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03-22-2006, 05:37 PM

Posted By: ErnestSports Collectors Digest (SCD) has become nothing, but a paper to advertise auctions. I have subscribed to there magazine since 1990 and enjoyed reading the articles they places in them up until now. I am not interested in that sort of thing. I can see that anytime right here on the Internet or of this site. I have been an collector of Sports Collectors Digest (SCD) since 1990 and still have everyone as of today. I am extremely disappointed in the direction they are currently going. I hope they will reverse the trend and go back to more articles even thou these auction articles are supporting SCD to be printed. What do you experts think about this magazine? Forget, Bob Lemke I am only talking about the magazine as a whole.

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03-22-2006, 05:45 PM

Posted By: dennisbefore the internet it was indespensible now it is obsolete. my subscription expired about 6 years ago. never really thought they put much effort into articles even in its heyday.

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03-22-2006, 06:15 PM

Posted By: DJI picked up my first issue in ten years (I have some serious issues with the magazine that I'm not going to go into) three weeks ago and I lost interest in the first ten minutes. The original poster is correct, it certainly lacks substance and you can pluck the same information from signing up in auction site e-mails, auctionreport.com (for your sig needs)or this fine forum. When I first discovered it in the late seventies, it started me on the collecting path and couldn't wait for the next issue. Today, I don't miss it. DJ

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03-22-2006, 06:41 PM

Posted By: joeI've been a subscriber since 1976, this will be my last year. I remember when it took 2-3 days to peruse the magazine, unfortunately now it is less then 1/2 hour. Joe

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03-22-2006, 06:54 PM

Posted By: FYSIf your on all the auction mailing lists for catalogues, SCD is of little value. I do like the fact that for $25 a year, I receive several amazing auction catalogues due to my SCD subscription. For that alone, it is worth it for me. Otherwise, about once every three months they have an article of interest e.g. Nagy/Mastro etc. They have/had a golden opportunity to be the publication for the Post War/Pre-Shiny crew. This could include an unbiased grading card price guide, wax/vending/rack/cello pricing, along with some decent articles. T.S. O'Connell needs to be replaced in order to inject some business sense and direction for the publication.

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03-22-2006, 07:06 PM

Posted By: Jim CrandellI let my subscription expire 4 weeks ago. There is absolutely nothing of value in that publication anymore. I am particularly galled at the praise that T.S. O'Connell heaps upon Alan Rosen. They need new writers and a new direction to survive. Jim

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03-23-2006, 05:31 PM

Posted By: mattI find the magazine useful for the listing of upcoming shows, the Top Ten Online Auctions and Feedback. Some of the auction ads are so small that I actually look at them with a magnifying glass. What is the alternative? Is there one? Sounds like a golden opportunity for someone who can write and understands baseball. I do know if you don't renew your subscription right away they will keep lowering the price to get you to come back. I got mine dirt cheap and for that it has some value.

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03-24-2006, 01:13 PM

Posted By: Bruce BabcockI don't think SCD realizes the negative affect that aligning themsleves so closely with Alan Rosen has had. He doesn't know much about collecting and he doesn't care much for sports or collectors. What is he known for? Self-promotion and lowball, one-time, take it or leave it offers. He may be their biggest and most visible advertiser but he may also be their biggest liability. Certainly their biggest asset is Bob Lemke.

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03-24-2006, 01:44 PM

Posted By: barrysloateBruce- that is an excellent point, and as I have said before, their policy that allows him to appear on nearly every cover waving hundred dollar bills sets them so far back in public relations that it may not be worth the added advertising revenue. What other magazine would allow such a thing?

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03-27-2006, 02:16 PM

Posted By: AnonymousI am letting my subscription run out too........I usually lokk at Mike Mosiers,Steve Werley and Zindlers ad in the back and then close it up!So many ads and not enough stories!

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03-28-2006, 06:42 AM

Posted By: Jim ClarkeBruce your reason is 100% correct! I dropped my subscription years ago along with many other friends of mine. Al Rosen is the main reason. We did not want to support any magazine that puts that guy in it. I wrote the SCD to complain about him and it went un-answered. Then I wanted to start a Al Rosen Club where SCD offered a FREE advertisement renual... I did it and they did not run the AD.. However, they cashed my check... That was the last straw... I think some attourney could have had fun with this one going against the book. Is Beckett following down the same long DARK road? I think Bob lemke is a great guy and keeps alot of respect with SCD.

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03-28-2006, 06:58 AM

Posted By: Josh AdamsI am thinking of starting my own business, and wanted to advertise in some publications in order to acquire inventory. Based on this thread, I am wondering, does anybody still read SCD, and if so, is it worth placing in ad with them? Thanks guys, Josh Go Go White Sox 2005 World Series Champions!

