Rolen Auto Arrives + Retro Card Show Photos

Near the end of January I purchased a Scott Rolen 2023 Topps NOW National Baseball Hall Of Fame’s Class Of 2023 Auto from Topps.

Look what the mail dropped off! Its serial numbered 75/99. If you ordered one too it should be arriving soon.

Over the years I’ve met Scott Rolen a few times. Very nice guy.

Here are a couple of photos I found recently while organizing some things.

These were taken in 1997/1998 at a card show I attended which was held at the Harrisburg Farm Show Complex.

Autograph guests that day were Phillies 3rd baseman Scott Rolen, and Phillies pitcher Mike Grace (not Mark).

Phillies 3rd baseman Scott Rolen

Phillies pitcher Mike Grace

Scott Rolen went on to have a Hall of Fame worthy career with the Phillies, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Reds.

Mike Grace pitched for the Phillies from 1995 to 1999. He ended his career with a 16-16 record, 4.96 ERA, and 156 strikeouts.

Photos: Ryan Zimmerman Life Size Bobblehead Night & Spencer Torkelson Might Be “The Fonz”

The Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals) took on the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers) on Saturday, August 7, 2021. The Senators lost 7-0.

Before the game began the Senators unveiled their newest addition to their Life Size Bobblehead Hall of Fame. Mr. National a.k.a. Ryan Zimmerman now has a life size bobblehead on display at FNB Field. The first 750 fans through the gate received a replica bobblehead.

While eating my dinner at the River City Grille I looked over the rosters for both teams. None of the names on the Senators roster rang any bells, but two names stuck out from the SeaWolves – Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson. Both are highly watched prospects. Riley Greene hit a lead off home run.

Spencer Torkelson doing his best impression of “The Fonz”.

Spencer Torkelson #7

Spencer Torkelson can fly!

Spencer Torkelson running towards 3rd base.

Product Highlight: 1997 Topps Genuine Issue Tiger Woods Photos

In case you haven’t heard, Tiger Woods was involved in a bad car accident. Luckily it sounds like he’s going to be ok. Whether or not he’ll play professional golf again is totally undecided. Its way too early to tell, and by the look of what is left of the SUV he was driving we’re just lucky that he’s still alive. This is Tiger Woods we’re talking about here. A comeback isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. We’ve seen it happen before. He surprised the world when he came back and won the Masters Tournament in 2019. Anything is possible.

When it comes to cards of Tiger Woods the first company that comes to mind is Upper Deck. That makes perfect sense since he’s had an exclusive deal with them going all the way back to 2001. But that wasn’t always the case. Prior to 2001 he didn’t have a dedicated place you could go for his cards. They were kinda hit or miss, and all over the place. Two cards from this time that stick out to me the most would be his 1997-99 Grand Slam Ventures Masters Collection, and 1996 Sports Illustrated for Kids.

A product that I believe is drastically overlooked is the 1997 Topps Genuine Issue Tiger Woods Photos.  That’s correct.  Four years prior to his Upper Deck exclusive, Topps issued this small Tiger Woods-themed set after he won the Masters in 1997.

Its strange to see Tiger Woods pictured on a Topps product.  Topps isn’t known for their rich history with golfers. This set consists of six 8″ x 10″ photos. 10,000 sets were produced.  Each pack has the same six pictures.  There are no autographs and/or relics.

Here is the checklist:

• #1 1996 US Amateur
• #2 1997 USPGA Championship
• #3 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open
• #4 1997 USPGA Championship
• #5 1997 Masters
• #6 1997 US Open

With the recent amplified interest in sports cards and memorabilia over the last year, packs of these photos have seen a big jump in price. Sealed packs now sell for $100-$200.

None of the photos have any type of design to them.  No borders and/or fancy coloring. In a strange way it gives us a glimpse as to what a golf-focused Stadium Club set might look like.

1st Topps Baseball Cards – 1948 Topps Magic Photos

The 1948 Topps Magic Photos set is drastically overlooked in my opinion.  If you’re looking for the first baseball cards Topps produced, this is the place.

Throughout the (252) cards, you’ll find a wide range of people, places, and things.  Not just baseball players.  Each tiny card (7/8″ x 1-7/16″) came out of the gum pack with a blank front.  On the back of every card is a trivia question that gives you a hint as to who or what will appear on the front.  In order to make the picture “magically” appear you needed to lightly wet the card’s front, apply a special chemical that came in the pack, and then expose it to sunlight.  Slowly a sepia-colored photo would emerge.

Based on the procedure needed to make the picture appear, its no surprise that most of these cards aren’t in the best condition.  You’re just asking for trouble when applying water, chemicals, and sunlight to a card.  But these were sold with gum as a toy, and monetary value wasn’t a concern to the person.  It was just plain fun.

Fully-developed cards tend to command a higher demand.

I wouldn’t recommend putting water, chemicals, and sunlight on today’s cards.  Then again, who knows what or who might show up if you do.

More Photos From The 2018 National + Cool Idea!

I can only speak for myself, but the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention has got to be one of the best shows I’ve ever attended.  According to the National, it had the best attendance they’ve seen in the last twelve years.  PSA also mentioned that they had a record number of submissions during the show too.  Records were being broken all over the place.  It was quite the spectacle to see.

