Must Read...

Jon over at -- Penny Sleeve for Your Toughts --

had a very interesting read.

I am not passing judgment on anyone.

Just passing information along to my fellow collectors, and you can be the judge.

Its about the possibilities of counterfeit cards on one of my favorite buying sites.

click the links below to read.

Story One   

Follow Up Story

Remember -- This is for your information and judgement.

Thanks Jon for the information.


Keep On Collecting !!

Jeff

FREE basketball cards WINNERS

And the winner (s) are ----

since only 3 comments left -- all 3 won the cards!!!
  - jasongerman9  --  Jason

 - Al Kawamoto

 - Scribbled Ink


Please send me an email with your name and address..

fasportscards AT gmail DOT com.

Thanks
Jeff

Keep On Collecting !!

FREE Basketball Cards......

Will be randomizing away some free basketball cards.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and you are entered into the might randomizer.

The name in the number 1 spot, after randomizing the names 5 times will win .....

1992 - 93   Upper Deck   Hakeem Olajuwon / Shawn Kemp / Gary Payton
1992 - 93   Upper Deck   Micheal Jordan MVP / Micheal Jordan Scottie Pippen Scoring Threats
1996           NBA Hoops Earth Shakes  -  Shaquille O'Neal
1996           NBA Hopps Wicked Dishes  -  Anfernee Hardaway

If more than 10 people comment, I will also give the person in the last spot the same cards.
25 people or more and the person in the middle will also get the same cards.

You have until Saturday Nov 25 2017 ...  12 Noon central time.   

Good Luck !!

Hope everyone has a Great Thanksgiving and safe Black Friday.

Keep On Collecting !!

Jeff

2017 Topps All Star Rookie Team..

This just out..

2017 Topps All Star Rookie Team ...

• Manny Pina, C, Milwaukee Brewers
• Cody Bellinger, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Ian Happ, 2B, Chicago Cubs
• Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox
• Paul DeJong, SS, St. Louis Cardinals
• Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox
• Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees
• Trey Mancini, OF, Baltimore Orioles
• German Marquez, RHP, Colorado Rockies
• Jordan Montgomery, LHP, New York Yankees
• Josh Hader, RP, Milwaukee Brewers

Topps might put the trophy cup on their 2018 cards.  (sometimes they do and sometimes they don't)

They are issuing a Topps Now set ..

   

Keep On Collecting !!

Jeff

The last item purchased at NSCC2017...

As I was making my first initial round at the National, I can across this booth selling autograph photos.  There were photos from all sports, and lots of HOF'ers.  They ranged in size from the typical 5 by 7 to 8 by 11, as well as a few odd sized ones.  They ranged from $5 to over $50.

You are thinking what I was thinking, not authenticated signatures or photos. Reproductions!!!
He had all kinds of folks, sorting through and buying items they liked.

I'm not much into buying autographed things, even with authenticated paper work.  I would rather get it myself, in person.

BUT-----    This caught my eye.....

Click on photo to get a better look!

Origin of picture.....
This art work, of the 11 than-living members of the 500 HR Club, was created by artist Ron Lewis back in 1988.   It was than made into a limited edition lithograph, to be signed by all 11 players at the Atlantic City show in 1988, where these greats gathered.  To this day, it is still one of the most sought after and reproduced pieces of sports art.

This is a smaller photo print version.  The picture measure roughly 5 1/2 in by 10 1/2 in, and framed in a 11 by 14 in frame.

Sellers Story ----- He worked for a company in the late 80's that reproduced many sports art and photos, than had them autographed by the players.  Back than, they would sell them via QVC and in catalogs, such as JC Penny.  I do remember such items for sell at those places.  He said he has had these in storage since than, and over the past few years began selling them as ART work.  He did not say they were or were not authentic.

Not to drag this out on authentic or not ....

