Pieces of balloon boy saucer sold as trading cards

The Associated Press, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, 6:39am (PDT)

LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) -- Pieces of the infamous flying saucer that starred in Colorado's balloon boy hoax are now available as trading cards.

Michael Fruitman, the current owner of the balloon, struck a deal with New York-based sports and entertainment card company Topps to use a segment of the Mylar saucer for individual trading cards.

The Loveland Reporter-Herald reports (http://bit.ly/MGRmkt) the cards are included in the recently released 2012 Topps Baseball Allen & Ginter Relics Set.

The silver, UFO-like helium balloon gripped the country's attention in 2009 when Richard and Mayumi Heene (HEE'-nee) said their 6-year-old son had floated away in it.

The parents were charged when it was discovered the boy was never onboard, and they were ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution.

The Heenes lived in Fort Collins at the time but have moved to Florida.

Fruitman says he acquired the balloon from the couple's California attorney, who says Fruitman paid $2,502 for it in an auction.

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Information from: Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald, http://www.reporterherald.com/