For {email} April 21, 2005   TOP STORY UPPER DECK TO PRODUCE ESPN-BRANDED CARDS ESPN and Upper Deck have reached a multi-year agreement to produce an ESPN line of trading cards. Upper Deck will create and distribute cards for baseball, basketball, football and hockey incorporating ESPN’s signature style to each trading card. The series will launch with a 90-card baseball set in the coming months. Trading cards will be sold at mass retailers and hobby stores nationwide at a suggested retail price of $2.99 per pack. Each sport-specific set will showcase current stars with themed cards based on ESPN’s programming lineup, featuring “SportsCenter,” The ESPY Awards, “ESPN Classic SportsCentury,” “Baseball Tonight,” “NBA Fastbreak,” “NFL Live” and more. In addition, ESPN personalities Chris Berman, Dan Patrick, Kenny Mayne, Peter Gammons, Linda Cohn and Stewart Scott have signed cards for the sets.   “The leading sports entertainment company is teaming with the leading sports and entertainment trading card company to create a product for both the hardcore and casual collector,” said Rick Alessandri, senior VP and general manager, ESPN Enterprises. “ESPN-branded trading cards will contain the creative ingenuity of ESPN and Upper Deck’s distinct products.” “The Upper Deck Company continues to attract market leaders such as ESPN that believe in our long-term growth prospects, product innovation and pioneering spirit,” said Louise Curcio, VP of marketing for Upper Deck. ACTIVA PROMOTION TAKES NBA MEDALLIONS NATIONAL The hobby will get some major exposure as Activa Consumer Promotions, which has run more than 25 regional promotions, takes its concept national with the NBA Hardwood Heroes 2005 Medallion Collection. Activa has produced a set of 30 silver medallions featuring top stars of the NBA (Shaq, Iverson, Duncan, etc.), plus a glossy collector’s album. The product is high-quality, but somewhat standard fare. Its support system is not. Collectors will find a coupon for a free album in Friday’s USA Today – consumers simply take the coupon to their nearest participating retailer and will use the album to house the collection. Beginning April 25 and running the next 30 issues, a coupon will be printed in the April 22 USA Today for readers to take to a participating retailer to purchase that day’s medallion for $2.99 plus tax. The medallions will be available at more than 4,000 participating 7-Eleven stores, as well as FasTrac Markets, Shop Rite Convenience Stores and Gas ’N Shop (Coin Builders was the exclusive distributor), and at the NBA Store in Manhattan. Ruth Laurent, president of Activa Consumer Promotions, said the concept works because the teams, league and media are all partners, resulting in massive promotional value. “We’ll get more than $2.5 million worth of support from USA Today, plus more than 500 spots on NBA TV,” she said. “We’ve done national promotions in Canada and other countries, so it was only a matter of time. This is part of the natural growth of our business. “This works because it’s not a commodity; it’s a marketing strategy. It’s a partnership between media, the sports leagues and the team themselves, and then what I would view as an underutilized distribution system – convenience, gas and grocery.” For more information on the collection visit NBA.com or usatoday.com. For consumers who can’t find a local participating retailer, the medallions are also available at www.medallioncollection.com, a site that will be live this later week. ONLINE AUCTIONEER by Don Fluckinger 1. $23,100: 1980-81 Topps Basketball wax case   2. $22,100: Babe Ruth signed ball, PSA/DNA 3. $13,200: Babe Ruth signed ball, PSA/DNA   4.   $6,766: 2003-04 Upper Deck Legends LeBron/Jordan Rookie Impressions 5.   $6,296: 1980-81 Topps Basketball 6-box JUST BUBBLING UNDER: Mickey Mantle cards had a dominant week on eBay. Not only did several land in the top 10, but narrowly missing the list were a 1951 Bowman Mantle, PSA 6 ($4,800) and a 1963 Topps Mantle, PSA 9 ($4,450). Some experts such as Brian Wentz of BMW cards in Madison, Wis., contend that in times of fan discontent such as this year and the steroids scandal, collectors turn to the vintage classics to remind themselves of a more pure era of America's Pastime. For the complete Top 10 list, see the latest issue of Sports Collectors Digest. IN THIS WEEK’S SCD The fourth installment of SCD’s exclusive Authenticating the Authenticators Series