By Ed Kiersh
To many, Westport’s Legends of the Game sports memorabilia shop is rapidly becoming known as Yankee Stadium North.
Legends of the Game owner Michael Riccio waits on customer Spencer Burns, 14, of Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ed Kiersh for WestportNow.com
Located in the Compo Shopping Center, the shop, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month, attracts autograph enthusiasts, baseball card collectors, and assorted nostalgia seekers.
But the flood of Yankee supporters puts owner Michael Riccio, 30, in “a tough bind.”
He’s an avowed Boston Red Sox fan who sells a wide range of Sox-logoed waste baskets, David Ortiz jerseys and dog bowls celebrating Fenway Park.
But it’s the Yankees who sell merchandise. Players like potential Hall of Fame relief pitcher Goose Goossage who appeared at the shop last Saturday and attracted a long line of people willing to spend $40 for a signed bit of history.
Gossage joined other past Yankee notables like Bucky Dent, Scott Proctor, Don Larsen and Graig Nettles who’ve talked with customers about their playing exploits.
Former Yankee pitcher David Cone will likely appear at the Post Road store later this summer.
“What we are doing here is helping people connect with their heroes, reminding them of their youth,” said Riccio, who left a career in finance to join his father in the shop.
“People have attachments with these players. They want to connect with them. So the shop is more than selling authenticated memorabilia. It’s a place filled with dreams.”
Spencer Burns, 14, is too young to remember the past.
The Westport youngster simply likes collecting jersey cards, or those newly-popular collectibles with pieces of the players’ game-worn jerseys inserted into the card.
“I really like Legends because it’s got a lot of stuff,” said Spencer, admiring a case of autographed baseballs.
Yankee pitcher Scott Proctor, who walked in the winning run in Tuesday night’s 3-2 Yankee loss to Baltimore, chats with a fan at Legends of the Game last October. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“I like everything here, the signed bats, the vintage cards. But the jersey cards, the (Derek) Jeter cards, are the best. I’m here a lot.”
Riccio particularly likes a Babe Ruth photo that’s prominently displayed near the front counter. He also cherishes the signed balls of the players who have come to the shop.
Most of these notables were crowd pleasers who charmingly took customers down memory lane.
“We’ve had a few grouches, guys who acted like they didn’t want to be here,” admitted Riccio.
“But 90 percent of the guys are engaging, especially the Goose. He posed with people, told stories, and was very engaging.”
But Goose is still symbolic of Riccio’s “Yankee problem.”
“Yankee memorabilia sells no matter if they are first or last place,” said Riccio.
“But when they are doing well it really helps business. Then I can’t keep the stuff in the store. That’s tough on me. I’m a Red Sox fan, and I want them to do well.”