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03-28-2006, 07:40 AM

Posted By: Tom Boblittnot sure if you do auto's or not but I couldn't support them either on the basis of Coaches Corner auctions. RIDICULOUS all the fake crap that they sell and any moron could determine it was fake from their listings. Tim Keefe autographed ball that sells for $1500-$2000, come on...........

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03-28-2006, 10:41 AM

Posted By: AnthonyJosh- I placed a display ad in SCD a few years ago, looking for what should have been pretty easy items. I got 2 responses out of 4 insertions, and SCD completely messed up the ad schedule. Better to place that ad in Old Cardboard. Great guys, excellent publication. I think SCD has really become irrelevant, for the most part.

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03-28-2006, 12:10 PM

Posted By: DJI have all the respect in the world for Mr. Lemke as well and it's a shame that when you think of SCD, you think of Alan Rosen, more than you think of Mr. Lemke. While I do enjoy reading the quarterly Mr. Mint thread, I must say that his influence within the "fishwrap" took a toll on me and mentally drained me. When I see his big giant orange melon throughout flashing money and taking photos of him making a purchase, it's like those annoying homeade car salesman commercials where someone is shouting about their low finances and great prices. On another note: Currently going on within the pages of Sports Collector's Digest...Coach's Corner's latest auction ending this week! Rube Foster Single Signed Baseball! Jim Thorpe Single Signed Baseball! ANOTHER Jack Chesbro signature! A dozen more Babe Ruth autographs including a signed Baseball Glove! DJ

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03-28-2006, 03:59 PM

Posted By: cn The timing of this topic is perfect. 3 years ago my wife gave me a surprise 3 year extension when I was going to cancel after over 20 years and it just expired recently. Today I recieved a phone call from a very nice lady from Krause publications reminding me that I haven,t renewed. I decided to have a minute of fun and after haggling about the price I told her that I would renew if I didn,t have to see MR. MINT anymore. She did not know who I was talking about and proceeded to get a supervisor on the phone and I told her the same. She just laughed and said that there have been many changes in the almost 10 years that she has been there but that MR. MINT was not going away. I then cancelled my subscription once and for all after almost 20 years. What a shame I miss the days of anxiously waiting for SCD, Baseball Hobby News and the beloved Trader Speaks. I am thankful for OLD CARDBOARD. CN

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03-29-2006, 08:27 AM

Posted By: glyn parsonThough nowhere near the important publication it used to be, Heck i used to get it overnighted to me, i still enjoy Scd. especially the auction articles and the articles on some of the big shows. i dont really pick up any new info but still enjoy the read. i must agree though that the coaches corner crap auctions and all the Mr. Mint BS do aggrivate me.

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03-29-2006, 09:54 AM

Posted By: warshawlawtotally worthless. I dropped my subscription last year and don't miss it a bit. Bob's book is the best available but the rag is a ... rag. The amount of fake garbage sold in there is astounding. I cannot believe that the FBI hasn't dropped a hammer on Coach's Corner.

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03-29-2006, 10:28 AM

Posted By: Tom BoblittCoach's Corner can still auction crap is because Jack Chesbro and Rube Foster are both dead! It's really ridiculous though. The almighty ad dollar is paramount to SCD so they take the stuff. Rosen is Rosen, but Coach's Corner must go........they make WIWAG look like choir boys........ I would, however, like to see some of those photos of the Coach's Corner guys hawking autographs show them shaking hands with Babe Ruth or Rube Foster. They are about that brazen........

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03-29-2006, 11:44 AM

Posted By: JayIf I remember correctly Ted Taylor writes summaries of the Coaches Corner auctions for SCD. What is his tie to the CCA, if any? Is he involved with an authentication company?

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03-29-2006, 12:17 PM

Posted By: Tim RiordanMost of the authenticated stuff on Coaches Corner is authenticated by STAT Authentic, which is an acronym for Stevens-Taylor Authentication Team, Taylor being Ted Taylor. <a href="http://www.statauthentic.com/" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.statauthentic.com/</a>

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03-29-2006, 04:13 PM

Posted By: DJSTAT and Chris Morales, both the preferred authenticators for Coach's Corner failed "miserably" (Arman Ketayan's narrated words, not mine) according to the HBO Real Sports special and for many, many years, they used Donald Frangipani who was the main focus in the TV special. In a world where buyers aren't afraid to pay a tad more to know that their stuff is authentic, basically every big auction house utilizes the services of PSA/DNA, GAI or JSA or in some cases, two of the authenticating firms. After all, a Mickey Welsh single signed baseball sold for around $2,400 in the last Coach's Corner auction. How much do you think a slick glossy catalog like Robert Edwards, Sothebys, Mastro or Lelands could get for one? In the last auction, Coach's Corner got $274 for a Lou Gehrig signature. $800 for a Chuck Klein single signed baseball. $1,000 for a Jimmie Foxx single signed baseball. $1,800 for a Walter Johnson single signed baseball. $1,100 for a Martin DiHingo single signed baseball. $800 for a Jack Chesbro signature. And they have ANOTHER Jack Chesbro autograph this month? If you go to the front page of the Coach's Corner auction (www.myccsa.com), there is a link that says "Looking for Bargains". Since when is a one-of-a-kind, single signed baseball valued in five digits a "bargain"? DJ