As I was heading for the door to depart this great event, I walked by the booth one last time, for one last look.  Since seeing it originally back in the late 80's, I've always thought it would be nice to have one.  So I broke down and bought it.  He had sold a few, at the $50 sale price.  But I did get him to come down to $40.

It was hard to lay out the 2 twenties for it.  Deep down my gut was telling me, -- not real --.
But, my eyes were saying yes, because it looks great.  The than 11 living 500 HR Club with autographs that look great.  My eyes won out!

I purchased a great piece of art, real autos or not.  Who knows, maybe, just maybe they might be....
naw --- maybe ????

It looks great anyways.

Keep On Collecting !!
Jeff

The National...NSCC2017..

The 38th annual National Sports Collectors Convention is now over, and after 38 years, I finally attend the event.

I only attended one day, which for a first timer was good.  My main goal was to have the experience of attending.  Just look around and see all the great cards and autograph guests that were there.
And of coarse, people watching.

WOW!!! I can not recall seeing so many sports cards / memoribla all in one place.  I have been to a lot of local card shows, and a few larger ones over my 45+ years of collecting, but nothing like the NSCC.

The first case I peered into, I saw this ---

NICE!!! Maybe one day,  after I win the lottery.

I strolled around for a few hours, soaking up as much as I could.  Looking at the smallest of dealers to the name brand corporate company booths.

Man, there are a lot of cards out there.  There is literally something for everyone, from the 10 cent boxes (lots of them) to the $$$$$$$$$, and everything in between.

Finally I made my first purchase ---

1958 Topps Yogi Berra

Its a little dirty, corners and edges are pretty decent, and color is great.  Can't believe this is my first Vintage Berra!

Than, at one of the many dollar boxes ----

I picked these up.
   Bowman Rookie card of Sano / 2017 Heritage Harper
  2014 Heritage purple refractor Giancarlo Stanton / 1975 Topps buyback Topps 75th stamped on it Rich Auerbach / 2011 Marquee Sandy Koufax


Added 2 to my '52 collection ---

Now I'm up to 12% complete!!!  (49 out of 407)  whoo hoo!!!

Than at Dave and Adams I purchased this ---

2015 Panini Elite 

These are the hits ---

Collegiate Elite Jacoby Ellsbury / Gold Stars Nelson Cruz / 21st Century 183/199 Matt Carpenter / All Star Salutes Paul Goldschmidt / Members Only game used material Brian McCann


The last purchase I made I will talk about in another entry.  Stay Tuned!!


Overall, I will grade my day a solid A.

Will I go again? ABSOLUTELY !!!!  Maybe the next time its back in Chicago, or if I'm really lucky, they might have it in Minneapolis, after 2020.
I would definitely due more than 1 day next time.   That way you can get a break from cards and do something different later in the afternoon, than go back the next day, for more cards and autographs.

If you ever get a chance to attend, do it.  Especially if you have kids that are in the hobby with you.  (Both of mine have stopped, for now. Wish I would have taken them when they were younger and collecting.)

One last item ---  REMEMBER -- Saturday August 12th is Topps National Trading Card Day, so get to your local card shop for free packs, if they participate in this event.
        click here to read more about it.


Keep On Collecting !!

Jeff

My First Time ...

Getting things ready for my first trip to




Have to get up early for my flight, so I can be there when the doors open.
Will spend as much time as I can in this massive area of sports memorabilia, mostly going for the experience.  Will do a little buying. (depending what I see)
Will not be able to stay till closing, because I have to get back to the airport in time for my flight home, so I know I will not see everything. ( will try though )

I will try to tweet my experiences of the day, so you can follow there.

Hope they take it easy on me.

Planning on the next National I attend, to maybe get a VIP pass, hotel room and go for more than one day.  Will see how this goes.

This is also HOF weekend.....

congrats to this years inductees   Jeff Bagwell / Tim Raines / Ivan Rodriguez / John Schuerholz / and Bud Selig.

Great Baseball Weekend !!!!

