2014 Phillies Holiday Sale Recap

Another year in the books... 2014 marks the 10th Phillies Holiday Sale I've attended - some good, some not so good.  This year's sale fell somewhere in the lower-middle.

The best way to describe the Holiday Sale is to use these three words/phrases: Game-Used, Autographs and Dead Stock.  With so much variety, I have established an approach for the sale: Find one "nice" addition to my collection.  This methodology has kept me from buying second-tier player jerseys or stretching for autographs several times.  Here are a few highlights...

Game Used

Last year I finally found a alternate home batting helmet, and this year I was lucky to come across a small group of 2009 game-used hats.  Most were no-names, but one home-alternate hat was inscribed "46" - linking it to Ryan Madson.  For $20, this was a no-brainer...

Like a lot of what I saw, the game-used base I bought base was likely pulled from deep in storage - dating to the mid-2000s before the Phillies starting using the MLB Authentication Program.  There are four script logo jewels (one on each side) on it, and writing on the bottom to instruct groundskeepers how to position it in relation to the other bases.  It's the first base in my collection...

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Autographs

As usual, the team rolled out an assortment of autographed balls, hats, bats and cards for sale.  I picked up a "starter-ball" with Roy Halladay, Ryan Madson and Joe Blanton for $40... Just need to go back and start filling in the rest.  I also bought a red hat autographed by Charlie Manuel and a couple packs of signed team photo cards for my son.  The photo cards are a great deal - $2 for five autographed cards, one of which is a "name" player.  The top-guys in my packs included Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth and Billy Wagner.

Dead Stock

There are also a lot of things that they just want to get rid of - turning into deals for fans.  $5 t-shirts and hats; $1 Media Publications (yearbooks, programs, media guides; photo card sets); and $10 bobble heads were just some of the good buys available this year.

For $10 collectors could get either the 2013 or 2014 Group Leader bobble head.  They also had the 2014 Stitch N' Pitch bobble head available for $10.  I only bought enough to cover my personal needs, but got a laugh seeing dealers wheel out cases of each for sale on eBay.  However, I got my glutton on with a pile of old programs, DVDs and photo cards...

Gotta Ask - Is This Collectible?

Who am I to judge, really?  After all, collecting memorabilia is not a one-size-fits-all kind of scenario.  But, the Phillies have offered a few pieces of memorabilia for sale over the past month that have really had me scratching my head and asking, "Is this really collectible, or just a marketing machine at work?"

For example, a recent online Phillies Authentics auction included a number of lots pertaining to fireballer Ken Giles' Major League Debut.  I like Giles and all, but despite his rise up the ranks this season, he has rarely been included in the team's top-ten prospects lists.  It reeks of the hype they spewed with Darin Ruf last Summer - regularly listing his game-used gear at prices comparable to those worn by Ryan Howard or Cliff Lee.  I'm all for prospecting, but the chances of him living up to a $700+ jersey value are pretty slim.

The same auction also listed a ball pitched to Jimmy Rollins during his record-breaking "hits" at-bat.  Not the ball he dumped into right field - instead, it was one he fouled off prior to the hit.  Is it any different than any other foul ball he ever hit? Not really.  But in the world where MLB Authentication puts a sticker on everything it's now meaningful (to someone).  

Finally, I especially take issue with the tactics the team employed to label boxes of programs as "Jimmy Rollins All-Time Hits Leader June 14, 2014."  Unlike when programs were printed for series', or way back when lineups were printed on scorecards daily, the Phillies are publishing their programs monthly this year - meaning this program is no different than those sold the day before or after.  All the sticker signifies is that it was first sold on June 14th.  Technically, hundreds of programs boxed in storage "were there" for the hit - wouldn't doubt if they slap a sticker on those June remnants and make them "collectible", too....

Perils of Game Used: Sharks are out to deceive!

I will stop short of indicting all game-used dealers of wrong doing - but, collectors need to be aware: Sharks swim in these waters!  

What's all this noise?  Well, see,  I woke up this morning to a tweet from a collecting newbie asking for advice on a "game-used" jersey he is considering buying. The tweet included a photo of the available garment: A 1977 Steve Carlton road jersey.  After a quick examination I could confidently advise him against plunking down a few thousand dollars for the jersey.

