SPORTS COLLECTING

CONGRATULATIONS! DESPITE WHAT

some naysayers predict about theeconomy, you have decided to con-

tinue collecting sports memorabilia. In anod to the New Year, you promise to be abit more prudent and selective, and nowyou want some sage advice.

I'm glad you asked. These are my picsof the most collectible current athletes inprofessional baseball, basketball and foot-ball. Next month I'll visit hockey, golf andcar racing.

WITH JEFF FIGLER

Most Collectible Current Athletes

BaseballMy short list of collectible baseball stars

for the past half dozen or so years consistsof Ryan Howard, Derek Jeter, Albert Pujolsand Alex Rodriguez. My pick as the mostcollectible, and whose value has the mostpotential, is Albert Pujols of the St. LouisCardinals. His statistics for the first nineyears of his illustrious career compare fa-vorably with the greatest players in baseballhistory. Experts predict that Pujols couldbecome the top right-handed batter of alltime, with Ted Williams holding that dis-tinction for left-handed swingers.

Jump on the opportunity to own anyPujols item, preferably ones he has Signed.Signed game-used jerseys that now bringover $8,000 may soon go for double thatamount. Likewise, signed game-used batshave sold for up to $4,700. A signed offi-cial Major League baseball is worth $350-$450 now, and rising. Upper Deck has ex-clusive signing rights with Pujols, but thatdoesn't preclude you from getting a Pujolsitem through a reputable dealer or auction.

You will be glad that you put AlbertPujols on your wish list. Sure, if you're a .Yankee fan, you may be saying that yourheart tells you to collect Derek Jeter, the all-time Yankee hit leader. Or Alex Rodriguez,or Mariano Rivera. But this time let yourhead prevail-collect Albert Pujols first.Don't worry. You won't have to face Pujols'Cardinals until a World Series.

• Ball signed by Albert Pujols• Pujols signed bat• Pujols signed jersey

lOLS

34 JANUARY 2010 AUTOGRAPH MAGES COURTESY OF UPPER DECK AUTHENTICATED

• Basketball signedby LeBron James

• James signed jersey

BasketballKobe Bryant, LeBron

Iarries, and Dwayne Wade-theseplayers are on my short list. Yes,I am omit-ting Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, DwightHoward, SteveNash and even the fun-lovingfriendly giant himself, Shaquille O'Neal. Asto the most collectible- my choice is LeBronJames of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despiteplaying in a mid-size market rather than in amega media market likeNew York,our man,LeBron, has started to develop a fan basearound the globe, ala Michael Jordan. Youcan make a sound argument that Mr. Bryantof the LosAngelesLakers has also developeda comparable fan base and Bryant has evenbeen on championship teams to boot, butJames hasn't had to contend with the courtofpublic opinion for his off-court escapades.

The meteoric rise of James' collect-ibles has already been witnessed. A Jamesgame-used signed jersey has been auc-tioned for over $6,500. His signed shoeshave gone for over $6,000. And this guyplays in Cleveland. At least Michael Jordanperfected his professional craft in Chicagofor most of his playing days. I would be re-miss not to mention that Dwayne Wade ofMiami and Dwight Howard of Orlando arealso highly collectible professional basket-ball players, whose items are quickly risingin value as well.

But for now, and for the many years thatLeBron.James will delight and bring enjoy-

ment to global basketball patrons, he is in-comparable and is not called "The King" fornothing. And he doesn't even make NewYork his home base-yet.

FootballAnd that brings us to football, the newly

anointed most popular sport in America.So who is on my list of the most collectiblecurrent professional gridiron performers?Let's include the usual suspects first, PeytonManning of the Indianapolis Colts and TomBrady of the NewEngland Patriots. Add to ita lot of seasoning with LaDainian Tomlinsonof the San Diego Chargers and Brett Favre,now of the Minnesota Vikings. Yes, I wastempted to say that Favre was still with theGreen Bay Packers. And add one more cur-rent player, Adrian Peterson, Favre's team-mate at Minnesota. Peterson may indeed bethe most exciting player in the game today,but he has not played long enough to bechosen as the winner of my most collectiblecurrent professional football player distinc-tion. That highly acclaimed label goes to theplayer who may very well play for anotherdecade, or two, Brett Favre.

Favre'scollectibles from the Packers, andVikings, and even the New YorkJets, are set-ting all-time highs. While I am on the sub-

••••~I

FAVRE

• Brett Favre signedfootball

• Favre Signed jersey

ject, lest I forget, Brett Favre was originallydrafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1991, andplayed for that franchise, albeit sparingly,for a year before being traded to the GreenBay Packers to make his indelible markon the face of professional football in theUnited States.

And for you trivia buffs, try this one.Who was on the receiving end ofBrett Favre'sfirst completed pass as a Packer?Don't spendtime looking it up. It was actually Favrehim-self. True story. In the second game of the1992season, one of his passes was deflected,and caught by none other than himself. Betyou didn't know that. A game-used signedFavre helmet will cost you about $6,000, agame-used signed jersey about $7,000 and asigned football will set you back-about $600.

There you have it. My selections as themost collectible of the currerit players inprofessional baseball, basketball, and foot-ball. If any of you want to agree with me, ordare to dispute me, then you can email meat collectingwithjeff@sbcglobal.net. I wouldenjoy hearing from you with any commentsor questions about sports collectibles in gen-eral, as well. @

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