Pin Highlight: 2002 U.S. Open Bethpage Black, New York Golf Tournament Logo Pin

The 2002 U.S. Open Golf Tournament was played in Farmingdale, New York on the Bethpage State Park, Black Course.  Logo pins for the event began to surface well in advance (a good 9+ months prior).  A major change was made that make earlier versions of the pin much more desirable.

At first, the pins initially released featured the skyline of New York City in the background.  Both of the World Trade Center Twin Towers can be seen.

After the events of September 11, 2001 the decision to stop selling this pin was made.  A new pin emerged which lacked the city skyline.

Earlier pins that contain both World Trade Center Twin Towers carry a hefty premium.

Pin Highlight: 2019 American Alliance of Football Arizona Hotshots #19 Retirement Logo Pin

In case you haven’t heard, the AAF or American Alliance of Football is shutting it’s doors.  They couldn’t even make it through their first full season.  A whole hodgepodge of reasons are to blame for it’s demise.  In an announcement, they stated a small staff will stay on in an attempt to restructure the league.  This leaves a very tiny opening for there to be a second season.  Its going to take an Oscar-winning dog-and-pony show to win over new investors.

The AAF and it’s teams had lots of merchandise to buy.  Unfortunately, officially licensed pins were not on the menu.  As tight as their budget seems to have been, I’m guessing pins were out of the question.

Members of the media and high-ranking league executives were seen on television wearing AAF logo pins.  But these were not sold to the public.  I inquired about them to the AAF, but never heard back.

The only AAF team to issue a pin was the Arizona Hotshots.  You could not buy it online.  In order to obtain one, you needed to attend their home game on 3/3/19.  During that game they retired the #19 in honor of the 19 firefighters lost in the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire.  In-person, and only at that game could you purchase this pin.  As expected, a few have shown-up on the secondary market.  $35 seems to be the going rate… for now.

2019 LLWS Logo Announced + Franco’s Pin

Little League has officially announced what the logo for the 2019 Little League World Series plans to look like.  Each year it changes.  I like the look of it this year as the colors are brighter.  The 2019 Little League World Series takes place August 15-25.

For years I’ve been collecting Little League pins.  I’ve said on numerous occasions that its incredibly difficult to locate pins given out by ESPN.  One pin with ESPN’s name on it was made specifically for sale in Little League’s gift shop.  That’s the easiest one to find.  Other than that I can only find them on eBay.  These things are like Bigfoot, Yeti, or that Panini redemption you’ve been waiting on.  You never know if they’ll show up.

During the Little League World Series last year, I saw an ESPN pin popup which I think is really cool.  Franco’s Lounge is an Italian restaurant in downtown Williamsport.  It has been around for decades.  Apparently someone from ESPN must really enjoy eating there because they featured the restaurant on their pin last summer.  Its a two-piece puzzle pin.  A sign that says “Gone To Franco’s” hangs off of a Robo-Cam on the top part.  The bottom looks just like the front entrance to Franco’s Lounge.  Red crab and all.

Someone that works for ESPN hands these pins out.  Who that individual(s) might be is a complete mystery.  The name “Fletcher HD” can be read on a lot of these Robo-Cam pins.  I highly doubt that’s the name of whoever is distributing them.  Fletcher is a company that ESPN leases cameras from for certain events.

When this pin set hits the secondary market, be ready to spend $50-$60.

Card of the Day: Los Angeles Rams Logo 1967 Philadelphia #96

Card of the Day: Hank Blalock 2004 Upper Deck SP Game-Used Patch Logo Threads

Astros ’18 Topps Update Patch Contest! – NOW CLOSED

This contest is for a Carlos Correa 2018 Topps Update Series MLB Postseason Logo Manufactured Patch Gold Parallel #’ed/99.  Good luck!!!

Contest Details:

• This contest will end Friday, November 30, 2018 @ 8:00 p.m. EST.
• To enter, please leave a comment in this post.
• You can enter once per day.
• The winner will be selected at random.
• Please provide a valid e-mail address when entering.
• The winner will receive an e-mail when the contest is over.
• The winner has one week to send me their contact information or the contest will be held again.
• Once the contest is over, I will need the winner’s mailing address so I can ship them this card for FREE!!!

“Pin-Up” of the Week: 2017 Little League World Series Logo Pin

Officially this pin doesn’t exist yet, but its coming very soon.  Little League recently showed off what the logo will look like for the World Series this year.  We’re only about six months away until Williamsport is flooded with baseball fans from all over the world.  The 2017 Little League World Series takes place 8/17 to 8/27.

Little League pins are highly sought after.  Its around those ten days when the games are being played that new pins surface.  Local businesses throughout Williamsport produce tons of pins.  They’re either sold or given away.  4th Street was a goldmine last year.

I’ll probably find my way up their again this summer.  If I have anymore Sports Card Info pins left I’ll take them with me.  By then, I might need to order some more from Wilson Trophy.