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03-29-2006, 04:56 PM

Posted By: SteveI agree about Coach;s Corner. It is disgusting but any collector who is winning those items at such low prices is part of the problem. This is one business where people think that something can be too good to be true; this is especially dangerous when it comes to autographs for obvious reasons -- Steve

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03-29-2006, 07:14 PM

Posted By: DJSteve, I agree. You are a great seller and I have purchased quite a few items from you in the past and have always been satisfied. Is there another collectible in the world where basically the reward for even the worst forgery in the world is a three digit percentage increase in profit? There are people on eBay who have no problem selling signed three by fives of all the legends at a HUGE discount and what's it to them exactly? I was watching this seller crank $28 Elvis Presley's like it's no tommorow and $42 John Lennon's. One hundred index cards= .50. And this goes for Signed Record Albums as well where you can transform a fifty cent Beatles album into a $400 in one minute. Why would anyone want to work a nine-to-five job? I find it amusing that autograph sellers (and even collectors) choose to be in a profession where roughly 20 examples out of a 100 are good and the rest in garbag-ola. Signatures are either worth SOMETHING or NOTHING. Of course the dark side of the hobby curbed my spending and made me turn toward vintage cards again and I don't regret it. Just wish I could win something, sometime. DJ

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03-30-2006, 05:09 AM

Posted By: AnonymousI still enjoy leafing through the SCD, but it's definitely lost it's way a bit. In reference to "Old Cardboard", is it worth the subscription price? I'm brand new to these boards and I'm starting to collect the Pre-War beauties now after dealing in the Post-War/Pre-Shiny era cards for so long. I've been looking for some message boards or publications to assist me with the research needed to decide on another set to start building and it looks as if "Old Cardboard" (and these boards) can help me out with that.

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03-30-2006, 09:02 AM

Posted By: Lee BehrensWhen I got back into collecting in 2000 I bought an SCD. There was an ad for Festberg auctions. I bid I won, I got ripped off by serious over grading and a NO return policy ( He did offer to fire his grader). The guy was a total piece of doodoo. He was suppose to be a respected dealer. I have never bought another one and have no intention because the content was of zero interest to me. Lee

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03-31-2006, 05:28 AM

Posted By: Glyn ParsonWelcome,i enjoy your posts over at CU. you can learn more from these boards, about prewar, in one day then over on the Cu boards in a whole year.

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03-31-2006, 01:35 PM

Posted By: Frank RoseIf SCD isn't your bag anymore, there are independent publishers like Old Cardboard, Sweetspot News, Boxing Collectors News, The Autograph Review (Jeff Morey) and Gridiron Greats Magazine to consider. We all aspire to inform and entertain in the world of vintage material. Franklin Rose Publisher BiGG Publishing 5082 4th Lane Vero Beach, FL 32968 (772)563-0425 www.gridirongreats.net

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03-31-2006, 01:49 PM

Posted By: nbrazili had a 6 week trial of SCD....some decent articles, but for the most part it was a bunch of shady auctions and a big picture of a bald al rosen. safe to say i didnt continue with my subscription.

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03-31-2006, 02:02 PM

Posted By: Judge Dred (Fred)Does anyone remember a music video called "Video killed the radio star"? Think of the Internet and SCD... A decade ago it was a crap shoot for people on the west coast because we'd get the issues a day or more (in most cases) later than the east coast or central collectors and anything that was really good was pretty much gone already. It was fun to thumb through it 30 years ago because there weren't near as many collectors and there was a pretty good chance to pick up what you wanted. That publication served a purpose many years ago, unfortunately it's like a cassette tape or a 5-1/4" (even 3.5") floppy drive. Who knows, maybe they'll find a niche or figure out something that they can do that is unique (besides trying to survive in the current format in this digital age).

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03-31-2006, 06:55 PM

Posted By: ArnyVeeGlyn, thanks for the nice comments. I'm looking forward to really diving into researching the pre-war cards. For now, I think that I'll be going for the 1911 Mecca Double Headers as they seem relatively inexpensive and look very good in even PSA 4 or 5. I want to pose the question again...do you or anyone else get a lot out of "Old CardBoard" magazine?

