Bi-Weekly Market Report - November 15, 2006

A Fresh Look at Sports Collectibles News

From McFarlane:

"One of the most anticipated products in the history of McFarlane Toys becomes available this December. We've been working on our hockey rink display for almost two years, and it's finally being made available through the McFarlane Toys Collector's Club on Dec. 4. The rink captures the area including both face-off circles and all the way back to the end boards behind the goal (including all boards and glass)."

My take:

My first thought is WOW. Definitely check out the photos on this one. The Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings set-up that they have is perfect. The only problem I see is being able to find enough figures to realistically fill the rink with other teams. What if you want an Oilers vs. Ducks ring? How many teams actually have 5 players made that are currently on the team and would realistically fit into positions on the rink at the same time? To be honest, I'm surprised they found the two teams for the example. However, this rink is a great thing for customizers :)

[read release]

From Beckett:

"Some lucky fan who purchases a 99-cent pack of vintage baseball cards will come away with a trio of Babe Ruth items worth more than $100,000.

In the latest round of the company's celebrated "Hidden Treasures" promotion, the grand treasure will be The Babe Collection: a Babe Ruth rookie card, the famed #151 published by The Sporting News in 1915 (when Ruth was pitching for Boston), along with a Ruth game used bat and a Ruth signed baseball, all items properly authenticated."

My take:

I absolutely love promotions like this. For 99 cents some lucky collector is going to get the Ruth collection of a lifetime. I'm always amazed with our fascination with Ruth. I wonder if 100 years from now people will have the same obsession with Michael Jordan...or will they still be fascinated with Ruth? There's something about a fat guy hitting ten-times more home runs than anyone else in the league that never gets old.

[read article]

From McFarlane:

"We are excited to announce that McFarlane Toys will soon be opening a retail store at the high-end, soon-to-be-completed Westgate City Center in Glendale, Ariz. Slated to open its doors early 2007, this 2,000+ square ft. store promises to be all McFarlane, all the time. In addition to carrying the full line of available McFarlane toys, the McFarlane store will also serve as a venue for exclusive autograph signings and special events."

My take:

Thankfully I live nowhere near 'Zona, because if you put ME in that store, I would go crazy and come home with a boatload of figures. Buying on the internet is OK, but there's nothing like raiding a store that has all the figures you want, and I'm figuring that this store is going to be jam packed with nearly every McFarlane figure. Hey Todd, how about opening one in NYC?

[read release]