Top 10 Pickups of 2012

Another year has come and gone, but 2012 was my first "card-free" year so to speak. Outside of some non-sport wrestling autographs, I might have only bought 3 or 4 sports cards in 2012. I sold off a huge chunk of my collection and was able to enhance my game used/autograph collection like I'd never imagine. Here are my top 10 pickups of 2012.

#10 Frank Thomas Game Used Bat

One of my first purchases in 2012, growing up "The Big Hurt" and Ken Griffey Jr were my two favorite baseball players. I won this on Mears December 30th auction 2011 auction, but it didn't come in until 2012.

#9 Evan Longoria 2011 Autographed Game Used Jersey (MLB Authenticated)

I think this was an underrated purchase as Longoria has a bright future ahead of him. He's already had an impressive start to his career as a 3 time all star and Rookie of the Year. This is a game used autographed jersey that is also MLB Authenticated. Can't get any better than that. I won this in Heritage Auction's October Premier Auction.

#8 Chris Paul 08-09 Game Used Jersey (NBA Live Europe Tour) (Meigray Certified)

 

The only reason this isn't higher it's actually a game used preseason jersey, so it loses a little luster. The unique thing about it though is it's from the NBA Europe Tour so it has unique patches that set it aside from regular game used jerseys. It's still a gamer from one of the best point guards in the game today.

#7 Ken Griffey Jr. Autographed Game Used Bat

Ken Griffey Jr. is my favorite baseball player of all time. Earlier in the year I also bought a game used autographed cap in a Mears Auction, but I really wanted a game used bat or jersey. Finally in October I got one my wishes. This is a 1999 autographed game used bat used by Griffey that I won off of Paragon Auctions October auction. It comes with his own personal LOA and also a PSA/DNA LOA grading the bat an 8. Maybe in 2013, I'll add a game used jersey to complete the trifecta.

#6 Pete Maravich Autographed Check (PSA/DNA Certified)

This is where it gets super tough. Maravich is undoubtedly a very tough sig to get and to have his own personal check is pretty awesome. Not only PSA/DNA certified but also came with a LOA from Pete's wife Jackie. As far as B-Ball Autographs go, it's very hard to argue that there is any better than Pistol Pete.

#5 Roberto Clemente Historic Autographs Cut Signature (PSA/DNA Certified)

 Add this to the list of autographs I thought I'd never ever own in a million years. Again, it's very hard to chose which is better, and it's really nitpicking. Is #5 too low for a Clemente cut? Maybe, but I have reasons for it only placing 5th.

#4 Wilt Chamberlain/Bill Russell Dual Autograph Framed Photo (PSA/DNA Certified)

  Two reasons this makes it over the Maravich and Clemente. 1)It's a nice display piece, it actually features images of the athletes unlike a check or cut and 2)Two Hall of Famers, and one of the biggest rivalries in NBA History. This is a beautiful piece that I won off SCP Auctions during the year. Chamberlain and Russell, together. Just an amazing piece of NBA History. 

#3 Jason Kidd 11-12 Game Used Jersey (Meigray Certified)

 Just added it Christmas Day, and it's already a top 3 pickup of the year and how can't it be. It's a game used jersey of one the greatest point guards in NBA History. For me, Game Used will always trump autographs. Meigray certified of course. It was a great way to end the year with this pick up.

#2 11-12 Carmelo Anthony Game Used Jersey (Meigray Certified)

 This was a late November addition as Meigray was having their annual Holiday Sale and I decided why not add a Melo Knicks Game Used Jersey to my collection! This was worn February 3rd, 2012 against the Celtics and Melo had 26 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds in the 2 point loss. The way Melo's been playing this year makes this purchase even better.

#1 Kevin Durant 11-12 Game Used Jersey (Meigray Certified)

And the no brainer #1 is the crown jewel of my entire collection. A Kevin Durant game used jersey that is Meigray Certified! Durant had a monster game while wearing this jersey scoring 37 points and grabbing 14 rebounds on January 27th against the Warriors!

As you can see 2012 will be very hard to top. This list doesn't even include honorable mentions like a Kobe Bryant "Black Mamba" Autographed Ball, A Kevin Durant "Durantula" Autographed Ball both Panini Certified. Game Used Bats of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder and much much more. I can only hope 2013 brings just as much good fortune!   

