Card of the Day: Luke Easter 1951 Topps Red Back #26

Card of the Day: 1980 Topps Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Yoda #9

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!

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.

Card of the Day: Wade Boggs 1987 Classic Update Yellow Travel Edition Green Back #105

ITG Brings Back The Ultimate Memorabilia SuperBox For This Year’s National

According to Dr. Prices’s blog, it looks like In The Game will bring back its Ultimate Memorabilia SuperBox for the National Sports Collectors Convention that begins later this month.  This marks the second year in a row for them to do so.  This year’s SuperBox applies to ITG’s Ultimate Memorabilia 12th Edition hockey product.  ITG has only made 100 UM-12 SuperBoxes for the National this year.

Each UM-12 SuperBox will contain a 1/1 Extra Card inserted into UM-12 boxes and in addition the UM-12 National SuperBoxes can be redeemed at The National for a 1/1 Redemption Card.

Extra Card – Each UM-12 Ultimate Memorabilia SuperBox will contain an Enshrined Memorabilia Card made specifically for the 34th National.  Every Enshrined Memorabilia Card will contain a relic from a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.  Oh ya!  These are all numbered 1/1 too.

Redemption – The UM-12 Ultimate Memorabilia SuperBox itself can be redeemed for a special 1/1 Enshrined Dual Game-Used Memorabilia Card featuring two members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

If you’re having trouble finding one of these UM-12 Ultimate Memorabilia National SuperBoxes, shoot ITG an e-mail at: info@itgtradingcards.com and put National SuperBox in the subject line.  Arrangements can be made to ship your SuperBox for pick-up in Chicago if you act quickly.

ITG’s Ultimate Memorabilia 12th Edition is a super high-end hockey product that costs around $600.00 per box.  Its not for your average hockey collector.  Don’t worry, ITG will have more promotional programs that involve their other products which don’t cost quite as much to take part in.

Card of the Day: Frank Thomas 2012 Leaf Memories Buy Back Auto

TeenyMates Back Story + 3 Pack Break

Many years ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio was in dire need of assistance.  They sent out a worldwide notice seeking thirty-two interns that could potentially come work for them at their giant football mecca.  Given the down turn in the country’s economy, they received thousands of resumes from freshly graduated students just looking for any type of experience.  After a strenuous interview process, the Hall of Fame finally narrowed it down to thirty-two.

On the first day of orientation, the eager interns all entered the conference room.  Some of them were shy and kept to themselves while others acted as if they just won a million bucks thinking they were on the top of the world.  It was clearly a diverse group of individuals.  Moments later they were met by their new boss, Jack Jurevicius.  After going through the initial orientation stuff, the thirty-two interns received a tour of the building.  Passing the Jim Thorpe statue downstairs they made their way up the winding ramp to the room above.  The building was filled with thousands of football artifacts once used by some of the greatest athletes to ever live.  Once the tour was over, they all were directed to the office area.  Before splitting up into their individual work teams, Mr. Jurevicius wanted to make one thing clear.  He pointed to a door that had the letters “RTDNER” on it.  “Nobody is to ever enter that room.” he said.  Everyone agreed to leave it go.

Flash forward a few months.  One stormy night, all the interns were working late.  The Hall of Fame had acquired a large amount of items that needed to be categorized and put on display.  Feeling overly confident they all agreed upon entering the “RTDNER” room.  Their curiosity got the best of them.  The room was basically empty, except for one thing.  Located in the center, was a football.  Not just any football, but the very first football ever made.  It was in terrible condition.  The outside was beat, and the stitches were coming loose.  They immediately picked it up and began to pass it around.  All of a sudden there was a flash of light that blinded them all.  When their vision returned, they had changed.

Everything around them was so big.  The football they had been inspecting was the size of a boulder and magically found its way back to the center of them room.  They had shrunk.  Looking up they saw a ghostly figure hovering over.  The figure described itself as the original owner of the football.  Before passing away, he cursed the ball and anyone that touches it.  “From now on, you thirty-two will be known as TeenyMates.  In time you will realize that you have been given extraordinary football skills, but you will never be recognized for your actions.” he said.  Looking around at one another, they said “What actions?”  “Each one of you will be designated to a specific team.  Your job is to help regular players make those incredible plays that don’t seem possible.  Don’t let your size discourage you.” the figure stated.

