Dictionary

12th man: Term used to describe how fans in a stadium can help the home players as though there were an additional member on the team.

affiliation: A bond with others; an emotional motivation for individuals to become sports fans.

authenticator: A symbol of certification that a given document or object has been professionally evaluated and is accepted to be genuine.

Babe Ruth: Professional baseball player from the first half of the 1900s whose home-run record long made his signature one of the most sought-after autographs.

bandwagon fan: An individual who only supports an athletic team when they are winning.

bobbleheads: A collectible doll with a wobbly head, often molded in the image of famous figures from the word of sports.

bonding: A feeling of connection with others; a motivating factor for people to become sports fans.

broker: An individual or company who connects buyers and sellers of tickets to sporting events.

COA: Certificate of authenticity, a seal that states a document or piece of memorabilia is genuine. Because COAs are easily faked, they aren't as trustworthy as an authenticator.

commemorative: A special version of a sports memorabilia item, such as a jersey, released to coincide with a special event or anniversary.

convention: A large gathering of fans where sports memorabilia is often sold.

counterfeit: Describes an object manufactured to look identical to another of higher worth.

crank: A slang term used to describe especially ardent fans.

Cy Young Award: Honor bestowed on the most talented pitchers in Major League Baseball. This award raises the prestige and value of a pitcher’s baseball card, autograph or other memorabilia. It's named after Cy Young, the most winning pitcher in the history of the game.

eBay: Online auction system that has been used to sell sports memorabilia but can also be a source of counterfeit items.

escapism: A type of diversion; a reason why some people become sports fans.

event programs: A printed brochure documenting the athletes taking part in a given sporting event. Programs can become a collector’s item.