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