Christmas Presents for the Beginner

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>I have a nephew that has only begun his collection of vintage cards. I don't know if I should give him vintage cards or a baseball book for Christmas. He's going to college soon. Maybe, I should forget about giving him cards at all, since he's more interested in girls. Come to think of it, I never received vintage cards for Christmas.<br /><br />Any ideas?<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>Buy him a girl that collects baseball card books.

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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>Brian,<br /><br />Quit being silly. Peter asked a serious question. You CAN'T buy that kind of girl. You can only rent her.

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Posted By: <b>Seth B.</b><p>Yet another well-thought-out wonderful post! I think you can give just give him some of your knowledge. Just break a chunk off, but just a little.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Peter, perhaps you can take him on a 6 month trip around the world. Do it old-school, though, and make sure you don't bring along cell phones or laptops.

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Posted By: <b>bigfish387</b><p><br /><br />Buy him an ebay gift card. He can buy what he wants that way.

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Posted By: <b>john/z28jd</b><p> I know this is like talking to a wall but Peter if he already started collecting vintage card,he mustve picked some era of cards he likes or a certain player,team etc. Wouldnt the answer be right there then as to what to buy him? How are we supposed to answer that question without knowing what his focus is and if he collects already then liking girls shouldnt interfere with it because im sure hes known about girls since before vintage cards were in his mind. <br /><br /><br /> As far as buying him a book,you could get him some good reference material so he knows what hes looking for and while youre at it,get yourself one too.If youre new to vintage cards then who wouldve bought you a Christmas present that had to do with cards? Wouldnt that have been an odd gift before you started collecting? I know if someone bought me an antique lamp for Christmas this year id really wonder what they were thinking and i wouldnt then assume that next year id take up lamp collecting. Dont let people force a hobby on you Peter,although i doubt many people here would mind if you had a new hobby. The net54 antique lamp forum could really use some new blood with an empty mind just waiting to be filled,you could be their mid 19th century dusty longwy victorian kerosene lamp theyve been waiting to polish into a work of art!

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>You guys are probably right, since I'm pretty much a beginning vintage collector, it doesn't make a lot of sense for me to buy card/cards for another beginner. Getting a book on vintage cards would be more appropriate.<br /><br />This year's SCD would probably be overkill for a beginner, maybe Crazy '08 would get him interested in collecting?<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Frank Wakefield</b><p>1. Get him The Old Ball Game, by Frank Deford. It isn't a great book, but it is a good enough book to kindle an interest in baseball about when T206 white border tobacco cards were distributed. It isn't expensive and is easy reading. There are other books that would fulfill this goal, that one just came to mind.<br /><br />2. Get 2 sets or copies of Mr. Lipset's excellent Encyclopedias. The originals were in 3 separate volumes, #3 about T cards may be the best for a beginner. Or they are offered now as a 3-in-1 deal where they've been reprinted. As I said, get 2 sets, one for him, and one for you, so you guys can email or communicate about the cards and sets, that way you can literally "be on the same page." These are more important that the Standard Catalog. These will help you understand the set. The Catalog is good for a price guide, so it would be secondary to the Encyclopedias.<br /><br />3. Get him a few T cards. If he has a favorite team, get him cards of that team. If he's a Reds fan, get him 3 T206s of Cincinnati players, maybe a T205 of a Redleg, and a T207. That way he can see the diffences, and see if he wants to chase down the others of the set of the team. That would be a manageable goal. And attainable goals are important in the early collecting process. <br /><br />4. Email or correspond with him on some regular basis. Mention a card that is on eBay and send him a link. Send him a card if he has all A's and B's at the end of a semester, and a card on his birthday. This will have collecting as a common interest that you two will share.<br /><br />Frank.

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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>If he has interest in baseball, get him a copy of the Sotheby's Halper catalog. I have a non-collecting friend who loved looking at and reading about all the stuff in the book. You don't have to be a potential bidder to enjoy-- and it's introduction to antique baseball memorabilia. If you've never seen the catalog, it pictures in color and describes INCREDIBLE baseball cards, photos, bats, jerseys, paintings, autographs and more. From a Fatty Arbuckle autographed contract to a Babe Ruth game used jersey to the T206 Honus Wagner proof panel to Ty Cobb's false teeth.

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Posted By: <b>Shawn Chambers</b><p>Peter, <br />That is some good advice from Frank.<br /><br />I wish Frank were my uncle when I was growing up!<br /><br />Shawn

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Frank, David C.,<br /><br />I like both of your suggestions. I might try a volume of the Lipset Encyclopedia with a T206 John McGraw inside a Card Saver as a book marker...hmm. Thanks guys.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Duplicative post deleted.

