Hobby Musings: Historic Autographs Has Big Plans For 2025 – Throughout its production history, Historic Autographs has always striven to bring collectors unique autographs and relics from the sports and non-sports world. To find out more about what the company has in store for 2025, I had the chance to catch up with owner Kevin Heffner.
KS: Hey there Kevin, good to catch up with you. What does Historic Autographs have in store for 2025?
KH: Historic Autographs started 2025 with an incredible release, Founding Fathers. But that is far from the pinnacle of what HA has in store for the year. We intend to release POTUS, the White House Edition, Originals 1939, Famous Americans 2 and our most comprehensive WWII product yet. These are just some of the 14 products we have on our slate for the year.
KS: Which cards do you think you’re most excited to get out there for collectors this year?
KH: This would be a tie between POTUS, the White House Edition or our WWII product. POTUS is always a huge hit, but we get more queries about making another World War II product than any other.
KS: For all the amazing cards you’ve offered, do you still have a dream card you’d like to put together?
KH: This is such a difficult question to answer because there are so many great cards yet to be made. Cards with Ruth/Gehrig, Hamilton/Burr and Jordan/Ali all come to mind. Still, Historic Autographs has already made the Boulevard of Broken Dreams quad card with Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, James Dean and Humphrey Bogart, and we will continue to make wonderfully collectible cards for our fans.
KS: Kevin, you’ve been at this a while now. What still inspires you to do what you do?
KH: This is always an easy question to answer, I love history and sports. This is always a labor of love for me and my staff.
KS: What is something in your personal collection that readers might be surprised about?
KH: My personal collection is not as bold as one may think. Since I get to handle so many great autographs and relics for Historic Autographs, I tend to collect less than you might think. I collect Jimmie Foxx and Richie Ashburn cards and autographs, because I love Philly sports.
KS: Your company has evolved significantly over the last few years in how it presents products, especially in terms of building base card sets along with parallels. Reflecting on it now, how do you think the changes have worked out for Historic?
KH: We put a lot of thought into creating base sets with card variations and parallels so that collectors have something to cherish once completed. No other company that does historically based cards works harder on base cards than we do.
KS: A big part of your company business, as the name suggests, is the autographs. Who would you say are the toughest autographs to find right now, both sport and non-sport?
KH: Hard-to-find autographs are different from those autographs that have an impact. A perfect example would be Babe Ruth versus Clancy Smyres. Ruth is more collectible and well-known, but Clancy Smyres is, by far, tougher. Smyres played one season and lived until 2007, but because he never signed for anyone, the very few known examples of his signature are worth nearly as much as Ruth, but few people know who he was.
KS: Where do you source your artifacts and autographs? As an example, the wood and nails for your Washington Slept Here cards in Founding Fathers.
KH: Each relic’s story is different. Most are purchased from reputable auction houses with solid provenance. The Washington Slept Here wood and nails came from the preservationist that helped take down the building.
KS: We’re still undergoing so much change in what remains a booming trading card world. What do you think is the state of the hobby today?
KH: My opinions of the hobby are mixed. I love that people are collecting, but the costs of manufacturing have gone up so much over the past few years that is has become very difficult to keep prices low. We have not raised our costs much over this span because our small corner of the hobby is still in its infancy.
KS: What is one thing you would change about the hobby?
KH: I would change the number of products on the market and force companies to use authentic relics in their cards and show the provenance of each piece.
KS: What do you like about what some other companies are doing in the hobby?
KH: I tend not to put much stock in what others do. HA does what we feel is best for HA and the collector.
KS: We talked about Fyre last year and everything it offers as a card company. What’s on the docket for it in 2025?
KH: Fyre is going to come out with several trading cards sets this year. First on the docket will be C.A.S.H. (Celebrities, Athletes, Strange Tales and History). This will have a modern look with color parallels and a “hit” per pack.
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Kelsey’s ability to bring hobby coverage to the mainstream sports fan has been a true asset. GTS is happy to feature his thoughts on collecting in Hobby Musings. The opinions expressed are his and do not necessarily reflect those of GTS Distribution.
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