Joining in the collectible pin craze that has become a Little League World Series tradition, the Williamsport Sun-Gazette will offer six new pins this year and will kick off its pin sale at 7:30 a.m. Monday.
The community newspaper at 252 W. Fourth St. began participating in the tradition in 2004, said Bernard A. Oravec, publisher. After realizing increased popularity the past few years, the decision was made to offer more designs this year, he said.
"This year, because of the demand, we decided to create a series of six all new World Series pins," Oravec said.
When visitors of the Little League World Series aren't watching baseball, they may be seen buying, selling and swapping pins to create the perfect collection.
Before coming to the Sun-Gazette, Oravec admitted that he wasn't aware of the excitement surrounding the pins.
"Prior to arriving in 2009, I had no idea of the popularity of Little League pin collecting," he said.
In the past, Oravec said there have been lines around the building as the Sun-Gazette opened its doors the first day of the pin sale. Those who decide to arrive early Monday will be rewarded, Oravec announced.
"New this year, we are offering an incentive to the first 200 people who purchase the complete series in the form of an extremely limited-edition 'publisher's pin,' " he said. "It will not be available for individual sale and will only be available for purchase by the first 200 people who purchase the complete series."
Along with the publisher's pin, the series includes pins that celebrate the work of the Sun-Gazette's reporters and photographers.
As in the past, the newspaper also will offer a "special 'red version' of one of our new pins," Oravec explained. A percentage of proceeds from the red pin sale will go to Newspapers in Education, a literacy program that uses newspapers to help children with reading.
"We did this last year and had a great deal of success." Oravec said.
With the pins becoming so popular over the years, Oravec warned that they may not last for long.
"All of these pins have been produced in varying quantities so it's better to come to the Sun-Gazette early to purchase our pins before they run out," he said.
