4. Negro League Collectibles Guide Released
Phil Garry has done it again. The avid Hall-of-Fame Rookie Card collector and researcher has now compiled the most comprehensive compendium to date about Negro League collectibles.
Phil's extensive multiyear project has provided knowledge and reference data about vintage Negro League baseball collectibles that has heretofore been virtually non-existent in any published format. The result is an 8-1/2 by ll inch 270-page volume filled with more than 1000 full-color images. It is titled simply "Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide."
In organizing the guide, Garry first set out to identify every "significant" Negro Leaguer from the late 19th century through the early 1950's. In doing so, he first reviewed biographies of over 5,000 Negro Leaguers. From these biographies, a list of nearly 400 individuals were deemed to be "significant" enough to be included in the guide. Images for these players were then gathered and presented in the guide in two major sections.
The first section focuses on baseball cards which are part of previously catalogued sets. Because of the popularity of these players outside the United States, all of these cards are from sets produced by sponsors in outside the US such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico. As Phil points out, many of these cards are extremely tough to find, so any opportunity to pick one up should be strongly considered.
The cards pictured in Section I are arranged in alphabetical order of player's last name. All player's deemed to be "significant" to the history of Negro League Baseball have been included. For each the more that 500 cards in this section, the year of issue and name of card set are also provided, along with pricing estimates for card examples in "average" condition.
Section II of the Guide features Negro League collectibles not included in baseball card sets presented in Section I. Presented in approximate chronological order, it includes photos (both team and individual players), cabinet cards, premiums, broadsides, postcards, albums, yearbooks, programs, uncut sheets and other collectibles. For those items that picture teams or multiple players, every individual deemed to be "significant" is identified by name. Pricing guidelines are also provided for each item in "average" condition.
A brief Section III is also provided which includes East-West All-Star game programs and ticket stubs. As Garry points out, the annual East-West All-Star Games played from 1933 through 1950 were far grander and more significant than the sporadically played Negro League World Series.
Three appendices are also included in the volume along with a comprehensive index of all players. Appendix I is the author's ranking of the "Top 100 Negro League Baseball Cards of All Time," based on the overall historical performance, player significance, market value, popularity and scarcity." Appendix II lists the 35 "Current Negro League Hall of Famers."
Finally, Appendix III: "Next Up for the Hall," provides Garry's evaluation of the 25 players, in descending order, that have the greatest likelihood of being selected for enshrinement in Cooperstown.
The "Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide" is priced at $29.95 plus $5.95 USPS Priority Shipping. It can be ordered directily from the author, Philip Garry, at: 3100 Stevens Rd, Apt 3124, Wallington, NJ 07057. He can be contacted at vguerrerobb@yahoo.com.
5. News Briefs (A Digest of Recent Hobby Happenings)
Vintage Collector News from Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun printed an article earlier this month about vintage card collector and Old Cardboard subscriber Dan Mckee. It describes Mckee's long interest in the 1894 Alpha Photo Engraving set and how the sale of his unique set "earning enough on the deal to purchase his family's dream home in northern Baltimore County." The full article can be viewed on the Sun's website.
Ugliest Vintage Baseball Card Set. There has been some recent discussion on the Net54 Forum voicing opinions about which is the ugliest vintage baseball card set. Although subjective, there seems to be widespread agreement that one of the leading contenders for that unsavory award is the W9316 Strip Card issue from the early 1920s. In our view, the W9316 cards take the prize, well ahead of oft-mentioned runners-up such as the 1933 R337 Eclipse Import or the 1943/49 R302 M. P. & Co. You be the judge. All three sets are profiled, along with full set galleries, on the Old Cardboard website.
Lyman and Brett Hardeman
Old Cardboard, LLC.
Old Cardboard, LLC. was established in December 2003, to help bring information on vintage baseball card collecting to the hobbyist. Produced by collectors for collectors, this comprehensive resource consists of three components: (1) Old Cardboard Magazine, (2) a companion website at www.oldcardboard.com and (3) this eNewsletter. The Old Cardboard website contains more than 500 pages of descriptive reference information for baseball card sets produced fifty years ago or longer. Each of these set summaries has a direct set-specific link to 
auctions and a similar link to 
's powerful search engine for further research. The website also includes a Show and Auction Calendar, an eBay Top 50 Vintage Sellers List, and much more. As a result, the Old Cardboard website makes a great "Alt-tab" companion for vintage card shoppers and researchers. Old Cardboard eNews provides current hobby news, upcoming shows and auctions, and updates to the website and the magazine. It is published around the middle of each month. For a FREE subscription to the eNewsletter, or for subscription information on Old Cardboard Magazine, please visit the website at www.oldcardboard.com. If you find this information resource helpful, please tell your friends. We need your support and your feedback. Thank you.
