Update: A new prize is up for grabs … we want your entries!

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

If there’s one thing I’ve come to  appreciate more and more over the last few years at Beckett Media, it’s the tales of collectors — specifically, those of SuperCollectors who clearly are so focused on their niche that only one word applies.

Insanity.

And it’s a good thing. Imagine my thoughts today as I dipped into the SuperCollector mailbag and saw that we didn’t really have too many new and amazing entries piled up from the last few weeks.

I did the only sane thing I should do … I went and found this Larry Bird card and am randomly giving it away to one SuperCollector who submits all the necessary info between now and July 1.

The card is an impressive one — and we’ll make sure it’s in someone’s hands … as long as they submit their info about their collection.

How can it be yours? Read the instructions on submitting your SuperCollector info (any sport, any player, any niche)  … after the jump.

How can you be a SuperCollector? Your instructions …  read them carefully!

You don’t have to have the most-expensive collection on the block but it needs to be unique — downright crazy — in some way that it stands out.

Send in an email to Beckett editor Chris Olds at colds@beckett.com and readersrock@beckett.com the following information:

1. Name, age, your email address, your location (state) and who/what you collect.

2. Statistics about your collection (total cards, number of 1/1s, number of autographs, number of game-used cards or items, etc., as seen on the examples seen here).

3. Tell us why you should be selected. Sell us on what makes your collection the best — and how/why your collection started. Tell us what makes your collection special and unique.

4. Send us LINKS to images that we can examine or use with your item — including one showing you with your collection. (Bad images won’t help your case … and 900-MB attachments won’t either!) Warning: Any emails over 10 MB will NOT arrive and will not be seen.

5. Be complete — and be patient. We WILL be in touch if you are selected or we need more information. If you sent info in the past, it’s likely outdated by now — so update it and send it again.

6. Act fast … we want your info.

Check out the SuperCollectors below if you need to see more … we’re awaiting your email.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

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CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO READ THE PAGES!

Under normal circumstances we try and showcase a SuperCollector or two in each of our monthly magazines.  Even when we’re taking on submissions for the special SuperCollector edition of Beckett Sports Card Monthly (like we’re doing right now), we usually defer to print in the end … usually.

But let me assure you, there is nothing usual about Bernie Kosar SuperCollector Christopher Lee.

Once you’re finished saying “We’re not worthy. We’re not worthy” after reading this beyond extraordinary tale of hobby dedication, we encourage you to top it.

You don’t have to get a tattoo or anything, but we (and the rest of the world) are interested to see what you’ve got. Click here to find out what information we need and how you might be able to find yourself in the pages of the next BSCM.

But first, let’s see just how high the bar has been raised.

From SuperCollector Christopher Lee

I was born in 1980, and since that day I have loved the Cleveland Browns.

A short six years later, I started my card collection (with my dad’s 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card) and when Bernie Kosar signed on to be the quarterback for my Brownies. I remember sitting in my living room marveling at this guy from my hometown hitting the field every Sunday. Between his unconventional sidearm delivery, and obvious on-field leadership and confidence, he made me bleed brown and orange. When I was 8, I received an autographed Kosar football from my aunt (who knew Bernie’s mom) for Christmas. It is the best gift I’ve ever received.

I am constantly searching for new Kosar items, and I have to say, aside from my countless cards, I have some pretty unique ones. From bobbleheads, mugs, hats, practice jerseys, stein mugs, plates and my Bernie Kosar growth chart, I can honestly say I have everything with his face on it. Although I have two items that hold a special place in my heart.

Back in 2010, something I had anticipated for my entire life happened —twice!

At a show in Belden Village, I ever so anxiously stood in line to get Kosar to sign my authentic jersey and to shake his hand. That jersey is now — after much negotiating with my wife Jennifer — the centerpiece of our family room decor.

Then a few months later, my wife and I went to a Browns preseason game and he was actually shopping in the team shop! I was super bummed because I had nothing for him to sign, so Jenn handed me a sharpie and said, “Have him sign your arm.” So that’s what I did.

We searched the city for a tattoo parlor and had the signature tattooed on my forearm along with the Cleveland Brownie. I obviously love the Browns.