puts the spotlight on one of the most controversial figures in the industry: Don Frangipani. In Part I of his interview with SCD editorial director Rocky Landsverk, Frangipani talks about his background and experience and his views on the process of authenticating autographs. The May 5 Goodwin and Co. auction yields a fascinating assortment that includes striking Old Judges, Fatima Team cards, Cracker Jacks and T206s, along with his signature lineup of high-grade early Topps and Bowman stars and high numbers, Red Man Tobacco cards and enough tough regionals and test issues (Bell Brand Dodgers, 1971 Topps Greatest Moments, 1967 Topps Punch Outs, etc.) to keep even the most finicky collector happy. Elsewhere on the Auction Circuit, a pristine 1961 Topps Baseball set sells for $18,000-plus and Tiger Woods memorabilia begins a full-scale, post-Masters online ascent. They are not exactly two names that customarily go together, but with a bit of artistic license we can link Alan Rosen and Dennis Rodman for our magazine purposes. The former has done his favorite thing once again; he’s found a pristine unopened box of 1961 Topps Football cards. Mr. Rodman, on the other hand, took some time out from his autograph session in Chicago to talk about his own favorite topic: Mr. Rodman, plus we have full-color artwork of the rambunctious one from acclaimed artist Paul Madden. It’s one of the favorites for serious collectors who have already taken care of business with their vintage 1950s and 1960s Topps sets: Bazooka. In this instance, it’s the inaugural set in 1959, with some of the best photography ever utilized in a Topps issue. BRIEFS SP Signature Edition Basketball released recently and marks the first time Upper Deck has offered insert cards with as many as six autographs per card. Rookies in the product are numbered to 499. There’s also a Rookie Retro Remnants version of the cards featuring a swatch of a throwback jersey worn by the player during last summer’s rookie photo shoot event. Rookies are also featured in the Rookie Auto Drafts insert, where the number of cards signed by the player corresponds to what number they were chosen in the NBA Draft. SP Signature Edition offers three cards, one of which is autographed, in a tin for an SRP of $60. Press Pass Premium Racing releases May 4 and is the first racing set of the year to feature photography of the drivers and teams in their 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup uniforms. The set features top rookies Travis Kvapil and Kyle Busch. Press Pass continues its innovation in memorabilia cards by showcasing the sport’s top stars with Hot Threads race-used firesuit cards. The Signature Series autograph version features top drivers signing hobby versions of the Hot Threads memorabilia cards numbered to the selected drivers' door number. The Press Pass Signings autograph program kicks off in Premium with three distinct levels of autographs. The Yankees-Steiner Collectibles agreement announced late last year promised collectors a piece of the legendary team and its stadium. Some of the more unique collectibles to emerge from that collaboration are now available, including a pair of collages that feature a piece of the action. Both collages incorporate an encased dirt sample collected from Yankee Stadium at the conclusion of the home opener played on April 3, plus a copy of the lineup card from that game, played against the Red Sox and won by the Yankees, 9-2. A panoramic shot of Yankee Stadium accompanies the lineup card and the dirt on the first piece. The second piece includes an image of opening day starting pitcher Randy Johnson as he takes the mound for the first time, the copy of the lineup card, and an encased sample of dirt removed from the pitcher’s mound. Both pieces carry an SRP of $99.95. The 28th Sport Card and Memorabilia Expo will be held in Toronto's International Center on April 29-30 and May 1. According to promoter Al Sinclair, “The show contains our best lineup of guests in the past five or six years.” The Expo should be a feast for autograph collectors, featuring approximately 20 former hockey stars, including Henri Richard, Darryl Sittler, Paul Henderson, former Maple Leaf Rookie of the Year Kent Douglas, Bob Pulford, Brian Trottier, Mike Bossy, John Bucyk, Mike Palmateer and Johnny Bower. Also featured for a Sunday noon autograph session will be football legend Joe Montana. In addition to