At last week’s National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC) in Cleveland, members of the Fritz family – headed by dad Ty and mom Beth – were treated to a special moment, courtesy of the team at PSA. A personalized trading card, aptly entitled “Team FRITZ,” was produced on the spot for the four-member family by PSA’s marketing crew and four copies of the encapsulated keepsake were then delivered to them just minutes later for a terrific take-home memento from the National, the industry’s largest sports memorabilia and trading card show of the year.
As the parents of two beautiful children, Addalyn and baby Mason, Ty and Beth are spearheading the recovery of their youngest child with the help of the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. Mason, who turned 11 months old on Saturday, August 4 – the same day the family received their special cards from PSA – was born with a rare blood disorder that causes severe anemia. After spending one month in the hospital, Mason was then relocated to the RM House of Cleveland where he spent three more weeks battling his predicament and bonding with his family.
The fight continues, but last Saturday marked a special day for the entire Fritz clan. As the recipients of a “Once in a Lifetime VIP Experience” at the National, they were treated to a most memorable outing. One of the many stops on their VIP tour inside Cleveland’s International Exposition (I-X) Center took place at PSA’s corporate booth. Accompanied by NSCC Communications Director Ray Schulte, who provided the introductions, the Fritz family posed for their unique trading card in front of a giant green screen and was then awarded their prized keepsakes by PSA President Steve Sloan. Appropriately, the family chose a baseball stadium backdrop for their card and Beth even donned a Jim Thome Cleveland Indians jersey (and Rawlings bat) provided by PSA for the moment.
“When we won the contest, I didn’t really have a handle on what it all entailed, but it just blew me away,” said Beth, when asked what it was like to peruse the NSCC floor.
“Everywhere we went, people were beyond generous and welcoming. Everybody made us feel like celebrities. The baseball cards that you guys gave to us are so cool. And just to have that picture of us is such a great memory! It means so much to us to be able show our kids these cards when they get older. Thank you. I think that’s what I really want to say.”
The Fritz family resides in Medina, Ohio, which is located about an hour south of Cleveland. Everyone at PSA would like to wish them all the best as Mason continues his march toward good health.