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Posted By: <b>Al Simeone</b><p>Peter ,<br />You must be the thickest person I have ever met! Leon PLEASE hurry back from the Cook Off! At least post up a picture of a book that way we will know you know how to read! Because it sure doesnt get threw to you!

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Posted By: <b>Bottom of the Ninth</b><p>Can someone tell me how Peter got out of his room and into the Nurse's station to gain access to the computer? They really ought to up his meds.<br /><br />Greg

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Posted By: <b>ScottIngold</b><p><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Thats all folks !!!!

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Bye Peter.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>I can see people haven't picked up the Christmas spirit yet... <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>RC</b><p>Peter,<br /><br />Really not a bad topic during this festive season, especially when people like Frank and David have suggestions that make a lot of sense. Reasonable responses do help draw the post into Net54 relevance, plus they can give other posters ideas for their own gift list.<br /><br />RC

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Posted By: <b>JK</b><p>If you weed through the crud, this isnt a bad topic. However, Peter, instead of trying to be such a comedian, how about you state the question like this:<br /><br />"I have a nephew that has only begun his collection of vintage cards. I don't know if I should give him vintage cards or a baseball book for Christmas. Any suggestions?"<br /><br />I think if you had left of the crap about him going to college and probably just being interested in girls you may have rec'd more serious replies to your post.<br /><br />That being said, why is it that everytime Peter posts we have to have a group of people who feel the need to act like they are still in high school - of course, maybe they are.

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Posted By: <b>Al Simeone</b><p>JK,<br />Im a Freshman I dont know about you! By the way just check out the cook off post . JK you really cant be that blind! The guys a horsesa##.

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Posted By: <b>JK</b><p>Al,<br /><br />If you read my posts (this one and others on the topic) you will see I am not that blind. However, if you cant see that there is some merit to this topic and it would have been answered seriously if posted by anyone else, then you are blind.<br /><br />Further, as Ive said in other posts, if he starts some ridiculous thread then by all means blast away - but confine it to that thread. Until he gets kicked off, if he starts a legitimate thread, it deserves to be treated as such. If you cant do that, then ignore it.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>JK,<br /><br />Your right my question probably could have been worded better...but most of the responses were pretty mean-spirited. It's true that I responded in a nasty manner in the chili cook-out thread.<br /><br />But that is simply the litigation attorney part of me. You don't survive 20+ years in this business without being tough when necessary. Besides, I added a smiley face at the end of my comment.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Dan Paradis</b><p>Unbelieveable. Peter, don't let these idiots bother you (the one's with the rude, sarcastic remarks). My guess is that they are all kids and haven't yet learned how to treat people with respect. This is definitely a valid topic.<br /><br />I would be curious as to ages of the members with the rude remarks? Please don't tell me you are adults...<br /><br />Dan

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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>just want to be clear so my comments don't seem to come off as mean spirited.<br /><br /><br />Josh questioned....<br />"That being said, why is it that everytime Peter posts we have to have a group of people who feel the need to act like they are still in high school - of course, maybe they are."<br /><br /><br />That is because of Peter's past history of starting threads that are either completely ridiculous, mainly off topic, or some that just push the envelope to the edge of the table as to what is on topic.<br /><br /><br />We make our bed and we lie in it.<br /><br /><br />I would suggest (for any member - Peter - or others) that threads started should be about cards. Not always. Just more times than not. A novel idea, I know. On a vintage card message board.... to think that most of your threads could be about cards.<br /><br />Just an idea.<br /><br />Alas, this idea has been expressed before.<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br /><br /><br />edit to say:<br />Peter - <br />I would go with Toby's idea of the eBay gift card. I didn't even know they had one.... but I think that is a cool idea for any hobbyist. good luck. and happy holidays.

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Posted By: <b>Dan Koteles</b><p>you wouldnt get much for the book, so quit being stingy and give him some vintage cards .Do you even like this nephew?<br /><br />did you know Peter that you can tune a piano , but cant tuna-fish?

