Collecting Sports Memorabilia Isn’t Just For Fans Anymore

Here’s a common question that many sports memorabilia collectors often ask: “Do the players themselves collect memorabilia too?"

Although most players are not full-fledged collectors, most players do enjoy taking home a few mementos to add to there personal collection. Things such as a player’s first hit or an award of sorts are things that most players typically hold onto long after there playing days are over. Because of the value of many of these items, some players will eventually sell off their rare pieces of memorabilia for financial reasons later in there life. Recently Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith decided it was time to sell several of his gold glove awards and World Series rings and will auction the items next month.

Baseball cards are another segment of the sports memorabilia market that a few players collect too. Recently, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brad Ziegler did a story with with Fox Sports Arizona about his collecting:

A few other player collectors are Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez and former Tigers 1^st baseman Dmitri Young. Young’s card collection was known as one the most impressive rookie card collection ever put together. Young recently sold his collection in order to raise money for his foundation.

Tired of Scribbles, Retired Players Preach the Importance of Legible Autographs

Andre Dawson is one former player
with a beautiful signature

Are signatures from today’s athletes getting too tough to read? Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt tends to think so, as he explains in this article for the associated press. For Schmidt, a player’s autograph should be well written as a way to show respect and better connect with the fans. He explains that because his signature is readable, it continues to hold its value way after his playing days. Schimdt isn’t the first Hall of Famer to speak out about this either. For several years Twins legend Harmon Killebrew had been an advocate of legible autographs. In this article from Fox Sports, writer Tyler Mason describes how Killebrew would make it a point to explain to young Twins players each year the importance of having a readable autograph. Twins players such as Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer have all embraced this and as a result have pretty decent signatures.

On the other end of things, Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Wakamatsu takes the idea of neat handwriting to another level. Before each game, Wakamatsu writes the lineup card for his manager John Farrell using a type of visual art known as calligraphy. Although it may seem a little over-the-top, Farrell likes that the line-up cards are legible for when he needs to make in-game changes.

Manny Machado: The Next Big Rookie of 2012?

In a surprise move last week, the Baltimore Orioles decided to call up top-prospect Manny Machado as they battle for their first playoff berth in 14 years. Although many fans seemed hesitant about rushing the 2010 first-round pick too fast, Machado has made a huge splash during his brief introduction to the majors; going 6 for 16 with 3 Home runs and 7 RBIs. Our own Cal Ripken Jr. recently sat down with Machado to discuss his transition from high-school to professional baseball.



During a baseball season that features the likes of rookie sensations 2012 Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, could Machado enter the superstar rookie conversation? I bet Orioles fan Adam Corder hopes so!

Corder was the lucky fan that happened to catch Machado’s first AND second home run balls on Friday. He was gracious enough to give Machado his first home run ball in return for several signed items that included a few Orioles signed hats, bats and baseballs!

Here is Corder showing off some of his new Machado memorabilia while he explains to WMAR-TV his lucky night:

 

Barry Larkin Joins the One-Team Hall of Fame Club

On Sunday Barry Larkin was immortalized as one of the best shortstops to ever play the game when he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. With 9 Silver Sluggers, 12 All-Star team selections, and an MVP award, Larkin proved to be a no-brainer to voters entering the Hall in only his second year on the ballot. Although the numbers are impressive, perhaps the most astounding thing about Larkin joining the Hall of Fame is that he is inducted having played for only one team in his career.

Ernie Banks is one of the few
to have played their entire career
with one team

Of the 297 players in the baseball Hall of Fame, only 48 of them managed to play their entire career with only one team. Larkin managed to do so despite playing during an era of free agency and salary arbitration that cause more team roster turnover than ever before. This week career Mariner and future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki was traded to the Yankees!

Who could be the next players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame after playing for only one team? It’s a short list that includes Craig Biggio, Chipper Jones, and Derek Jeter. Although with Jones and Jeter still active, you can never really be sure!