And my Royals are now back to 2 games out with the current win streak they are on.
Thought for sure after the first month, they would have been selling at this time instead of looking to make one last run, before they are all free agents.  GO ROYALS !!

KEEP ON COLLECTING !!

Jeff

42 - 70 Year Anniversary

Happy Jackie Robinson Day !!!!











Keep On Collecting !!

Jeff

Penny Sleeve contest ....

Jon over at  a Penny Sleeve for Your Thoughts is having a contest...

click    HERE TO ENTER


GOOD LUCK !!!!

Keep On Collecting !!
Jeff

1st Contest winner .....1989 Score cards ...

Thanks to those who commented on the   post.

Don Mattingly is the correct answer.

I put names in the randomizer and hit enter 5 times.

List Randomizer

There were 4 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Shane Kroeker
2. Mike Matson
3. The Turrdog
4. Daniel Wilson

Timestamp: 2017-03-05 21:42:35 UTC

You have randomized this list 5 times.

Shane --

     Please email me your address so I can mail the cards out to you.
(fasportscards@hotmail.com)

Once again, thanks for playing....

Keep On Collecting !!

Jeff

Some what of a live pack break...contest

Today I am doing an almost 30 year old single pack break.

Its a 1988 Score Baseball Pack.....The 88 Score set has 660 cards plus 56 Great Moments in Baseball trivia type cards...Approximately, after 110 cards they changed the border color -- purple / blue / red / green / and yellow...  the pack says photo quality..  and they were nice photos for back than (this was 1 year before Upper Deck started) .... Pack comes with 17 cards .... Here we go...

Card 1  

KC Royals    Willie Wilson  Card #102      --  nice action shot of ball meeting bat --
-----------------------

Card 2

Angels   "Wally World"   Wally Joyner     Card # 7
------------------------

Card 3

Yankees    HOF'er     Rickey Henderson     Card # 13
-------------------------

Card 4        Astros        Larry Andersen    Card # 133
Card 5        Tigers        Larry Herndon      Card #138
-------------------------

Card 6

Dodgers    Mike Marshall      Card # 135     -- better action shot of ball leaving bat --

---------------------------
Great Moments in Baseball  #3 of 56


Card 7        Expoos      Floyd Youmans     Card # 327
Card 8        Twins        Dan Gladden         Card # 324
--------------------------------

Card 9

Dodgers    Mariano Duncan   Card # 321
---------------------------

Card 10      Orioles      Jack O'Connor      Card # 434
-------------------------

Card 11

Dodgers    Phil Garner            Card # 431
-------------------------

Card 12      Pirates       Mike LaValliere    Card # 421
Card 13      Red Sox    Ellis Burks            Card # 472
Card 14      White Sox   Richard Dotson   Card # 480
Card 15      Twins        Frank Viola            Card # 475
Card 16      Red Sox    Jody Reed              Card # 625

Card 17    (Last Card)

Dodgers    Chris Gwynn         Card # 640    -  Tony's Brother -

Summary --  4 Dodgers / 2 Twins / 2 Red Sox    and   1 HOF'er

*******************************************************

CONTEST TIME  --  from the Great Moments in Baseball card --

  In 1956 Dale Long of the Pirates hit a home run in 8 consecutive games.

    --- In 1987,  who tied Dale's mark ??? ---- (try figuring out the answer before googling)

This feat was also tied again in 1993 by The Kid  -- Ken Griffey Jr

Only 20 players have hit home runs in at least 6 consecutive games in MLB history.

All who leave a comment with the correct answer, will be entered into the randomizer, and the winner will receive all the above 1988 Score cards.
Last day to comment will be March 4th 2017.

 Good Luck

Keep On Collecting !!

Jeff

That Time again .. Super Bowl Contest..

Collector's Crack ..

Almost the Easiest Super Bowl Contest on the Web 7 Official Sign Up post!!

Click the above to join in the fun !!!

GO PACK GO !!!!

Keep On Collecting !!

Jeff