Card of the Day: 1995 SkyBox Toy Story – Green Army Men #38

Solo: A Star Wars Story Official Trailer

Solo: A Star Wars Story Official Teaser Trailer

Card of the Day: Trevor Story 2016 Topps Now RC #4

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY Official Teaser Trailer

Cooper To Focus On Yankees Dream Scene Next

Jamie Cooper is at it again!  The artist that brought us the Phillies Dream Scene painting will soon begin work on another dream scene.  This one will be based on the New York Yankees.  Mr. Cooper will start painting this week, and plans to have it completed by the end of April.  The finished piece will measure 6ft by 4ft and will be auctioned off during the 2013 National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, IL.

Below is a preliminary rough sketch of what the finished piece will look like.  Along with the rough sketch, Mr. Cooper sent over the story that goes along with it.  No word yet on whether prints will be made available.

The story so far.

We are taken to a private corner of a mythical Yankees Clubhouse.  One that reflects the changing décor of the rooms over the past 100 years.   All is smoky and atmospheric.  And here, as if a time machine has skimmed back through history, are the 5 greatest Yankees to have donned the famous pinstripes.

From left to right.

Babe Ruth reclines holding the war club with which he hit the 60th home run in 1927.  Inscribed on it are the initials T.Z (Tom Zachary – the unfortunate pitcher).  He sits in front of his metal locker from the late 1920’s and 30’s.  Perhaps a door could be open to reveal a big fur coat, a box of cigars and other features of the man’s tastes and fashion in the 20’s.

Above it is the famous Yankees façade that is a feature of the current day clubhouse.

Derek Jeter stands overlooking the group with a friendly hand resting on Gehrig’s shoulder.  This symbolizes the respect felt toward him from all the Yankees faithful.

Lou Gehrig himself is central in this scene.  Proud yet humbled to be part of this elite group, he is happy to let the bigger personalities take the limelight.  But in reality, he is the embodiment of the Yankees great tradition.

Mickey Mantle circa 1956, leans in to join the fun with a big, all American smile and a can of Ballantine beer in his hand.

Behind them are 2 iconic lockers from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.  Mantle’s on the left and DiMaggios’ on the right.

In Mantle’s locker are towels from the period, lots of bandages, a bottle of Yoo Hoo, pictures of loved ones and a reference to his triple crown in 1956.

DiMaggio’s locker will feature a carton of Chesterfields, a picture of Marilyn, and a news cutting of his 56 game hitting streak.  The clothes hanging will reflect his wardrobe of the time.  There will also be a small written slogan from Joe saying, “I’d like to thank the good lord for making me a Yankee”.

DiMaggio himself casts an eye across the scene to Ruth, the two of them, as gatekeepers to this magical moment and as elder statesmen of the greatest baseball club on the planet.  Of course he has a Chesterfield in his hand.

Behind him to the right are the wonderful industrial looking lockers of the early 1920’s.  There will be plenty of balls and towels scattered around, a couple of beer cans and other post game paraphernalia.  The carpet in the foreground is the one from the current day clubhouse featuring the small NY logos.

TeenyMates Back Story + 3 Pack Break

Many years ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio was in dire need of assistance.  They sent out a worldwide notice seeking thirty-two interns that could potentially come work for them at their giant football mecca.  Given the down turn in the country’s economy, they received thousands of resumes from freshly graduated students just looking for any type of experience.  After a strenuous interview process, the Hall of Fame finally narrowed it down to thirty-two.

On the first day of orientation, the eager interns all entered the conference room.  Some of them were shy and kept to themselves while others acted as if they just won a million bucks thinking they were on the top of the world.  It was clearly a diverse group of individuals.  Moments later they were met by their new boss, Jack Jurevicius.  After going through the initial orientation stuff, the thirty-two interns received a tour of the building.  Passing the Jim Thorpe statue downstairs they made their way up the winding ramp to the room above.  The building was filled with thousands of football artifacts once used by some of the greatest athletes to ever live.  Once the tour was over, they all were directed to the office area.  Before splitting up into their individual work teams, Mr. Jurevicius wanted to make one thing clear.  He pointed to a door that had the letters “RTDNER” on it.  “Nobody is to ever enter that room.” he said.  Everyone agreed to leave it go.

Flash forward a few months.  One stormy night, all the interns were working late.  The Hall of Fame had acquired a large amount of items that needed to be categorized and put on display.  Feeling overly confident they all agreed upon entering the “RTDNER” room.  Their curiosity got the best of them.  The room was basically empty, except for one thing.  Located in the center, was a football.  Not just any football, but the very first football ever made.  It was in terrible condition.  The outside was beat, and the stitches were coming loose.  They immediately picked it up and began to pass it around.  All of a sudden there was a flash of light that blinded them all.  When their vision returned, they had changed.

