By Alex Cohen-Smith Archive

We’ve now passed the time where the normal person is saying to themselves “It’s almost time to think about Christmas presents” and we have since entered the phase of “I am in so much trouble. It’s the middle of December and I haven’t gotten anything!” That’s where I come in.

It has got to be near impossible for a person with no background knowledge of sports to buy a present for a sports fan. How do they (or you) know the difference between a Damion Easley signed photograph and a Pee Wee Reese signed photograph? One of those two players in a Hall of Famer, but you can’t tell just by looking at the photo. This is why I’ve outlined a few great gifts that can help you win the heart of the sports fan you love so dearly this holiday season.

The Smart Buys

For those of you looking to find the right gift, without breaking the bank, Steiner Sports has options for you. You’d be surprised to see how many great gifts there are on our website for under $100. No matter what the sport or the fan we have something that will fit their needs.

The House That Ruth Built Key Chain with dirt for the Original Yankee Stadium is a great gift for all those Yankee fans looking to carry around a bit of Yankee history with them wherever they go. Each Key Chain actually has dirt from the old Yankee Stadium before the Yankees made the move to their new home this year. And they only cost $20! Yankee fans could also go with an Original Yankee Stadium Foul Pole Piece with a Glass Display Case. A great way to take a chunk of the stadium home, it comes with  a glass case and engraved nameplate.

For baseball fans looking to veer away from the Yankee trend, there are loads of options as well. Just take a look at the list below:

• Moises Alou Autographed Baseball – Only $40 for a player who it over .300 with 332 homers in his career is a steal.
• Frank Robinson Autographed Baseball with “HOF 82″ Inscription – Not impressed by Alou’s numbers? How about a signed ball from a guy with 586 Home runs (7th all-time) for under $100? Not too shabby
• Fred Lynn Autographed Baseball with “1975 AL MVP/ROY” Inscription – The first player ever to win rookie of the year and MVP in the same season. Quality inscription baseballs are rare and not easy to come by.

For football I would direct you to the Final Season Texas Stadium Game Used Turf Plaque, a great gift for any fan who appreciates Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith, Roger Staubach and the gridiron greats from Cowboy past. Other great buys are:

• Doug Flutie Autographed Boston College Hail Mary 16×20 Photograph – Arguably the greatest play EVER. Not just in college football history. Not just in football history. EVER. Look here if you don’t believe me.
• Dwight Clark Autographed “The Catch” 8×10 Photograph – Another one of the greatest plays of all-time. 49er fans will never forget where they were when Joe Montana hooked up with Dwight Clark (not that kind of hooked up, get your mind out of the gutter). See the video here.

For basketball, the great deal of the site has got to be the University of North Carolina Championship Court 8×10 Plaque. With college hoops season in full force the collectible is a great way to remember the 2009 championship coached by Hall of Famer Roy Williams and led by current NBA players Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green. Some of our other great hoops buys are:

• Tony Parker Autographed 2007 Finals Lay-Up 8×10 Photograph – The is a great photo of the 3-time NBA Champion…and it would only be made better if his beautiful wife Eva Longaria-Parker of Desperate Housewives fame was in it with him.
• Jason Kidd Autographed First Game Back with Mavericks 8×10 Photo – #2 in assists all-time is enough to entice any true hoops fan

If you’re looking to spend a little more, I  always recommend Yankee Stadium Seats for an awesome piece of sports history that will have your friends green with envy.

Remember that a piece of memorabilia isn’t something that losing it’s luster over time. It’s also not something that you can grow out of. It’s not quite your High School Musical, or your Power Rangers or any other fad that comes and goes every ten years or so. As cheesy as it may sound, memorabilia is a gift that gives forever. If need more great gift ideas for that fan on your list just email me at acohensmith@steinersports.com or call 1800-759-SCORE for more information. Have a great holiday!