Here is a list of Hall of Famers who have played for only one team in their career:

Earle Combs	Ernie Banks	Jackie Robinson	Bid McPhee
Bill Dickey	Mike Schmidt	Carl Hubbell	Charlie Gehringer
Joe DiMaggio	Tony Gwynn	Travis Jackson	Al Kaline
Whitey Ford	Walter Johnson	Mel Ott	Bob Gibson
Lou Gehrig	Kirby Puckett	Bill Terry	Stan Musial
Mickey Mantle	Robin Yount	Ross Youngs	George Brett
Phil Rizzuto	Barry Larkin	Bobby Doerr	Willie Stargell
Roy Campanella	Jim Palmer	Jim Rice	Pie Traynor
Don Drysdale	Cal Ripken	Ted Williams	Bob Feller
Sandy Koufax	Brooks Robinson	Carl Yastrzemski	Addie Joss
Pee Wee Reese	Johnny Bench	Roberto Clemente	Bob Lemon
Ted Lyons	Red Faber	Bill Mazeroski	Luke Appling

Ironclad Spotlight - Rickey Henderson Autographed 8x10 w/ "1406 SB" Insc.

Save 19% This Week Only!

This week's Ironclad Spotlight Item is an 8x10 photograph signed and inscribed "1406 SB" by Hall of Famer and stolen base king Rickey Henderson. Nicknamed "The Man of Steal", Henderson is widely regarded as the best leadoff hitter and baserunner to ever play the game.

During a career that spanned over 24 seasons, Henderson was able to set several major league records, most notable his career stolen base title. Henderson's record 1,406 stolen bases are 468 more than Hall of Famer Lou Brock, who is second on the all-time list with 938. Other records Henderson holds are include runs scored, unintentional walks, and lead off home runs.

Currently Cinnicinati Red's Prospect Billy Hamilton has over 100 steals half-way through the minor league season. Could he be a second coming of Rickey Henderson?

Here is Hamilton hitting an inside the park home-run. He made it around the bases in under 14 seconds!

The Black Swamp Find

One of the greatest baseball card finds ever happened recently when a man from Defiance, Ohio was cleaning out his grandfathers attic. The cards, which have been named The Black Swamp Find, are early 1900's cards and are said to be worth around $3 million dollars! Of the 700 cards found, several are from the extremely rare E98 series which feature a number of Hall of Fame players such as Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, and Cy Young. The cards are going to be auctioned off by Heritage Auctions at this years National Sports Collectors Convention in Baltimore August 1st-5th. 

This ABC affiliate in Toledo, Ohio has the story:

13abc.com: Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Although Ironclad Authentics will not be submitting a bid for these cards, we will definitely be stopping by to check them out! I wonder how many other grandparents' attics will be "cleaned" after reading a story like this!

Ironclad Spotlight – Joe Mauer Autographed Baseball with “Well Played Mauer” Inscription

Save 30% This Week Only!

This week’s Ironclad Spotlight is a baseball signed by Twins 2012 All-Star catcher Joe Mauer with the inscription “Well Played Mauer”. Not familiar with the inscription? It’s from a series of commercials video game developer Sony created as a promotion for the video game, MLB: The Show.  The commercials feature hilarious situations in which Mauer squares off against a fictional VP of the PS3 Softball Team, Kevin Butler.

Soon after its release, the commercials went viral leading the catch phrase, “Well Played, Mauer” to become a well used phrase among Twins fans. Even announcers have been known to say it after Mauer makes a spectacular play behind the plate or drives in a few runs at the plate. For some behind the scenes details about the commercials, check out this interview Game Informer did with Mauer in 2010.

Ironclad Spotlight – Ron Guidry Autographed Baseball with “Gator” Inscription

25% Off This Week Only!

This week’s Ironclad Spotlight is an autographed baseball signed by former Yankee great Ron Guidry. Fans of Guidry may also know him by one of his two awesome nicknames, “Louisiana Lightning” or “Gator”, as is inscribed on this baseball.

Guidry was one of the most dominating pitchers of his time, winning 170 games in 14 seasons with Yankees. In 1978, Ron was awarded the American League Cy Young Award with a 25-3 record to go along with a league leading 1.73 ERA. It was during that season that he also set a Yankee record by striking out 18 batters on June 17^th, 1978. Guidry would go on to win two World Series titles with the Yankees on teams that would feature stars Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson. Guidry proved to be a big part of these postseason runs, going 4-0 in the playoffs.

