If you're a regular reader here, then you know that Ballers has had a place in this Collecting Game-used series with other event-used pieces shown off here a few times -- in fact this is not the first time I have typed something like that.

Yes, I realize that "the game" there isn't reality, but the items used in production are, and, this time, it's for an item I bought cheap and on a whim -- 100-percent without research. And ironically the piece turned out to be the lynchpin to an entire scene and it was all there all along ... I just had to go to the tape.

Some quick background -- there was unique auction for a number of props from the HBO series via Heritage Auctions and Screenbid a few years ago and then the remaining props and other pieces went off to a company that burns that stuff from all kinds of production companies over time for this and other shows. Some items can be sold on the serious cheap because the company doesn't necessarily have the time to match things up to specific episodes or moments like you're about to see, though some items come with more detail than others.

If not, keep reading to see the details this time.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: MLB's cheaters, talking 1981 Topps, MLB licensing and breaks, NFL scandals and more.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: Autographed books, Jon Gruden, a big mystery box pull, NBA chatter and more in this edition.

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Jon Gruden's return to the Oakland Raiders looks to be a pricey one when it comes next week -- a mere 10-year contract worth close to $100 million.

One thing the former coach turned analyst turned coach again might not be doing anytime soon after signing that massive deal, though, is signing autographs for card companies -- but thankfully for collectors he's already got a heavy volume of ink out there (at least for a coach) from more than a decade ago if they want one.

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