ANGELS RAISE $38,000 IN GARAGE SALE

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 198

                                          **HOT**BUTTON**STORY**

                                           (MANUFACTURERS FEELING THE PINCH!!!)

** HAWAII/PHOENIX NEWS                                 

** ANGELS SALE BRINGS $38K

** SOFT NEWS AT MAKERS

** BIG-BROTHER EBAY

** READER REACT/FE & PSA

** TOPPS SIGNS DEAL FOR ALL TIME GREATS ** UDA INKS CURRENT EXCLUSIVES

Details on these and others stories in today's TBR: THE BRILL REPORT...

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(REPORT FROM PHOENIX)

Rumors abound and some changes as always but the hustle bustle and the buzz of the annual conference put on by Krause just wasn't the same this year in Phoenix. Held the first time and with a record number of attendees the hobby showcase was abuzz with rumors. UDA CEO Richard McWilliam was even seen available and talking.

One of them include Beckett Media being for sale, while in another deal Edge Man reportedly purchased Razor which makes Poker cards. Judy Heeter of the MLBPA was on hand but not in the conference with dealers who blasted her last year. Evan Kaplan handled those chores this year.

There was the usual round of events including the annual Upper Deck Golf Tournament, parties and a few player signings. However, we're told the usual buzz and the deal making just wasn't there this time. In previous conferences held in Hawaii the pressure was always on and someone was always hustling off to meet someone else. Reports indicate it wasn't the same this year although some deals did get done evidently.

It looks as if baseball is standing pat on the number of releases, Donruss is going to make more baseball products despite not having a big league license. This year they produced a draft pick series called Elite Edition. The company is planning on coming into the 21st Century on the ordering front as well by offering on-line ordering to dealers. Upper Deck is planning on offering TailGate Parties as well but few details are available. Topps will also be rolling out a new website designed to be interactive and designed for kids.

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(ANGELS SELL GAME USED JERSEYS AT $30 EACH)

With prices like that no wonder the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim sold out of several thousand items at the teams first ever garage sale. The event raised over $35,000 for the Angels Baseball Foundation.

(Angels game used Mickey Hatcher jersey purchased at the Angels Garage sale and listed on eBay was at $113 with three days to go in the bidding.)

"Yes I think we underestimated the demand a little bit," team spokesman Matt Bennett told The Brill Report. "There wasn't a lot which held value on eBay but we have seen some of the items up there already."

The team held the first ever such event outside the stadium a little over a week ago. Fixed prices and cash only were the order of the day. Season ticket holders were allowed first crack at 9 a.m. with the general public at 10.

"Most of the stuff did go to the season ticket holders," Bennett added. "We didn't anticipate the demand."

In fact, eBay saw a number of the jerseys up for sale at nice profits for the sellers. Seller Swingman24 had at least four of them up and all were above $100 on eBay.

(Another found on eBay selling for at least $188 is the Garage Sale jersey of Shigetoshi Hasegawa)

Game used jerseys with names on them sold for anywhere from $30 to $40 to $50 each. Older style team jerseys sold more quickly. It wasn't too many years ago a game used jersey was nearly impossible to get but now for less than $50 is incredible. The club put 250 jerseys up for sale.

"There were jerseys of the Molina brothers, Tim Salmon, Estaban Yahn, Mickey Hatcher, Ron Gant and others who fans may or may not recognize," said Bennett. "We even had a Jose Canseco jersey which went right away."

Canseco was with the team in spring training in 2001 and never played in the big leagues for the Angels but he was there in the spring.

"These were items we've had laying around for years and we just decided to clean out the closet so to speak," Bennett told TBR. "We put the higher priced and more in demand items on our monthly auctions and in our Game Used Store but this gave the fans a chance to walk away with something for a great price."

The money raised will go to the Angels Baseball Foundation, a charitble cause.

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(RETAILER FEARS IN HOBBY AND OUT, MANUFACTURERS FEELING PINCH EVEN MORE)

The worsening economy, the housing and credit crisis and lack of discretionary income along with rising fuel prices (oil hit a new high $114 a barrel this week) are sending more shockwaves through many industries and the hobby is one. Trading card manufacturers are feeling the pinch certainly.

(Among the items in overstock according to some reports are Barbie dolls.)

"The manufacturers are finding out now hobby dealers are no longer ordering every product which comes along, in fact they are ordering very few products directly and the manufacturers are feeling the pinch," said one source asking not to be identifiedwhen reached by phone during the Phoenix Convention. "The manufacturers are definitely worried and they aren't sure how to deal with this."

Royalties remain high to the leagues and players associations, the number of brands has been cut and the result means charging more for the products the manufacturers do make. This in turn translates to more high priced products on store shelves combined with collectors who are having difficulty paying the mortgage and paying $200-$300 for a pack of trading cards certainly is the first thing off the table.

