Pin Highlight: 2020 Little League World Series ESPN Robo Cam Pin

Thanks to COVID-19 the 2020 Little League World Series did not take place. That certainly didn’t stop individuals and businesses from making their pins for fans to collect.

Pins have been a big part of the Little League World Series for years. Some of the more desirable pins come from various people who work for ESPN. When, where, and who distributes them is a total mystery to me. They just seem to popup and find their way into circulation.

A staple ESPN pin that seems to comeback year to year are the ones in the shape of the robo cams. The pin pictured below is what would have been making it’s rounds at the Little League World Series in 2020.

What makes this pin so special is the logo. This is the only pin that I’ve seen which contains the logo which would have been used for the 2020 Little League World Series. Usually the Little League store would sell logo merchandise, but they did very little of that last year. No pins for sure. Little League chose to use the same logo for 2021. The main difference is the year change.

Two of these pins have popped up for sale so far. Both auctions could easily have been for the exact same pin, and sold for close to $50 each time.

Pin Highlight: Little League Store ESPN Pin

Exactly one month from today the 2017 Little League World Series begins.  People from all over the world will flock to Williamsport, PA.  Collectible pins sold at the official Little League Store and other businesses throughout Williamsport have begun to slowly popup.  Pins from Dolly’s Diner and the Thomas T. Taber Museum are already available.  As the Little League World Series approaches, many more will follow.  The Little League Store doesn’t sell all of their pins online.  A lot of neat ones can only be purchased in person.  I just added a new glow-in-the-dark superhero-themed Dugout pin to my collection.

ESPN issues pins for the Little League World Series every year.  They have for a long time.  Who and how they are distributed is a total mystery.  They show up on eBay, but I’ve never seen anyone from ESPN hand them out.  Other collectors have wondered the same thing.  While supplies last, the Little League Store now sells an ESPN pin.  This is brand new for 2017.  Enough people complained over the years about not getting an ESPN pin, so they decided to make one for sale.  I bet these will sell fast.  There is no year printed on them.  Because of that, Little League might have plans to use this pin design for a while.  Either way, its an official Little League ESPN pin.

Card of the Day: Stuart Scott 2005 Upper Deck ESPN Ink Auto

“Pin-Up” of the Week: Happy Holidays 2003 ESPN Santa Pin

This is what Santa must look like after all the presents are delivered.  Either that or he just had a successful colonoscopy.  This pin was made by ESPN to celebrate Christmas 2003.  It can be found for under $5.00.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: ’12 Little League World Series ESPN 3D Utility Pin

ESPN pins are very popular during the Little League World Series.  They are some of the most sought after and valuable pins you can get.  These pins aren’t the easiest to obtain either.  A few years ago when I was in Williamsport, I passed an ESPN camera man with a ton of pins.  I asked him how you can get them, and he refused to talk to me.  I’ll have to try again this year.  When I talked to that camera man, Sports Card Info was only a couple of years old.  Its much more famous now, ESPN should know who I am this time around… haha!  🙂

This pin is kinda cool as it features the ESPN 3D camera men as members of the Ghostbusters.  I’m not sure why they would associate them with the Ghostbusters.  Perhaps the equipment they use looks like their proton packs.  Its limited to 100.

Super Bowl XLVI Champ Henry Hynoski Signing

This afternoon New York Giants fullback Henry Hynoski was signing autographs at the Susquehanna Valley Mall.  The event was sponsored by the Susquehanna Valley Mall and ESPN 92.3FM.  Hynoski played for Southern Columbia High School, then went on to play for the University of Pittsburgh.  He recently won Super Bowl XLVI with the Giants.  Everyone could get (3) items signed free of charge.  The place was totally packed.  The line started outside of Bon-Ton and by the time I left the line was all the way back to Sears.  That’s a long line.  Luckily I got there early enough and didn’t have to wait too long.  They were also handing out miniature ESPN footballs and Pepsi products.  Hynoski was signing right outside of Schuylkill Valley Sports.  They were selling tons of Giants items you could get signed.  How convenient? 🙂

Henry Hynoski is one of those rookies from last year that doesn’t have a ton of cards.  As of right now, you can only find his cards in Plates & Patches and Playoff Contenders.  His Plates & Patches cards seem to be a lot more popular than the Playoff Contenders.

During Super Bowl XLVI Hynoski caught 2 passes for 19 yards, and recovered an Hakeem Nicks fumble in the third quarter.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: 2003 ESPN Zone Thanksgiving Pin

Disneyland released this pin in November, 2003.  They only made 500 of them, which isn’t a lot when it comes to pins.  As you can see it features a football shaped turkey traveling at mach 2.  They sell for $15.00.

For all you Disney pin collectors in general, be sure to check out the official Disney pin website.  It contains an extremely comprehensive database.  Their blog is great too.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: 2011 LLWS ESPN / ABC Sliding Hill Pin

This has to be one of the most interesting pins to come out of the 2011 Little League World Series.  This ESPN / ABC pin features a kid sliding down the hill on a piece of cardboard.  This is a movable pin where the kid actually goes down the hill.  This pin is rare and can sell from $50.00 to 100.00.

The ESPN pins are rare to find each year.  I wish I knew how people acquired them.  The camera guy I met wouldn’t let go of his pins.  If anyone from ESPN is reading this (I know you are) I want some pins!!!

The 2011 Little League World Series

Despite it poured this morning and a hurricane is on the way, I made it up to the Little League World Series today.  I had myself a hamburger, root beer slushy, and some M&M’s.  I watched a little of the Mexico vs. Japan game, but you all know what I was there for…PINS!!!

Mexico vs. Japan

Where’s Nomar, Hershiser, and Kruk?

It didn’t take long for me to get a bunch of new pins.  Most of them were free.

This pin is made by Wilson Trophy and is actually quite big.  The red and blue in the background is translucent and looks really cool when held up to the light.

Baseball Factory just happened to be giving these away when I got there.  They stopped giving them away after 200 pins.

I saw a line forming and I had no idea what it was for, but got in it anyway.  The line ended up being for Russell Athletic wristbands.  A man in front of my turned around and gave me this pin from his district.  It shows George Washington crossing the Delaware River.  Instead of paddles they’re holding baseball bats.

Honda

Subway

Dunkin’ Donuts

I saw that the Lycoming Mall was having a card show this weekend.  I went over to check it out, but it wasn’t anything special.  There is a Dick’s over at the mall, and I remember seeing Dick’s LLWS pins online.  After asking if they had any, they gave me some for free.

Card of the Day: Chris Berman 1989 Pro Set ESPN #5