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		• Auction Action: Mastro and AMI • The Story of USFL Trading Cards • Black Bordered Beauties: 1971 Topps Baseball Set • The Spotlight is on Larry Brauchie Collection - Larry Bird Sets • PSA Q & A     • Survey: Cobb's Most Important Card     • Announcements

Mastro Auctions Readies for Massive April Sale
Mastro's April auction features a huge assembly of premier sports and Americana items. Among the items up for bidding are a 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers World Championship ring, a 1953 New York Yankees World Championship ring, a 1958 Roberto Clemente game used jersey, and a Ted Williams game used rookie era bat. Click here to read more.

American Memorabilia "Legends of the Game" Auction Closes April 6, 2006
AMI's April auction is just around the corner. Register now so you don't miss out! Among the items up for bidding are 1960s Topps Baseball complete set, and Peyton Manning and Michael Jordan game worn jerseys. Click here to read more.

Memory Lane, Inc. Wins $10,000 in the Naxcom Vintage Invitational Contest
Memory Lane won the Naxcom Vintage Invitational Contest for the second year in a row. Like last year, it came down to the same two vintage two dealers: Memory Lane Inc. and McAvoy Sportcards. With the win, Memory Lane Inc. captured the title Vintage Memorabilia Dealer of the Year and a $10,000 cash prize. Click here to read more.

Gone But Not Forgotten: The Story of USFL Trading Cards
It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since the USFL folded, but its legacy lives on in its former players, the rule changes it inspired, the markets it introduced, and the card sets it spawned. So popular is the 1984 Topps USFL set, in fact, that some hobbyists have called it the most coveted gridiron issue of the '80s. Click here to read more about this set.

www.memorylaneinc.com

Black Bordered Beauties: The Story of the 1971 Topps Baseball Set
The 752-card 1971 Topps baseball set was released in seven series. Cards from Series One to Five are the most readily available, but those from Series Six and Seven are much tougher. Nostalgia among collectors, coupled with the fact that the set boasts several HOFers, has led to renewed interest in Topps' "men in black." Click here to read more about this set.

Question: What effect does the presence of vault marking or side writing on a game-used bat have?

Answer: Vault marking or side writing provides evidence that a player returned that bat to the factory. These bats were marked this way by a representative at the factory, noting the return. In the case of side writing, the player's name, team, date and specs of the bat are often included in the grease pencil notations along the barrel. In some cases, the bat was retuned by another player, not the player whose name appears burned into the barrel. This could be a result of player trying out a teammate's bat and wanting to order a bat to the exact same specifications. In addition, the existence of side writing or vault marking does not, by itself, necessarily prove that a player used the bat -- although, most of the time, the two coincide. Often times, the existence of these special markings provides support as long as the bat also exhibits player use characteristics. It does provide proof that the player returned the bat for more to be manufactured.

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