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04-01-2006, 08:33 AM

Posted By: Frank WakefieldI like Jim C's comment way back up there... Something should be heaped upon Alan Rosen, but it isn't praise. Mr. Lemke, praise him... he's a positive force in this hobby.

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04-02-2006, 04:35 PM

Posted By: Lyman HardemanArny, I noticed that you twice asked on this thread about the usefulness of Old Cardboard magazine for meeting your vintage card information needs. Although I realize that I am not the one to give you an objective reply, I would like to invite you to take a look at the Old Cardboard website. To help answer your question, we have provided an abstract (with author and thumbnail images) of every article that we have ever published beginning with Issue #1 (and including Issue #7, which gets mailed next week). The article summaries can be accessed at <a href="http://www.oldcardboard.com/subscriptions.asp" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.oldcardboard.com/subscriptions.asp</a>. You should be able to draw your own conclusion about the usefullness of the magazine for your needs by taking a look at these abstracts. Old Cardboard magazine is produced by collectors and for collectors. As such, we welcome and need the support of all vintage collectors to be able to maintain the information services that we provide. Happy Collecting, and welcome to the VBC Forum. Lyman

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11-12-2006, 02:32 PM

Posted By: dylan's picksI do agree with the "Al Rosen" to a point. His so called "advertisments" are annoying and having spoken with him on a few occasions while brokering a couple of deals I realized that I would much rather just see his ads than have to see him or talk to him ever!! Someone stated that he is like an "used car dealer" & that's exactley correct. I broker several deals a month & ran into an excellent collection that contained tons of vintage/pre-war cards, present day rookies, GU, auto'd inserts, 1of1s, figures, some great auto'd items (mantle bat, 500 HR litho, etc..)(& YES they were authentic LOL), and a lot more incredible memorabilia including vintage gloves, Game used items, etc.. and tons of almost never seen items like a Babe Ruth advertisment display among others. ANyways, I would have bought the collection myself & pieced it out, but I had just bought a ton of stuff and had surgery so i was unable to move it quickly. I thought I'd give ROsen a call, which I had done on a few previous occasions a good while back, & he at first couldn't believe the price i was quoting b/c it was a truly great price. He questioned authenticity of the auto's, which prob. made up less than 10% of the value & at the price you could have just thrown them out & made a killing still. Next he began to low-ball me believing I was just some idiot that had inherited the collection or something (He obviously didn't remember me). To sum it up he was such an idiot on the phone by contradicting himself that it made me thankful that "ads" couldn't speak. Maybe the guy is a nice guy, maybe not, but I do know in this business you do have to have some sort of people skills & it sure didn't seem like his were there... Anyways, I partnered with a buyer & purchased the lot about a week later & within a month we sold maybe 20% of the collection & both doubled our investment...That's how "LOWBALL" he can be.. On the other hand though, SCD, like almost any major publication, is in it to make money. They have to place the ads & you can't really discriminate against a guy just b/c he's annoying & obnoxious. I honestly like SCD, but I will agree that the articles have become less & less, but so has Beckett and a number of other publications. If you collect one specific niche in the hobby congrats!! b/c I have never been able to stay on just one area, but that way you can subscribe to an independent publication like the old cardboard & others that truly focus on certain niches in the industry. For me, I get SCD, Beckett, even Tuff Stuff, but I also get a variety of newsletters, publications & most of all I research the Net as much as possible. As for Coach's Corner AUctions & authenticity of autographs in general it is another subject. I have dealt with auto'd memorabilia as a retailer & wholesale distributor for almost 2 decades. It is unfortunate but true that the authentication industry is one of the most profitable aspects due to many factors including forgeries, but more so the "fear" of buying a "fake" auto that has been instilled in all of us by many of these "authentication companies". I know that I may get "hate mail" over this, but it is my opinion as a collector & dealer. PSA/DNA & Ebay showed their true pictures when they began offering the "Quick Opinion" option. This is nothing but a rip off, as any collector would know an autograph can not be authenticated via a scanned photo unless it is just an awful one where the name is spelled wrong or such... As for PSA if you check the Better BUsiness BUreau in the county (I can't remember it off the top of my head) in California which they are located you will find that they have multiple listings including Collector's Universe-their parent company, PSA, Professional Sports AUthentication, & others that almost if not all have a "D" ranking on an A-F scale with F being worst & a caution by the BBB that strongly urges consumers to NOT do business with them.. I do have more trust in someone with training that would stand up in court and what would be better than someone that the FBI used & trained themselves? I know there are some isolated circumstances that these people get caught up in greed, but in general with proper research you can find a trained, experienced, EXPERT in handwriting analysis & document examination.. I know for a fact that the location the autograph(s) are sent from to PSA/DNA determine the % they pass/fail. As a matter of fact I have seen an individual send in 50 auto'd pictures & get approx 40% back as authentic. Then they turned around & sent in the other 60% from a different state & rec'd almost 40% of those authentic by PSA.. Weird hmmm.. If you have seen the movie "Rainmaker" it makes you wonder.. In the movie this insurance company has a "private" company manual & a "public" company manual, which the "public" version leaves out a chapter but the private has the additional procedures chapter where they decline so many applicants.. Wonder if PSA/DNA has something of sorts, or some type of "Quota" of "likely not authentic's" they have to meet?? That's drastic, but when you think about it to an extent the lower % they "pass" the more appealing & valuable their system is in some sorts.. I know it seems I am singling out PSA, but honestly there are tons of companies like that, it's just PSA takes advantage of consumers daily via Ebay alone & they prove that $$$ & advertising can overcome numerous complaints & a terrible Better Business bureau rating... Best bet is find a dealer that you can trust and learn from him/her, do your own research, know the signatures & you can authenticate just about as effectively...