"Most of the dealers I speak with, most have gone to waiting until the product either fails to perform or is a hit and they are not ordering direct hardly at all," said consultant Dave Rodriguez of Signatures.com. "Very few dealers played this game 10 years ago but now most of them are because if the product dogs it they can pick it up below cost very quickly and give their customers a nice break while making some money at the same time."

(Hobby dealers becoming more dependant upong so called "whales" to buy high end releases, are finding them fewer and farther between and losing one will kill cash flow.)

Both Mattel and Hasbro are concerned despite the fact numbers have gone up because retailers are looking at inventories they already don't want. Word is those major retailers are cautiously ordering for the next round of toys because they are uncertain of the economy. Fearing hefty inventories this results in close out prices which in turn means lower margins. Why order when you are pretty certain you'll have to blow it out anyway? This has toy makers very worried.

In the sports card market dealers who previously ordered everything are backing way off.

"Why should I lay out thousands of dollars in advance when my cash flow is so little, it just doesn't make sense anymore," said another hobby shop owner speaking on condition of anonimity. "I used to order everything but I can't anymore, not if I want to keep the doors open, it's just too risky with the high cost of the products today."

Some are ordering very little direct, knowing they can pick it up from distributors and within weeks they can buy it at less than direct cost. With cash flow such a big problem for the average card store, ordering $1200 cases direct from the manufacture all of sudden isn't in the cards.

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(STORE THIEF CAUGHT, GOING TO JAIL IN MICHIGAN)

Robert Lee Stone pleaded guilty to charges he stole from Sportscard Central in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Stone made his plea earlier this week and faces four years in prison. Sentancing is set for next month.

"If you have any knowledge of where he sold sportscards, we would generally appreciate your help," said Sportscard Central owner Rick Behar. "We are still seeking a large amount of cards which have not shown up yet."

Sportscard Central is the former name of American Cards and Supplies which has taken most of it's business to the Internet. You can reach him at americard@aol.com

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(BIG BROTHER EBAY)

eBay will soon be spying on you. Or so it would seem. As a way to protect you from fraud the company is developing a program where it will be able to figure out what or which computers you normally list items from. If by chance you list from another computer you will receive an automated call asking if it is you.

Seems the company is getting frustrated with the number of rip off artists who are snagging your stuff and or other people's stuff and listing it under your user name. The best way the company says it can prevent this is to keep an eye on you, or where you file from. Seems rather strange and Big-Brotherish but it makes sense to the experts at eBay.

"To protect the community against this type of fraud, beginning today eBay will start noting which computers members typically use to conduct their buying and selling activity," said John Canfield, Senior Director of Trust & Safety at eBay. "After our data collection phase, sometime in June, eBay will begin verifying our sellers when they list an item to ensure they are logging on from the same machines they have successfully used previously --- usually a home or business computer."

eBay says at first it will only apply to sellers but it isn't ruling out buyers as well. The auction site is asking sellers to register their cel phone number as a secondary number in case it has to verify. An on-line workshop will be conducted May 6.

"There is no silver bullet to security," said Canfield. "We strive to make security as automatic and as seamless as possible but there are a few important area's where eBayers can help."

It does sound a bit Orwellian. 

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(UPPER DECK INKS EXCLUSIVE DEALS WITH THREE YOUNGSTERS)

Matt Kemp, Grady Sizemore and Andrew Bynum of the Lakers are now the exclusive property of Upper Deck Authenticated. The three rising stars signed deals for their memorabilia and autographs which will keep them in the UDA house for some time.

"These three athletes represent another coup for Upper Deck in terms of seeking out and securing some of the most collectible athletes in their respective sports," said Tim Muret, UD VP for Sports Cards and Memorabilia. "We are very excited about establishing exclusive relationships with these three rising stars."

Bynum, currently injured, is expected to team with Paul Gasol giving the Lakers two 7-footers in their line-up in the playoffs. The Dodgers committed to Kemp this year as a starter and Sizemore has had a couple good seasons.

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(MCFARLANE CHANGING PACKAGING, UPPING CHASE CONTENT)

Starting with the Legends 4 release in July, you will see a new look to the McFarlane line of collectible toys. First the packaging will change allowing the figures to be showcased properly. Often the toys had to "be cut" according to McFarlane officials so they could fit the packaging. Now with more uniform packaging the package conforms to the action figure.

(Prototype of the new packaging for large McFarlane items.)

"The new format will give our designers more freedom to create new and unique sports poses without size limitations," McFarlane officials stated on their web site. "For example a pitcher can be fully extended in a pitch follow through or a receiver can be diving for a football with arms fully extended without the worry imposed by size restrictions."

The second move is to change the chase structure for the more rare figures. Normally selected figures had a vareity of versions inserted one per case. Now each figure will have a different version but the changes will be more subtle. It may just be a different of paint on a logo or something similar.

