“Pin-Up” of the Week: Kermit the Frog 1993 Chicago Blackhawks Team Giveaway

Two of my favorite Christmas movies are The Muppet Christmas Carol and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.  This pin is a perfect combination of both.  Kermit the Frog obviously is a main character from The Muppet Christmas Carol, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation takes place in Chicago.  In fact, there’s a scene in which Clark Griswold is wearing a Chicago Blackhawks jersey with his name on the back.  Its the scene where cousin Eddie is telling everyone that the “shitter’s full”.

The Muppets love hockey.  Cardz even made a set of Muppets themed cards featuring them in NHL uniforms.  Throughout the season in 1993, each team in the NHL gave away pins.  All of these pins incorporate The Muppets somehow.  There are (26) pins altogether, and each one is worth about $9.00.

Crosscutters vs. Muckdogs – 7/17/15 – Doubleheader – Bobbleheads

On Friday evening the Williamsport Crosscutters played a doubleheader against the Batavia Muckdogs.  Williamsport went on to win both games 4-3 and 8-0.  The first 1,000 fans through the gate for Game 1 received a Pat Borders bobblehead.  Pat Borders is the new Manager of the Crosscutters, and was the 1992 World Series MVP with the Blue Jays.

Before finding a seat, I took a stroll through the Saw Mill Gift Shop.  I was able to pickup three new pins I didn’t have.  The pins I found look to be leftover stadium giveaways they gave out last year.

Jose Pujols at bat.

Jesus Posso at bat.

Gabriel Castellanos pitching for the Muckdogs.

Missing the “N”.

Pat Borders bobblehead given to the first 1,000 fans.

Senators Dump 7/11/15 Star Wars Bobblehead

Fans have a bone to pick with the Harrisburg Senators (AA of the Washington Nationals).  This evening I was suppose to watch the Senators take on the Erie SeaWolves during Star Wars night.  The first 1,000 fans through the gates were to receive a Star Wars themed two-sided bobblehead.  As a bobblehead collector and Star Wars fan, I thought this would be a fun giveaway to get.  Now it doesn’t seem like that is going to happen.

I’ve been watching the Senators schedule closely in an attempt to perhaps get a look at this two-sided Star Wars bobblehead.  But no picture was ever made available.  After the season began, I noticed a t-shirt was placed on the promotional schedule for the same day as this bobblehead.  Up until last week both the bobblehead and t-shirt were listed as giveaways for Saturday, July 11th.  Teams usually don’t have two giveaways on one night, but I really didn’t think anything of it.  Near the end of last week though the information about the bobblehead had completely disappeared.  All that was left was the t-shirt.

I sent an e-mail to the Senators asking them what had happened to the bobblehead and received this response from their General Manager:

“Unfortunately LucasFilms did not give us permission to do the Star Wars bobble.  We had it all designed and they pulled it.   Have to settle for the shirt.  Sorry about that.”

I don’t see how you can put on the schedule that you’ll be giving away a bobblehead with this kind of popularity before obtaining permission from LucasFilms.  In their response to my Facebook post they state this change was made all the way back in April.  I don’t remember the Senators making any kind of announcement about this change either.  They just made the change, but yet left the bobblehead info on the schedule too.  This looks very sloppy from the consumer’s end.  With all that being said, I wonder what it looked like?

This isn’t the first time I’ve had problems with the Senators.  A few years ago, their Bryce Harper bobbleheads didn’t arrive in time to be given out.  Instead they handed out a redemption coupon that required you to come back at a later date to pick up your bobblehead.

Even though it still is Star Wars night at Metro Bank Park, I’ve decided not to go.  The Williamsport Crosscutters are having a bobblehead night this upcoming Friday.  I’ll be there!

I take my bobblehead giveaways very seriously.  Only Clark Griswold can describe how I felt when I heard about the cancelled bobblehead.

Back-To-Back Bobblehead Nights Round Out Busy August

Well… my busy August has officially come to an end.  It all started exactly one month ago today while heading to Cleveland for the 2014 National.  Then it was on to Little League and ending this week with back-to-back bobblehead nights in State College and Williamsport.

Thursday night the State College Spikes gave out bobbleheads of Penn State’s new head coach James Franklin.  These were given to the first 1,000 fans through the gate.  I got there two hours before the gates opened.  So early I didn’t even have to pay for parking.  I wasn’t the first one in line though.  Two guys had been there since 10:30 a.m.  The gates opened at 6:00 p.m.  The Spikes won 1-0 over the Williamsport Crosscutters.

