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chrisoldsFiled under: Beckett Media, Collectibles, Memorabilia, Non-sport | Tags: Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson dies, Michael Jackson legacy, Michael Jackson memorabilia
Look, I’m a collector and I make no apologies about that. But as such, it’s my pastime to accumulate material mementos that remind me of those diversions about which I’m most passionate.
It occurred to me tonight – watching the myriad tributes to Michael Jackson and growing increasingly melancholy while doing it – that outside of a few old records, I don’t have any MJ in my collection.
Unless you count the memories. When it comes to those, I’m sitting on a treasure trove; a priceless vault full of crystal-clear recollections that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Filed under: Autographs, BSCM, Memorabilia, Non-sport, Topps | Tags: 1984 Topps Michael Jackson, Los Angeles Times, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson autographs, Michael Jackson dead, Michael Jackson memorabilia, non-sports cards, TMZ, Topps, trading cards
TMZ is reporting that “The King of Pop” Michael Jackson has died at age 50 of an apparent heart attack.
While he has obviously been remembered for his eccentric exploits the last decade or so, there’s no doubting his place in music history — from The Jackson Five to the Thriller days to Bad and beyond.
There will surely be a groundswell of interest in his memorabilia — despite all of the negative things that popped up regarding him away from the stage.
Jackson appeared on his own trading card set made by Topps in 1984 — a 132-card set issued in two series, 33 cards and 33 stickers apiece.
They’re plentiful, so they’re not all that valuable. Some dealers want less than $20 — but most no more than $50 — for an unopened box on eBay.
Topps also produced an oversized sticker set — 13 cards that are roughly 5×7s.
Jackson’s autographs are relatively pricey, with most dealers wanting $500 or so for a signed 8×10 photo — and upwards of $1,500 for those that are PSA/DNA certified. You can expect those types of items to be the most in demand in the future and those prices to rise, while his other memorabilia will generally see an increase in the volume of items sold as well.
Evening update: The Topps cards are seeing a ton of action, so that price range is now moot. And autograph photos are topping out at $2,000 and more.
Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
Filed under: Autographs, BSCM, Beckett Baseball, MLB, Memorabilia | Tags: baseball, breast cancer awareness, David Wright, Derek Jeter, game-used memorabilia, MLB, New York Mets, new york yankees, Pink baseball bats, Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The latest batch of game-used pink Mother’s Day bats have hit the auction block through MLB.com with the net proceeds from each and every auction benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.
Many MLB players used the pink bats during games on Mother’s Day this year to help raise awareness for breast cancer. Some of the bats are game-used, while others are merely game-issued (prepped for use) and some are merely autographed.
The unique items are a striking piece of game-used memorabilia that can be directly tied to the player’s use a particular certain date, unlike most game-used bats out on the market.
Bidding starts at $100 for some bats, $300 for most others, while the autographed game-used David Wright bat (above) has an opening bid of $550.
Right now, a Derek Jeter autographed pink bat (which does not appear to be game-used) is drawing the most attention at $430 after five bids.
See the full lineup of bats available on the block here.
Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
Filed under: BSCM, Beckett Baseball, MLB, Topps, Upper Deck | Tags: baseball cards, MLB, O-Pee-Chee, Topps, Topps vs. Upper Deck
So as part of the Topps vs. Upper Deck court battle over alleged misuse of vintage O-Pee-Chee designs, a judge has ordered Upper Deck to cease production and halt distribution of the cards and ruled that the company can’t market those cards.
While this case means plenty to Upper Deck and Topps, this decision shouldn’t mean much to collectors. Why? This isn’t 1989 – the presses stopped rolling some time ago. Halt distribution? Well, the newest product in question, 2009 O-Pee-Chee, has hit retail stores, so there’s plenty already out there.
Upper Deck has until July 16 to sell off its remaining inventory of the products in question, which likely means the entirety of the product gets into large distributors’ (or dealers’) hands faster than it normally would. (A move that could cost Upper Deck some money vs. a longer sales period.) Ok, then what? That probably will mean lower prices on the product as said dealers need to move the inventory to make room for something else.
How much advertising do you see card companies doing after a product’s release? It’s not as much as you might think — if any at all. There’s always another product, the next new thing, to promote –- despite there being fewer products than ever on the market for baseball collectors.
The designs in question are insert cards in 2009 Upper Deck Series 1 that emulate the 1975 O-Pee-Chee (and Topps) designs and hockey products that emulate the 1979-80 hockey design. (This design also was used as an insert in the new 2009 O-Pee-Chee baseball set.) Plans for 1971-inspired (above) and 1977-inspired O-Pee-Chee inserts in this year’s OPC set and in Upper Deck Series 2 were abandoned.
Should this ruling mean much to collectors? No. The cards are out there and will remain on the market. Had the move that Topps previously pursued — seeking the destruction of the cards in question and a temporary restraining order preventing some of the later products’ releases as well as a chunk of Upper Deck’s profits — been approved, it probably would matter more to collectors.
Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