Everything around them was so big.  The football they had been inspecting was the size of a boulder and magically found its way back to the center of them room.  They had shrunk.  Looking up they saw a ghostly figure hovering over.  The figure described itself as the original owner of the football.  Before passing away, he cursed the ball and anyone that touches it.  “From now on, you thirty-two will be known as TeenyMates.  In time you will realize that you have been given extraordinary football skills, but you will never be recognized for your actions.” he said.  Looking around at one another, they said “What actions?”  “Each one of you will be designated to a specific team.  Your job is to help regular players make those incredible plays that don’t seem possible.  Don’t let your size discourage you.” the figure stated.

Famous games/plays TeenyMates took part in:

• The Immaculate Reception – 1972 AFC Divisional Playoff Game
• The Greatest Game Ever Played – 1958 NFL Championship Game
• The Ice Bowl – 1967 NFL Championship Game
• David Tyree’s helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII
• The Catch – 1982 NFC Championship

Remember, just because you didn’t see them, doesn’t mean they weren’t there.

P.S.

RTDNER stands for – Relics That Do Not Exist Room

I hope you all enjoyed the back story Sports Card Info gave to TeenyMates.  They sent over (3) packs to open.  Here is what I pulled:

As you can see, they are very tiny.  They all have a hole on the bottom, which I could easily see kids squeezing them onto the tops of their pens/pencils.  Be sure to look for the three rare figures – Houston Oilers, Glow-In-The-Dark, and Gold.

Sports Card Info will be holding (3) separate contests starting this weekend.  Each winner will receive (3) sealed packs of TeenyMates.

Scott Schwartz Delivers Panini Products To The View

Yesterday, long time collector Scott Schwartz stopped by The View and dropped off a few boxes of Panini Americana.  Schwartz is most notably known for playing Flick in the 1983 film A Christmas Story.  You may also remember him from The Toy, where he co-starred with Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason.  I love it when trading cards receive any kind of national publicity.  Very cool!

A Snoopy Story

Thats right!  I’m writing a post about Snoopy.  Today is the 60th anniversary of the “Peanuts” comic strip created by Charles Schulz.  Almost everyone knows who the “Peanuts” characters are, and to this day the comic runs in 1,800 papers.

I’ve always liked “Peanuts”.  Some of my earliest memories involve Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Lucy.  In fact, my very first memory of anything in life involves Snoopy.  When I was two years old, I had my first surgery.  After waking up in the recovery room I remember turning to my right and seeing a stuffed Snoopy sitting next to me.  He was wearing one of those scrub hats doctors wear.  Apparently I took him into the operating room with me, but I don’t remember that part.

As for cards, “Peanuts” doesn’t have too many.  In 1965, Panini produced an “I Love Snoopy” sticker, and there is a 33-card set featuring all the “Peanuts” characters.  That set contains randomly inserted Charles Schulz autographs.  I think Schulz deserves a cut signature made.

Fun Fact: Did you know 1:4 grown men still have a stuffed animal?

A Christmas Story

About two years ago my parents wanted me to put together a Christmas list.  On the list I put a few packs and boxes of products that I was interested in.  Just for the heck of it I put a box of 2006 Topps Sterling on it, not expecting to get a box because our two local card shops usually don’t carry something with that kind of price tag.  When Christmas morning came I received a lot of great gifts incluing a Jim Brown / Barry Sanders / Walter Payton Triple Jersey #’ed/50, but the last gift was a little heavy.  As I ripped off the paper and looked at the box, it said 2006 Topps Sterling Baseball.  I was so happy to have received that box.  I quickly went over to the kitchen table and dove into it hoping to have a good box.  When I lifted the lid and removed the Mystery Pack I saw the words “Barry Bonds” on the wooden box.  I opened the box to see a Barry Bonds base card #’ed/250, beneath that I received another base #’ed/250, and finally the moment had arrived.  I looked down to see a Barry Bonds 2006 Topps Sterling Quad Memorabilia Autographed card serial numbered 1/1.  I was so excited I couldn’t contain myself.  I ended up selling the Bonds card about 8 months later the week he broke Hank Aaron’s homerun record.  One of our local shops purchased only 1 box to sell in their shop.  In my opinion, I think that 2006 was the best year for Topps Sterling.  All of the autographs were on-card, and the checklist only contained players that were retired and/or in the Hall of Fame.   That was one Christmas I will never forget.