Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Buy the Cowboys Endzone from Neiman Marcus

Want own a piece of Texas Stadium - or the entire endzone!?


The Winter catalog from Neiman Marcus has the Dallas Cowboys endzone package for $500,000!

Maybe Chad Johnson, aka Ocho Cinco, will buy it so he can finally have his big game there and kiss the star as he promised (and failed) during week 5.

Pete Rose and Buddy Harrelson: Fists of Fury 35 Years Later

Pete Rose may have won the fight but Buddy Harrelson won the game! Thirty-five years ago Rose and Harrleson got into a fight during Game 3 of the NLCS.

Harrelson helped turn a sweep 3-6-3 double-play on the Reds. During the play, Rose slid in hard at second base, Harrleson commented on the slide, and Pete introduced his fist to Buddy's eye. The fight is classic NLCS moment and several photos have captured great pictures of the event.

A complete recap of the fight, what was said before and after the game, and a great exchange between Buddy and Pete during a 1974 game at Riverfront Stadium can be read on the Centerfield Maz blog.

I'm going to an MAB event next month where Buddy is signing. I'm trying to find this picture unsigned so I can get Buddy and Pete to sign it.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Shea Stadium Brick Order

I didn't get the foul poles, a dugout, or any of the endorsement signs from the Shea Stadium Demolition Sale. Instead I opted for a brick.

Today I ordered a Shea Stadium brick from the outfield walls.

The brick wall has been there since the stadium was built but the walls were covered most of the time by the blue padding.

They say it'll take 2-4 weeks until I receive it. I was hoping for some stadium seat backs or something that I could get signed. But I think this brick will be fine. It gives me something to throw at the TV when the Mets choke in 2009 and give all the executives some contract extensions!

Friday, October 3, 2008

The Sports Cards Hobby Needs a Virtual Trade Conference

Have you ever been to a virtual trade show? They are awesome and this is something our card and memorabilia hobby need.

You can get so much information about the subject without leaving your PC. With all of the growth our hobby has seen in blogs, trading forums, and memorabilia sites - the time is now to bring it all together for a yearly showcase.

Of course this doesn't replace "The National." A virtual trade show would bring more information to more people for free!

You won't leave this show at the end of the day with a new Upper Deck card, a set completed, or an autograph baseball, but you will leave more information about what ideas card companies have for the future and make more connections in the hobby.

How would you like to attend a virtual trade show (for free) and get to hear Upper Deck and Topps talk about their products for next year. What do they plan on doing that is different? How are they going to earn our collecting dollars next year?

How would you like to hear from Tri-Star, Mounted Memories, CSA, and MAB about autograph shows they plan on having next year

How would you like to ask your questions directly to the card and memorabilia companies? Collectors would get to hear this via live webinar and get to ask all of their questions.

Wouldn't you like to win a Box of Bowman Chrome or an autograph mini helmet just for attending one of the presentations? This can all be done in a virtual trade show.

Beckett or SCD could have a presentation to discuss how they price cards or the future of card grading. Beckett could use the space to talk about the change of their web site and new magazines.

McFarlane can have a webinar on their newest products and who's going to be in the next series.

The virtual trade conference also has the ability to have a virtual lobby where you can trade information with collectors from other blogs and web sites.

The possibilities for information sharing and gathering are endless. The digital age is done with "finding" information - we've found it and now we're in a time of "connecting."

How does this work?
I have put these together for my work - they are a lot of fun (and work) and you make some great connections. If you are a collector, lets start making some noise about having one of these. If you are a card or memorabilia company then lets get to work. For some examples, check out Unisfair and Design Reactor, and talk to people who have "attended" virtual trade shows.

I know, this blog entry wasn't about a certain card or autograph I just picked up... I'm guilty of being in a marketing mood today and I think our hobby can really grow and get more connected with something like this.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Chris Olds Moves to Beckett Media

Beckett's tapped an outsider to join their media operations. I noticed this message on the Sports Stuff blog with the Orlando Sentinel newspaper:
This is the final Sports Stuff entry for Chris Olds as he is joining the staff at Beckett Media, publishers of Beckett Sports Card Monthly, Beckett Baseball and several other hobby magazines.

I don't know what Chris' role will be with the Dallas-based Beckett team. From my perspective, it seems Chris' reception in the blogosphere isn't very warm. I remember reading quite a few back-and-forth comment exchanges about who posted stories first and who was reading the other person's blog for information.

Maybe Eric from the Beckett blog will stop by and give us some information.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Jim Thome Finally Has His Hall of Fame Moment

Jim Thome's 7th inning home run in Tuesday's one-game playoff should be the hit that takes him to Cooperstown.


Thome's home run numbers are amazing. Only 13 other players have hit more home runs than him. He's was a key player in the Indians' 1990s playoff teams and with one swing he put the Chicago White Sox into the playoffs on Tuesday.

Thome has never been indicated in any PED/Steroid discussion, never been accused of being a bad teammate, and has always seem to play with such an enthusiasm for the game.

I think Jim Thome needed to capture a moment to push his HOF credentials over the top, and yesterday he delivered.

An L World Series? Cubs vs. White Sox

For the first time in 102 years, both Chicago teams are in the baseball playoffs. The Cubs and White Sox begin their playoff drives this week.


Could this be the first time we have an L World Series?

Pete Rose 1964 2nd Year Card

Finally! I've been trying to get a deal on this card for a long time and I received it yesterday! It is such a cool feeling to open the mail package for a card you've been trying to get for so long.


I've been to several card shows during the past year or so where this card has been priced around $250-$300 with round corners and off-center. That's way to much for this card. Then last weekend I won an eBay auction that was below what I was willing to pay for it.

I like the Pete Rose 1964 card because it's the first card that has him on the entire card. His 1963 rookie card is shared with three other rookies.

What cards have you recently received that were tough for you to get?