The 35th National: Day #2

Day #2 of the 35th National was a fun one.  Then again, everyday at the National is fun.  I participated in promos from Upper Deck and Topps, then took some time to check out some of the many dealers found outside of the Corporate Area.  I even seemed to pull a little MOJO!

Here are the major highlights of the day for me.

Diamond Stars paintings of “Cards That Never Were” – Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Van Mungo and Billy Werber Diamond Stars cards.

Frank Crosetti Diamond Stars.

1927 World Series (New York Yankees) Press Pin

1902 Pittsburgh Pirates National League Championship Lapel Pin

Dennis Rodman

1992 Donruss Diamond Kings Supers.  This auction house had a complete set on display.  Only 10 sets are known to exist.

I purchased 15 packs of 2014 Topps Baseball and took them over to the Topps booth.  In return I got 6 Allen & Ginter minis – (2) Jim Brown, Johnny Manziel, Mike Trout, Jadeveon Clowney, and Derek Jeter.

Upper Deck started their wrapper redemption program this morning at 10:25 a.m.  Today’s promo cards were of Jack Nicklaus, Joc Pederson, Johnny Manziel, Archie Griffin, and Wayne Gretzky.  I also got one of those Magic Johnson Amazon.com cards.  Wait until you see what I got in the pack I needed to open in order to get these.

In order to get my Upper Deck wrapper redemption pack today, I decided to open a pack of 2014 Upper Deck SP Game-Used Edition Golf.  Inside the pack was this Jack Nicklaus Inked Fabrics Shirt/Auto #’ed/10.  I also pulled a Nancy Lopez Tour Gear Dual Shirt #’ed/35.

Tristar To Provide Gift Bags As Case Breaking Pavilion Takes Center Stage At 35th National

It’s been awhile since I’ve opened a Tristar product.  I loved their OBAK sets they produced for a few years.  Now they seem to focus  more on wresting as far as cards go.

Below is a press release from Tristar that details their plans at the Case Break Pavilion which seems to be shaping up to be one hell of an addition to the show.

By now, it’s safe to say that the hobby phenomenon known as group case breaking isn’t going away anytime soon.  In fact it’s growing.  This important segment of the hobby will be featured center stage at the 35th National Sports Collectors Convention.  Cleveland’s I-X Center will be host to the hobby’s largest collaboration of case breakers ever seen in the hobby.  The inaugural Case Break Pavilion will be housed in a 12,000 sq. ft. arena, adjacent to the Corporate Pavilion and across from the Autograph Pavilion.

Amazon.com Sports Collectibles, is the title sponsor of the Case Break Pavilion & Center Stage.  In the center section of the pavilion will be a multi-purpose stage especially suited for case breaking.  It will also serve as a formal setting for contests, new product releases, special events, autographs, and case breaking.  In addition, GTS Distribution has designed and sponsored the first ever “Case Breakers Lounge”.

Several contests giveaways and promotions will be incorporated into the case breaking festivities throughout the show.

Tristar will be offering “gift bags” to anyone doing an facilitating an online or live break of selected products at the National.  Gifts bags will include 1 autographed item.

In addition to the regular items in the gift bags, random bags will have redemptions for larger items that can be redeemed at the Tristar Merchandise Booth.

Tristar will also be offering a “Thank You gift bag” for the breakers to use at their discretion.

For breaks on the following Tristar products the Breaker will receive:

• Signacuts Football –  6 gift bags
• Series 6 Autographed Baseballs – 4 gift bags
• Football 8×10’s – 6 gifts bags
• Game Changers Baseball – 4 gift bags

Attending breakers interested with any questions may contact:

Janyce Mabra
Director of Packaged Goods Sales
TRISTAR Productions, Inc.
www.tristarproductions.com 
Phone: (817) 312-6925
jmabra@tristarproductions.com 

The 35th Annual Ephrata Lions Club Sports Card Show

The Ephrata Lions Club held their 35th Annual Sports Card Show on Saturday, March 29 at the Ephrata Recreation Center.  This is always one of my favorite shows to attend.  It usually has around 40+ dealers all packing Phillies stuff.  It may not be the biggest show in the world, although when I started attending 17 years ago it was for me, but for Phillies fans it has a lot.

