In what has become the norm, Yankees players were donning shirts and hats celebrating their World Series victory moments after the final out was recorded. Minutes later those items and others celebrating the New York's win over the Philadelphia Phillies was being offered over the airwaves.
It's the same for every major professional sport and even at the collegiate level. And it's not just for the final games. As the playoffs progress, there are divisional and pennant series that also produce losers as well as winners.
There's only way to make sure everyone is ready for these celebrations -- gear for both teams in the finals have to be mass produced beforehand.
That begs the question of what happens to the "phantom" items for the teams that come up short.
This time around, the Phillies material along with items leftover because the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels lost playoff series for each league's pennants, is heading to impoverished nations around the world.
For the past three years Major League Baseball has partnered with World Vision to distribute un-salable, postseason MLB-licensed apparel to those in need oversees. It's World Series merchandise that can't be used in the U.S.
The media release announcing distribution of the un-salable merchandise said "World Vision will ship and distribute the World Series goods to impoverished people in the developing world, many of whom have never owned a new article of clothing in their lives."
Long before items were mass-produced and in many cases donating to those in third world or impoverished nations, sports teams were producing items. Often it was tickets for teams with a chance to make the playoffs. In other cases, it was hats, shirts, pennant, etc.
Dear Babe: I have a Chicago Cubs 1984 World Series/National League Champions pennant. As much as I would have liked this to be true, I know that not only did they not go to the World Series, they didn't even win the N.L. crown. -- Bob Brownell Acworth, Ga.
"There are many phantom pennants out there these days," said Dave Stark, of www.pennantking.com in San Diego. "The leagues have tried to limit these things from hitting the market in recent years. They are collectible. Some people frown on them and some not. Average sale price on a common design like the N.L. Champs scroll is $10-$18 mostly because it's pretty common. There were a lot of them produced and now in the market. There may be some rarer versions or sales promos that will bring a little more but that is about average."
Dear Babe: I have a baseball signed by Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz that I got around 1999 when all three were together on the Braves. What kind of increase will there be if and when all three are inducted into Hall of Fame? -- Andrew Mickle, Atlanta
Atlanta's big three of the 1990s played together for a long time and have been signing all through the autograph boom. I doubt you'll see much of an increase in the value of their items when they make their way into the hallowed halls at Cooperstown. The ball is worth $100-$150, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas. It would probably bring more than that in your neck of the woods.
(Send card questions to Babe Waxpak, PO Box 492397, Redding, CA 96049-2397 or e-mail babewaxpak@charter.net. If possible, include card number, year and brand or a photocopy. Please do not send cards. For Babe Waxpak's blog, see www.scrippsnews.com/waxpak. Babe Waxpak is a feature of The Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif.)
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