Notes: Costacos, Topps Teaming Up; PSA Update; Fisk Ball to Fractional; Auction News
Remember those Costacos Brothers posters from the 1980s and 90s? The west coast company created a smash hit by creating some unique designs that helped turn athletes into pop culture icons. Over 30 million of them were sold from 1986-96. Now, the company is taking on a new venture that will connect fans with players and raise money for their favorite causes.
The Costacos Collection is partnering with Topps along with former stars Warren Moon, Troy Aikman, Pudge Rodriguez, Jim McMahon, Roger Clemens, Will Clark, and others to be announced in the coming weeks. The posters will be reimagined in digital form and the company is also creating new art as NFTs.
The company says it will “use the blockchain medium to help the world’s greatest athletes capture their most significant moments, tell their most meaningful stories, and create new digital experiences to connect with fan communities.” Games, raffles and giveaways will be part of the program.
Topps will “draw on content from its vast historical archives and working with Costacos to create new content with Topps’ current-athlete partners,” according to a news release.
PSA entered over 33,000 cards into its Population Report on Tuesday. Nearly 10,000 of the newly graded cards were basketball and over 7,500 were baseball according to GemRate.com.
The company is again on pace to examine over 700,000 cards this month but remains closed for all but the highest service level tiers as it continues to work through its multi-million card backlog.
Thursday marked the 46th anniversary of Carlton Fisk’s famous foul pole hugging homer that won what’s still considered one of the best World Series games of all time. The Game 6 victory didn’t result in a championship as the Cincinnati Reds took Game 7, but the 12th inning homer punctuated by Fisk waving his arms in hopes of willing it to remain fair is still one of baseball’s signature moments.
The ball was picked up by Reds left fielder George Foster and went up for auction a few years ago. Long-time collector and broadcaster Keith Olbermann bought it but announced Thursday morning he’s going to sell it through Collectable as a fundraiser to help homeless dogs.
Tonight’s the 46th anniversary of Carlton Fisk’s famous “Stay Fair!” 12th inning homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series…
I’m selling the baseball Fisk smacked off the Fenway Foul Pole!
And thanks to @CollectableApp, YOU can become one of the new owners! pic.twitter.com/zOhhDZF0MZ
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) October 21, 2021
Ever see an original 1960s Topps Venezuelan album (with a bunch of cards pasted in by the original owner?). Here you go.
A Summer League jersey worn by number 2 overall pick Jalen Green is now on the block through NBA Auctions. It’s his first professional jersey to reach the marketplace.
Green wore the jersey during the Houston Rockets’ 111-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on August 10 in Las Vegas. He played 29 minutes and registered 25 points with 3 assists, 5 rebounds and a steal.
It’s one of nearly 60 jerseys worn by 2021 draft picks and others who participated in the NBA Summer League in August that are now up for auction. A jersey worn by top overall pick Cade Cunningham of the Pistons is closing at auction next week.
Hunt Auctions has set the date for the auction of Bill Russell’s personal collection that was announced earlier this year. It’ll take place on Friday, December 10th at TD Garden in Boston with internet, phone and in person bidding.
Lelands says its Fall Classic Auction—the company’s last event of 2021–will start start November 14. Bidding will close December 11.
