28 Consecutive National Sports Collectors Convention Appearances and Counting

Rich Klein announced on the Facebook Group page for The National that he's scheduled for his 28th straight National Sports Collectors Convention.

28 in a row?! I've been to the two in Cleveland, but that's about it for me.

I'm still on the fence about attending this one.

World Cup Clones - Adidas Star Wars™ Cantina 2010

Do or Do Not, There is no tie.
Anything with a Star Wars theme and Snoop Dog can't be that bad.

Spuds McKenzie Night at Veterans Stadium

In 1987 I was a Logan Township Little League All-Star. Being selected an all-star provided a huge opportunity - the chance to meet Spuds McKenzie.

The meeting with Spuds was more of an accident than anything else. On 9/16/87, the all-stars from our little league were able to go on the turf of Veterans Stadium to take infield. It was a great! Sure, the Vet wasn't the best park, but at 12 years old, it was the only one I had ever been to and certainly the only field I had ever been on. We even had our names and faces put on the giant "Phanavision" screen.

But while we were waiting to take the field, behind the outfield walls, a Limo pulled up next to us, the window rolled down, and Spuds McKenzie stuck his head out! It was awesome. I put out my hand and the trainer the smacked it with Spuds' paw. A high paw from Spuds McKenzie!

The program scanned here is from that game. It was the Phillies vs. Cubs. Don Carman against Andre Dawson!

Mets Autograph Found - Wally Whitehurst

I always keep baseball programs from the games I attend. I had been missing a ton and fortunately, I found some at my parent's house this weekend.

This program is from a Tidewater Tides vs. Toledo Mud Hens game in 1988. The cover has a Wally Whitehurst autograph that I collected after the game in Ned Skeldon Stadium. Wally spent parts of four seasons with the Mets.

The roster is the best part of this program. The Tides were managed by Mike Cubbage and had a roster of few major league players that included:
- Jeff Innis (p)
- David West (p)
- Wally Whitehurst (p)
- Mark Carreon (of)

The Mud Hens were lead by outfielders George Vukovich and Billy Beane!

Mail Bag Delivers: Barney Poole 1952 Bowman Large

I added to my 1952 Bowman Large collection. I picked up Dallas Texan Barney Poole for a good price on eBay. It's not perfectly centered, but that isn't a big deal to me.

Poole began his pro football career with the New York Yankees in 1949. The Yankees moved to Dallas for the 1952 season - their only season as the Texans.

Outrage Over Emmitt Smith Autograph Prices Builds

I've said here numerous times that I will not pay Emmitt's outrageous price demands for his autograph, but the emotions are now moving to the Hall of Fame blog.

Emmitt's individual prices on a full size helmet go for: $299 plus $189 for an inscription. The Hall of Fame is also selling a $500 super ticket that gets you an autograph of everyone going into the HOF this year. However, that $500 will only get you an autograph on a flat item for Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith.

I'm a huge Dallas fan and Emmitt was one of my favorites, but I won't pay this amount.

Maybe he would sign this transcript though:

Greatest Sporting Event I've Watched

The 30-Year Cardboard Blog posed an interesting question this week: "What is the Greatest Sporting Event You've Ever Watched." It doesn't have to be in person, it can be an event you watched on TV and you remember all the details.

I like to think I haven't seen it yet, but if I have witnessed my greatest sporting event, it's Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

I remember my parents going bed when Dave Henderson hit the home run to put the Red Sox ahead. They gave me the parental, "sorry James, maybe the Mets will do it next year" line. Lately, I've been using that same line on my boys, but that night, I refused to believe it.

I lived in a townhouse in south New Jersey at the time. My best friend was a Mets fan. We lived about 10 minutes from Philly, so you were a Mets fan or a Phillies phan. I remember thinking how terrible my 7th grade classmates were going to make fun of me and my best friend if the Mets lost that game to the Red Sox. I could hear Joe and Tony giving us all kinds of grief about the Mets. Even though the Phillies that season never smelled the post-season, I was preparing myself for a school day of ridicule.

The first two Mets were easy outs, including one of my favorites, Wally Backman. Then, my favorite player at the time came up - Gary Carter. Wow, this was going to be a terrible day at school coming up. Not only was I going to get made fun of for the Mets losing, but Carter was going to make the last out. When Carted lined his hit to the outfield I felt like the weight of the world had almost been lifted off my jr. high shoulders. Even if the Mets lost, at least it wasn't Gary Carter that ended.

We all know how it ended of course. I've watched the game on DVD and video more times than I want to admit. I remember sitting in the living room, just me, my dog and my Mets hat when Ray Knight scored on Mookie's "slow roller to first."

I know I woke up every neighbor when Ray Knight was escorted to home by Buddy Harrleson. I know I scared my dog with my yelling. I know I threw my Mets hat all over that room. I remember it perfectly.

I hope that isn't my greatest sporting event memory. I hope I get to live through an event like that with my kids.

Roy Halladay Perfect Game Ticket Gimmick

Is this a collectible or a gimmick? The Florida Marlins are selling unsold tickets to Roy Halladay's perfect game on 5/29. The tickets are being sold at face value.

I think this is a gimmick. How can the Marlins sell game tickets to a game that happened in the past? They are trying to make a dollar on the backs of ticket stub collectors.

I'm not a fan of this. I think it brings the price down on a collectible. If only 5,000 people paid to see the game, there should only be 5,000 ticket stubs available to collectors.

Where does this stop? If a player hits for the cycle and the game wasn't a sell-out, will the team sell the remaining tickets to collectors then too? How many "standing room only" tickets could a team sell after a Game 7 of the World Series?