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/