autographs, the Expo will offer a selection of nearly 400 dealers (more than 900 total tables) offering cards and assorted memorabilia. Sinclair also noted that for the first time the Expo will be displaying new hockey equipment, presented in a specially designed locker room setting within the corporate area. Card manufacturer Be A Player will be on hand to offer a unique wrapper redemption program created for Expo attendees. Delegates from the Hockey Hall of Fame and Canadian Sports Collector magazine will also be on hand. Visit the Expo Web site at www.sportcardexpo.com for further details. TELL A FRIEND Do you have friends who might be interested in receiving this free newsletter? Send them this link! Newsletter Signup SPECIAL OFFERS SCD TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION Not sure if you want or need SCD every week, but want to see what it’s all about? Give a trial subscription a try. For only $5, you can get four issues delivered to your door. Click here. STANDARD CATALOG OF SPORTS MEMORABILIA Everything from autographs to magazines to porcelain figures can be found in this brand-new edition. Click here to order. ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION You have received this e-mail because you expressed interest in receiving updates about fantasy sports from Krause Publications. Thanks for your subscription! This message was sent to {email}. To unsubscribe from this newsletter, update your subscription information by clicking here, or reply to this email message with "Remove" in the Subject line. Questions? To ensure a timely response to your questions concerning magazine subscriptions, call our customer service department toll-free 800-258-0929 Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. CST. Please only reply to this message with newsletter-specific questions. Entire contents copyright (C) 2005 F+W Publications, Inc. 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990 All Rights Reserved. "Mr. Mint," as he is known, is the largest buyer of vintage baseball cards and memorabilia in the world. In more than 20 years of criss-crossing the country, Alan Rosen has spent more than $110 million. If you're looking to sell your collection, call Mr. Mint at 1-201-307-0700 or click on the logo above.       Over 100,000 boxes in stock at the lowest prices on the net!            Steiner's Hall of Heroes in Garden City, NY. Baseball is Back with a Grand Slam line-up of Jason Kidd, Aaron, Boggs, Brodeur, Darling, Dykstra, Gooden and many more. We carry an array of sports gifts, baby clothes & signed memorabilia. Call 516-739-0580 or e-mail hoh@steineresports.com *10 percent OFF For eSCD customers Go to steinersports.com for all your Derek Jeter collectibles. Derek Jeter, a Steiner Sports Exclusive Athlete, has just signed NEW items.  Visit www.steinersports.com Genuine Autograph is dedicated to presenting the greatest assortment of Authentic Sports, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Hollywood Autographed Memorabilia. We are a Global Authentication registered dealer. We have a number of rare signed Mickey Mantle remarqued art prints by original 1953 Topps artist Gerry Dvorek. Please visit our website at www.genuineautograph.com. Tuff Stuff offers the hobby's only all-in-one, 5-sport price guide! Pricing for baseball, football, basketball, hockey and racing cards, plus golf, non-sport and gaming, autographs figurines and bobbles. Includes interviews with superstar athletes and hobby giants. Save money with a 6-issue subscription by clicking here.   Log on to America's premier Sports auction site. Bid live on hundreds of vintage Sportscards and autographs. 7-days a week, 24-hours a day. 7-day satisfaction guaranteed. www.SportsHall.com.     "Use BCW's online store to buy your collectible supplies! We are the manufacturers of over 150 different protection, storage and display products. Take a look at our online storefront to see all the great deals."   The ONLY place to find every upcoming athlete autograph appearance in the US and Canada! Now get appearance information for any players, teams, states or promoters you choose emailed to you! Plus discounts on autographs from over 70+ top promoters! SigningsHotline. com  "Kobe '05" Limited Edition SIGNED BY KOBE BRYANT The art of Stephen Holland Worlds leading artist of Sports and Celebrity SPS Limelight Agency www.limelightagency.com escd@limelightagency.com 415.648.1967