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11-12-2006, 02:58 PM

Posted By: warshawlawI asked JSA to authenticate an autograph for a friend who got it in person from the famous athlete family friend; they said they could not tell if it was real. On any given day any given item can be graded or not graded by these guys.

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11-12-2006, 03:38 PM

Posted By: arcadeIf the majority of your magazine is the same stagnant advertising which hasn't changed much in the past 20+ years, and a bunch of market reports in place of articles...well....you're not offering up much more then a bad market...and since the market for vintage cards is relatively healthy right now, SCD just seems far too out of step with the needs of the collecting trade. You can't be a magazine without content. Advertisements for bulk commons isn't content. The autograph topic on the other hand isn't really unique to SCD, but it's pretty sad to know some of the most reputable people in the hobby continue to look the other way when they know the law is being broken outright.

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11-12-2006, 03:41 PM

Posted By: davidcyclebackThe job of an authenicator is not to say authentic or cross out as fake anything and everything that is put underneath his nose-- but to pick out the things deemed authentic and write an LOA, attach a hologram or whatever they do. No one knows everything, so worry about the 'expert' who claims he does. If an autograph expert says he's doesn't know so won't give an LOA, that's a good sign. Worry about the authenticator who never says he doesn't know or who provides an LOA when in doubt.

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11-12-2006, 05:40 PM

Posted By: DylanI just opened up the November Football Beckett and on the first page inside the cover there he was... Mr. Mint himself!! Looks like beckett is heading the same way.. LOL I would have to disagree to a point that the "vintage" card is truly healthy right now though. I believe that right now is a buying time as many dealers/collectors have gotten caught up in all the new hype with boxes being $150 and way up & all the #'d Game used & auto'd cards from a million different places and ten different parrallels... A lot have forgotten about the true "vintage" cards and you can get a steal at times.. Many sell the newer cards at such a discount compared to beckett prices that you can steal older cards b/c first they are used to discounting a lot and second: a lot of people are not looking at those cards right now..

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11-12-2006, 07:00 PM

Posted By: DJThe idea of authenticating via of a scan is something and something is better than nothing. Obviously a lot of you didn't follow the market before Operation Bullpen (and Foul Ball) and before eBay did nothing at all to protect it's consumers from fraud. Where you can go on eBay and find 20-25 signed Babe Ruth baseball bats for $500 a piece from three different sellers that had documentation from so-called experts who would eventually find themselves black-balled or in prison. Ebay has so many different facets of itself to police that it can't keep track of everything and there is no doubt that autograph fraud exists in the site and there is no question that it's easier to forge a cut signature of a deceased ball player, then it is a comic book or a first edition. It's kind of like babysitting the children of everyone in the world. You can't do it. You can't watch everything and make sure that every transaction goes through smoothly and both parties are satisfied. Ebay is built on the principle that "people are good", I believe that was founder Pierre Omydor's original words to describe his vision with it's intent was to satisfy his wife's hunger for Pez dispensers. The problem we have with the business of authenticating is that it is far from an exact science and I whole heartedly agree that one authenticator cannot authenticate everything. If they say they can and object to rendering something without an opinion, then this isn't an authenticator that I think I can trust. PSA/DNA and JSA are without question the big two, with GAI followed closely behind, therefore it is the duty of those who have been left with a bad taste in their mouth to say something about the companies that authenticate not in the hundreds like the lesser known authenticators, but the hundreds of thousands that some of the respected companies look at in a years time. The object of the auction house is to get the most money for their consignor. That is the goal. Simple math, the more the item brings, the more the auction house makes and the happier the consignor is. Right? Easy enough. As I read this updated autograph thread, I went to the CCSA site and checked it out and "low and behold" an auction ended yesterday! Here is a samplin: Josh Gibson single signed baseball $1000 Josh Gibson cut signature $491 Martin Luther King single signed baseball $746 Walter Johnson single signed baseball $386 Christy Mathewson single signed baseball $998 Chrsity Mathewson signed/inscribed post card $608 Lou Gehrig signed baseball bat $2100 Fred Clarke single signed baseball $1001 Cap Anson cut signature #1 $347 Cap Anson cut signature #2 $358 A book I recommend to everyone (even if you aren't interested in the hobby) is "Operation Bullpen" by Kevin Nelson. It is an absoluetly amazing read and excerpts can be found on the web site: www.operationbullpen.com. If you are a card guy, you will think ten times less about this business after reading this. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> On a side note, "vintage" in this form Dylan is about Pre-World War I and it's safe to day that this area of collecting is "en fuego" and even if the cards dipped 80% of what they were at this time last year, it would still out reward those shiny cards, pasted on cotton swatches and Philip Hughes rookies up the ya-zoo. Repeat after me: "It's all about the Registry, It's all about the Registry!" DJ

