Back in 2008 the company entered into a unique license agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association (also known as the Players Union). The license agreement covered all their packaged memorabilia products, called the “Mystery” line, and their boxes carry the MLBPA logo.

Their products have consistently been strong and desired by collators! The Mystery Baseballs have often held great deals for our customers, both in the strength of the players offered and in the quality of the signatures. The “black baseballs” that have been possible have always been received with a great deal of enthusiasm!

So, it was with a great deal of anticipation that we awaited the release last week of 2012 Just Minors Mystery Gamers Baseball. Unlike packs of baseball cards that may hold a card with a swatch of uniform or glove or cleat, etc. …Mystery Gamers offers the entire piece of game-used equipment! Each case contains 4 display boxes, and the inner display boxes are clearly marked with the type of game-used item it contains. Every box of the product has either a game-used jersey, fielding glove, pair of cleats, hat or two pairs of batting gloves! It is easy to see why we were so excited. And the list of players contributing isn’t shabby! We were told that we could look for game-used pieces from Justin Verlander, Buster Posey, Justin Upton, Eric Hosmer, Evan Longoria, Tom Glavine, Joey Votto, Jason Heyward, Justin Morneau, Hanley Ramirez and others.

Once again, the boxes are marked with the type of memorabilia they have so that collectors know what they’re buying, just not the player. So, with a bit of fanfare – and no small amount of breath-holding – we opened the first case in front of our customers with the intention of selling the items as “known”, and then the other cases were sold as sealed boxes. It was a blast!

And now in this post, for the curious and collecting-minded, we are glad to share a list of what came out of the first case opened. All but the cap are available for sale, and you can find them by clicking on the list below:

• Jay Bruce autographed batting gloves
• Evan Longoria autographed batting gloves
• Billy Butler autographed Royals cap (already sold)
• Jeremy Hermida autographed game-used spikes
• Junichi Tazawa autographed fielding glove (and it came with an embroidered “glove bag” – VERY cool piece!!)

For several years now, our fans, everybody, have been screaming about the number of Phillies fans that invade our park when we have a series here at Nationals Park,. Frankly, I’m tired of seeing the Phillies fans in our ballpark in Washington more than anything. We sat down as a group and we said,”You know what? It’s time to take our park back in Washington and get our fans in this park.”
“We have a great team this year — one of the best pitching staffs in the National League, if not the best with the addition of Edwin Jackson and Gonzalez. You have [Stephen] Strasburg and Zimmermann healthy. We sat down and said, “Let’s do something we’ve never done before.”

Washington Nationals chief operating officer, Andy Feffer, about a special “Take Back the Park” initiative for Nationals home games against the Phillies

Due to a total lack of creativity on this front, we will hear from the thirty teams according to alphabetical order. Today’s team for a quote: Toronto Blue Jays

I think it’s a label that gets put on you, and I take full responsibility and I take it with everything I’ve got. You’re viewed as a leader and making sure the staff goes in the right direction. They build off of you, so you go out there and just continue to work hard.

Ricky Romero, when asked about being called the “ace” of the Blue Jays staff

Due to a total lack of creativity on this front, we will hear from the thirty teams according to alphabetical order. Today’s team for a quote: Texas Rangers

Elvis represents everything we want the Texas Rangers to be about. He’s a young player with extreme upside with a ton of enthusiasm and a ton of ability. He has been a big part of our playoff run the past two years…We feel his energy and enthusiasm represent the personality of our club. He has put a lot into his career so far and we feel his best years are ahead of him. We’re excited to see how those years will unfold.

Rangers assistant general manager, Thad Levine, regarding shortstop Elvis Andrus

Due to a total lack of creativity on this front, we will hear from the thirty teams according to alphabetical order. Today’s team for a quote: Tampa Bay Rays

Guys like that can get overlooked when all the fans want to talk about are hitting and pitching. Defense is so important; a bad defense will break down a pitching staff in a heartbeat.

Tampa Bay Ray, Sean Rodriguez, talking about teammate Ben Zobrist

Due to a total lack of creativity on this front, we will hear from the thirty teams according to alphabetical order. Today’s team for a quote: Seattle Mariners

“I had guys like Sandy Alomar Jr. and Pudge Rodriguez helping me out. Now he’s going to have me to teach him some of the things I learned from the older people. It’s hard, but I had a lot of people help me out. Maybe that’s why I am what I am right now, because I listened to them. If he listens to people that know about catching, he can be one of the top catchers in the league.

Miguel Olivo, catcher for the Seattle Mariners, speaking of rookie Jesus Montero, obtained from the Yankees in the off-season

Due to a total lack of creativity on this front, we will hear from the thirty teams according to alphabetical order. Today’s team for a quote: San Francisco Giants

I’m happy but not satisfied. You want to work more to show the fans what you can do, better and better. I want to keep focused and keep playing hard and show the fans that I don’t care about money. I just care about the game.

Pablo Sandoval, known as Kung Fu Panda, at the Giant’s FanFest

Due to a total lack of creativity on this front, we will hear from the thirty teams according to alphabetical order. Today’s team for a quote: San Diego Padres

“He’s a cage rat, he loves being in the cage, he loves being around guys hitting. I think he has the right combination of the right ideas of enthusiasm for hitting and the knowledge of the game and dedication to be available for everyone.

San Diego Padres outfielder, Will Venable, referring to new hitting coarch, Phil Plantier

Due to a total lack of creativity on this front, we will hear from the thirty teams according to alphabetical order. Today’s team for a quote: Pittsburgh Pirates

He has as quick hands as anyone in baseball,. He generates explosiveness off the bat. The extra-base hits are going to be where his power is. He has shown he can leave to every part of the ballpark. Now it is getting him to be a great hitter.

Pittsburgh Pirates GM, Neal Huntington, with reference to buddingn star, Andrew McCutchen

Due to a total lack of creativity on this front, we will hear from the thirty teams according to alphabetical order. Today’s team for a quote: Philadelphia Phillies

You want to reach a deal in the middle. You want to be treated fairly, but you also want to get out there and play baseball. You don’t want to be in the hearing room. You don’t want to be battling over those things. Everything went smoothly. The Phillies treated me great. I couldn’t be happier. I’m very grateful.

Hunter Pence, after avoiding arbitration and signing a one-year, $10.2 million contract.