Latest news with #memorabilia
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Countdown to The National is on, as bobblehead mania takes over MLB, plus NFL rookie cards to watch
Collectors, we are two weeks away from The National Sports Collectors Convention. I repeat. Two. Weeks. Away from The National. We haven't even caught our breath from Fanatics Fest, yet we're already counting down the days before The Hobby descends upon Rosemont, Il. for one of the very best weeks of the year. I've been fortunate enough to attend The National multiple times, and I'm pretty convinced that if a card or piece of memorabilia exists, you'll be able to find it on the show floor. We were curious what members of the Mantel community were planning to hunt for at The National this year, and Mike Metzler pulled out a few of our favorite 'In Search Ofs' for a fun read… Mantel: Can't Find It Anywhere Else? Try The National Sports Card Convention The National isn't just a convention… it's the collector's Hail Mary, the one place where impossible grails suddenly feel within reach. Whether it's a Harry Heilmann card tied to a family legend, a PSA 10 Hulk Hogan from the ultra-rare 2013 Upper Deck Employee set (only 125 made, with no Hogan 10s surfacing since 2020), or the elusive junior-year high school card of John Smoltz, this is where the hunt gets personal. It's not always about value; sometimes it's about closure, purpose, or just proving the card exists. Sports Collectors Digest: Sports Memorabilia Dealer Raided, Admits Scamming Collectors, Hobby in $350M Fraud and Forgery Scheme In a still developing story, one of the largest autograph forgery rings in hobby history has been exposed, with dealer Brett Lemieux, founder of 'Mister Mancave', publicly confessing to forging millions of sports memorabilia items over the past two decades. Authorities raided his Westfield, Indiana facility, seizing merchandise allegedly worth up to $700M. Lemieux has admitted to faking autographs, holograms, and even developing a signature machine to fool COAs, en route to selling more than $350M in fraudulent items. With connections to nearly every major athlete and authentication company, Lemieux's operation may eclipse even the infamous Operation Bullpen. And last night it was reported that a dead body was found at Lemieux's warehouse, though at press time no more details were confirmed. Collectors are now left wondering how many "authenticated" items in their stash are actually fakes, as the whole industry turns their attention to this sad, still developing story. FOS: Baseball's Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe Bobblehead mania is officially out of control, and incredibly collectible. Fans now show up hours before first pitch to stadiums across the country, braving summer heat and subway chaos for the chance to grab a limited-edition bobble, often reselling them for big profit before the game even gets underway. Designs have evolved beyond basic poses into creative collabs and cultural tributes (hello, Superman Judge and George Costanza Night), fueling a booming subculture and prompting the National Baseball Hall of Fame to dedicate an entire exhibit to them. Rising tariffs have jacked production costs, but between attendance bumps and eBay markups, teams are still all in. cllct: Mickey Mantle Jersey From 1960 All-Star Game Hits Auction Block A photo-matched, game-worn Mickey Mantle Yankees jersey inscribed 'No. 7' and authenticated across 13 images including the 1960 All-Star Game, is heading to auction at Heritage with a $4M estimate. Fresh to the hobby and unaltered (a rarity for gear from that era), the jersey was quietly acquired in the 1990s from a teammate's estate. It's been linked to multiple games across 1960 and 1961, including spring training and an exhibition with Roger Maris. If bidding meets expectations, it could join Mantle's elite memorabilia club, alongside his 1958 jersey ($4.68M) and a 2024 World Series gamer ($3M). IGN: Pokémon Card Shop in Japan Allegedly Robbed by Rival TCG Shop Owner Pokémon cards continue to be the ultimate high-stakes collectible, now doubling as bait for international heists. In the latest caper, a shop in Japan's Gifu Prefecture was hit for $92,000 in cash and cards, allegedly orchestrated with help from the manager of a rival card shop. It's the third arrest tied to the June 16 robbery, which involved a knife, a 3:30 a.m. break-in, and a flood of online outrage. Similar heists have struck Osaka, Melbourne, and Massachusetts, with six-figure losses becoming disturbingly common. Pikachu may not carry a wallet, but collectors clearly need safes. Mantel: Hidden Gems and Big Names: the NFL Rookie Cards to Watch in 2025 With 2025 Score Football hitting the market just in time for preseason hype, collectors are already placing bets on this year's NFL rookie class. Aside from the more obvious, early picks like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter, plenty of rookies are worth keeping an eye on, with cards currently trading at reasonable prices. Shedeur Sanders is a risky but intriguing QB play at $100. Further