Famous games/plays TeenyMates took part in:

• The Immaculate Reception – 1972 AFC Divisional Playoff Game
• The Greatest Game Ever Played – 1958 NFL Championship Game
• The Ice Bowl – 1967 NFL Championship Game
• David Tyree’s helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII
• The Catch – 1982 NFC Championship

Remember, just because you didn’t see them, doesn’t mean they weren’t there.

P.S.

RTDNER stands for – Relics That Do Not Exist Room

I hope you all enjoyed the back story Sports Card Info gave to TeenyMates.  They sent over (3) packs to open.  Here is what I pulled:

As you can see, they are very tiny.  They all have a hole on the bottom, which I could easily see kids squeezing them onto the tops of their pens/pencils.  Be sure to look for the three rare figures – Houston Oilers, Glow-In-The-Dark, and Gold.

Sports Card Info will be holding (3) separate contests starting this weekend.  Each winner will receive (3) sealed packs of TeenyMates.

Back From The 2012 National Sports Collectors Convention

The 2012 National Sports Collectors Convention has come to an end.  It was packed with cards, memorabilia, promos, autograph guests, and much much more.

This was the 4th National I’ve attended.  I think it was one of the best.  The promos are one of the main reasons why I go.  Most of my time was spent in the corporate area with Topps, Panini, Upper Deck, and Sportkings.  The lines are well worth the wait.  Throughout the week I will be blogging about the boxes I broke and the promos I received.  I got some really good stuff including a few 1/1’s and a cut signature.  When I got home this afternoon, I spent about six hours getting everything organized for the week.

The National is one of those events collectors should experience at least once.  Its more than just a show.  You can interact directly with manufacturers, and you get to see a lot of collectors like yourself.  Some people may not like waiting in line for the promos, but that’s where you can meet some great people.

I broke something like six or so boxes.  When I got home, Panini had sent two more for Sports Card Info to review.  The cardboard just won’t stop 🙂  Take a look at some of the photos.  For those that attended, I hope you all had a great time.  More stuff coming soon.

Panini’s booth was one of the busiest.  Collectors were lining up two hours before the wrapper redemption program started.

On Friday, Washington Nationals pitching prospect Ryan Tatusko stopped by the Panini booth to sign autographs.  Ryan has checked out Sports Card Info before and last year I did an interview with him.  You can check out his blog here.

The Topps booth was another busy area, especially right when the show opened.  Collectors were looking for Gypsy Queen minis and Bowman Platinum Blue parallel sets.  The Topps Mini boxes seemed to be popular too.

2012 Topps Football

2012 Topps Football

Some of the Black Swamp Find featured at the Heritage Auction booth.

Christy Mathewson E98 Black Swamp Find

Early 1920s Babe Ruth jersey purchased for $4.4 million.

Orioles 6x All-Star and 4x Gold Glove winner Bobby Grich

Tigers 5x All-Star and 3x World Series Champion Jack Morris

Bob Gibson

This was as close as I could get to Panini’s VIP party.  In order to get invited, you had to purchase $6,500.00 worth of Panini products.

Sportkings Adds New ’12 NSCC Promo + Paterno Card Pulled

Sportkings has added an additional element to their 2012 National Sports Collectors Convention Premium Back Redemption Program.  Any collector that spells the word “SPORTKINGS” using the Premium Back base cards found in Series E twenty-five times can have Jared Kelley paint them their own giant art card.  This card will measure 2.5′ x 3.5′ and can be of your favorite Sportking.  Personally, I’d pick Harry Kalas 🙂

Sportkings has also announced they will be pulling the Joe Paterno art card from their Premium Back Redemption Program.  At this time, they didn’t think it would be good to include it due to the Penn State scandal.

Here are some of the other art cards you can obtain by spelling the word “SPORTKINGS” five times.