Dallas Cowboy Gets Michael Vick's Autograph After the Game

"Wow, you guys just officially ended our season, can you sign this glove for me?"

Was that the conversation Tashard Choice had with Michael Vick following Sunday night's game in Dallas?

The Eagles just officially eliminated the Cowboys from the playoff picture (unofficially that was done by Tashard Choice's fumble agains Washington in Week 1), when Choice asked for Vick's autograph on the football field! According to Vick, "that's probably the first time that's ever happened to me." You think?

Do you think Emmitt Smith would have asked for Steve Young's autograph on the field? Would Tony Dorsett had ever asked for Terry Bradshaw's autograph after the game? How do you think the Dallas defense felt about Choice obtaining post-game autographs on the field for the player that beat them?

According the Choice, the glove was for a family member. What if that glove was now for sale on eBay?

The ESPN is story here.

Philadelphia Spectrum Memorabilia for $25

I always find out about these things a day late!

For $25, fans could enter the Spectrum and take whatever they wanted. It sounds like an awesome deal to get stadium used items like folding chairs, signs, bar stools. My first basketball and hockey games were at the Spectrum, including my first failed autograph attempt (thanks Moses Malone).

More on the last chance for Spectrum memorabilia here.

Minor Leauge Manager Ejected and Signs 1st Base for Fan

This brings game-used memorabilia to a whole new level.

Minor league manager, Gary Robinson, of the State College Spikes was thrown out of a game after arguing if a player was hit by a pitch. During his exchange with the umpire, Robinson was tossed out of the game.

Robinson eventually rips first base out of the ground, signs it and gives it to a fan sitting 2 rows behind the dugout.

Best Uses for Texas Stadium Locker Tile

I picked up one of the Texas Stadium tiles that Steiner and the Cowboys were selling. It's a piece from one of the lockers at Texas Stadium, before they blew it to pieces.

It looked cool on the site, but now I'm not sure what to do with it.

Do I:
- Frame and matte it with some Texas Stadium turf and an autograph photo?
- Use it as a drink coaster?
- Set a small flower pot on it?

Win Sports Memorabilia From MSG

MSG has a weekly sports memorabilia give-away. Tuesday night you can win an autograph from Reggie Jackson.

By signing up and making a weekly pick in the fantasy line-up, you can win some of the memorabilia.

On Tuesday's MSG show, "The Lineup," they are choosing NYC all-time manager. Pretty tough choice: Joe McCarthy, Joe Torre, Davey Johnson and Casey Stengel. I'd consider voting for John McGraw. The list can be viewed here.

Last week they picked Mariano Rivera and Christy Mathewson as New York's all-time pitchers. What? No Tom Seaver!?

My First Game Used Memorabilia

While cleaning out some old boxes this weekend I found this gem - My First Game Used Memorabilia.

This is the baseball I saved from my 1985 Little League Championship game. I was the catcher when Rob Cuerton struck out the Ben Hayes for the final out of the game. I remember our pitcher, the hitter and saving the ball and holding on to while we jumped up and down on the pitcher's mound.

What a good time. It looks a little odd next to some of my HOF autograph baseballs, but the memories of getting it are a little better.

Ike Davis for Father's Day

This Father's Day I'd like my paper, laptop, fresh Dunkin Donuts coffee and some Ike Davis memorabilia . . . please.

Ike Davis Mets items are gaining in popularity with every dugout foul ball catch he makes. The smooth hitting Mets first baseman's most popular cards (according to GMA) include:

- 2008 Bowman Chrome

- 2008 Bowman Sterling

- 2010 Finest Redemption #2

- 2008 Donruss Elite Autograph (#'d to 995)

Steiner Sports is also selling some very cool autographed baseball with unique inscriptions that include "Happy Father's Day" and "Mazel Tov!" I tempted to go for the "Mazel Tov" inscription only because I don't have an autograph baseball with anything similar to that.

Lenny Dysktra Selling Himself on Craigslist

Times are a little rough in the Dykstra house. His issues with wealth management, car washes and the IRS are well documented. Maybe Lenny's entry into Craig's List is an attempt to pay back some debts?