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11-12-2006, 08:45 PM

Posted By: AlanExcellent analysis, DJ !!!

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11-13-2006, 10:43 AM

Posted By: RhysI think an interesting fact about the autograph industry is that you can manipulate the statistics to prove whatever you want about them. I once spoke to the man who was responsible for representing all of Warren Spahn's autograph siginings etc for years. He told me he had never seen a fake Warren Spahn autograph in his life because there were so many, and they were so cheap. Same with Feller, and people like that. You could take that stat and run with it to represent the health of the hobby. If you take Ruth, Gehrig and just about any Negro Leaguer who died before 1990 though, you are probably at about 5% authentic and could run with that statistic. It is not really much different than the influx of fake prewar cards on ebay and all of the cut outs from Spalding guides in the prewar category, while there is no such thing as a fake 1988 Topps Bobby Bonilla. If you are anywhere in the hobby right now and looking for a bargain, you are much more likely than not to gt burned. Coach's Corner is, in my opinion, the biggest problem with the autograph hobby. How they can get away with forging so much stuff so blatantly is beyond me. The only question with them is are they forging "in house" or do they have guys doing their dirty work for them? Not only that, but they are using the mail to deliver it all which you would think could provide a great way for someone to go after them.

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11-13-2006, 09:19 PM

Posted By: LarrySCD was the best newspaper in the industry, now it is only good for packing material... Those that say the internet may hurt SCD maybe partially correct but many other trade publications that have on-line services to fight against still have a quality product....maybe SCD can get new advertisers to support them if they have an interactive web site for commerce and a trade paper to support it.

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11-13-2006, 11:55 PM

Posted By: CS BolayI've only subscribed to SCD for a couple years, but it bothers me that I never seem to see much of anything 'controversial,' i.e. things that might make their advertisers mad. Whether this is intended or not I can't say, but there is a glaring lack of real tough 'journalism' involved here. I mean, you can hear all sorts of terrible stuff about various companies, auction houses, and whatever on message boards and such, but nary a word about it in SCD. What kind of 'Voice for the Hobby' is this? A lot of the 'articles' read like little more than glowing advertisements for whoever happens to be featured this week. It's quite sad, really... I wish there were more alternatives, especially for people who specialize more in vintage signatures (although I do some prewar cards 'on the side').

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06-08-2007, 02:02 PM

Posted By: Cn The most recent issue has only 52 pages. What a shame that this once great publication has fallen so far. I remember before the internet age when it always had over 200 pages and I couldn't wait each week for it to arrive. CN

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06-08-2007, 02:42 PM

Posted By: Dan BrettaAre 25 of those pages devoted to Coach's Corner ads?

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06-08-2007, 03:41 PM

Posted By: Jeff ShermanI remember years back when I got SCD (sometimes in two, even three sections!!!!), and I would hurriedly look through the ads to see if there was anything that jumped out on me, so I could call the seller and make sure I got to him/her/them first.... now, nothing, truly nothing... I let my subscription lapse in January... I didn't even realize it until I saw a copy on a newsstand and said, hey I guess I let that lapse.. how sad...

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06-08-2007, 06:08 PM

Posted By: peter chaoThe only thing I like about SCD now days is the eye-catching cover. But normally I do not buy a magazine for it's cover. Once in a long while I'll buy an issue because I like the feel of a hard copy instead of surfing on the internet. Peter

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12-18-2007, 10:07 AM

Posted By: CN I know it has been stated before but I recieved an issue today with 46 pages. As far as I know my subscription expired a while ago but they keep sending me issues. I don't know how they make any money. It is sad how this publication has turned into junk with the same ads week after week. CN

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12-18-2007, 10:14 AM

Posted By: Steve MurrayBoy, I remember twenty plus years ago eagerly waiting for the SCD to arrive. Rushing home from work only to be letdown that it hadn't arrived yet. I saved the old copies for years until my script ran out five or six years ago. Sorry too to see the rag fall on such hard times but that's what the internet will do to you.