Here’s a video of Guidry describing his historic 18 strikeout performance with YESNetwork.com:

Joe Mauer Game-Used 2009 Catchers Gear Up for Auction

Attention Joe Mauer fans! Now’s your chance to own a truly one-of-a-kind set of game-used memorabilia!

At this year’s All-Star FanFest in Kansas City, we will be teaming up with Hunt Auctions to auction off a set of Joe Mauer’s catchers gear that he used during his 2009 MVP season. The lot will include a game-used chest protector, a pair of shin guards, and a pair of cleats. In addition to these game-used items, the lot also features a Joe Mauer autographed professional model catcher’s glove! You can view this lot before heading to the auction visiting the Hunt Auctions website (Lot #348). Other notable items featured in this auction will be Harmon Killebrew’s 1969 Minnesota Twins Most Valuable Player trophy, a 1951 World Series Champion Yankees team signed baseball, and three Cy Young awards from Hall of Famer Jim Palmer!

The auction is set to begin at the All-Star FanFest on Tuesday, July 10^th at 10am. If you are unable to make it to the live auction, the auction is open NOW for online pre-bidding at www.huntauctions.com and will continue until Monday, July 9th at 6pm ET. High Bids & Ceiling Bids placed during the pre-bidding period will be executed competitively during the Live Auction. For more information on the auction and phone & absentee bidding please contact Hunt Auctions at 610.524.0822 or info@huntauctions.com.

Here are some additional pictures of the Mauer Catchers gear in the Auction:

Fan Gets Bryce Harper to Sign a Mickey Mantle Baseball

Fans have long compared Nationals phenom Bryce Harper to Yankee great Mickey Mantle, but this guy takes it to another level! This video from WHP-TV in Harrisburg has the story:



Although Harper is having an amazing start to his major league career, it's safe to say this is a very bold move from a collectors stand point!

UPDATE 6/22/12:

Here's a video of Ironclad's own Bill Ripken explaining the similarities of Harper and Mantle:

2012 National Sports Collectors Convention Autograph Lineup

Back in Baltimore for 2012, the National Sports Collectors Convention looks again to be the highlight of the summer for collectors. This years convention, which is happening August 1st -  5th, will include hundreds of vendors along with a series of autograph guests for sports fans and collectors to enjoy. Ironclad's own Cal Ripken Jr. heads this years lineup which includes various Hall of Famers and stars from throughout the sports world. Here is a listing of the current lineup. Please keep in mind that several others will probably be added as we get closer to the show!

Baseball:
Cal Ripken Jr.	Johnny Bench	Bob Gibson	Jim Bunning
Brooks Robinson	Pete Rose	Lou Brock	Phil Neikro
Jim Palmer	Joe Morgan	Ozzie Smith	John Smoltz
Frank Robinson	Tony Perez	Whitey Herzog	Rickey Henderson
Eddie Murray	George Foster	Bruce Sutter	Reggie Jackson
Earl Weaver	Dave Concepcion	Billy Williams	Goose Gossage
Rod Carew	Ken Griffey Sr.	Fergie Jenkins	Jim Rice
Ralph Kiner	Cesar Geronimo	Steve Carlton	Carlton Fisk
Robin Yount	Bill Mazeroski	Red Schoendienst	Barry Larkin
Tommy Lasorda	Gaylord Perry	Juan Marichal	Larry Sheets
Mike Hargrove
Football:
Bob Griese	Randy White	Barry Sanders	Rod Woodson
Jamal Lewis	Jack Youngblood	Ozzie Newsome	Gale Sayers
Steve Largent
Basketball:
John Havlicek	Gary Payton	Darryl Dawkins	Dominique Wilkins
Elvin Hayes	Wes Unseld	James Worthy
Hockey:
Alex Ovechkin	Gordie Howe
Boxing:
Buster Douglas	Roy Jones Jr.

To buy your autograph tickets for the show and for more information visit the National Sports Collectors Convention website at: http://www.nsccshow.com/

New Topps Cards to Feature the Hand Print of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.

As the baseball card industry continues to evolve, Topps Trading Cards has taken it to a new level by introducing this “Touched by Greatness” hand print card. Using a batting glove, sponge, and a little black ink, Cal helped to create a truly one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia! You can look for these “Touched by Greatness” cards in Topps 2012 Update Series.

