What's the Problem with the National Sports Collectors Convention?

Let's call them "opportunities for improvement."

The National Sports Collectors Convention has started their email marketing campaign, launched some prices and began spamming the facebook fan page. Does that sound familiar? Well, it should. It's the same process and product with problems we (collectors) have received for years.

My next blog posts are dedicated to identifying these opportunities and providing solutions for them.

I really want to see The National do well. I started the original facebook group for The National and along with VOTC, started the twitter hashtag #NSCC for use when discussing it. The next several posts will reveal:

• Partnership Opportunities
• Pricing Opportunities
• Marketing Opportunities
• Vendor Management Opportunities

I've thought a lot about these areas and how The National can take advantage in them. 

Completing a Team Set - 1962 Fleer Dallas Texans

Bill Miller completes m 1962 Fleer Dallas Texans team set.

I love the feeling of completing a page in the sports card binder - especially when it finishes the team set. I started building the '62 Fleer Texans team set a year or so ago. It didn't need to take that long, but I didn't want to over pay for cards on eBay or find some looked worn out.

The Bill Miller card looks very different than others in the set. Most of the cards have players with a odd face and different frozen actions. Miller's card actually looks like he was running a pattern to catch a pass.

Now it's on to the next team set to build. I'm one card a way from finishing my '52 Bowman Large Dallas Texans team set a few away from finishing my '87 Topps Mets set. 

Here Comes Cotton Davidson

Cotton Davidson, the quarterback of the 1962 Dallas Texans, nearly finishes my team set.

Cotton passed for 17 touchdowns in the 1961 season and is referred to on the back of the card as a "crackerjack short passer."

Super Bowl XLV Autographs? There's an App For That!

Super Bowl XLV has it's own app.

I downloaded the iPhone version today (I can't test the android version) and it's great for local fans, collectors and fans coming to watch the game.

The Super Bowl Events section list the events by date and selecting one of the events will bring you a list of the details and where the event is located. This listing includes autograph opportunities and memorabilia information.

The Rabbit - Jimmy Saxton

I had a good eBay mail day this week - Jimmy Saxton!

This one goes with my '62 Fleer Dallas Texans team set I'm building. Where did they take this picture? It looks like a river bank in the background.

I have no idea why Saxton was nicknamed the "The Rabbit" when he played for Texas before jumping to the Texans. Wouldn't Jackelope be a little more fun?

A Card so Nice, I Had to Buy it Twice

Actually, this card helped me with my 2011 New Year's Resolution: Check the spreadsheet before bidding!  

I already have this '52 Bowman Large card of James Hammond. The eBay auction bid was $4 so I placed the bid. After I won it for $4, I checked my spreadsheet and had my duh moment.

Oh well, it's $4, it's a cool card... I "won" auctions far worse than this I suppose.

Super Bowl Tours in Dallas

I've been to one Super Bowl and to the Super Bowl week activities for two, but I've never been able to tour the Super Bowl locker rooms.

Super Bowl 45 will have tours of the locker rooms and other areas of the Cowboys stadium.

If you're going to be in the Dallas area during Super Bowl week, this is a must see! The events in the days before the Super Bowl are a ton of fun. There are a lot of autograph opportunities and chances to see current and former players. I wish I was going to be at this one!

More about the tours here.

Try to Smack that Smile off Gino Marchetti's Face

Hey Rookie - What are you smiling at?

This is Gino Marchetti's 1952 Bowman Large rookie card (#23). I picked up this card on eBay for a fraction of the book value. Yes, add your own book value comment here.

I met Gino at an autograph show a few years ago. He didn't say much (unlike his HOF teammate Art Donovan), but he signed my item, and said thank you.

This is card almost finishes my 52 Bowman Large Texans team set. Two more to go!

You Say Weiner, I Say Weiner

Now this is a cool vintage card. I've noticed some of the 1952 Bowman cards are landscape instead of portrait - not all, but a handful are designed this way.

This is another one for my Dallas Texans team set. This is card #114, Art Weiner from the 1952 Bowman Large series.

1952 Bowman Large Design Fail

For the most part, the 1952 Bowman football series (large and small) looks outstanding. I've been working on a '52 Texans set for both.

