Hammerin' Hank......Baseball Card Ambassador

Whether or not you grew up in the era when they played, I hope you have educated your children on some of the baseball greats of generations before us.  Unfortunately, sometimes it takes the passing of these legends before they are fully appreciated.  Fortunately, one of those who is still with us has given the baseball card hobby a huge boost over the past week on behalf of the Topps 60th Anniversary celebration.  Here is an excellent podcast interview AND a segment from Wednesday's Late Show With David Letterman featuring the man who remains the Home Run King in the minds of many fans.........

Podcast: Hank Aaron talks baseball cards, home runs and Jeter

 

 

If you're looking to the card shop to send your kid to college......

The Stephen Strasburg example provides the textbook case of how sports cards as an investment are no safer in the long term than anything else you could sink your money into.  If investing in cards provide a better alternative than just taking your life savings and putting it all on one spin of the roulette wheel in Vegas, here's one player recommended as a target to put your money in.  An eBay search of the cards mentioned in the article indicates they can still be had for a song.......as low as 35 cents in one case (plus a rather exorbitant shipping charge for 2 baseball cards).  Then there's this one, which will cost you a little more. 

Clayton Kershaw's Los Angeles Dodgers rookie trading cards starting to pick up investment steam

Just for pocket money?

You have to hand it to Kirk Gibson.  He's nothing if not benevolent.  Following the Bill Gates/Warren Buffett model of what to do with one's fortune, he is auctioning his massive memorabilia collection to beef up funding for his charitable foundation.  We're talking EVERYTHING.....his 1988 World Series MVP plaque, the helmet he wore in that memorable Game 1, his jersey, and most importantly, the bat he used to hit that unforgettable hom..........wait, what?  He's keeping the money generated by the sale of the bat, expected to approach Babe Ruth-like proportions, FOR HIMSELF, you say?  A guy that made around $16 million during his playing career?  Hmmmmmm.........

Kirk Gibson 'at peace' parting with treasures