Add Mo’ne Davis & Kristaps Porzingis to the 2016 Topps First Pitch roster + gallery/checklist

mo'ne-davis-2016-ToppsContest >> Click here to win a box of 2016 Topps Series 1

A few more First Pitch cards from 2016 Topps Series 1 have begun to trickle out onto eBay in advance of the product’s official release on Wednesday and there’s another surprise among the celebs doing the ceremonial honors.

One of them is former Little League World Series star and 14-year-old Mo’ne Davis.

Davis became  first girl to earn a win and to pitch a shutout in Little League World Series history during the 2014 event capturing the hearts of many. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and became a household name.

Who else is among the surprises in the set?

Continue reading

Iconic Sports Illustrated covers can be quite collectable & sometimes quite valuable, too (gallery)

SIcoverWillSmithIf you’ve watched any NFL games this season, you’ve likely heard the word “concussion” many times as the league has implemented new tests on players to help prevent future problems by assessing the here and now immediately following a hard hit.

On Christmas Day, a film about the issue of concussions in football called Concussion opens in theaters. You’ve probably seen the commercials for the film during NFL games.

Will Smith stars as Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discovered the degenerative brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. It’s a real-life issue that has affected more than 80 former players — many you’ve seen on football cards and might have collected. The movie is an important one and Sports Illustrated has Smith on its cover this week to discuss the movie.

Is it the first time a celebrity has appeared on the cover of the highly collectable sports magazine?

Continue reading