Card of the Day: 2013 Topps Garbage Pail Kids Series 3 Stickers – New Year’s Eve #152a

Card of the Day: Brent Seabrook 2009-10 Upper Deck Series 2 #363

Card of the Day: Alexis Lafrenière 2020-21 Upper Deck Series 1 Young Guns #201

Card of the Day: David Phelps 2014 Topps Update Series #127

Card of the Day: Charlie Blackmon 2011 Topps Update Series Diamond Anniversary #231

Card of the Day: Gary Carter 1990 Donruss Learning Series #5

COVID-19 Reflected In Many 2020 Little League World Series Pin Designs

Even though the Little League World Series has been canceled this year, many local businesses and organizations in Williamsport and the surrounding areas made new pins for 2020.  Collectible lapel pins are very popular to buy/sell/trade when the Little League World Series is taking place.  Its one of the main attractions.

COVID-19 and the lack of Little League Baseball are truly reflected in some of the 2020 pin designs.  Many pins feature people, places, and things wearing masks.  Cool, yet kinda creepy.  This event in world history will forever be remembered on these pins.

Others take a more traditional route, and don’t mention COVID-19 at all.

Despite lots of places having pins, I’ve noticed each place didn’t order the quantity they usually do.  It makes perfect sense as to why.  No need to order as many if the Little League World Series isn’t happening.

Below is a list of places that I’ve compiled which have pins for 2020.  Some may have run out, and they’re ordering more.  Others may not order more.  I ran into others who’s pins haven’t even arrived yet.

• Boy Scouts of America
• The Clothier
• ARC Heating and Service
• Robert M. Sides Family Music Centers
• BAM! Book Store
• James V. Brown Library
• K&W Tire
• Tebbs Brothers Landscaping
• Industrial Piping Systems
• Plankenhorn Stationary
• Williamsport Sun-Gazette
• Farrington Place
• Horizon Federal Credit Union
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Corter’s Flooring America
• West Branch Valley Federal Credit Union
• It’s My Party Store
• Thomas T. Taber Museum
• Mileto’s Sub Shop
• D&W Disposal
• WILQ 105.1 FM
• Finn Pest Control
• Arthaus Projects
• UPMC Susquehanna
• C.J. Mertes Plumbing & Heating
• Wine & Design
• DJ Cory
• Billtown Welding & Fabricating
• The Break Room of Williamsport
• Susquehanna Community Bank
• Valley View Rehab & Nursing Center
• Kriger Fence Co.
• Yoder Insurance Inc.
• Daves Repair
• Heltman’s Excavation
• Lycoming County 911
• IPT Williamsport Regional Airport

Card of the Day: Andrew McCutchen 2020 Topps Series 2 SP Photo Variation #467

Card of the Day: Bald Eagle 2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Animal Series #5

Product Highlight: 2003 Topps Kanebo Baseball Series I & II

Kanebo sounds like the name of a character you would see on a Mortal Kombat player selection screen.  “Kanebo Wins!”, “Flawless Victory Kanebo!”, “Kanebo Finish Him!”.  In reality, its the name of a Japanese gum manufacturer.

Topps and Kanebo Foods came together in 2003 to bring collectors this crazy set.  It’s official title is 2003 Topps Kanebo Baseball, and is split between two different series.  Series I contains (55) cards.  The design is identical to that of the regular 2002 Topps Baseball flagship set.  On the back is the main difference where everything is written in Japanese.  Randomly inserted are Silver and Black parallels.

Don’t let the design fool you.  They look like 2002 cards, but all of the cards from Series I have a 2003 copyright date.  This can be extremely confusing when it comes to rookie cards.  Luckily, Topps and Kanebo only used two players in their Series I set that actually had real rookies in 2002 – So Taguchi and Kaz Ishii.  Neither of these players have much demand today, so their rookie cards from 2002 don’t hold much value.  But its still nice to know the difference between a 2002 and 2003 card.

Series II was issued a little later on is a bit easier to follow.  Not only was it issued in 2003, but it also utilizes the 2003 Topps Baseball flagship design.  The size is doubled compared to Series I, and comes in at (110) cards.  You’ll find Series II cards much more difficult to locate, and they have Copper and Silver parallels.

Hideki Matsui has very few Topps rookie cards from 2003.  Most of them come from Upper Deck, Fleer, and Donruss/Playoff.  His 2003 eTopps card is the main Topps card you see from that year.  Matsui didn’t have a rookie card in the 2003 Topps Baseball flagship brand, but he did get one in the Series II Kanebo set.