down, Tetairoa McMillan ($33), Tyler Warren ($35), and Matthew Golden ($45) offer solid value with potential upside. True bargain hunters may eye sleepers like Xavier Restrepo ($15), Tre Harris ($7.50), and Elic Ayomanor ($10), all of whom could be poised for big seasons. NYT: Would You Pay Nearly $9,000 for a Puzzle? Hand-cut wooden puzzles are having a luxury moment, with elite puzzlers shelling out thousands for bespoke, brain-twisting works of art. Companies like Elms, Stave, and Par craft these heirloom-quality pieces from fine hardwoods, often featuring irregular edges, no image references, and sculpted, whimsical pieces. Top-tier sets can hit $9,000 (or more for custom commissions), with some puzzlers spending over $500K to grow their collections. Meanwhile, micro-puzzle jeweler Lazels just dropped a $1,200 titanium puzzle the size of a cellphone, which sold out in only 12 minutes. Call it jigsaw couture: tactile, meditative, and wildly collectible. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Whitney Houston's Dresses Designed by Marc Bouwer and Bob Mackie Are Up for Auction
Julien's Auctions announced on Wednesday that The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation Auction will take place Aug. 11 in Los Angeles and online. The collection, now live on Julien's Auctions' official website, features a treasure trove of the iconic singer's costumes, performance pieces, memorabilia and more. 'Julien's Auctions is proud to partner with the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation for this very special auction,' said Giles Moon, vice president head of music for Julien's. 'Whitney Houston fans and collectors from around the world will have a rare opportunity to own incredible memorabilia and artifacts from important moments of her stellar career, while making a difference, with 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale benefiting the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation.' More from WWD Livvy Dunne Goes Sleeveless in Body-con Silvia Tcherassi Dress for 2025 MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show With Paul Skenes Megan Stalter Makes Dramatic Hair Statement With Meter-long Yellow Hair and Forehead Bangs on 'Stephen Colbert' Rihanna Embodies Futuristic Glamour With Alaïa's 'Fashion Donut' Skirt The auction will serve to generate support for The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation's initiatives, scholarships and services, which raise awareness and funds to support scholarships for young college students studying the arts at historically Black colleges and universities. Highlights from the forthcoming auction include Houston's casino-themed jacket, designed by Bob Mackie, featuring dice, card faces, and more, all crafted in Mackie's idiosyncratic style. Another piece featured in the collection is the Marc Bouwer-designed gold gown and coordinated turban Houston wore for her 1994 performance in South Africa. Aside from her wardrobe pieces, Houston's accessories also feature among auction items. A custom at-home slot machine is among the pieces in the collection, as well as a faux crocodile jewelry box. Two pairs of Dolce & Gabbana-designed shoes and a leopard print dress and matching coat are also up for auction. 'On behalf of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, we look forward to partnering with Julien's Auctions,' said Pat Houston, executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and the president of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation. 'For Whitney's 40th anniversary, we have some of her unique and one-of-a-kind items and garments that Whitney wore on stage and at various A-list events and at home. Gathering those items brought back so many memories. We look forward to previewing this year's collection with her supporters globally.' A Look Back at Billboard Music Awards Best Dressed Red Carpet Stars: Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Whitney Houston and More [PHOTOS] View Gallery Launch Gallery: A Look Back at Billboard Music Awards Best Dressed Red Carpet Stars: Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Whitney Houston and More [PHOTOS] Best of WWD How Geri Halliwell's Union Jack Dress Inspired a Generation of Pop Stars and Patriotism 23 of the World's Most Expensive Handbags: Jane Birkin's Original Hermès Bag, Chanel's Crocodile Skin Flap Bag and More Brands With the Power of the Purse 'Project Runway' Winners: Where Are They Now? Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Star Wars lightsaber could fetch £2 million at auction