Cleveland continues to be my favorite location.  I’ve been to seven Nationals, and four of them have been at the I-X Center.  Its easy to get to, not in the city, and I usually can park near the entrance.  The National takes place in Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center next year July 31 to August 4, 2019.  As much as I enjoy the National, I don’t plan on going to Chicago.  I hate to miss it, but I do not enjoy the process of flying or driving twelve hours.  The next National I’m looking to attend is in Atlantic City in 2020.  I was there in 2016, and things worked out fairly well.  Given the attendance seen this year, once the Atlantic City show is over I wouldn’t be surprised if it just alternates between Chicago and Cleveland for awhile.

In my opinion, Leaf and Topps had the superior wrapper redemption programs.  I did nothing with Upper Deck or Panini.  Topps does a nice job with their exclusive Bowman Chrome refractors.  Leaf had a huge hit with their 2018 In The Game Used Sports boxes.  At the show, these were selling for $160-$165 per box.  Now they go for $270.  The Leaf Originals Metal promos that you’d receive for opening boxes at their booth have also gained a lot of traction on the secondary market.

I have a cool idea.  Wouldn’t it be fun to see a remote controlled blimp flying around the National?  I’ve seen them before at hockey games randomly dropping coupons.  It could fly over the crowd and drop packs to sports collectors below.  Each day a different manufacturer could sponsor the packs being dropped.  Who wouldn’t want some exclusive blimp parallels?  How about mounting a camera on it too?  I bet it would even have it’s own Twitter account.  I can see this idea really “taking off”.

Although the National has been over for a month, I’d like to share some photos I didn’t post on my Day #1, Day #2, and Day #3 coverage.  There are a few aerial shots.  Pictures like that always remind me of Where’s Waldo.  You never know what you might see.  Who knows?  You could be in there.

Bill Belichick 2002 Super Bowl XXXVI Game-Worn Headset.  You can hear everything with this.  I mean EVERYTHING.

Rob Bertrand of Go GTS Live handing out prizes.

Behind the TRISTAR curtain.

The 2012 Little League World Series – Pictures, Pins, & That SUBWAY Guy

Its a proven fact.  I’m totally addicted to waiting in line for promos.  I do it a majority of the time while attending the National Sports Collectors Convention, and I did it again today while taking my annual trip to the Little League World Series.  It was a blast!  Take a look.

Japan and Panama were playing.  Did you know that Panama’s national anthem isn’t Van Halen’s song Panama? 🙂

Over in the corporate area, Jared Fogle a.k.a The SUBWAY Guy, was signing autographs and taking pictures.

ESPN booth

THE PINS:

One of the ushers was nice enough to do a trade with me.  I had a few extra Honda pins, and I traded one of those for this usher pin.

Wilson Trophy makes a lot of the sponsor pins.  On my way into the stadium I stopped by the Wilson Trophy tent and picked up this neat pin.  The two Little League players actually slide up and down the hill.  This pin is quite large, and is one of my biggest.

Dunkin’ Donuts, Susquehanna Bank, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Wegmans, and SUBWAY pins

Hilton Hotels, Kellogg’s, Chiquita, Honda, Relay For Life, and 2012 Little League World Series logo pins

Genetti Hotel 3-pin set

In the end, I came out with a total of 20 pins.  Some of them are duplicates.  I don’t go to watch the games.  I’m there for the promos.  If your a pin collector and a baseball fan, this is the place to be.

And no.  I did not come across any ESPN pins.

Phillies vs. Rays – 6/23/12

The Phillies took down the Rays 7-6 yesterday when Jim Thome hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 9th.  I also got to see Rollins hit a 2-run blast, and Pierre hit a 3-run shot.  It was a great day for a game.

I’ve been wanting to get one of those golf shirts you see The Sarge and Tom McCarthy wear in the broadcast booth, but you can only get them at the Majestic Clubhouse Store inside Citizens Bank Park.  I found a nice navy blue shirt with a white Phillies “P” in the corner.  They were also having a special on pins.  Buy three and the fourth is free.  I jumped all over that.

The Harry Kalas Memorial Statue

Jimmy Rollins with Pierre on deck

Hunter Pence with Ruiz on deck

Reading Phillies vs. Akron Aeros – 6/17/12

If you recall, last March I was able to score some free tickets to a Reading Phillies game after meeting a gentleman while waiting in line to get into the Ephrata Rec Center Show I attend each year.  Well, Father’s Day was the time to cash in those tickets.  The seats were great!  Three rows behind home-plate.  If I was any closer, they could have asked me to play 🙂  I had never gone to see the Reading Phillies before.  The stadium has a lot of history, but comes with a modern feel.  Reading’s pitcher Julio Rodriguez had a no-hitter through 5 innings.  In the end, Reading won 4-2.  I picked up a team set and three new pins for my collection.  They were giving away Richie Ashburn style hats.

Chun Chen (left) and Sebastian Valle (right)

Chun Chen (left) and Sebastian Valle (right)

The Crazy Hot Dog Vendor is one of many mascots used by the Reading Phillies.

Ran into Screwball on the way out.

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.

PHOTOS: The 2010 Little League World Series

This morning it was pouring and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make it up to Williamsport today.  But after awhile the clouds cleared, the sun came out and I decided to head up.  I picked up a bunch of new pins and got some great photos.  Check them out!

Casey At The Bat

The Little League World Series is known for its pins.  Here are some that I picked-up.

2010 LLWS logo

2010 LLWS ring pin

Honda’s promo pin is in 3D

active.com’s promo pin

The Wilson Trophy Co. will be selling pins and having giveaways at the Holiday Inn downtown Williamsport this week each day from 2:00 p.m. until midnight.