Guess I Was Good This Year: 11-12 Jason Kidd Mavs Game Used Road Jersey

Ever since I started getting into Game Used Memorabilia it's almost become a Christmas tradition that my parents get me a jersey from Meigray to add to my collection. The first year it started was with Dirk, last year was LaMarcus Aldridge, and this year, sure fire hall of famer and one the best point guards in NBA History Jason Kidd. It's so cool to own a jersey used by one of the greats. That's why I gravitated towards this hobby. Game Used cards were cool, it brought you closer to the players, but whole game used items? Museum like stuff in my view. Meigray is my favorite outlet for Game Used NBA Stuff because they are official supplier of game used stuff and the jersey is game dated. This jersey Kidd wore against the Lakers on January 16th. Here some additional pics of my newest addition!

It's All About The Game And How You Play It!

I guess I'm still on my wrestling kick, as I've added a ton of Leaf Originals Autographs and also the Stone Cold Autographed Plaque. Today, I got in my Triple H Autographed Plaque. It's basically like the Stone Cold one, as it's from the WWE and has their certificate of authenticity. It's limited to 500 pieces and Triple H autos are pretty hard to find so I couldn't pass up a chance at "The Game"'s autograph. Still would like to add autographs of the Undertaker, Bret Hart, and The Rock before it's all said and done. Here a couple more pics.

 

And That's The Bottom Line Cause Stone Cold Said So!

As you know if you read my blog I'm a HUGE wrestling fan, have been since I was a little kid. There was no bigger star in the late 90's than Stone Cold Steve Austin. Who would've though that the guy formerly known as WCW midcarder "Stunning" Steve Austin would become a beer drinking, middle finger flipping, swearing bad ass who would revolutionize wrestling and become one of most iconic wrestlers in WWF history. This is an autographed photo/canvas piece commemorating Austin's first WWF Championship at Wrestlemania XV. It not only contains a nice bold Stone Cold Autograph it has a piece of the canvas used that night in Philadelphia, PA. It comes from the WWE and has a COA from the WWE.  Here are some more pics!

Game Used Greatness: 11-12 Carmelo Anthony Game Used Knicks Jersey

It's that time again for me. Next week is my birthday, and since I got Christmas and my Birthday in the same month, I usually decide to buy me something as a little early present. I decided on a Carmelo Anthony Game Used jersey from Meigray. He wore this jersey on February 3rd, 2012 against the Celtics. The Knicks lost by 2, but Carmelo put up 26 points, 6 assists, and 3 boards in the game. I've always loved the Knicks Road jerseys, so this is an awesome addition to the collection! Here are the pics!

 

   

  

This Week's Mailday: More Wrestling Greatness

I picked up 11 more autographs from Leaf's Wrestling Originals Set. Here they are

Gotta start up with some Attitude era stars like Ken Shamrock and Vader. Vader was an awesome super heavyweight and he didn't even look half bad when the WWE brought him in for a one shot match against Health Slater while they were bringing back legends leading up to Raw 1000. Shamrock was of course "The World's Most Dangerous Man" and had a good IC Title level run and a memorable feud with the Rock. Lex Luger was a big star in the mid to late 80s and 90's. "The Total Package" biggest success came in WCW where he was a multi time Heavyweight Champion. Bruno Sammartino is a wrestling pioneer for the WWE. He held the title on two occasion, but held it for a combined 11 years. In this era, no one will ever come close to Bruno's longevity record. It's too bad he had a falling out with the WWE in the 80's. The Sammartino card is the gold parallel version # to 50 (mine is 20). Despite his personal demons, Jake Roberts was not only a hell of a worker, but hell of a promo as well. One of the best talkers in wrestling history, he really knew how to rile opponents and fans alike, weather as a good guy or a sadistic heel. I always get mad the modern day WWE treats the DDT like a transition move, because when Jake used it, it looked devastating, and it was lights out for his opponent. Cowboy Bob Orton is much more than Randy Orton's father. He was a big time heel in the mid 80's along with Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. He always had that mysterious broken arm, that never seemed to heal. By the time I got into wrestling in the early 90's, Tito Santana was basically enhancement talent, but he was great worker and big time player in the 80's as a former intercontinental and tag team champion. Hillbilly Jim was just a guy I remember shilling WWF Videos when I was kid, but he came in to the WWF with big fanfare and was a close friend of Hulk Hogan. 

