“I know what I have.”

Here's all the details! Twins season opener 4 weeks from today. Moving it across the street from the shop to the American Legion. More TV's, more room, same D&J Glove Repair hospitality. Make your plans now to attend!

The cover of the 2016 book “Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present” by Gail Buckland features this great pic of Bill Russell and Elgin Baylor, by legendary photographer Walter Iooss, Jr.

Well, my excitement was short lived. 5 different late ‘40s - early ‘50s Spalding Sports Show booklets, each illustrated by Willard Mullin. All severely water damaged in shipping.

Anxious to get home to a recently won auction lot. Here’s a hint:

🔥🏀🎨 Staying in this month’s theme of old school basketball, check out this wonderful Dr. J artwork by artist Steve Colyer. I love the little “drips” of paint here and there - I think they subtly add to the graffiti-like feel of the piece. #BasketballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist

My wife and daughter are awesome! Happy Birthday to me. An authentic ABA basketball from the fine folks at Lana Sports. lanasports.com

A photo slide of the USA Men’s Hockey Team celebrating a win over Russia in the 1980 Winter Olympics. From the book Sports Illustrated: Slide Show, a great book for fans of sports photography. 📸: Heinz Kluetmeier

Better “alternative” sport - Nerfoop or Wiffle Ball?

🔥🏀🎨 Before he became the commissioner of the upstart American Basketball Association George Mikan was the NBA’s first superstar, nicknamed Mr. Basketball. This beautiful art card is by artist Ken Karl. #BasketballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist

All of the old school hoops stuff lately has me wanting to seriously make a run at a classic early 70s Topps set. I’d love to put together a set based on my birth year (1972) but should I go with the 71-72 set or the 72-72 set? What say you Bluesky?

put it in the Louvre

It always amazes me to see the crowds that would gather at Rucker Park to catch Dr. J in action. I won’t attend something if I think parking is going to be a hassle. These folks were climbing out of windows and sitting on building ledges to peep The Doctor.

Today on the Beauty of a Game Substack, a look at some of the amazing images that made the ABA documentary Soul Power such a treat. beautyofagame.substack.com/p/soul-power...

I’ll have more to say on the new ABA documentary Soul Power in a post tomorrow on the Beauty of a Game Substack. But my only complaint was their failure to mention the best team photo in sports history. Behold, the Spirits of St. Louis.

Eagle-eyed fans of old school hoops may have caught the iconic Spalding “Street Ball” ad among the images Dr. J stands in front of in the new documentary “Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association” beautyofagame.substack.com/p/he-plays-u...

And so let it be known that on February 14th at 6:48 pm it officially became 2026.

Why wait until March for a little Madness? Today on the Beauty of a Game Substack - 3 Great Ways to Dig Into Basketball History open.substack.com/pub/beautyof...

RIP Pirates hurler Elroy Face. Pirates franchise leader in appearances and one of the coolest Sports Illustrated covers, courtesy of photographer Neil Leifer.

Remembering Lenny Randle, born on this date in 1949

Since today is the release date for the ABA documentary series Soul Power, let me remind you that Dr. J “plays up in the lights!” beautyofagame.substack.com/p/he-plays-u...

If you're around Philly, tonight's your chance to catch Luke Epplin and pick up his new book!

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a productivity expert recommend getting a new puppy to help increase productivity, and I think I know why…

🔥⚾️🎨 Legendary baseball player Babe Ruth, born on this date in 1895, appeared on the April 26, 1976 issue of Time Magazine, courtesy of another legend - illustrator Jack Davis. #BaseballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist #BabeRuth #JackDavis

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Babe Ruth, seen here with teammate Lou Gehrig and a young Mr. Mertle. beautyofagame.substack.com/p/mr-mertles...