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12-18-2007, 10:19 AM

Posted By: Dan BrettaIt's probably on its last legs. Toy Shop magazine which I believe is owned by the same company has gone out of business.

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12-18-2007, 10:38 AM

Posted By: Dan I found this forum about 2 months ago and wish I would have found it earlier. I purchased items from Coaches Corner last year. I naively thought they were above board. I have discovered the hard way that most of the items are fakes. Luckily most of my purchases were inexpensive. But I still feel used and it has turned me off of the whole autograph hobby. I get SCD weekly email newsletter and have never had a subscription. I am greatful for the knowledgeable people on this forum and will ask for advice when needed.

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12-18-2007, 10:58 AM

Posted By: DJI used to love SCD as a young collector and I'm not sure the Internet plays that much of a role it's demise. I go to the book store every weekend and there are literally hundreds and hundreds of speciality magazines dedicated to everything under the sun. SCD is the biggest joke in the business, but are you trying to tell me there can exist on a newstand a number of periodicals that teach us how to build a log cabin, but this great hobby won't have one periodical to represent itself? It's rail thin because it doesn't care what the hobby says (or what's in the best interest of the collectors) and the hobby is smart enough to know this. DJ

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12-18-2007, 11:17 AM

Posted By: Dan BrettaI disagree and I believe the internet is 100% to blame for its demise. Why would a dealer advertise in SCD when he can just sell his goods on ebay? The same demise came of Toy Shop and I never once heard any complaints that Toy Shop didn't care what the Hobby had to say about anything.

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12-18-2007, 11:45 AM

Posted By: Scott SarianI was discussing this a couple of weeks ago with the guys from Halls Nostalgia, who for as long as I remember always had the back cover advertisement in SCD. They were saying how they were sad to see how it lost its power from years ago, and as much as they loved having the back-page status, after a while it just didn't make sense to continue the ads when no one was reading it.

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12-18-2007, 11:49 AM

Posted By: barrysloateI think the Coach's Corner debacle is inexcusable. Anyone selling fake autographs should be immediately banned. That they have been doing so for many years and are still allowed to advertise is a travesty.

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12-18-2007, 01:20 PM

Posted By: BobA single signed Matty baseball for $998?????? I wouldn't even consider an offer to part with mine for less than 5 figures. Boy, you talk about something being rotten in Denmark......

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12-18-2007, 01:26 PM

Posted By: barrysloateThey have sold thousands of bad items for years and years. Who is bidding?

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12-18-2007, 01:36 PM

Posted By: Dan BrettaPeople who haven't found a forum like this and are unaware of current values in the marketplace. What's amazing to me is that Coach's Corner escapes the scrutiny of the federal government. edited to add: I am surprised that Keith Olbermann would have anything to do with SCD knowing that Coach's Corner basically keeps the SCD in business. If he wants a good story for his Countdown show he should do an expose on them.

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12-18-2007, 01:57 PM

Posted By: Jodi BirkholmScott, Funny you should mention Hall's Nostalgia. I too remember all their great ads from 20 years ago. Being a youngster up in Canada at that time (and an unabashed BoSox fan), I would always turn to the back of the publication to see what cool oddball items the Hall family was offering that particular week. I loved all the Jimmy Fund stuff they came up with. I actually passed through Arlington, MA, on a family trip in 1990, and got to check out the store firsthand. I bought 2 T206 Hal Chase cards (pink background and holding trophy) for a whole $8 apiece and was in heaven! The Halls were very kind to me, and it was really nice when, working for JSA many years later, that I had the chance to run into them again at the Shriner's show in Wilmington, MA. They're great people to talk to. Anyhow, (kind of) back on topic: My favorite trade rag, by far, was the sister publication to the SCD, "Baseball Cards" Magazine. Even as a kid, I found Beckett's monthly magazine informative, but far too "thin" (lack of actual pages or "meat"--the same common complaint about today's SCD). It was great for keeping tabs on card prices, and for interesting articles (which seem pretty juvenile by today's standards), but I was always left wanting more. Enter BCM. They combined genuinely interesting articles with a half-decent price guide, and an absolutely wonderful, irreverant sense of humor that still cracks me up whenever I pull out a yellowing issue from that ancient pile in the corner of my study. I remember one issue (I think it was July, 1990, the one with Dwight Evans on the cover) that featured a mock article about somebody so addicted to the hobby that his family intervened and sent him to the "WHITEY Ford Clinic"!!! I always loved the "Collector Q&A" section, and that same issue features a parody enitiled "Wierd Collector Q&A". If you have never had the pleasure, try to find a copy of this particular issue and laugh like you have never laughed before. It hasn't aged a bit! By the early 1990's, BCM, like the SCD of today, had become a shadow of its former self. Its pages numbered fewer than half of what it contained only a brief few years before. I wish BCM could be brought back. It taught us that, such as in life, we should always be mindful of the facts, but to never forget to throw in a good joke every now and then. I hope all of those hobby humorists are alive and well. A much-belated "thank you" to them all!

