Sportscard Project Question #1 - What are the best books and websites regarding sportscard collectin

SportscardProject

Please name the authors of the books and the URLs of the websites.

jaybyrd

The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book is very entertaining. Has an interesting first chapter with the man who started Topps cards back in the fifties. Most of the remainder of the book shows pictures of Topps cards with often very humorous stories of ballplayers. I believe it is out of print, but you can still find used ones on Amazon.

Authors were Brendan C. Boyd and Fred C. Harris. One of the authors stated in the book he later started up 'The Great American Baseball Card Company.'

qualitycards

As far as information, you cant beat Krause Publications Standard Catalog OF Baseball cards. The 2004 edition is over 2000 pages. It has a nice concise write-up and checklist for every set. Its a must have for any card nut...jay

Basilone

This should get you started. My apologies if these have been listed already.

Also...I have a question for you. Are you collector? If so, how long have you been in the hobby?


WEBSITES:

OldCardboard.com

T206museum.com

Caramel-Cards.com

Vintage & Classic Baseball Collector

Beckett.com (for Modern Cards)


Books/Periodicals:

VCBC Back Issues

The Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards by Lew Lipset

Sports Collector's Digest (weekly publication)

and the granddaddy if you can find it:

Burdick, J.R. (Jefferson R.). (1960). The American card catalog: the standard guide on all collected cards and their values. East Stroudsburg, PA: Kistler Printing Company.

Burdick Revisted


Also...Several Books by Frank Slocum



Auction Catalogs (for reference).

Mastronet
Robert Edward Auctions
Lelands.com
Superior


Older Auction Catalogs:

Mastro & Steinbach
Ron Oser
MastroWest
Richard Wolfers

(just search Google.com to find links to these sites)

Also....get your hands on 2 very important auction catalogs:

1991 Sotheby's Copeland Collection Auction Catalog
1999 Sotheby's Barry Halper Collection Auction Catalog (more memorbilia..but cool none the less)

Message Boards:

Collector's Universe
Nework 54
SGC
Beckett
SportsCardForum.com


Hope this helps...

Machodoc

Although not strictly about card collecting, an important book everyone should read about "the Hobby" in general is "Card Sharks" by Pete Williams. This is the story of the founding and rise of Upper Deck, and will truly illuminate you on many aspects of the production of cards, not to mention the ex stars who collect their own cards.

Card Sharks was published in 1995 by McMillian and is a fast, fun, and fascinating read.

SW

qualitycards

STEVE - I liked that book too! But it portrayed Upper Deck and its president as a card whore, with so many games being played.
Re-starting the presses and producing more cases (French Hockey) and handing out "rare" inserts to execs in huge quantity as a bonus, and other dubious ways to run a business.
I'm sure it wasn't Richard McWilliams favorite book...jay

Machodoc

Jay - But was the book wrong?

qualitycards

STEVE - I took it as gospel.
I just figured it was more of a seedy look of the card manufacturers industry, and would recommend something more upbeat...jay

onegaucho

My 2 cents:


Topps Baseball Cards - The Complete Picture Collection, A 35 yr history. 1951-1985. Includes a photo of every card produced (not including errors though and variations).

T206 The Monster - By Bill Heitman
The Mysteries of T206 - By Mark Peavey

CW

"Hager's guide to Baseball Cards" by Alan Hager has been
mentioned as a good book. Also, the Library of Congress
has a nice section on cards -- link

Chris Stufflestreet also has a nice, informative site.

TOPPS INSERT, TEST AND SUPPLEMENTAL BASEBALL ISSUES 1949-1980 By David Hornish

OBC

another one...

Good luck!

Engineer

This site contains some great information. Also check the Network54 Vintage board for resources.

Cycleback

Network54

dude

Gosh, I can't believe no one has mentioned Mr. Mint's two books.

SKINSFAN

DUDE whats the title of those books.
How to lie and cheat and overgrade your cards from a to z

RayBShotz

Sorry I took so long wth an answer on this. Aside from some of those great titles already mentioned, an excellent one is this:

Publishers Clearing House
Consumer Guide
Official Guide to Baseball Card Collecting Handbook
Copyright 1990
ISBN 0-88176-803-0

This book covers 100 years of sets wiith a very nice synopsis of the years 1886 to 1988. Covers all the major issues as well as some smaller and regional ones. 2 or 3 columns of text on each with B&W photo examples. Book also has dedicated color photo sections with many examples of each set.
Any time I feel like I want a quick reminder of the details regarding a specific set I always find myself going back to this book. It covers all the basics well.

I would also say that the Topps Big Book of Pictures (every card from every year 1952 to 1986 I think) is also quite amazing. Great way to pass a rainy day.

Best of luck on the project. I will volunteer my thoughts anytime.
RayB9Topps
PM or aja4rayb@msn.com

davidhobson

i like this new one:

http://nationalsportscards.com