place was.  It was located right outside of Camden Yards in the old Camden Station.  You could view tons of artifacts from Baltimore’s sports history over the 22,000 square feet the museum took up.  A few months before attending the National in 2010, I took a trip down there and went through it.  That place was a great museum which housed some amazing relics.

Unfortunately the Sports Legends Museum closed it’s doors last fall.  They couldn’t come to turns on a new lease.  That prime location next to Camden Yards came with a hefty $28,000 per month rent.  Depending on how you look at it I guess that amount could be big or small to some people.  The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation were/are the people that ran it.  That is the same group which operates the Babe Ruth Birthplace And Museum.  Some of the artifacts which were on display at the Sports Legends Museum are now over at the Babe Ruth Birthplace And Museum.  A majority of the items are now in storage.  They’re currently looking for a new location.

Panini Shows Off An Early Look At 2014 NSCC Wrapper Redemption Set

We’re only 24 days away from the opening of the 2014 National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland.  Things are starting to heat up.  You know me, I’m all about free stuff and that’s one of the best things about the National.

Panini has given us collectors a small glimpse as to what we’ll find inside those coveted wrapper redemption packs.  Right now all we’re getting to see are base cards.  For more pictures check out The Knight’s Lance.  Panini plans to bring back their popular VIP Party which you’ll most likely need to spend a few thousand dollars on product if you want to attend.  They’ll also have autograph guests at their booth too.  In my experience, Panini’s wrapper redemption programs aren’t something you need to rush through the door to participate in like some of the stuff you see with Topps.  Panini usually holds their programs at specific times.  Watch the lines!!!  Collectors have been known to lineup 2 hours ahead of time.