Click the link below to see an exclusive behind the scenes video of Cal "Hand-Printing" these cards yesterday!

http://www.ironcladauthentics.com/info/Videos

2012 Orioles - Why Not?

One of the greatest surprises of the 2012 baseball season has been the Baltimore Orioles 24-14 record. Although it’s early in the season, it makes you start to wonder if this team could actually contend after 14 straight losing seasons.

Ironclad Authentics
Autographed Adam Jones Baseball

One of the main reasons for the team’s hot start is center fielder Adam Jones. Hitting in the middle of the Orioles lineup between Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters, Jones seems to be playing to his full potential. Jones currently leads the Birds in all major offensive categories and is among the league leaders in both Runs and Home runs

Another big part of the turnaround is the Orioles bullpen. Led by closer Jim Johnson and his league leading 13 saves, Johnson has finally given the Orioles the stability at the back end of the pen’ they desperately needed. Other additions such as Pedro Strop, Darren O’Day, and Luis Ayala have played major roles in getting the ball to Johnson in close games.

Many Orioles fans may remember a similar season in which the Orioles went from worst to first. The year was 1989 and the slogan was "Why Not?" For those of you who are not familiar with that season, check out the video posted below:

The World's Largest Baseball Collection

Here's a neat story I came across the other day. Dennis Schrader of St. Petersburg, Florida currently holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of autographed baseballs in the world! His collection is in currently in the process of becoming a new exhibit at the St. Petersburg Museum of History! Looks like Spring Training baseball fans will soon have a new stop on their Florida vacations!

You can Check out Dennis Schrader's website at http://www.littlecooperstown.com/

A Triple Crown Winner in 2012?

As history has shown us, one of the most difficult achievements in baseball is winning the Triple Crown. Since 1878 only 15 batters have won it, with the most recent winner being Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. Could 2012 be the year another hitter FINALLY takes the Triple Crown title? Well one month into the season, two of the game’s best hitters are off to great starts!

Ironclad Authentics
Matt Kemp Autographed 16x20

Coming into today Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers leads the American League in Homeruns, RBIs, and Batting AVG. Hamilton is also coming off a recent 4 HR game performance, in which he is only the 16^th player ever to do so in Major League history.

Matt Kemp of the Dodgers also has a great shot as he comes into today leading the NL in Homeruns and Batting Average. He only trials his teammate Andre Eithier by a few. The fact that Kemp has such a high on base percentage and that Eithier hits behind him, Kemp could be working against himself for the Triple Crown!

It’s only May and I know it may seem a bit premature to think that a Triple Crown could actually happen (I think back to the Votto/Pujols race from 2010 on this one), but its fun to think about. One thing’s for sure, these two players are putting on a showing that they are both legitimate MVP candidates. If one does come away with the Triple Crown, the question is what else could this lead to in their careers? Of the 15 Triple Crown winners, 13 are in the baseball Hall of Fame. If Cooperstown is the case for Hamilton and Kemp, memorabilia collectors who grab their items now will be happy they did!

Sports Propaganda Artwork Mixes Old Time Feel with Today’s Stars

One really unique item that’s new to Ironclad is this Joe Mauer Sports Propaganda Print that’s been signed by Twins All-Star Joe Mauer.

The print, which is limited edition of 200, is 17x21 and features Joe Mauer in his catching gear with the slogan “Always Ready”.  The artist of the piece, Chris Speakman, hand makes each of the screen prints making them extremely rare. The idea for the “Propaganda” style of artwork comes from inspiration of various war-like rivalries around sports as well as propaganda art from the 1940's. Chris also made some limited edition Cal Ripken Jr. pieces for us that are still available through our website, ironcladauthentics.com.

To check out more of Chris’s artwork, visit his website at www.sportspropaganda.com.

Joe Mauer – Ready for a Healthy Year of Baseball

Last week, Myself and the rest of the Ironclad staff had the opportunity to do a private signing with Twins catcher Joe Mauer. Joe was excited to sign for us as well as the several items that were sent in by his loyal fans. The items that were mailed in included baseballs, personal photos, bats, and jerseys. Joe was even able to sign and inscribe a pair of his game-used cleats for us that he wore during the 2007 season!