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Posted By: <b>Jon Canfield</b><p>Peter,<br /><br />I didn't see it mentioned aboce but maybe a subscription to Old Cardboard? The articles go well beyond old baseball "cards" and even a noncollector would enjoy reading. Maybe if you're really feeling generous, you can pick up the last 12 or 13 back issues as well and give him a complete run of the magazine. It certainly is a good resource for a beginner or an advanced collector.<br /><br />- Jon

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Posted By: <b>Al Simeone</b><p>JK,<br />Peter has been asked MANY times to post on topic in this forum. Which is about vintage cards. Not once has he done that. He continues with this mindless dribble. Never even offering up a scan of a card ,piece of memorabilia,pin,glove, etc .On any of the forums. Has been asked MANY times not to stray to these FOOLISH posts.(In my opinion for this one) So if us high schoolers decide to continue to blast him its with good reason. Leon has asked him many times to stop (in a nice way) But yet it continues. There are other boards much more suited to Peters (NEEDS) but this board isnot one of them. <br />Dan,<br />For the record I was a writer for Baseball Card Update and am 50 years old. And as long as Peter wants to continue this so shall I . Thats call freedom of speech ,just as I respect both of you and your comments so should you respect the other High Schoolers who by the way are some very knowledgeable people when it comes to vintage cards. Peter on the other hand well I will let you finish that statement!!

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Posted By: <b>Seth B.</b><p>I, like Al, think Peter is being ridiculous with this post. First off, you can give him advice, but he's made it clear before that he won't be paying attention. Peter did not post this up here to get responses for what he's going to buy his nephew. He made it clear in his initial post with his "well, but he likes girls, and I never got any cards" nonsense. Peter did it to get attention, and it worked (unfortunately, I'm partly to blame). I have not seen one, NOT ONE, worthwhile contribution to someone else's thread from Peter. Certainly nothing pertaining to vintage cards. He basically sits waiting until he can jump aboard with some Barry Bonds nonsense, or he posts something only tangentially worthwhile. If you post eight times about cards and once about what to get your nephew, so be it. If you never post about cards, and you incessantly post about nephews liking girls, and MOREOVER you do so in a joking sort of way that makes it clear that you can't take seriously any advice to tone down your OT posts, I'm sorry, that doesn't slip by. Josh, I can't give peter slack in marginally good posts, and then berate him in really awful ones. I've never been this incensed by anyone's posting on this board before. Usually, I don't say a word unless it's about the two or three sets I'm working on. But frankly, this board would be worlds better without Peter.

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>I think Jon has the best idea so far....a subscription to Old Cardboard. Not only will your nephew benefit from reading Old Cardboard, but so will Lyman and Brett which in turn helps them continue to publish which in another turn benefits all of us.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Al S.,<br /><br />Thanks for expressing your concerns. If you actually read any of my comments today, you will notice I did not personally attack anybody in particular.<br /><br />By the way that is much kinder than your comment above to JK about me being a "horse's a**."<br /><br />It's no big deal, if I had a thin skin I wouldn't continue practicing law.<br /><br />Peter C.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Al Simeone</b><p>Seth,<br />Thankyou ! Said like it should be said!

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Posted By: <b>Al Simeone</b><p>Peter C.<br />I will leave you with this "If the shoe Fits"

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Al S., Seth,<br /><br />Certainly there's some truth to what you have both said, but that doesn't necessarily mean I agree with everything you have said. I try to contribute as best I can, but my scanner is old and real slow...I discussed the matter with Jeff L. the other day...just be patient.<br /><br />Also, the fact is most of you are far more advanced in collecting vintage cards than I am, my entire pre-war collection is no more than 50 cards so there are few earth-shaking cards among them.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Al Simeone</b><p>Peter C.<br />Maybe you should ask Santa for a new Scanner!

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Posted By: <b>John H.</b><p>For the most part, I prefer to think good things about people but, try as I might, I can't make myself believe:<br /><br />a) Peter has a vintage card collection,<br />b) Peter is a lawyer, and<br />c) Peter's nephew, if he has one, collects vintage cards<br /><br />Peter has presented himself as such an absolute goober on this forum that I couldn't have a more positive opinion about him if I tried.<br /><br />John

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Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p>peter you know less about teenagers than vintage cards,give the kid some cash. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>John H.,<br /><br />Goober pretty much sums it up...LOL...I've never pretended to be anything more than a nerd. Believe whatever you want to believe...but I dislike people who insist on conformity. I always thought that one of the reasons we like collecting vintage cards is to be slightly different from the crowd.<br /><br />I really got a kick from John "Wonka," he hasn't posted in a while, I wonder what he's been doing?<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Al Simeone</b><p>Here it comes!!! Up the Establishment!! Chaoism gone crazy!