For $3,200 you can get autographed magazines, a frame and a call from the former Mets and Phillies star.

Here's the ad on Craigslist.

Thanks Deadspin for the heads-up.

Help Flood Victims - Buy Vince Young's Autograph

Vince Young's autograph can help Tennessee flood victims.

Donate $100 and you'll receive an autographed Pro Bowl photo of Vince Young and a Flood ‘10 Reebuild t-shirt. According to the Vincent Young foundation, "Aall proceeds will benefit flood victims and rebuilding efforts."

Click here to access the foundation's website and get your Vince Young autograph.

Missing Items from the Mets Hall of Fame

The Mets Hall of Fame is opening on Monday, April 5. It only took a year of public outcry, a floundering team and the risk of losing attendance, but better late than never.

Our friends at Sports Collector's Daily provided the list of items on display. I'd like to see some Gil Hodges items and Ed Kranepool. How does the Mets Hall of Fame not have any Ed Kranepool items? Hopefully there is more than what SCD has listed below.

I'd also like to have Bobby Valentine's glasses and 'stache from his June 9, 1999 ejection vs. Toronoto and Ricky Henderson and Bobby Bonilla's cards from their 1999 playoff series.

- Tom Seaver’s 1967 Rookie of the Year Award
- Tom Seaver’s 1969 Cy Young Award
- Bob Murphy’s Ford C. Frick Award
- Ralph Kiner’s Emmy Award
- First ball put in play from first game at Shea Stadium
- Ball from last out at Polo Grounds
- Casey Stengel jersey from 1962
- David Cone jersey from 19-strikeout game in 1991
- Al Leiter jersey from 2000 World Series
- Casey Stengel’s blazer from 1962
- Tommie Agee’s glove from 1969 World Series
- Rusty Staub’s bat used to get 8 straight pinch hits
- Benny Agbayani’s bat used in 2000 World Series
- Robin Ventura’s bats from 2 grand slams in doubleheader
- Mike Piazza’s helmet from 2000 World Series
- John Franco’s FDNY hat
- Keith Hernandez’s 1987 Gold Glove Award
- 1986 Game 6 World Series ball
- 1969 World Series ring
- 1969 World Series press pins
- 1973 World Series press pins
- Tom Seaver-Mike Piazza Citi Field ceremonial first pitch
- Tom Seaver’s cap from 19-strikeout game

When the Oscars and Sports Collectibles Collide

This just in: "The Blind Side" was a popular movie. If you're into the movie, Oscar Awards and offensive lineman, then MAB has the perfect collectible for you.

MAB Celebrity Services is offering an autographed movie poster of "The Blind Side." For $50 (plus shipping and handling), you can get "The Blind Side" movie poster autographed by Michael Oher.

To be honest, I haven't seen the movie, but for $50 . . . I'd like to have Sandra Bullock's autograph on there too!

Work in the Sports Memorabilia Industry

Steiner Sports is accepting resumes to join their sports memorabilia team. I found the listing on their facebook fan page.

The listing doesn't specify if they are looking for help running their autograph shows, in store help, or someone to help their blog and social media exposure.

If you're interested, check out their sites and send an email to: acohensmith@steinersports.com with Steiner Sports Resume in the subject line.

Pete Rose is Too Busy for Me

I'm in Las Vegas next week and I was trying to arrange a quick interview with Pete Rose. I think it would be great to hear Pete's take on sports cards, memorabilia, and his new deal with Upper Deck.

After several emails and calls, I didn't get a response. Maybe next time.

Trying to Get a Pete Rose Interview

I go to Las Vegas about once a year and each time I try to get a Pete Rose autograph at his location in the Caesar's Palace Forum Shops. I've done the baseballs, jersey and bat autographs, but this year I'm trying something new.

I'm trying to get an interview with the Hit King!

I'll be in Las Vegas next month and I'm trying to arrange a 10 minute interview with Pete about sports cards and memorabilia. Following his recent deal with Upper Deck, I thought this would be a good time to see if Pete can't tell us about his baseball card stories, who he collected and what was his reaction they made the deal with Upper Deck.