This was actually the first card show I’ve been to since the Lions Club held their show last year.  Card shows around my area don’t pop-up like they use to.  The Ephrata Lions Club always has someone signing autographs for about two hours.  Its usually a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame or an older Phillie.  The Lions Club website originally had Brad Lidge scheduled to appear, but for some reason I guess he couldn’t make it.  He was quickly replaced with 1992 HOF inductee Rollie Fingers.

If you want a low ticket number for the autograph signing, you’ve got to get there right when they open or perhaps a little before.  I arrived about 30 minutes before they opened the doors to the public obtaining autograph ticket #22.  It cost $5.00 to get into the show and $20.00 for an autograph.  That’s not bad!  Especially when the inscriptions and photos are free.  If this were the National, you couldn’t pull that off.

Not only do you want to arrive early for a low ticket number, but it gives you the chance to look around.  I recently sold two bobbleheads from my collection on Sports Card Album and was looking to fill those empty spots.  I happily came across two that struck my fancy.  My goal was to find a Larry Andersen/Scott Franzke dual radio announcer bobblehead, but I didn’t see one.  Its funny.  This year I found five Harry Kalas/Richie Ashburn dual bobbleheads for sale that were a stadium giveaway in 2002.  One year I couldn’t find any and this time I found five.

Speaking of Harry Kalas, I’m always on the lookout for the few cards he has.  One of the new dealers I came across had one under glass that I needed for my collection.  Harry Kalas cards rarely show up for sale online, and finding one I don’t have at a one day card show is a long shot.  I now have all the 2004 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic Signatures cards of HK.

1981 AL Cy Young Award Winner Rollie Fingers

Harry Kalas 2004 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic Signatures Black Ink #’ed/100

Arnold Palmer 2009 Pittsburgh Pirates SGA bobblehead

Crazy Hot Dog Vendor/Ryan Howard 2012 Reading Phillies SGA bobblehead

Show was quite busy!

’87 Cy Young Award Winner Steve Bedrosian Signing At 2013 Ephrata Rec Center Show

Sports card & memorabilia shows worth attending are becoming smaller in my opinion.  The two shows I enjoy attending the most include The National Sports Collectors Convention and the Ephrata Lions Club Sports Card Show & Auction.  When I first started collecting, I thought the show put on by the Ephrata Lions Club was the biggest thing in the world, then I went to The National.  Then again, size doesn’t matter.  Its the content that really makes a show good.  The Ephrata Lions Club Show has tons of Phillies stuff.  I’ve picked-up a lot of nice Phillies items there.  Their next show takes place Saturday, March 23, 2013.  1987 Cy Young Award Winner Steve Bedrosian will be signing autographs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Here are some links to the past shows I’ve attended:

• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012

The 2012 Ephrata Rec Center Show with Larry Bowa

For 33 years the Ephrata Lions Club has been holding their annual sports card & memorabilia show at the local recreational center in Ephrata, PA.  I’ve been attending it for the last 15 years or so.  Its always been a good show packed with Phillies stuff and bobbleheads.

The show opened up at 8:30am this morning and there was nice sized line to get in.  I’ve seen bigger lines there before, but it was a line.  The show got fuller as it got closer to 11:00am when former Phillies shortstop and Manager Larry Bowa arrived to sign autographs.  While waiting in line, we got talking to a gentleman who handles Rocky Colavito’s fan mail.  Colavito played for a variety of teams including the Indians, Tigers, Athletics, White Sox, Dodgers, and Yankees.  He was also a 9x All-Star and now resides in Berks County.  We talked to the gentleman for awhile about baseball and some of the minor league games we go see during the summer.  He attends shows looking for Colavito stuff.  Before going into the show, he said that he would send us a couple of tickets to a Reading Phillies game this year.  Sounds cool!  You never know who your’re going to meet while waiting in line.

Larry Bowa arrived early and started signing on-time.  I had ticket #30, but was the second person to get his autograph.

Now for the pickups…

Jamie Moyer 2007 Philadelphia Phillies stadium giveaway bobblehead – I always come out of this show with a bobblehead.  Can you believe Moyer will be the Rockies 2nd starter this season?  That man is a machine.  I hope he gets to pitch in Philadelphia this year.