Star Wars fans will soon have the chance to get their hands on memorabilia from the movie franchise, but if you are interested, it could set you back a cool £2 million. The Star Wars lightsaber used by super villain Darth Vader will go under the hammer for the first weapon, which was used in the 1980s films, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, will be going up for auction in prop, which is being sold by the auction house Propstore, is estimated to sell for a staggering $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 (£746,000 to £2,241,000). The famous lightsaber was used during the huge duels in both films between Darth Vader, played by David Prowse, and Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill."Genuine lightsaber props from the original trilogy are incredibly rare," Propstore said. "This is believed to be the only hero lightsaber prop with verifiable screen-use to ever be offered at public auction. It is one of the rarest and most sought after "grail" Star Wars props in existence."The lightsaber was made using the flash handle of a vintage British press camera. A wooden rod which was used as a blade during the choreographed fight scenes made the physical on-camera duelling also allowed visual effects artists to add in the famous glow for the final shots. "Nearly 50 years after the first Star Wars film, lightsabers are a universally recognised symbol of the world's most beloved film franchise and are consistently ranked as the most iconic and memorable props of all time," said Brandon Alinger who is the CEO at Propstore. "This lightsaber is simply everything you want it to be - one of the most significant Star Wars artefacts ever. One of the most significant cinema artefacts ever."The prop will go on tour and visit London, Beverly Hills and New York throughout August before the live auction takes place in Los Angeles this tour will also feature other famous film artefacts including Indiana Jones's bullwhip and belt, and Sauron's helmet from the Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Do you want the 50/50 cleats?': Where Shohei Ohtani's history-making Decoy cleats ended up
On September 19, 2024, Shohei Ohtani earned the first and only key to the historic 50/50 club. By going six-for-six with three home runs, two stolen bases, and 10 RBI, he achieved a season-long chase with one of the greatest single-game performances ever. Naturally, every item tied to this historic achievement instantly became a desirable piece of memorabilia. Before the game was over, the MLB authenticator was sorting through all of Ohtani's equipment in the Los Angeles Dodgers' dugout, cataloging items that had suddenly shot up in value. Advertisement Soon after that, a variety of items from the game were shipped off to various places. Ohtani's game-worn pants and batting gloves went to Topps, where they were cut up and put into valuable trading cards. The MLB logo patch from those pants was incorporated into a one-of-a-kind, autographed card that was pulled and then sold for slightly over $1 million, setting a record for an Ohtani card. The 50th home run ball was the subject of multiple lawsuits between fans who claimed to be the rightful owner of it before it was auctioned off for a record-setting $4.392 million. The Marlins' lineup card from the game sold for nearly $22,000. First base sold for more than $25,000, and third base sold for $91,522. Despite speculation at the time that key items would soon go to the Baseball Hall of Fame, it says it has yet to receive anything from that game to display. Several key items from that night went unaccounted for after going through the authentication process, though: Ohtani's bat, jersey, and the most distinctive pieces of equipment of all, his custom cleats featuring his dog Decoy. Ohtani's love for dogs dates back to when he was in first grade, and he asked his parents for one. The family welcomed a golden retriever with the perfect name for a dog belonging to a future two-way star: Ace. Fast forward to when Ohtani was announced as the unanimous winner of the American League MVP award in 2023 with a puppy sitting on his lap. It resulted in unplanned fame for the furry companion whose name was being withheld at the time, and Topps released a trading card celebrating both the AL MVP and his 'Most Valuable Puppy.' Fans spun theories about the Kooikerhondje's name as Ohtani embarked on his free agent tour. It wasn't until Ohtani signed his decade-long deal with the Dodgers that it was finally revealed: Decoy Ohtani, known in Japanese as Dekopin. All the Decoy love gave New Balance the idea to create cleats bearing his image for Ohtani in time for Players Weekend in mid-August. Advertisement Weeks later, Decoy delivered a ceremonial first pitch the night the Dodgers gave away a wildly popular bobblehead of Ohtani and his dog. Naturally, Ohtani wore the Decoy cleats again that night, as he went on to hit a home run and steal two bases. 'Shohei was on a historic run, and we were trying not to be disruptive, but we talked about doing something quickly with Decoy, so we worked with an artist who does work with us and across the league,' said Evan Zeder, Director of Global Sports Marketing for Baseball with New Balance. New Balance tasked Miami-based sneaker artist Marcus Rivero 'to do something fun with Decoy and Ohtani,' Zeder recalled. Rivero has created custom designs worn by top athletes in the NFL, NBA, and MLB ranging from Dwyane Wade and Bryce Harper to Drew Brees and Tom Brady. After what Ohtani did while wearing those cleats on Sept. 19, they went from 'something fun' to something historic. But following the 50/50 game, no one knew what became of the cleats. New Balance says he never wore that pair of Decoy cleats again, and a different pair was provided for him to wear during the Dodgers' championship run.. Shohei rocking the Decoy cleats 🐶🫶 — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 14, 2024 Months later, the New Balance team was planning for the Tokyo Series that would kick off the 2025 season with the Dodgers facing the Cubs. New Balance's team went to visit Ohtani in Arizona at the end of February to discuss plans around the series when Ohtani surprised them with a question: 'Do you want the 50/50 cleats?' 