In response the other versions, such as fully different jersey colors -- red versus white -- will become part of the regular issues. With this the company hopes to expand upon the number of actual releases in a series, say from six figures to nine, plus the chase versions with tiny changes.

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(SPORTKINGS TO FEATURE NAISMITH CUT SIGNATURE)

While SportKings will take a spot at the Toronto Expo next month and will feature a series of redemption cards during the event, perhaps one of the bigges upcoming inserts in Series B will be Founding Fathers. The idea to feature a cut signature of a founding father of a sport. The biggest perhaps will be James Naismith considered the father of modern day basketball.

  (James Naismith cut sig in Series B Sportkings)

Walter Camp for football and Alexander Cartwright for baseball will also be included. The series releases before the National in late July.

Meanwhile the company will debut some truly nice cards at the Spring Sports Expo in Toronto. A wrapper redemption for those busting the high end merchandise will lead collectors to dual patch cards featuring greats of their sports. Among them is Joe Montana.

There is a silver version of each card which is numbered out of nine and a gold version which is a 1/1. SportKings Series A sold out and did very well despite the fact the product carries no licensed cards, licensed by any league or players association.

It also did well despite the fact many of the sports the card depict are very very minor. Poker players were among those in the set and when paying upwards of $400 for a pack of cards, getting a poker player or a bycycler could be un-nerving. However, players such as Pete Rose and other well known super stars drove the product and pulled off what many thought was a tough pull to say the least.

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(TOPPS DOES DEAL FOR ALL TIME GREATS)

Formerly these types of players signed only through Upper Deck but Topps now has the likes of Rogers Hornsby, Lou Gehrig, Christy Mathewson, Cy Young and Mel Ott. The deal with CMG Worldwide brings into the Topps family some of the biggest names in the history of the sport and gives the grand daddy of all card companies a nice advantage in remaking vintage cards.

                                                                                                                                                 "Topps is synonomous with great athletes and we are thrilled to form a partnership with CMG giving us exclusive rights to baseball's greatest legends," said Warren Friss, GM of sports and entertainment at Topps. "We look forward to incorporating these players into our upcoming products and giving our loyal fan base cards which cannot be found anywhere else."

Upper Deck and Topps have flip flopped players over the years and while Topps has an exclusive 10-year contract with Mickey Mantle, he was the property of Upper Deck at one time. Triple Threads will be the first product to highlight the new acquistions.

CMG specializes in holding the rights to deceased players and personalities estates. Among those in the CMG stable is Marilyn Monroe.

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(4KIDS CHAOTIC TWO RELEASES)

Zenith of the Hive hit store shelves this week as one of the best trading card games 4KIDS Entertainment released this week. Chaotic has been a hit for the company which usually is the front company for games before deciding to go into the gaming business itself.

"It's been exciting to watch the popularity of the Chaotic Trading Card Game grow over the past few months and we look to ignite even more enthusiasm with the launch of the new Zenith of the Hive Series and the National Organized Play Program," said Bryan Gannon, President and CEO of TC Digital Games. "This will undoubtably elevate player excitement to a whole new level."

More than 11 million Chaotic cards have been registered on-line which is the key factor to the game itself. Registering cards on-line and playing on-line as opposed to previous releases Pokemon and others which were more TCG's and Virtual Card Games. The companion TV series is debuting in Australia, Israel and South Africa.

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(EBAY PROFITS AND REVENUES UP, NEW USERS SLOW)

John Donahue, the new head of eBay got some encouraging news. With the increase in fees being reported next quarter things should be much better. The good news is eBay profits were up 22-percent and revenue rose 24-percent. The bad news is new users grew by only 1-percent. Translated; more sales, or higher dollar sales but fewer people jumping into the eBay program. In addition, much of the growth has to be attributed to PayPal which is owned by eBay.

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(DEALER COMMENTS ON TBR STORIES LATELY)

On our story regarding Forensics Examiners and the hobby:

"I read your article regarding Chris Morales and Don Frangipani. I find your contumelius attitude about him and other Forensic Documents Examiners to be quite offensive. I have known Mr. Frangipani and Mr. Morales for years and they have never been found unqualified by a court. Famous signatures are no different than anybody else's signatures. The methods of reviewing them are the same. No one is wrong 1100 times, the amount of times I am told Mr. (James) Spence has disagreed with Mr. Frangipani. It is more likely Mr. Spence may be mistaken in HIS opinions."

Robert J. Phillips

Forensic Document Examiner

"The old saying 'Mr. Morales never met an autograph he didn't like' is very true. I'd like Mr. Solis to check out a website (Signaturedreams) owned by Mike Leppo. There you will find numerous Derek Jeter forgeries with COA's from Chris Morales, FE. None of the autographs items from SignatureDreams on eBay have ever passed PSA's "Quick Opinion." These weren't borderline fakes these were obvious forgeries. As for Mr. Frangipani, his reputation precedes him."

Chris Wiliams, Neptune City, NJ

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