Joe Paterno 1997 Press Pass Red Zone #48 – This is the first Paterno ’97 Press Pass card I’ve seen in person.  It was pulled from production back in 1997, but a few made their way into boxes.  It was supposedly removed from the production line due to a licensing dispute.  At least that’s what the public was told.  I think I got a deal on this card too – $30.00.  The only ones I could find up for sale online were the gold base and blue parallel.

I also busted (2) packs of 2012 Topps Tribute Baseball.  I didn’t hit anything big, just a Mike Minor auto #’ed/99, and a Troy Tulowitzki jersey #’ed/99.

Around 2:00pm the Lions Club held an auction.  This year they had some interesting memorabilia.  I liked the old baseball bank.  The weirdest thing I saw on the auction block was a box filled with 50-card sets based on Amish Life.  They were made by a company called GNM.  I can officially say everything has been placed on a trading card now.  I have to get me some of those 🙂

I can see it now, 2012 Topps Five Star – Amish Life Edition.  If they really did that, collectors would have a cow…haha!

CBS should have taken a look at this show, because it was quite packed in my opinion.  Good news everyone!  The hobby is still alive 🙂

Hershey Bears vs. Charlotte Checkers – Bobblehead Night!

Yesterday evening I headed to the Giant Center to see the Hershey Bears take on the Charlotte Checkers.  The Bears won the game 2-1 scoring two goals in the 3rd period.  The Bears are associated with the Washington Capitals and the Checkers are associated with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Everblades.

Before the game started, the Bears President-GM Doug Yingst had a special announcement to make.  Next year will be the Hershey Bears 75th anniversary.  To celebrate this giant occasion, on January 20th, 2013, the Bears will take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in an outdoor game much like the Winter Classic we have witnessed over the last couple of years.  The game will be played in Hersheypark Stadium.

Its been a long time since I attended a hockey game.  This was my first time at the Giant Center.  I highly recommend the pretzels.  They aren’t those hard things you normally would find at a sporting event.  The pretzel I had was warm and soft.  I believe it was handmade right on the spot.

Face-Off

The first 5,000 fans that attended the game last night received Keith Aucoin bobbleheads.  This bobblehead features Aucoin in a home jersey.  They did make some rarer ones that have him in an away jersey, but you had to do something special to get your hands on one of those.

The Bears booster club was selling a ton of pucks they got signed.  For a couple of bucks I picked up this Chris Bourque autograph.  Bourque currently plays LW for the Bears.  His father, Ray Bourque, played for the Boston Bruins and went into the HOF in 2004.  I also picked up a new pin for my collection.

Collectors’ Showcase of America Show – 11/12/11

Today I attended the Collectors’ Showcase of America show that was held at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center which is in Oaks, PA.  After hearing a few good things about it during the last Philly Show, I decided to give it a shot.

The layout is nicer than what the Philly Show has turned into.  There is a lot more space and it reminds me of The Fort Washington Expo Center or The Greater Reading Expo Center.  When I arrived, it wasn’t that crowed.  But I got there shortly after it opened.  Some of the dealers I talked to were disappointed because people weren’t spending money.  As the day went on, more people showed-up.  The food is better and you can at least close the bathroom stall doors.  The walk in is much shorter too.

I saw a lot of nice singles, mostly vintage, but I did see some dealers that had modern stuff.  Nothing really jumped out at me though.  Every time I see a glass case filled with Phillies stuff I’m hoping to find one of those Harry Kalas cards I don’t have, but rarely does it happen.  I picked-up some supplies and three boxes.  I was hoping to find some 2011 Leaf Valiant and 2011 Leaf Pete Rose Legacy, but didn’t find any.  Instead I bought a box of 2011 Leaf Sports Icons, 2011 Leaf Metal Draft Baseball, and 2010 Panini Century Collection.  I still have to bust the Metal Draft Baseball.  I’m hoping for an Ichiro redemption.  I will blog about what I pulled later this weekend.  Marty’s Sports Card Exchange usually has the best prices on wax when it comes to these shows.

I got recognized again by a Sports Card Info reader.  I always find this funny.  Its a small ego boost 🙂  That’s something I never thought would happen when I started Sports Card Info.  I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name, but if your reading this please let me know what it is an how you made out at the show.

