It’s nearly impossible to look for sports memorabilia in the New York area and not have Brandon Steiner’s name come up. The Scarsdale resident has built an empire around the business with Steiner Sports Memorabilia and has incorporated it into companies like Last Licks. “It’s the only place where you can walk in for two scoops of mint chocolate-chip and walk out with a Derek Jeter autographed baseball,” he says. An avid collector, Steiner shares his favorite personal items.
1) An autographed photo of Mark Messier holding the Stanley Cup
The 16” X 20” framed photograph of the New York Rangers captain holding the 1994 Stanley Cup is valued at $600. Messier signed it, “To Brandon: We did it!” Says Steiner, “We were mostly a marketing company then. I knew a lot of people who would love to have that picture, so we signed Messier to an exclusive deal and we went on from there.”
2) A photograph of Steiner, Phil Rizzuto, and Derek Jeter
The 1990s shot of the three sits in Steiner’s office. “We were at a dinner. It’s not signed, and doesn’t have a money value, but it really means a lot to me. The two Yankees both helped build Steiner Sports.”
3) A Walt “Clyde” Frazier photograph
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Frazier on many occasions,” says Steiner, “which is exciting because he was my idol. I spent hours trying to be like him. He sums up the ultimate cool.” This 16” X 20” photograph shows Frazier during the Knicks championship period (’70, ’73), and it is worth about $200.
4) A Mariano Rivera makeshift glove
In 2003, Steiner was set to do a taped interview with the great Yankee closer on, ironically enough, Rivera’s favorite sports collectibles. “But he didn’t have any sports memorabilia to show me. So after a couple of minutes, Rivera said, ‘Hand me that box carrying the videotape. I’ll show you what glove I used to play with as a kid.’ He then proceeded to cut the cardboard into a glove shape and rested it on his hand. ‘That’s how I got these soft hands,’ he said.”
5) A Lawrence Taylor signed helmet
The New York Giants linebacker was “the first guy to ever sign items for me,” Steiner says. “But he never really took me seriously. He never looked at me as someone who could be a real businessman.” In 2002, Taylor signed a helmet (valued at $600) for Steiner with the inscription, “From one all pro to another.” Says Steiner, “For him to give me that respect was amazing for me.”