On Friday night the Williamsport Crosscutters gave out bobbleheads of Andrew McCutchen to the first 1,000 fans.  McCutchen played for the Crosscutters when they were affiliated with the Pirates.  The Crosscutters lost 7-1 against the Jammers.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: 2014 Williamsport Crosscutters Stadium Giveaway Collectible Pin Series

The 2014 Little League World Series is officially underway in South Williamsport.  You know what that means?  New pins!!!  The Little League World Series is a prime place to pick-up a ton of new promotional pins.  Its just not the corporate sponsors setup on the Little League campus that give out pins either.  Many of the businesses throughout Williamsport have them too.

It took a little time, but the Williamsport Crosscutters have finally decided to give out some pins.  The Crosscutters will be giving out specific pins during certain home games that take place during the 2014 Little League World Series.  These pins are usually saved for the first 1,000 fans through the gate.  As you can see, there are four total pins which will be given out between 8/13/14 and 8/21/14.  None of the pins have anything to do with Little League Baseball, but from a marketing standpoint it makes perfect sense to be giving out pins while the Little League World Series is going on.

I don’t know why it took so long for them to come around to this.  Pin #3 was once sold in the Crosscutters gift shop because I already have it.  That makes me think this was a last minute promotion they probably put together.  Perhaps they got the idea from that tweet I sent them back in June.

 

Harrisburg Senators vs. Binghamton Mets – 8/4/13

Sunday afternoon was a great day to watch the Harrisburg Senators take on the Binghamton Mets.  The Mets started the game with a lead off triple, and their momentum sure didn’t stop.  In the end, the Senators lost 6-0.  These were probably some of the best seats we’ve ever had for taking photos.  Its great to be behind home plate, but the net would always get in the way.  Down third baseline was much better.  It was Drew Storen bobblehead day, and I picked up four new pins for my collection.

I will say this.  The Senators serve the best tasting soft pretzels.

Senators 1B Justin Bloxom at bat.  Bloxom has 58 RBIs this season and has cards in 2010 Topps Pro Debut and 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition.

The first 1,000 fans through the gate received a Drew Storen bobblehead.

Rascal stopped by while I was watching the game.  As you can see, I was wearing my 2012 National Sports Collectors Convention shirt and an official Sports Card Album hat.  I sorta felt like that clip from Wayne’s World…haha!

Baseball Card Exchange Giving Away Rare George H.W. Bush Card During The ’12 NSCC

When you think of a set that has high-dollar cards in it, the last thing that comes to mind would be 1990 Topps Baseball.  Topps basically printed a set for every man, woman, and child on the planet when it comes to this product.  It was the early 90’s, and overproduction was at its peak.  It does have its share of rookies in it that include Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, and Frank Thomas.  The Frank Thomas no-name error continues to sell well.

Collectors attending this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention in Baltimore need to visit the Baseball Card Exchange booth.  In addition to checking out their wide array of vintage wax, you can register to win the rarest card associated with 1990 Topps Baseball.  What I’m talking about is the George H.W. Bush card picturing him as a member of the Yale baseball team.  Arthur Shorin of Topps presented 100 of these cards to President Bush, and somehow a few of them ended up into circulation.  What are the odds? 🙂

In one of Baseball Card Exchange’s recent collection acquisitions, they discovered a few of these George H.W. Bush cards.  Baseball Card Exchange will be giving away one of these cards during the ’12 NSCC.  All you need to do is visit their booth, fill out the entry form, and hope your the winner.  You do not need to purchase anything to enter.  The winner will be drawn on 8/4/12 at 3:00pm.

The estimated value of this card is around $5,000.00+.

New Addition To The Kalas Collection

This afternoon I received my Harry Kalas replica memorial statue that was a stadium giveaway last Thursday night from the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.  It sure looks nice on my shelf.  Anyone pull the Kalas cut signature yet found in Sportkings Series E?  I need it!

Holding this thing makes me feel like I won an Oscar.

Bobblehead Mailday!

I had to have one…

Introducing The HK Talking Bobblehead

On 5/16/11 the Lehigh Valley IronPigs will be giving away a talking Harry Kalas bobblehead.  Push the talk button once to hear him make a call, and push twice to hear him say “I’m hog wild about IronPigs baseball.”  This is beyond awesome!!!  I will be adding one of these to my collection.  This will be Kalas’s third bobblehead.  I highly doubt there will ever be another stadium giveaway as cool as this.