A new baseball season is nearly here with the first spring training games set to air later this month and that’s when we’ll see the newest players on their new teams.
And many of them will be wearing new uniforms — well, at least new caps.
Kansas City Royals
Buzz Poll: Looking back in time, which Bo did you prefer to know?
Bo was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s as a college football star, a professional baseball and football star and a marketing star. Everybody knew his name and they still know why.
And then suddenly one day it was gone.
Sure, Vincent Edward Jackson played some baseball after his final NFL game — that hip injury was 26 years ago tomorrow — but he was never the same. And in an interview today he had a different take on his career.
“If I knew back then what I know now,” he told USA TODAY Sports, “I would have never played football. Never. I wish I had known about all of those head injuries, but no one knew that. And the people that did know that, they wouldn’t tell anybody.”
His career as a pro — in both sports — lasted less than a decade but he’s easily one of the biggest icons of his time. It’s a story worth checking out if you missed it and it’s worth revisiting if you didn’t.
Here, though, we simply have one bit of curiosity presented below.
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Kansas City Royals’ Rally Mantis finally gets a baseball card
It’s been bugging many of us for a while this season, but it’s given the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals something to rally behind.
It’s the Rally Mantis and today, for 24 hours only, it gets a baseball card.
Game-used dirt watches? Why not …
It seems dirt is everywhere you look if you’re a baseball collector shopping the game-used sections of websites and MLB Auctions.
You can buy game-used baseballs that were a pitch in the dirt. You can buy dirt holiday ornaments and dirt keychains. You can buy simple vials of dirt with labels noting the stadium. You can buy dirt coasters. You can buy framed game-used displays that include a dirt capsule along with other pieces. You can buy simpler (and cheaper) no-frills items that showcase dirt. The best pieces, of course, are dirt-covered game-used uniforms.
But that’s not all — at least if you’re a fan of two teams. It’s time for something really different there.
In the Now: 2016 Topps Now baseball cards changing game (checklist & ongoing gallery)
Topps‘ new program creating real baseball cards in real time documenting the highlights of the here and now have caught on with some collectors as this season has begun with some historic starts and impressive debuts for MLB rookies.
It’s 2016 Topps Now and the cards are only available for a 24-hour window. After that, the population reports are released and the next day’s cards are unveiled — all in made-to-order, real-time fashion.
Kenta Maeda autographs coming in 2016 Topps Tribute
Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Kenta Maeda will be among the notable inclusions when 2016 Topps Tribute baseball cards arrive on July 13.
He was a star in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball with a triple crown, two nods as the top pitcher in the league and five All-Star nods.
But he won’t be the only rookie signing on for the brand.
It’s a dirty job, but MLB will do it …
It’s a dirty job, but MLB‘s got to do it.
Fans of World Series teams and All-Star Game hosts in recent years can remember their big events with game-used dirt jars that can be found via buy-it-now listings MLB Auctions.
Sure, they are novelty items — but for casual collectors these small items will stand out as something both unique and affordable.
Glenn Hubbard’s famed 1984 Fleer card inspires bobblehead promotion
It’s one of the weirdest baseball card ever made for a long-time player who’s ultimately common-bin material, but it’s the inspiration for a minor-league bobblehead giveaway coming this summer.
It’s the 1984 Fleer Glenn Hubbard, No. 182 in the set, and it’s been getting big-league attention among the Intentional Talk crowd and goofy pre-spring headlines.
International signees will get their own insert sets in 2016 Bowman
International free agents are always intensely watched as the players from outside of the United States can sign at younger ages to get a quicker start on their MLB dreams.
In 2016 Bowman (click here to see our First Buzz), they’ll get their own insert set as well as an autographed version — both sets will be dubbed International Ink.
Topps’ final World Series releases recap moments & Royals’ title
Fans of the Kansas City Royals and their successful run to the World Series have two more options from Topps as the company has released an oversized set for the team and re-issued all of its Postseason Moments wall art in one smaller set.
Topps commemorates Royals’ 2015 World Series championship in a day
With the final out of the 2015 World Series coming less than 24 hours ago, Topps has 12 more postseason prints available to collectors commemorating the Greatest Moments of this fall.
Whether you’re a fan of the world champion Kansas City Royals and their cast of young stars or the runner-up New York Mets and their powerful young arms, there are options for you. There are six prints — six Silvers limited to just 25 serial-numbered copies for $34.99 and six 1/1 Golds that are $199.
Buzz Poll: Which Kansas City Royal gets your baseball card cash?
Will Eric Hosmer’s hustle lead to hobby gold? + 5 more Royals to know
The Kansas City Royals are your World Series champions with a cast of younger veteran players who have all-around skills but perhaps not one overall superstar who is a hobby darling.
But thanks to Eric Hosmer‘s hustle on a ground ball in the ninth to tie it and a five-run rally in the 12th, the Royals wear the crown this year in MLB.
Hosmer has arguably the most potential in the hobby with a good amount of 2008 USA Baseball and other prospect cards predating his MLB card arrivals in 2011. Overall, he has more than 1,500 unique cards and more than 300 certified autographs for collectors to chase. They’re not overly plentiful like some stars from that timeframe, but they are out there. If you can’t land some of his USA ink, look for the affordable autos in 2008 Razor Signature Series. He’s there because he was a Razor exclusive before his Topps autos arrived in 2011.
Keep reading for five more Royals to know.
MLB Auctions & Topps already offering 2015 World Series items (updated)
Update (Nov. 8): Alcides Escobar’s home run ball sold for $19,200.
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If you’re a collector of the Kansas City Royals or New York Mets, there are already a number of options for collecting the 2015 World Series just two games into the showdown.
That’s thanks to Topps and MLB Auctions.
From Topps there are already commemorative prints showcasing plays from the first two games as part of its ongoing Postseason Moments wall art line. From MLB Auctions, there are game-used items already on the auction block.
Buzz List: Players to watch in this year’s World Series
With the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets squaring off in Game 1 of the World Series tonight, there’s plenty of collecting potential for both squads
Why? While there are some young stars and veterans who were once much higher on the radar of collectors in the past, there isn’t one unquestioned hobby power player in the group. You know, one guy whose cardboard will be on the minds of everyone with a championship in hand.
Instead, there are a few players with big potential here … so it’s time for a Buzz List.
Topps readies 2015 World Series baseball card sets for champions
Update: Topps canceled this set following the Royals’ victory.
The 2015 World Series lineup isn’t set yet, but the details of the world champions’ commemorative baseball card set from Topps are here.
Whether it’s the New York Mets against the Kansas City Royals or the Toronto Blue Jays, the champs set will include 40 World Series-branded baseball cards with 15 highlights from the team’s postseason run. Atop that, there will be cards for 25 key players on the team as well as cards for the Championship Series and World Series MVPs from the team.
Each case of these will include 16 sets.
>>> Click here to pre-order sets on BlowoutCards.com once a link is available
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