| For many years, collecting sports items was | | | | White Rose got the license to produce mini |
| limited to cards, jerseys, autographs and items | | | | Zamboni's, the machine that cleans the ice surface |
| that were directly related to the sport. Die cast | | | | at all ice rinks and a machine that has an unusual |
| sports items were available with most relating to | | | | popularity with hockey fans in general. All NHL |
| auto racing. They were naturally a perfect fit to | | | | collectors now had their item! Even though it was |
| the die cast market that was mostly automobiles | | | | not an official Matchbox item, the Zamboni WAS |
| to begin with. Sure, Matchbox, Hot Wheels and | | | | directly related to the sport and was a HUGE |
| Corgi collections were already in full swing with a | | | | success with fans. As with past items, the official |
| great selection of product and availability, but die | | | | colors and logos were employed in the design as |
| cast collectibles in the other major sports like | | | | well as, the year of production. Die cast now had |
| baseball and football were hard to come by. This | | | | a much bigger presence in the sports collectible |
| was easy to understand because there was no | | | | marketplace. As years passed, other models and |
| true relation between these sports and motor | | | | styles were added to the line that included tractor |
| vehicles, right? Wrong!!! The beginning of the | | | | trailers, tandem trailers and helicopters, to name a |
| movement for die cast items from racing into the | | | | few. As popularity increased, so did the attention |
| other major sports began in 1989. The Baltimore | | | | of the bigger sports companies and White Rose |
| Orioles wanted to have a unique promotional | | | | was eventually purchased by Fleer, Inc. Fleer |
| giveaway for their fans at one of their games. | | | | continued to add to the line to also include muscle |
| They contacted and did business with a small | | | | cars, fighter planes and more classic vehicles. A |
| company in York, PA that many of us know as | | | | year or so ago, Fleer was bought out by Upper |
| White Rose Collectibles. White Rose literally | | | | Deck, Inc. which has continued to enhance the die |
| "stepped up to the plate" and delivered an existing | | | | cast line of products. Even though the companies |
| Matchbox Model A Ford with the Orioles Logo and | | | | change, the vehicles and production quality |
| year printed on the side to given away to fans. | | | | continue to improve. All vehicle designs continue to |
| This Oriole item, being so unique, was a big hit | | | | change from year to year but many still have the |
| with fans of all ages. Die cast had now started to | | | | year printed on them. They all still have a limited |
| become a sport collectible. Starting in 1990, White | | | | production runs to further protect their |
| Rose began to produce these collectible Model A | | | | collectibility. Racing fans will always be the biggest |
| Ford trucks for all Major League Baseball and NFL | | | | die cast sports collector's. For this reason, they |
| teams. Popularity was still a bit unknown so the | | | | also have the widest variety of product that |
| production run of approximately 10,000 per team | | | | ranges in price from a few dollars to limited |
| was limited to hobby, toy, card and gift stores | | | | production vehicles that cost a few hundred |
| and was not available to most of the mass | | | | dollars. Also, as in other sports, scale models in all |
| retailers. All of these tucks were officially licensed | | | | sizes are available to satisfy the needs of all |
| and were available with the appropriate team | | | | collectors. Manufacturers such as Winner's Circle, |
| colors and logos. The year of the model, 1990 in | | | | Revell, and Action (now Motorsports Authentic) |
| this case, was also printed on the door panels. | | | | keep collectors of all ages and budgets happy. |
| Printing the year on the vehicles is what made | | | | Race cars are continuously updated to reflect |
| these trucks a true collector's item. Each year the | | | | changes in sponsors, drivers, color designs and |
| color scheme would change a bit to keep the | | | | various promotions, such as movies, that keep |
| items fresh. Then the vehicles themselves began | | | | the racing die cast collections fresh. In all, it |
| to change to really enhance the collectibility of the | | | | doesn't matter what sport you enjoy or what |
| product. Again, all models still had the year printed | | | | driver you follow. Die cast collectibles are a fun |
| on them and production still remained limited. Since | | | | and unique way to display your support. Limited |
| these were still Matchbox models, these also | | | | production runs, variety of vehicles and ever |
| became a "cross over" collectible to main stream | | | | changing designs help protect the value of your |
| Matchbox collectors. The mid 1990's brought the | | | | collection and yet offer a choice that keeps every |
| addition of a few of the most popular NBA teams | | | | collector happy. I doesn't matter if you are in the |
| but, there was still nothing for the hockey | | | | winners circle or hoisting a World Series trophy, |
| collector to this point. That all changed when | | | | die cast collectibles are heavy metal fun!!! |