[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

"Satchel Paige could have been the greatest pitcher in major league history, if he'd been given the chance. Don't look back, America, something might be gaining on you."

I first read the book when it came out--my uncle got it for me--and I don't think it is too much of a stretch to say that it got me addicted to classic Topps and Bowman cards.

Another great quality about "The Book" is that besides the tone of irreverence they set from the get go (it was almost a book about baseball cards as if written by the staff of MAD magazine...) was that the cards themselves they chose to picture were mostly in average or beat-up (i.e. believable...) condition. I loved them for doing that - and it made me feel much better about my own collection.