There are some great action shots like Zollie Toth and Art Weiner.

And then the series has the John Wozniak card here.

Brett Favre Autographing 297 Streak Footballs

It didn't take Brett Favre long to capitalize on his 297 consecutive games streak.

Favre is selling footballs with a 297 game inscription on his official website. If he can't put his socks on, I'm not sure how he can sign a football?

Interesting note from Pete King on Favre's streak ending in Detroit:

• Lou Gehrig's streak also ended in Detroit.
• Wally Pipp's streak also ended in Detroit.

Mel Branch 1962 Fleer Dallas Texans

My latest 1962 Fleer Dallas Texan is Mel Branch. It's another card from this fun set that looks Mel is dancing instead of playing football.

Branch was a defensive end for the Texans.

The Texans logo in the bottom right corner is pretty awesome too.

Favre Texting Scandal Is the Seinfeld Tractor Story

I think nearly everything in life can be related to a Seinfeld or Brady Bunch episode.

All we heard about during the NFL off-season was Brett Favre and his Mississippi tractor riding. Now, all we hear about his Brett Favre and his texting issues.

I'm waiting for the Jennifer Sterger to say: "My boyfriend said I got gonorrhea from a tractor."

And you call that the tractor story?! 

2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame List

The Hall of Fame announced it's preliminary list for the 2011 Class. Some of the first time notables include:
- Deion Sanders
- Jerome Bettis
- Marshall Faulk
- Curtis Martin
- Jimmy Smith, 
- Willie Roaf
- Dick Vermeil 

Out of that group, I see Deion and Marshall being first ballot HOFers. I think Bettis and Roaf will eventually get in, but it may not be on the first ballot. 

More...

My Super Bowl XLV Prediction

I'm not going with the Jets, Mark Sanchez's playoff numbers were good, his regular seasion numbers were good for a rookie.

I'm not going with Dallas. I'm a big Cowboys fan, but I'm not sold on Tony Romo being able to win a tough one in the playoffs. His performance and happy feet in Minn. last season were ugly.

I'm not going with Green Bay. Has their defense improved that much to shut other teams down if the offense struggles?

I'm not going with San Diego or Baltimore either.

I think it's going to be: Atlanta over New England. I belive the Patriots have another run left in them and the 3rd year for Matt Ryan is going to be huge.

A New Card Can Make it All Good

It's been a long week at work. It's going to be a long month actually, but there's something about getting a new card in the mail that just helps you get through it all.

Today I added to my '52 Bowman Large Dallas Texans team set with this Buddy Young card. I have the '52 Bowman Small set, and now I'm going large.

Buddy was a 5'4" running back for the Texans and Yanks prior to that. I paid around $8 for this card on eBay.

Now, back to work.

What Would You Pay for Tom Brady's Autograph?

We're headed to a double-dip recession, unemployment is still around 10% and the stock market is going in the wrong direction. But why not spend $899 on an autographed Tom Brady helmet.

What?

TriStar announced details of a rare Tom Brady private autograph session. For $899 you can get your full size helmet signed by Tom. Inscriptions? That will cost an extra $149.

Does that seem a little high to you? And to think I was complaining about Emmitt Smith's HOF prices.

Free Panini Football Hall of Fame Cards

The pro-football Hall of Fame is giving away their 2010 HOF Panini set for any online purchase.

I think these are some of the better looking HOF trading cards that have been offered. I'd like to have that Emmitt Smith card.

To get the free cards, place your online order and enter the code: FREECARD10.

Something is Missing on my Cowboys Card

Where's the star! You can't have a Dallas Cowboys football card without the star can you? What's going on here?

This is a 1980 Topps football card of Butch Johnson. Is there a reason Topps didn't include the star?

Felix Jones Autograph Fail

Fans waited in line for an hour. They bought tickets for a minor league baseball game, Arkansas Travelers, and were promised a free autograph by Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones. But the fans went home without their autograph.

The Travelers promised fans a free, one hour, autograph signing by Felix Jones after he threw out the first pitch. According to the Dallas Morning News, Jones arrived, threw out the first pitch and then said he had an exclusive signing deal with a card manufacturer and couldn't sign autographs for fans.