Anyone collect old Sports Collector's Digests?

Nathaniel1960

I picked up about 20 SCD's from the mid 70's at a local show for .25 each last year. They are fantastic. As I was flipping through one from 1976 I believe, I almost fell out of my chair. It contained, from what I can tell, the first Beckett card price listing. It was a few pages long in the middle of the SCD and had James Beckett at the top with his home address. I think it is the first listing because a few issues later another list was inserted and was footnoted as Beckett's second list. Pretty cool to think this tattered SCD spawned a hobby staple and icon.

It's a shame I didn't have $50 back in 1976 to pick up the vg-ex 50 count lot of Ramly's being offered by one seller in that issue. These SCDs are interesting b/c most of the seller's were running mini-auctions rather than listing buy prices. And the HOTTEST thing going was the 1976 Topps traded set.

Does anyone else collect these? I saw in an auction last year that a group of about 100 went for $150. So they appear cheap.

alifaxwa2

any with pirates or steelers on the covers?

Nathaniel1960

I'll take a look this weekend. Actually Bradshaw is a possibility now that I think about it.

Pigs

It sure is interesting to go back and look at the hobby back then. More cards were for sale before the auctions took hold. I saved a few from back then and always wonder why I didn't by a certain card for a few bucks that is now worth hundreds or more. Oh well. It was the only connection other than card shows I had with the outside collecting world. I remember Hall's Nostalgia was always on the back page.

Nathaniel1960

Something I didn't mention was the autograph listings. I don't collect autos, but wow, there were some amazing items available back then. Maris and Paige single signed balls for $10, etc. Clemente 3x5's for $5. I'm sure there were some fakes, but some of the prices were so low forgeries would not be worth doing. And for the purist HOF collector, some amazing late 19th century autos.

I wonder if auction houses have a library of these catalogs for authentication/odd-ball identifying purposes?

stevek

<< <i>It sure is interesting to go back and look at the hobby back then. More cards were for sale before the auctions took hold. I saved a few from back then and always wonder why I didn't by a certain card for a few bucks that is now worth hundreds or more. Oh well. It was the only connection other than card shows I had with the outside collecting world. I remember Hall's Nostalgia was always on the back page. >>



It is interesting but of course you're talking almost 35 years ago. I remember going to flea markets in the Philly area in the mid 70's and some sellers had boxes of t206's and t205's basically in around VG to EX type condition, for a buck apiece, and for sure the sellers would have taken an offer for less than that, and these cards still didn't sell - nobody wanted them, and of course these cards were already 60 years old, so who could figure these things would be worth some decent money in the future?

There are things right now...cards, coins or whatever...selling for pennies or cheap that 35 years from now will be worth a small fortune - The key is figuring out correctly what it will be? LOL

Nathaniel1960

<< <i>any with pirates or steelers on the covers? >>



I went back and didn't see any. Found an awesome Jack Nicklaus cover from 1978. And a Rogie Vachon. Then there was one with John McGraw, a dude posing with an entire set of Hartland Figures, Sibby Sisti.... very eclectic, which epitomizes the mid 70's I guess.

flatfoot816

I love them!

Only 1 I have is from 1976 with Teddy Ballgame on the front.

Any interets in selling a few?

PM me if yes

csmtampa

Nathaniel I'd be interested in a few of them if your willing to part with them. I LOVE reading old SCD's, Becketts, Tuff Stuffs, etc....

Sabrgeek

nathaniel:

As an amateur hobby historian; I'll take any and all of the leftover SCD's at a reasonably price

Regards
Rich Klein

Nathaniel1960

I will keep you all in mind after I'm through them. I was thinking of scanning a few to .pdfs. Would that be of help to any of you?

digicat

I'd LOVE some PDFs of old SCDs!

Estil

Do they still do SCD weekly like they did in the good ol' days? Kinda gives new meaning to the term Weekly Reader, eh?