Overall, I thought it was a good show.  I don’t think I’ll get there as early next time.

JIMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has to be one of my favorite in-person autographs I’ve ever gotten.  As soon as I heard that Jimmy Rollins was going to be there I had to go.  This is his first show appearance in 10 years.  I hope this isn’t one of his ways of saying goodbye to Phillies fans.

Close-up look at Rollins signature on my bat

Boxing legend Michael Spinks

Vince Papale – Former Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver

Papale was the inspiration for the movie Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg.  I think he looks like Tommy-Lee Jones.

Tommy McDonald – Former Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver and 1998 Pro Football HOF inductee

Ephrata Rec Center Sports Card Show Results

I’ve been attending the Ephrata Rec Center Sports Card Show for years.  It has been around for over 30 years, and is usually packed with a ton of good Phillies stuff.  I busted (2) boxes of 2010 Panini Century Collection, and picked-up a few Phillies singles for my collection.  Former Phillies catcher Bob Boone was signing autographs.

2010 Panini Century Collection “Hits”:

Box #1

• Greta Garbo Hollywood Materials Relic #’ed/250
• Frank Sinatra Hollywood Materials Relic #’ed/250
• Knute Rockne Souvenir Stamps Relic #’ed/250
• Eddie Mathews Relic #’ed/250
• Norm Ullman Souvenir Stamps Auto/Relic #’ed/15
• Duke Snider Brooklyn Ballpark Auto #’ed/10

Box #2

• Tony Perez 2-Color Patch/Auto #’ed/25
• James Cagney/Judy Garland Dual Hollywood Materials Relic #’ed/250
• Knute Rockne Souvenir Stamps Relic #’ed/250
• Jim Rice Blast From The Past Relic #’ed/250
• Willie Stargell Relic #’ed/100
• Bruce Jenner Souvenir Stamps Auto #’ed/36

Individual Pick-ups:

• Gary Matthews 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Auto
• Jamie Moyer 1996 Leaf Signature Series Auto

Bob Boone

• 4 x All-Star selection
• World Series Champion – 1980
• 7 x Gold Glove Award winner

I couldn’t pass up on this Jimmy Rollins bobble-head.  This was a stadium giveaway in 2008 with the Clearwater Threshers.  The dealer didn’t know what he paid for it, and said “Give me $20.00”.  I took it!

The Philly Show – March 5, 2011

Its been almost a year since I’ve been to The Philadelphia Sportscard & Memorabilia Show, which is held at the Valley Forge Convention Center.  I noticed a few less dealers, but I had fun.  I got some autographs, busted a few boxes, and did what your suppose to do at The Philly Show.  Let me tell you something.  There are two dealers at this show that do extremely well.  One is Marty’s Sportscard Exchange and the other is ESE Supplies.  Marty Davis of Marty’s Sportscard Exchange always has the best deals on wax, and Eddie of ESE Supplies has any type of holder you’d need.  I even stopped by the Louisville Slugger booth.

FYI – a few vintage sets were stolen at the show.  The announcer said the sets came from 1961 and 1971.  They did not state which sport.

Phillies Fan Favorite Jamie Moyer – Moyer made his MLB debut the day I was born

Art Mahaffey was the 1st Philly to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  You can see Lenny Dykstra (my personal accountant) in the background wearing the hat.

Former Boston Red Sox Manager and Phillies Pitching Coach Joe Kerrigan

Hunt Auctions had an impressive display of memorabilia.  This old “Casey at the Bat” book really caught my eye.

In the top right corner, you’ll see an issue of Beckett Baseball with Ryan Howard on the cover.  I’m actually in that issue for when I wrote a little piece on Victor Martinez’s first card.

More memorabilia from Hunt Auctions

One of my first stops of the day was at the Louisville Slugger booth.  I purchased a new bat with the Phillies logo and “SPORTS CARD INFO” engraved on it.  Then I got Moyer and Mahaffey to sign it.

Bob Boone To Appear At The 2011 Ephrata Rec Center Show

The Ephrata Rec Center Show has always been one of my favorite shows to attend.  They have some of the best Phillies stuff.  Next year’s show is on Saturday, March 26, 2011.  Former Phillies catcher Bob Boone will be there to sign autographs.  For more information about the show click here.