Baseball Catalog Survey - Please comment on which catalog you use

Stone193

I received my 07 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards today. It was given to me by my assistants at the office.

I was just wondering how many people use this or other catalogs like the "big" Beckett e.g.

Thanx for participating.
mike

storm888

For my purposes, EBAY and SMR have made catalogs
redundant.

If I was trying to ID a highly specialized item that I could
not find online, I would just ask someone.

I used to like looking through catalogs, but I no longer
have the patience to do it. I do still look at the auction
catalogs, but I am not as thrilled by them as I once was.

storm

SDSportsFan

I get an SCD Standard Catalog every 2-3 years (I currently have a 2005 issue). I really get it only as a checklist to see what's out there on pre-ww2 cards. Besides being too expensive to get every year, the card prices don't change that much, and are usually nowhere close to reality on pre-WW2 cards anyway.

Since I buy my cards almost exclusively from ebay, I use that to determine pricing info.


Steve

hofcollectoronly

I don't bother with them anymore now that I joined vintagecardprices

HoofHearted

Hey, Stone,

I've got about 10 catalogs I've bought over the years from various sources. I still keep my 1989 (3rd edition!) SCD BBC Price Card next to the computer here just for a reference of the older sets. I find it very useful researching from which set I'm going to score my next Senators/Twins card. That was one of the first catalogues which had some info on unopened material -- which was the big reason I bought that particular issue.

hh

Stone193

Point:

The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, e.g., is not really required as a price guide.

There's plenty of sources for that.

But, it does help in identifying and describing material which would otherwise drive ya nuts finding.

I use the internet a lot to find stuff - but in the course of the year, I answer at least 1 - 2 questions a month for someone.

E.g. the size of an issue, number of cards in the set, identifying an item, variations, etc.

mike

edit: Good example - I picked this up somewhere and had no idea whether it came as a set or what? - I looked in the catalog based on the approximate year/copyright and found it on pg. 238 - 1952 C. McDonald Baseball Emblems which then gave me a brief description to include how many in the set.

Boopotts

<< <i>For my purposes, EBAY and SMR have made catalogs
redundant.

If I was trying to ID a highly specialized item that I could
not find online, I would just ask someone.

I used to like looking through catalogs, but I no longer
have the patience to do it. I do still look at the auction
catalogs, but I am not as thrilled by them as I once was.

storm >>




I disagree. A catalog is useless if you want to learn what the $$ value is of a card, but they are fantastic for guiding you towards obscure regional issues that you never would have heard about otherwise. I've probably made about $4000 this year just by grading obscure modern issues of HOFers (1985 and later) that I learned about in my baseball card almanac. Now obviously that's not a lot of money, but without that almanac I wouldn't have that 4 grand.

TNP777

<< <i>

I received my 07 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards today. It was given to me by my assistants at the office.

I was just wondering how many people use this or other catalogs like the "big" Beckett e.g.

Thanx for participating.
mike >>

Mike - this is the one I use as well, although my 2005 is due for an update. I think I'm on my 4th one - the others are around somewhere. They're worth keeping because as more & more new issues come out, it seems that the old stuff gets weeded out.

Geordie

AlanAllen

I get a new baseball one every 8-10 years and football every 4-5. I've tried them both, but the SCD is clearly the best for baseball and Beckett is clearly the best for football. Krause doesn't even try to be comprehensive in their football book. Just like any book though, they're only one piece of the puzzle. They don't have the most accurate pricing, most useful information, or most complete checklists, but they're a wonderful place to start and an invaluable reference.

Joe

Stone193

Krause is running a special right now on free shipping.

There isn't a better reference for BB than the Standard Catalog IMO.

mike

RobMM77

I don't like Beckett at all, period. I like the SMR as a refrence and a guide. As far a the other guide, I have never used it..

Tedw9

I buy a Standard Catalog every few years for reference. Like others, it is most valuable to me with the older or oddball items, not so much the prices. It's been a few years now so I think it's time to buy another.

fiveniner

I buy one every 3 yrs or so just for the older odd ball stuff.

frankhardy

I recommend EVERYONE into cards should have an SCD catalog. I use the interent alot too for pricing, but the SCD catalog is priceless when it comes to identifying certain issues. Plus, it gives a picture and a decription of each issue. I have a 2004 edition that I got from "Bishop" on these boards. I don't know how I did without one. As many as obscure items that I have come across, I don't think that there was a one that wasn't in this catalog.

themetalsign

I bought 2007 Beckett Almanac just for research purposes. The price guide is worthless as most are anyway.