Not only was Scott Steiner part of one of the successful and popular tag teams in wrestling history with his brother Rick, but he carved himself out a nice solo career too and reinvented himself as Big Poppa Pump. It's crazy to think that both guys are one in the same. George "The Animal" Steele is one of the most unique wrestlers ever to step in the the squared circle. His crazy tactics including eating turnbuckles make him unforgettable. He also had a memorable feud with the Macho Man Randy Savage because he had a crush on Miss Elizabeth. Diamond Dallas Page aka DDP worked his way from being a non wrestling manager to being a WCW champion through hard work and maybe a little bit of help seeing that he was good friends with Eric Bischoff. The master of the Diamond Cutter and the "Self High-Five", Page was big time player in the Monday Night Wars and would become a multi-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion.

I really love this set and it brings back fun memories. Hopefully I'll be able to add some more at a later date! I'll be on the lookout!

Game Used Greatness: Evan Longoria 2011 Autographed Game Used Jersey

Don't have too many Baseball Jerseys, in fact this is only my 4th but it's a nice one. It's an Evan Longoria 2011 Game Used Home Jersey that he autographed and inscribed worn against the Boston Red Sox. It's also MLB Authenticated and the database shows it was worn June 16th 2011.

Today's Mailday: Superstar Billy Graham Leaf Originals Wrestling Autograph

Another autograph from Leaf Originals Wrestling set. Superstar Billy Graham was the pioneer of the cocky heel wrestler. He was pretty much the first "cool heel" so to speak and was the inspiration of other wrestling icons such as Jesse "The Body" Ventura and Hulk Hogan himself. Graham became WWWF champion in 1977 defeating Bruno Sammartino. His relationship with the WWE has always been rocky (I believe currently, he's on the outs with them) but he is a WWE Hall of Famer, and one of the biggest wrestling legends ever the grace the squared circle.

Today's Mailday: Autographed Wrasslin Cards!!

When I heard Leaf was coming out with a Wrestling Set that had autographs galore, I couldn't wait for it to come out. I've been a huge wrestling fan all my life and here was a chance to obtain autographs of some of the guys I grew up watching. For some of these guys, it's their first certified autographs and they are all on card. Sure the pics may look a little goofy, but I still really like em. Here's the first wave of autographs that I got.

 

The DiBiase Is Awesome. The Million Dollar Man has always been a favorite of mine, from his theme to his unique laugh, this is also the blue bordered version and it's numbered to 10 (mine being 9 of 10). Mr. Wonderful was a big star in the 80's Rock N Wrestling Connection Era and he and Hogan had a memorable feud in the WWF during that time. Marty Jannetty is of course the other half of the Rockers of Shawn Michaels, and they were one of the greatest high flying tag teams of all time. He's before my time, but I know my wrestling and Ivan Koloff "The Russian Bear" was the one who ended Bruno Sammartino's 7 year WWWF title reign. He also had a successful run in the 80's NWA as part of "The Russians" with fellow "Russian" Wrestlers Nikita Koloff and Krusher Kruschev. This is definitely a set I'm gonna be chasing. I'm going to go after all the wrestlers that I do not have autographs of. I have more coming in, and I'll showcase those as soon as I get them.

 

Awesome Autographs: Tom Brady Autographed Michigan Mini Helmet

Another addition I was able to add due to selling a lot of my collection. I needed a Tom Brady Autograph in my collection and lo and behold here it is. Certified by Gridiron Authentics, it's a nice mini helmet signed by Brady in silver ink. Check another name off the list!

Game Used Greatness: 07-08 Tim Duncan Game Used Road Jersey

I am NOT a Spurs fan by any stretch of the imagination but I can respect what they have done and how their organization works. I also respect Tim Duncan being one of the best Power Forwards ever to play the game. I jumped at the chance to add a game used jersey of a sure fire hall of famer. This jersey was supplied from the NBA to Upper Deck. Duncan wore it January 31st 2008 against the Phoenix Suns. He had 16 points and 17 boards. Very nice addition to my game used collection.

Game Used Greatness: 1999 Ken Griffey Jr Autographed Game Used Bat

Growing up my favorite baseball player of all time was Ken Griffey Jr. He was such an amazing player, especially in the 90's when it looked like Griffey would take Hank Aaron's Home Run King Title. I have a modest Griffey card collection, nothing to big, but I knew I had to get some game used stuff from him. I got a game used autographed cap of Griffey at the beginning of the year. Now I have a game used autographed bat. It not only comes with Griffey's personal LOA, it is also graded PSA/DNA 8. This is a very sweet item to add to my collection. Here are the pics!