I also collect all the Rookie Cards from all the Browns players, past and present (yeah, Quinn might have gotten me in trouble). That love has also touched a lot of other areas of my life. At the National Sports Collectors Convention, a lot of people call me “The Kosar Kid” due to the fact that I wear a different Kosar jersey every day of the show. Jennifer and I got engaged in the Dog Pound (so I could wear my Bernie jersey when I asked her) and then got married July 19 for you guessed it … Kosar’s number.

My most recent non-Bernie project is acquiring all the Cleveland Browns media guides 1946 to the present. All of which I have except the 1947, so if anybody out there happens to have it please feel free to contact me.

Until then I will be sitting here in my No. 19 Municipal Stadium chair, searching eBay for more Bernie items.

Join Beckett Hockey‘s Andrew Tolentino and Dan Hitt as they rip into a box of 2011-12 Panini Contenders in this latest edition of Box Busters.

What will they find inside? Watch and find out …

Oh, and how can you win a huge card? Watch the video and follow the instructions at the link below.

Click here to read how to submit your SuperCollector information (any sport).   (You can also find the same info in upcoming issues.)

By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor

We’re prepping yet another issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly and we’ve picked a SuperCollector for the July issue, which will be all about legends and legendary collections.

This month’s SuperCollector is Chad Caldwell from Houston, Texas, who collects Ken Griffey Jr., a legend from the not-so-distant past.

He submitted a video, which you can see above, along with a Photobucket link and told his story — which has a bit of a twist to it (see part of that after the jump).

You can have a chance to have your collection showcased as a SuperCollector by clicking here and following the instructions.

An excerpt from Caldwell’s submission:

“He literally changed the game itself while sparking a new generation and style of ballplayer. His attitude and approach to the game, unparalleled media/commercial attention within the baseball world and his clean and positive off-field acts made him in many ways an idol of mine.  … However, a few years into my career the appeal of working around professional athletes had for the most part made me numb toward them being ‘idols’ or something more than just regular men and women. I now view these athletes truly as I would anybody else in another job – I respect them for their skills and work ethic but they are just normal people who happen to make more money in their job than most people do. … It is amazing that I have all this after a major flood destroyed 100 percent of my collection. All of this is from 2007 until present-day only!”

(Need a Griffey checklist or OPG? Click here.)

You can have a chance to have your collection showcased as a SuperCollector by clicking here and following the instructions.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

Summer 2012 update: All collectors who submit information between now and July 15 will be entered in a drawing for a Mike Trout autographed baseball and a hefty six-autograph card seen here. Follow the instructions and submit your stats and story today! (Click on the page above to read the sample submission.)

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By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor

We’re going to dedicate an issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly to SuperCollectors this summer and we want to see your collections.

We’ll pick the most interesting and most outrageous collections for that issue of the magazine, but first we need to hear about your stash. Some will make the special issue, while others will appear in the magazines leading up to that issue. (We run SuperCollectors every month.)

You don’t have to have the most-expensive collection on the block but it needs to be unique — downright crazy — in some way that it stands out.

Here are your instructions …

Send in an email to readersrock@beckett.com the following information:

1. Name, age, your email address, your location (city, state) and who/what you collect.

2. Statistics about your collection (total cards, number of 1/1s, number of autographs, number of game-used cards or items, etc.)

3. Tell us why you should be picked. Sell us on what makes your collection the best — and how/why it started.

4. Send us LINKS to images that we can examine or use with your item — including one showing you with your collection. (Bad images won’t help your case … and 900 MB attachments won’t either!)

5. Be patient. We WILL be in touch if you are selected or we need more information. If you sent info in the past, it’s likely outdated by now — so update it and send it again!

6. Act fast … we want YOUR info NOW!

Above is a sample of a SuperCollector who recently appeared in the magazine. See what information he presented if you’re struggling. (Click for a closer look if you need it.)