The list of American heroes who transcend sport to become genuine cultural icons is short and distinguished. Hank Aaron is undoubtedly one of those heroes. #BlackHistoryMonth

🔥⚾️🎨 Painting of Hank Aaron by longtime Atlanta Braves Art Director Wayland Moore, depicting Aaron in the Braves uniform he helped Moore design. A beautiful piece & a reminder that an Artist Spotlight on Moore is long overdue. #BaseballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist #HankAaron #AtlantaBraves #Braves

Happy Heavenly Birthday to King Henry, Hank Aaron! Growing up in the 1980s it was always a treat to see a young Hank appear on Home Run Derby in the afternoons on ESPN.

Baseball history is filled with great nicknames, but for my money, “Champ Summers” is the most BASEBALL sounding name of all time. That’s the goal of each time, right? A Championship Summer…

I haven’t had a chance yet to watch the Rise of the 49ers documentary. But I’m going to be a little disappointed if the 1982 Sears Christmas Wish Book isn’t covered.

In my humble opinion, still the greatest Super Bowl commercial of all time. Here are my reasons: ✅ Ties directly into the game ✅ Tells a great story ✅ Stars a great of the game ✅ Hits the heart strings just right. ✅ Lets the product take center stage www.youtube.com/watch?v=xffO...

Celebrated American painter Norman Rockwell, born on this date in 1894, painted Tackled in 1925. It was Rockwell’s first football themed cover for The Saturday Evening Post. Check out more of his sports art here: beautyofagame.substack.com/p/norman-roc...

#SoulPower : The Legend of the American Basketball Association premieres February 12 on @PrimeVideo Only 10 days to go ! I'll post some stories and some unpublished pictures and footage to tide you over until the documentary comes out! 🪏

There may not be Monday Night Football® tonight, but there will most definitely be football on this Monday night at Beauty of a Game HQ!

I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse but vintage inspired packaging always stands out to me. Retro design for the win!

It’s not every day that a single post references Princeton, Jack Davis, the Gutenberg Bible, AND Bazooka Joe. beautyofagame.substack.com/p/digging-in...

One of the things that I love about @gummyarts.bsky.social is that he often uses iconic card designs to spotlight famous figures, especially in music. Here’s Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, in the style of 1970 Topps Baseball. I’m assuming that card's a High Number.

A beauty to behold - a surprisingly large assortment of NFL souvenirs available outside an early 1970s Alabama Crimson Tide football game. From the 1974 book The College Game, reviewed on the Beauty of a Game Substack. beautyofagame.substack.com/p/beauty-of-...

Today on the Beauty of a Game Substack - A Look Back at my first year, and a vision for the year ahead. open.substack.com/pub/beautyof...

Aw no. RIP Sal Buscema, Marvel's workhorse penciler in the Bronze Age and beyond. Age 89. In fact, Sal drew SO many titles in the 1970s, it's fair to say he WAS the Bronze Age.

Stuck at home due to this winter storm. Really makes me miss ESPN’s The Sports Reporters.

Kids today will never understand the excitement of the Scholastic Book Fair to a first grader in 1978.

Did you know the relationship between Spalding & legendary MAD Magazine illustrator Jack Davis goes back further than the iconic “Streetball” ad from the 1970s & 80s? Jack's earliest Spalding work I’ve been able to find are these illustrations of Len Dawson & Wilt Chamberlain, from 1964 ads.

🔥🏀🎨 A few looks at Jordan's "Last Shot". #BasketballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist

"Looking through all of these really makes me feel lucky that I've been able to meet so many incredible artists and I'm thankful to all of them." - Collector RJ Casey, The World’s Premier Chicago Bulls Art Collection beautyofagame.substack.com/p/rj-casey-b...

🔥🏀🎨 Today on the Beauty of a Game Substack, I talk with RJ Casey, owner of The World’s Premier Chicago Bulls Art Collection. Check it out at beautyofagame.substack.com/p/rj-casey-b... #BasketballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist

We’re less than a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting. Time to get those gloves in shape.

I don’t typically spend the extra money on mint condition collectibles, but I think I’d make an exception for one of these Rawlings World Series Special gloves. 😍Simply beautiful.

😍😍😍 I guess I know what I'll be doing Feb. 12...