Cancelled 2020 MLB Little League Classic Pins Begin To Surface – Red Sox vs. Orioles

This COVID-19 virus sure has messed-up a lot of stuff.  Everyone wishes we could just go back to the way things use to be.  Life will eventually get back to normal, but it certainly won’t happen overnight.

One of the casualties of this horrific virus is the Little League World Series.  It has officially been canceled for 2020.  This will be a significant impact to baseball fans, and businesses to the surrounding communities.  Hotels, restaurants, and shops are already hurting.  Taking away the business generated when the world comes to Williamsport will only deepen the economic blow.

With the cancellation of the 2020 Little League World Series also comes the cancellation of the MLB Little League Classic.  Taking place during the Little League World Series, the MLB Little League Classic features two MLB teams playing a regular season game at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field right there in Williamsport.  Little League players, and their families are welcomed to attend.  For a lot of these kids, this game might be the only chance they have to watch a MLB game in person.

Collectible lapel pins are a huge part of the Little League World Series.  Everywhere you look teams, districts, players, umpires, ushers, emergency medical staff, security guards, corporate sponsors, and local businesses have pins they’re looking to buy/sell/trade.  2020 will be an unusual year with a low number of pins.  With no Little League World Series being played, it doesn’t make sense to spend money on making them right now.  Especially during this economic downturn.

Some 2020 pins have found their way out.  I suppose they were in the works before the Little League World Series was cancelled.  Take this pin for instance.

It commemorates the now cancelled 2020 MLB Little League Classic between the Red Sox and Orioles.  A handful of these pins have been floating around Williamsport.  I wasn’t fast enough to hit the “Buy It Now” on the first two, but I got lucky with the third.  They were selling extremely fast.  According to the seller, only (50) of these pins were made.  I’ve seen a few different variations.  The pin I bought has a white scoreboard.  Others come in grey.  Its possible there could be more colors.  I’d speculate each color is limited to (50) copies.

Fake ’18 Panini Illusions Football Autographs Start To Surface

Earlier this week I blogged about those elusive missing autographs that have been coming out of 2018 Panini Illusions Football.  I warned you that people would take advantage of that misprinted COA, and start signing them in an attempt to pass them off as the real deal.  Well, that didn’t take too long.  A seller on eBay that goes by “tolpul0” from Twin Falls, ID took a misprinted Sam Darnold card, signed it themselves, and is now selling it as an authentic autograph.  What a total crock!  Its sold too.  Last I saw it had one bid for $20 with a few days to go.  Not only is the autograph a terrible counterfeit, but its on-card.  Authentic pack-pulled examples are all signed on stickers.  PLEASE BE CAREFUL!

It would be nice if those who pulled a misprinted error could exchange the card for something.  The least Panini could do is give an official statement on the matter and/or give us an estimated print run of the errors.

Jim Thome Topps NOW Autographs Beginning To Surface

When it comes to picking up new single cards for my collection, I can be quite picky.  Some collectors have bubble mailers arriving everyday.  That certainly isn’t me.  Former Phillies broadcaster, Harry Kalas, is the main person I collect but he has very few cards.  In fact, at the current time I believe I only need four more cards of his.

I’m a big fan of the Topps NOW program.  Once again, I’m picky about what cards I purchase, but I’ll jump on one when I really like it.  So far I’ve made two Topps NOW purchases this year.  The first is this Jim Thome 2018 National Baseball Hall Of Fame Electee Autograph #’ed 5/49.  I bought this card on 1/25/18 and it arrived on 3/3/18.  Not a bad wait time.  This is the first Topps NOW autographed card I’ve purchased.  These sold out so fast I didn’t think I had a chance at getting one.  Ever since Jim Thome played for the Phillies I’ve been a big fan.  He has a great signature too.  It almost takes up the entire width of the card.  If you weren’t able to buy one directly from Topps, I’m sure some will be hitting the secondary market shortly.

My second Topps NOW buy of 2018 is a Phillies Road To Opening Day Team Set.  Topps keeps track of who buys these sets, and if your team does something special you’ll receive an exclusive card.  This is something that Topps started last year.  I think it adds a fun element, and gives you something to watch for.