Card of the Day: 1991 Fleer Cleveland Indians Team Logo Stickers

Past And Present Cleveland Indians Highlight The Topps 2018 NSCC VIP Set

Cleveland Indians of the past and present will be found in the Topps VIP set this year for those attending the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention.  Its a 5-card set.  I wouldn’t be surprised if packs only contain (4) cards.  Like in years past, Topps wants you to trade in order to get that fifth card.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: 2001 National Sports Collectors Convention – Cleveland Pin

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.  The National Sports Collectors Convention needs to have more show-branded merchandise.  Not just promotional cards.  Baltimore is the only location I saw them selling shirts.  I want to see more shirts, pins, hats, figurines, and bobbleheads all made specially for the National.  In 2002, Alan “Mr. Mint” Rosen bobbleheads were floating around the National when it was held in Chicago.  National-themed McFarlane figures popup too, along with OYO minifigures.  They’ve lightly touched on these things in the past, but I think more innovative souvenirs could be made.

Tickets for the 38th National Sports Collectors Convention went on sale this week.  It will be held July 26-30 in Chicago.  I won’t be attending this year.  Things are looking good for Cleveland in 2018 though.  Between Cleveland, Baltimore, and Atlantic City, I enjoy the layout of the I-X Center in Cleveland the most.  By then, I might need some new Sports Card Info pins to handout.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: Cleveland Browns WinCraft Fence Pin

You’ve got to feel bad for the Browns.  Historically, they haven’t been a good team for quite a long time.  This season they haven’t won a single game yet.  2016 has to really be tough for them considering the other sports franchises in Cleveland have done so well.  The Cavaliers won the NBA Championship while the Indians went to the World Series.  Maybe Robert Griffin III’s return will get the Browns their first win.  Who am I kidding?  RGIII will probably injure himself somehow drinking out of the Gatorade jug.  He gets hurt a lot.

WinCraft has this fairly new line of NFL pins that mimic the defense and offense signs you see fans holding.  You can actually rotate the letters “D” and “O” depending on who you’re rooting for.  I’ve seen defense sign pins for awhile, but never one that you can change.  They aren’t rare, and can easily be found for under $10.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: 1949 AACC San Francisco ’49ers vs. Cleveland Browns Press Pin

Well… Robert Griffin III is now a Cleveland Brown.  He must have put on one hell of a show for Hue Jackson to want him.  Cleveland seems to be the place to go where quarterbacks die.  Maybe this time it’ll be different.  I’m not holding my breath.  RGIII gets injured so easily.

It might be hard to believe, but at one time the Browns were actually very good.  They got their start in 1946 in the AAFC (All-American Football Conference), which was a major competitor to the NFL.  The AAFC was founded in 1944, but didn’t play it’s first season until 1946.  Then it went defunct in 1949.  While the AAFC was around, the Browns were champions for all four seasons of it’s existence.  Its no surprise that the NFL gave the Browns a place to go.  Along with the ’49ers and Colts.  They also have four NFL Championships under their belt as well.

Relics from these short lived leagues are in huge demand.  Since the AAFC wasn’t around that long, it’s list of merchandise is small.  The pin pictured above was given to members of the media who attended the fourth and final AAFC Championship game in 1949.  A pin just like this sold for over $400.00 not that long ago.

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.

The 35th National Has Begun!

Its official.  The 35th National Sports Collectors Convention has begun.  Autographs, cards, and promos are flying all over the place.  Every single collector in the world should be in Cleveland right now.

I arrived in plenty of time to obtain my VIP and Guest/Media credentials.  Then off to the VIP Party I went.  After eating some pizza and a cookie, the show opened to VIPs at 3:30pm.  Take a look!

7x All-Star Dale Murphy signing at the Freedom Cardboard booth.

Now for the pickups.  While waiting in line for Dale Murphy, I just happened to be standing next to the Topps booth.  I decided to pickup a box of 2014 Topps Minis.  With every purchase of a Topps Minis box, you get a jumbo card made just for the show.  I picked Mike Trout.

These OYO minifigures were actually the first promos I got upon entering the show.

I stopped by Marty’s Sports Card Exchange and bought a box of 2014 Allen & Ginter.  The I went to Blowout Cards and bought another just so I could get the Johnny Manziel Beckett Cover card.  Both boxes were unwrapped at the Topps booth and I got my Abreu and Tanaka exclusive National mini promos.  I still need to go through my boxes to see what I got.

Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig Dual Signed Baseball To Be Given Away During The 2014 National

We’re only a few hours into the New Year, but its never too early to talk about an event taking place during the next National.

Prospect collectors looking to bust something non-card related might want to check out Onyx Authenticated’s newest product that arrives later this month.  2014 Onyx Authenticated Premiere Gear will come with (1) authentic game-used piece of baseball memorabilia per box.  This just won’t be a small portion of memorabilia like you would find in a card, its the whole thing – caps, jerseys, cleats, fielding gloves, batting helmets, and catchers gear.

The checklist includes pieces of memorabilia from:

• Byron Buxton
• Jabari Blash
• Miguel Sano
• Dorssys Paulino
• Garrett Richards
• Enny Romero
• Gary Sanchez
• Jose Iglesias
• Dan Voglebach
• Breyvic Valera
• Julio Morban
• Gregory Polanco
• Scooter Gennett
• Logan Morrison
• Rymer Liriano
• Felipe Rivero
• Michael Pineda
• Kaleb Cowart
• Jon Lester
• Grant Balfour
• Jameson Taillon
• Keyvius Sampson
• Jonathon Crawford

As an added bonus, Onyx Authenticated has also thrown in some autographed baseballs that you can keep an eye out for from players such as: Bryce Harper, Javy Baez, Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, and Jon Lester.

Onyx Authenticated will only be making 100 boxes.  Five of those boxes will have a Golden Ticket.  Anyone that obtains one of these Golden Tickets will be eligible to win a Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig dual signed baseball which will be given away during the 2014 National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland, OH.

Heading to Cleveland for this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention?  If so, be sure to check out this very Limited Edition product available exclusively at the event, Preferred Players National Edition 2014.  Each Limited Edition case contains 3 Autographed Baseballs from today’s baseball Stars and Top Prospects.  Each Hand-signed baseball comes in its own wood box and display cube with an official ONYX Authenticated Certificate of Authenticity.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: 2002 Hard Rock Cafe Cleveland Browns Bulldog Pin

With the death of Art Modell this week, I thought this pin would fit nicely.

R.I.P. Art Modell 

Card of the Day: Grover Cleveland Alexander 1960 Fleer #5