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

This week in sensational SuperCollectors

• Find yourself on Facebook: The Beckett Media SuperCollector gallery
• Eric Juhl’s collecting dreams have come true, and so can yours

This week in college football rivalries

• Upper Deck prevents paper-cut massacre by not yet releasing Texas, OU card sets
• Beckett Football‘s Andrew Tolentino puts forth a friendly challenge for Sooner fans

Rest in peace, Steve Jobs

• There’s plenty of interest in Steve Jobs’ autographs

Auction action

• Sidney Crosby as a young’un: 2001-02 Dartmouth Subways card ($100.99 current bid)

First looks and sneak peeks of the week

• Topps goes glossy with an Allen & Ginter factory set
• Beckett Baseball teaser: Panini at the plate
• Panini America’s 2011 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket teaser
• First look: 2011-12 Limited Hockey
• First look: 2011 SP Game-Used Soccer
• First look: 2011 Donruss Rated Rookies Football boxed set
• First look: 2011-12 SP Game-Used Hockey
• Matt Moore’s first Topps autographs landing soon

Click here to view the embedded video.

Box Busters

• Eureka & Warehouse 13 Premium Packs
• 2011-12 Artifacts Hockey
• Box Busters gallery: 2011-12 Artifacts Hockey

This week in a mysterious Roy Rodgers card, collector opinions and other news

• Your turn: Can casual sell cardboard?
• DJ3K + Topps = DJ3K card
• Love or loathe? Oddball Topps Triple Threads cards
• Old is new again with Lionel’s NASCAR Classics line
• Beckett Basketball‘s Chris Olds takes on the mystery of this Roy Rodgers card
• Monday Morning Collector: NFL Week 4

Just for fun

Click here to view the embedded video.

By Andrew Tolentino | BSCM Editor

Were you recently showcased as a SuperCollector in one of our sports titles? Do you know someone who was? Do you see yourself in this gallery? Would you like to be tagged? Can we be electronic friends?

In case you haven’t heard, we recently made the switch and upgraded with an official Beckett Media Facebook Page. Even though Beckett.com is without a doubt the main hub for hobby news, we are dedicated to expanding and connecting the collecting world through social media and other means of communication.

Be sure to ‘like’ our page to chime in on hobby topics, take advantage of exclusive contests and get content (like this SuperCollector gallery) that doesn’t have a home anywhere else.

Beckett Baseball’s Chris Olds caught up with one Absolutely dedicated SuperCollector, Eric Kendrick, who came to the National Sports Collectors Convention on a mission …

What was he looking for? Can you help him finish a challenge?

Watch and find out …

*** NOTE *** We run Supercollector entries every month in our magazines. Send yours today!

By Chris Olds | BSCM Editor

We’re going to dedicate an upcoming issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly to showcasing SuperCollectors — and we want to see your collections.

We’ll pick the most interesting and most outrageous collections for the magazine, but first we need to hear about your stash.

You don’t have to have the most-expensive collection on the block but it needs to be unique — downright crazy — in some way that it stands out.

Here are your instructions …

Send in an email to readersrock@beckett.com the following information:

1. Name, age, your email address, your location (city, state) and who/what you collect.

2. Statistics about your collection (total cards, number of 1/1s, number of autographs, number of game-used cards or items, etc.)

3. Tell us why you should be picked. Sell us on what makes your collection the best — and how/why it started.

4. Send us LINKS to images that we can examine or use with your item. (Bad images won’t help your case … and 900 MB attachments won’t either!)

5. Be patient. We have a group of baseball entries from awhile back to go through as well. We WILL be in touch if you are selected or we need more information.

6. Act fast … we want YOUR info NOW!

Above is a sample of a SuperCollector who recently appeared in the magazine. See what information he presented if you’re struggling. (Click for a closer look if you need it.)

By Chris Olds | Basketball Editor

The Amusing Retiree, Shaquille O’Neal, has been one to watch on Twitter for some time now, but one of his latest tweets just might be one that has a SuperCollector or two (Have you entered your collection?)  licking their chops.

Over what? A bag of Oreos. More specifically, an autographed bag of Triple Double Oreos along with a case of the cookies as a bonus that is up for grabs in a charity auction to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Newark.

Why? Why not?

“Even [though] I’m retired I’m still dunkin’” he tweeted Wednesday. “Get a signed [pack] of Triple Double Oreos and help.”

You may think the auction is a bit tongue in cheek — well, isn’t everything with Shaq these days? — but the cause is a good one and, well, it’s an unusual item. It’s one that the collector who has Everything Shaq simply won’t have — yet.

How much is the bidding, which ends Friday, up to?

Click the link above to find out …

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Basketball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.