Here are a few of the problems:

1. White zipper.  The Phillies always used metal zippers.

2. Tail tagging.  

• Wilson tag used dates to the 1980s.
• Carlton wore a size 46 jersey during this period of his career

3. Collar tagging

• 1977 jerseys contained a silk collar lining with the embroidered name tag attached over it.

Photos of the authentic Carlton jersey are from greyflannelauctions.com

Tips for researching on your own:

• Use old cards or Google image searches to help find pictures of uniforms used in a given period.
• Subscribe to game-used forums such as "Game Used Universe" to discuss with experts.
• Refer to final results on online auction sites to find other comparable examples.
• Keep in mind, if the price is too good to be true...it probably is!

My Collecting Story: Collecting Jimmy Rollins (UPDATE)

I have been collecting memorabilia related to Jimmy Rollins since he broke onto the scene in September 2000.  I don't have a lot of disposable income, so I have to pick and choose my spots for buying things related to the shortstop.  The first part of my Rollins collection was documented in a post back in 2011 - but, there have been a few updates to share since then:

Game Used Hats

I like collecting game used hats because they are a relatively inexpensive and don't take up a lot of room.  I've been buying them here and there over the past 10 years, but just got my first Jimmy Rollins gamer, his 2012 red, last year.  I jumped at the chance to buy his 2013 hat a few weeks ago, and would like to add one from earlier in his career - at some point.

Game Used Jerseys

My collection of game used jerseys is nice.  No more, no less.  I don't have a lot of them, but decided to make a small investment and buy two Rollins.  My thought: I would rather have a few that mean something than a bunch of no-names that don't.  Like the hats I mentioned ealier, the jerseys date from the past two seasons - one away gray and one home alternate.  The away jersey must have been taken right off his back after the game, it is completely soiled from a head first slide.

Artwork

Not the most expensive item in my collection, this oil painting by Philly artist Lou Baker may be my favorite.  I have a few of Baker's works, including two of Mike Schmidt.  Guess I'm an amateur art collector, too... 

2013 Phillies Winter Sale Recap

Saturday was the annual Phillies Holiday Sale at Citizens Bank Park.  Billed as an "all-day shopping event", the Sale is good opportunity to buy some cheap holiday gifts.  I've been going with my brother since the Phillies moved to CBP in 2004, but from talking to some of the more senior collectors in line, it is a tradition that reaches back to the mid-1980s.

It was another less-than-desirable list of game used jersey options, but I didn't let that get me down.  Here is the quick rundown of my purchases:

Jim Thome Signed Photo Frame

Thought this was a cool item - plastic frame that is perfect to hold either the photo card I have in there now, or a 4"x6" photo.  On the bottom is an autograph in blue Sharpie.  From reading online, frames signed by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley were available later in the day.  Each were $5.

Placido Polanco Game-Used Alternate Helmet

I have a few red helmets, but for some reason, they never seem to put out the alternate ones.  For the past three years I have said, 'My day will be made if f I get an alternate helmet."  Well, needless to say, my day was made with this purchase.  It has a lot of evident game use, and unlike my red helmets, still has the padding intact.

Placido Polanco "Game-Used" TBTC Hat

No, I'm not some Placido Polanco super-fan, just someone who can't pass up a good deal.  This hat was from the Phillies 2011 Turn Back the Clock game when they dressed in 1984 style uniforms.  Though the MLB Authentication listing classifies this as game-used, P.P. did not play in the game - so, I'll call it "kinda game used."  It is also autographed.  For $20, it was a decent pickup...

Programs, etc.

Some of the best stuff available at the sale is found in the media room.  Here is the abbreviated version:

• Bought one of each 2013 program. For $1 each, this are a low-guilt purchase.  
• Autographed photo cards.  There was less variety (and notability) than in the selection offered last season - nothing too special to report.
• One of the more interesting things I got were the 12"x18" vinyl flags of various players (pictured left). Thought I would keep them as possible autograph pieces in the future.  $1 and $2 each.

"Cliff Lee"? Game Issued Shoes

When we go in for the Sale, my brother and I always remind each other to "look for the unusual."  Shoes fit squarely in that category.  This season there was a whole table full of 'em.  I leapt when the ballgirl reading through the numbers written on the shoes said, "33."  Authentication only specifies game issued -  so, no "official" link to Cliff Lee, but it's fun to imagine they were his, anyway...