'If you want them, and you want to show them at the activation (in Tokyo), you can take them,' Ohtani said, according to Zeder. New Balance hosted an Ohtani pop-up shop in Shibuya, Tokyo from March 15-23 that included Ohtani's Signature Collection, and other exclusive products. But before it came to life, there was an exhaustive process to preserve the cleats and get them safely to Tokyo. Advertisement Enter Eva Grizzard, New Balance's resident archivist. Grizzard got her start with the U.S. military, doing preservation work with rare books and films. It was her interest in 'how people interacted with objects, and how we view them' that drove her into this line of work. 'The product is lived in, worn well, and it comes back to us with stories to tell,' Grizzard said of the Decoy cleats. 'You'll see dirt on them, things are torn, and that's okay, it's all part of the story,' This led to funny conversations on preserving the clods of red dirt embedded in the cleats. Grizzard leaned on her conversations with the staff at the Baseball Hall of Fame. She had questions specifically about preserving the deterioration of the tongue on the cleat. 'Knowing the cleats are game worn, they have grass stuck in them, or something is worn off, scratched, this is what makes them authentic and real,' Grizzard said. Grizzard recalled receiving the cleats at 11 at night in Shibuya. She then transported them in a cross-body bag to their destination. 'There were people everywhere, and I came into this space and it looks very post-apocalyptic (since construction was still ongoing). And then the hush settles, I put the shoes down on the table and open them up,' Grizzard said. The display, closely guarded by security, became a focal point in the pop-up shop that drew in over 70,000 fans off a busy street in Tokyo. 'This is like a national pride attachment to a historical event; everywhere you look in Tokyo is Shohei's face, but to have this personal experience, it was amazing, it was emotional at that point,' Gizzard said. The theatrical ambience began with a butler welcoming people into a dark room to pick up their keys, a reference to Ohtani being welcomed in as the only member of the 50/50 club. The Tokyo pop-up was constructed to be a private club where attendees were given an intimate audience with the cleats.. Advertisement 'An older Japanese gentleman walks in, kind of looks, and we've got the keys up on there, and then he gets to it and starts crying,' Zeder said. Ohtani understood the importance of what he accomplished. His pride in his country, to come back as a World Series champion, having this historic season, and letting it resonate with his fans. 'That touches someone on a level, and that's why Shohei did it, it's him opening himself up to his fans,' Zeder said. Following the exhibit, the cleats returned home to Ohtani, where the biggest threat to their preservation just might be Decoy gnawing on them himself. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Star Wars devotee brings collection to Lynn Museum
An avid enthusiast's beloved collection of Star Wars memorabilia is to go on show in a than 300 figurines, posters and toys from the original Star Wars trilogy will make up the "May the Toys be with You" exhibition at Lynn Museum, in King's Lynn, Norfolk, on 15 Matt Fox said he believed his collection could be worth £150,000."Back in the 1970s and 80s movie posters were painted just like a traditional artwork - and I really think they are as valuable as any artworks that we might enjoy at a museum or gallery space," he said. He told the BBC it was wonderful to be able to share his collection with fans old and new. Mr Fox said the first Star Wars toy he ever owned would remain very special to him. "I would say my favourite is Darth Vader, the Dark Lord himself. I know he is a baddie and I shouldn't really say that - but he is," he said."There is an old saying that collecting is a sickness and sharing it is the only cure." Posters from the original trilogy are also on display. Dayna Woolbright, the curator at Lynn Museum, said she believed many Star Wars toys held as much value as the fine art works and ancient items they usually have on display."There's something for everyone here at Lynn Museum," she said."We try and have a very varied programme and have had many more traditional exhibitions. "This is a chance to attract a different group of people who may not have been in to see us before." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