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12-18-2007, 03:11 PM

Posted By: barrysloateJodi- the very first baseball card publication I ever saw, and purchased, was Baseball Card Magazine. It was the summer of 1982 and I think it was issue #4, with Reggie Jackson on the cover. It had a price guide in the back and I was amazed that there was a way to find out what a particular baseball card was worth. It was a fine magazine with great articles.

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12-18-2007, 03:25 PM

Posted By: Richard SimonWhat amazes me is the collector who pays these prices: Josh Gibson single signed baseball $1000 Josh Gibson cut signature $491 Martin Luther King single signed baseball $746 Walter Johnson single signed baseball $386 Christy Mathewson single signed baseball $998 Chrsity Mathewson signed/inscribed post card $608 Lou Gehrig signed baseball bat $2100 Fred Clarke single signed baseball $1001 Cap Anson cut signature #1 $347 Cap Anson cut signature #2 $358 -- What thought process goes into paying $998 for a Christy Mathewson single signed baseball? "Wow, honey I got a $30,000 ball for $998, Now junior can go to college". Do people really think that way? I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent. Unknown author -- We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember. No retreat baby, no surrender. The Boss

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12-18-2007, 03:38 PM

Posted By: Dan BrettaI would say there are two types of people buying from Coach's Corner...those who are ignorant of the current market and those that wish to pass on a forgery for even more money.

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12-18-2007, 03:46 PM

Posted By: barrysloateDan- I'm afraid the latter is the more enticing option.

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12-18-2007, 04:05 PM

Posted By: Dave HornishSCD still has about 15,000 subscribers if I remember correctly. What they really need to do is meld it with Tuff Stuff and come out either every two weeks or once a month. Why it is published weekly at this point is beyond me-it must add a huge chunk to the expenses mailing out all those papers 52 times a year. I've made this point before: F&W merged their record collector mags into one publication and it improved dramatically and is still going strong. Some of Toy Shop was incorporated into Antique Trader I think, but that mag was destroyed years ago by Krause when they removed most of the articles and just had ads. The thing that I would like to see is a combination of three or four of their pubs like SCD, Antique Trader, Postcard Collector into one magazine. I could live with the stuff I don;t collect plus I would certainly learn a few things I would not know otherwise from such a rag. This will never happen though.

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12-18-2007, 07:38 PM

Posted By: MikeI never buy from Coach's Corner without a STAT Letter of Certificate. Are those on here saying that STAT is also no good ? Does STAT carry any weight ? They are used for the Babe Ruth musuem. Do they know anything about Ruth signatures ? I did win a Ruth ball which STAT certified. Thanks for your opinion. Mike

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12-18-2007, 07:59 PM

Posted By: Dan BrettaSTAT is no good...there was a thread about them on the memorabilia side last month. <a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/567138/thread/1194624101/Stat+Authentic" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.network54.com/Forum/567138/thread/1194624101/Stat+Authentic</a>

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12-18-2007, 08:39 PM

Posted By: Rich Klein And like I said a few months ago; it's not just SCD but it's print all over. I discussed Beckett's issues when this was brought up and I was amongst the people let got in June. But it is print all over and has been such for a while; and sometimes with humorous consequences. USA Today recently offered early retirement/buy out packages to anyone on their staff with 15 or more years of experience. The entire NBA staff all took the package and left and thus during the middle of the season USA Today has to revamp their entire NBA lineup. Print is frankly brutal to be in nowadays. Although it is still the most effective means of getting a point across; the impact is far less than it was even 10 years ago. And while it is much easier to go through -- it is not as good for the hobby when the last 2 issues of SCD have 100 pages combined. Yes, both issues of SCD were in my mailbox when I came home tonight. And frankly, the future for print is not good either. With the communication the way it is nowadays for our youth; there is less reading and more instant phone and internet communication. The niche publications within our niche (old cardboard; etc) have a chance for survival as well as Publications such as Beckett Plus and Almanac and Krause's Standard Catalog which have one-source guides and pricing and can be portable. Regards Rich