Is this a Beckett/Upper Deck Scam?

Here's the video from Beckett's box breaks. The StaleGum blog is doing a nice job covering this.

To protect their honesty and integrity, Beckett should change the way they accept boxes for box breaks. They should buy their boxes off the shelves like we all do!

Tigers Autographs from Spring Training

Guest Blogger Photos: Troy

Frequent SportsLocker Blogger, Troy, shared these autographs from this year's spring training.

Tigers' ace Justin Verlander signed this baseball. The location of this autograph is great. Too many people always get the autographs on the sweet spot. Logo'd baseballs like this Verlander ball and others (ie, All-Star Game baseballs) should be signed right under the logo. This way, the logo and the signature will show when you display it.

The bat is signed by Magglio Ordonez. The coolest part, is it's a personalized Ordonez bat... not some generic Louisville Slugger. Very Nice.

Troy - Give us the story. Where in spring training were these signed? Before a spring training game? Was this around a group of people or were the players walking somewhere by themselves?

New Baseball Stadiums

New public-financed baseball stadiums are one of the hottest trends in baseball. Some of these new stadiums are mostly funded by the tax-payers (the proposed Marlins park in a few years andPNC Park a few years ago).

I think that if the public is paying for the new stadiums, then the team's should be required to open their books and show what the public is paying for. For example, I think the Marlins should be required to show every year where their revenue sharing money is being spent.

What do you think?

Pete Rose Autograph Received

I received my Pete Rose autograph baseball today... less than a week after the autographcast from Las Vegas. Now that's fast service.


Pete was stationed at Ft. Knox for a few months after his rookie season. After talking about this with him on the phone, he signed the baseball with "Fort Knox 1963 - 1964." His company # is to the right on the baseball. I'm sure he's signed this before for people, but this is the first time I've seen it. What do you think?



After this experience, I'd definitely work with FansEdge again. They did a great job with only a few bumps.

The Baltimore Orioles Smell Like Ham

Nothing says "desperation" quite like using a new scoreboard to attract fans to a baseball game! But that's the state of today's Baltimore Orioles.

Yes, the Orioles have added HD screens to their center-field scoreboard, click here.

I knew a guy in college who smelled like he rubbed ham all over himself. He smelled odd, and that's the only way that I can describe it. But he had a huge TV in his apartment and we all came over to get the big time pay-per-view boxing fights. At the time, it was great and during the fight we forgot about the ham smell. But one night, things got rowdy and his TV broke. Without the TV and boxing matches, no one wanted to hang out with a guy that smelled like ham so we went somewhere else.

Like the guy I knew in college, the Orioles should spend their money so they don't smell like ham. Instead of getting a fancy TV, they should spend their $5 million to get a better set-up man, keep Erick Beddard, or improve their scouting departments to prevent signings like Javvy Lopez.

I love Camden Yards - I think it's the best of all the new ballparks and in my mind, it ranks just behind Wrigley, Fenway, and Yankee Stadium. And I like the Orioles, but come on... if you want people to see your team play, then improve the team! A bigger TV isn't going to get rid of that smell of ham.

Autograph Supplies - Get Them While You Can

Helmethut.com (and their store gridironmemories.com) have a big sale ending tonight. I've written before about using them to customize your autograph collection.

I don't work for them or know anyone there, but I've bought from them before and I think their products are top-notch. I bought a '52 Dallas Texans autograph for Art Donovan to autograph last year in Canton, OH.

If you're thinking about getting an old-school guy player autograph, then definitely check them out. The sale is 15% off plus free shipping... that's about $30 of savings. Check them out.

"Voice of God" Sheppard out 'till June

Bob Sheppard, the 97 year-old long-time PA announcer for the Yankees will miss the stadium's final home opener.

The NY Daily News reports that Sheppard is recovering from health issues and should be back in June.

I'm not a Yanks fan, but hearing Bob Sheppard do the PA is awesome. He is a huge part of the Yankee Stadium experience. Hopefully Bob can come back to do the last game of the season at Yankee Stadium and the first game at the new one.

This will be Sheppard's 58th season as the PA announcer for the Yankees. Just think of the historic moments he's been at the mic!

I have been on the signingshotline message boards asking for a "voices of the game" autograph show that would include Bob Sheppard! Maybe someone can still pull this together.

Tom Brady Autograph Prices = New Standard?

Tom Brady has a private signing this April with TriStar . . . if you can afford it. Check out the prices - mail in items start at $499!


Here are the prices if you mail in your own item (and can afford it):

• Flat Item Up To 11x14 - $499
• Flat Item Larger Than 11x14 - $549
• Mini Helmet - $549
• Football - $549
• Full Size Helmet, Jersey or Jersey Number - $599
• Artwork or Game Used Item - $749
• Multi Signed Item with 5 or more Autographs Already on Item - $749

And yes, inscriptions are extra $149!