One thing that stands out from the signing was Joe’s overall excitement for the 2012 baseball season. Having already played in a few spring training games, he has yet to experience any set-backs health-wise and should be ready to go when opening day arrives! I expect a big year for Joe and hopefully that will result in a winning season in Minnesota!

Next up: A signing with the Ironman Cal Ripken Jr. and his brother and former double play partner, Bill Ripken

Team-Signed Memorabilia

When it comes to collecting autographed football memorabilia, kickers are typically not high on the priority list. Although the kicker may have made a pro-bowl or had the highest field goal percentage in the league, they typically aren’t coveted as much as a quarterback or wide receiver. The reason for this is easy; kickers aren’t popular. Same goes for a middle reliever in baseball. Although these players are important role players and essential to a team’s success, they are never going to be as popular as the quarterback or starting pitcher. However, this all changes once a team wins a championship. This is because of the popularity in team-signed sports memorabilia. Whenever a team wins a Super Bowl or Championship of some sort, memorabilia from that team often becomes extremely popular and valuable.

Ironclad Authentics
1970 World Series Champion
Team Signed 16x20 Photo

Acquiring all of the autographs for a team-signed item is often challenging for the collector. Today’s sports world is filled with free agency and trades, which have players switching teams constantly. After the Cardinals victory over the Rangers in the 2011 World Series, several key players, such as Albert Pujols and Edwin Jackson, have joined other teams. This makes it extremely difficult for collectors to find and collect all of the signatures needed to complete a World Series piece. This becomes even harder when players begin to retire and are out of baseball.

Occasionally, a collector’s show will have a reunion type show where they will bring in several members of a championship team. A good place to find these shows is www.mab-celebrity.com.

Although many will argue that collecting the signatures in person is more fun, the simplest way to acquire a team signed collectible is to buy one from a reputable memorabilia dealer. Although they are in most cases expensive, it guarantees you a piece of memorabilia that will only increase in value over time. Check out some of our team signed memorabilia at www.ironcladauthentics.com.

Holding a Piece of History

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to get in some game-used bats from Cal Ripken Jr.’s personal collection. This was the first time in a long time that Ironclad had gotten the opportunity to offer these bats to our customers. The age of each bat varied as they ranged from Cal’s entire career; from the early 80’s to the early 00’s.

Cal Ripken Jr. Game-Used Bat

One of the most interesting things about these game used bats were the differences with each bat. While each bat had cracks, checking and ball imprints, no two bats were the same. This made each bat making each bat a truly “one of a kind” collectable. For example, with Cal’s batting practice bats, Cal would tape the barrel in order to prevent checking and so that he could get more use out of each bat.  Another bat we received was a bat that Cal had used during the 2000-2001 seasons. The bat had a large crack going all the way through the handle, making it safe to assume Cal was jammed on an inside pitch at some point during these seasons.

It’s the specific use with each bat that makes them so special. After having the opportunity to see bats like these really makes you think about the best part about collecting memorabilia; the opportunity to own a piece of history.

A few Ripken game model bats still remain for purchase. Each bat comes with a COA from Ironclad Authentics that is signed by Cal himself. Check out www.ironcladauthentics.com or click the link below to view the entire collection.

http://www.ironcladauthentics.com/Game-Used-Product-Type-Baseball/b/3613835011

Getting it Signed - Public Signing

After covering private signings last week, I thought that it might be a good idea to go over public signings this week. Public signings are often done at trade shows, memorabilia stores, or conventions. These signings are often very popular because it gives collectors the rare opportunity to get an autograph from their favorite athlete in person. Many times the athlete is willing to take a picture with the collector as well, although this depends on the athlete and promoter.

One drawback to attending a public signing is the long lines you may have to wait in. If you want to get your item authenticated at the show, it often costs an additional fee and requires you to stand in another line. When getting the autograph for someone as a gift, it's often easier (and many times cheaper!) to checkout some authentic pre-signed autographs from a reputable dealer such as www.ironcladauthentics.com.

To find out about public signings happening in the future, a good web site to checkout is www.mab-celebrity.com. If you’re not in the area of any of these signings, mail-order is typically an option for most public signings.