We'll see if it happens, but I'm making the attempt. I'll report back if I get a phone call or email back from the Rose camp.

Mets Employee Steals from Shea - Only makes $840

A Mets employee stole bases, seats and other memorabilia from Shea Stadium and only made $840. I think that says more about the team than the one of your own employees stealing from the company.

According to the NY Daily News, a security guard plead guilty to stealing from the Mets during the Shea Stadium demolition.

His punishment - in addition to repaying the Mets, he's banned from $it Field for one year. How is banning someone from watching the Mets in person a punishment.

Real punishment would be making him watch every pathetic inning at $iti Field this season!.

A $21 Million Pete Rose Artwork

I was looking on eBay for some cool Pete Rose items to get signed when I came across this piece of . . . art. The item is listed as: "Tommervik Deco Pete Rose Portrait Baseball Painting Art."

Even if I had $21 Million to spend on art, I don't think I could spend it on a picture of Pete Rose.

Pete Rose's Creepy Hand Casting

For $500 you can own an official casting of Pete Rose's hand finished in bronze. The casting comes with an autographed Pete Rose baseball and a COA. There are only 303 made available.

I like Pete Rose memorabilia, but this is a bit extreme. Sort of reminds me of the The Marriage Ref Fake Leg episode.

Sports Locker Blog Ready to Write Again

It's a been a few weeks and I'm sorry for not blogging much. I've had problems computer problems and work reorganizations that have taken up too much time. Thankfully, it seems to be over and I can get back to some fun sports card and memorabilia writing.

Thank you for your patience.

Yes! The 1986 NY Daily News

Collecting newspapers of your team's accomplishment is a great way to capture the moment. You get the "YES!," the stories from the writers who followed them all year, and the emotion of the town.

In 1986, I was more concerned with the outfit my 7th grade teacher was wearing than collecting a NY Daily News after the Mets won the World Series - so I never thought about keeping the paper.

I finally found really nice conditioned NY Post and NY Daily News from the day after Game 7 of the 1986 World Series.

I usually see the folded, ripped, and stained versions on eBay, but a dealer at the MAB show in November had some great ones. I really only wanted the NY Daily News (I like the cover better), but he gave me a great deal if I bought both.

These go with the Dallas Morning News from the Cowboys' Super Bowl wins in the '90s, the Baltimore Sun from Cal Ripken's streak, and several Sept. 12, 2001 newspapers - including the SF Chronicle with "BASTARDS" in bold type face on the cover.

Information Golden Era of Sports Collecting

Are we in an Information Golden Era of Sports Collecting?

When I started the SportsLocker blog in November, 2007 there wasn't a lot of opinion and information on the internet. If you wanted the latest news and opinion, then you needed to subscribe to the magazines, find a good hobby shop, or hope to find one of the few blogs dedicated to the hobby. There were very few to choose from.

Fast-forward a couple of years and the landscape has really changed. Today, you can read blogs that focus on specific types, certain teams, individual players and the "stats on the back." You can read Beckett's opinion and the anti-Beckett opinion.

If you're into social networking, there are several facebook groups and fan pages run by fellow collectors. Upper Deck and Steiner Sports also do a lot of work on facebook and offer fans special access, sales, and contests.

Personally, I think Twitter made the biggest splash to the collecting world in 2009. Bloggers, corporations, and card manufacturers did more than dip their toe in the pool - they dove in to the deep end. Not only do they tweet when they have a new blog post, but they tweet when they have an opinion. Following collectors and some of the companies on twitter can bring you alerts to sales from Blowout Cards to interesting topics at the Freedom Card Board. If you didn't like the latest box break from Beckett, you can send Tracy Hackler and Chris Olds a message on twitter with your opinion (within 140 characters).

We don't have a shortage of information today. We have more opinions and places to get the latest scoop than I ever could have imaged two years ago. The landscape has changed and continues to evolve. I'm really enjoying this new world of collecting: it's more transparent, has more opinions, and is fun to be a part of.