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Posted By: <b>Larry</b><p>Even though he is just a beginner and has a relatively small collection of cards, that doesn't mean some of his cards might not be altered, so get him the gift that keeps on giving. Send his most valuable cards to Mr. Saucier and then go to Amazon and see if you can find any of his books on card alterations.

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Posted By: <b>Larry</b><p>Peter-<br /><br />get him a copy of the Monster by Bill Heitman..Not only is it an industry classic and favorite but he might think it is a sci-fiction story!

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Al S.,<br /><br />Little fazes me, but look at how defensive some people have become about posting. Drifting towards the bottom of the front page is a post by Zeenut, "Possible Stupid T210 Old Mill Question." I see quite a few posts like that.<br /><br />Do you really want people to be afraid to post legitimate inquiries?<br /><br />For every person that makes a defensive post, you probably have a few others that won't post at all because they are afraid. Is that the type of atmosphere you want here at Net54?<br /><br />I was teaching Public International Law at the age of 28, there's very little I'm afraid of. However, right now, I consider myself an attorney in transition and expect to be in another field in a few years.<br /><br />Oh yah, there's no such thing as Chaoism.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Al Simeone</b><p>Peter Im surprised at you ! Chaoism is real ! It lives on Net54 and has your name all over it! Lets see I think I used its name in one of the upper posts horseisa@@

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>If I can get away with calling Peter S. and Jeff L., "Keystone Cops," I'm certainly not going to worry about any of your weak personal attacks. Al S., you've got to do better before you become one of the "Keystone Cops."<br /><br />To those, that responded to my original inquiry, thank you very much.<br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>pas</b><p>There is a great book that has pictures of every "major" vintage card set by Frank Slocum, it may be out of print but you should be able to find one on ebay or thru google. Apologies if this was already mentioned.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Peter S.,<br /><br />That was a very civil post from you. Thanks. You may lose your status as a "keystone cop" soon. It's all in good fun. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Peter C.

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Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>A couple great gift ideas on vintage baseball books, thanks for the constructive replies.

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Posted By: <b>John Kalafarski</b><p>Al S, pay closer attention in English class!

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Posted By: <b>Al Simeone</b><p>John K.<br />Who cares?

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Posted By: <b>Cy</b><p>Peter,<br /><br />I am going to give a constructive remark here.<br /><br />If your nephew enjoys baseball and if he enjoys historical baseball and he likes to read, why not buy him a Reach or Spalding Guide from the early 1900s. Of course the 1909 or 1910 might be a great one to give him, since these are the years of the T206 cards.<br /><br />By giving him this book, he is getting something vintage, something interesting and this may pique his curiosity further. The book should cost anywhere from $50-$125. If you feel that you can afford something else, maybe buy a T206 card in VG-Ex condition, a decent card but not too extravagant, a common. But don't give him the card right away. After you give him the book, let him do some reading and see if he truly likes it. If he comes to you a week or two later and tells you how cool that gift was, then give him a card and start to talk to him about card collecting.<br /><br />Good luck, Peter. It is always a good thing to give someone a gift that will grow. Maybe this will do it for him.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Cy

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Cy,<br /><br />My nephew is a die-hard Giants fan and has recently gotten into the history of the New York Giants and T206 cards. He loves Matty but I'm not going to spoil him, I'm pretty sure he will be happy with a T206 John McGraw.<br /><br />He just started at U.C. Davis and is pre-med, so he's going to have his hands full with academics. So, I don't want to give him another large thick book because I know he won't read it. But the Spalding Guide I'm familiar with and probably still have time to purchase one off of E-bay. Thanks for the suggestion.<br /><br />Peter C.<br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Frank Wakefield</b><p>For a fan of the Giants of around 1909, a fantastic baseball novel is Eric Rolfe Greenberg's The Celebrant.<br /><br />Enough cannot be said about what a wonderful baseball novel this is. A joy to read, until you get to the end and realize the book is concluded. <br /><br />If he's a reader, get him a copy of The Celebrant. Every T206 collector should read it...

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Posted By: <b>Scott Levy</b><p>When I first starting collecting just about anything (cards, stamps, coins, etc). I was given a great reference book with pictures, histories and prices and a whole bunch of very low grade and/or low cost examples -- but somehow there would magically be one pretty decent item in there.<br /><br />I don't know what your budget is ... but I'd suspect that for around $150 you can get a great guide, a decent sized bunch of lowgrade prewar cards and maybe even a HOF player. <br /><br />Granted I was a lot younger than your nephew when I got into those hobbies, but having a lot of things that I owned to look at and check out in the guide really fired up my interests in those hobbies and it was so cool to see all MY stuff listed.