Bob Lemke -- Terribly Sad News

[Moonlight Graham]

RIP Bob.

[autograf]

Can't say much more than has already been said in this thread. Corresponded a few times with Bob on things and his 'cards that never were' were fantastic. I have a couple of 1952 Topps and 1953 Bowman Color and B/W that he created that are just fantastic. I had intentions to get a few more to add to my 1952 set but just kept putting it off. I will fondly remember him when I look at the few I do have. RIP to Bob and condolences to his family and friends during this time.

[Jason Carota]

Very sad to hear. RIP, Bob.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I blame the Standard Catalog and SCD for fueling my passion for collecting vintage baseball cards, especially pre-War type cards, for the past 30 years or so. RIP, Bob.
Val

+1 - especially the Standard Catalog!! I remember buying the 2003 book and thinking "wow, this is expensive", but it is now tattered and torn from so much use. It was worth every penny!

[VintageBall]

A hobby giant and a lovely person.

[Bigb13]

Such a great guy may he Rest In Peace

[JasonD08]

A huge positive impact to this hobby. RIP Bob

[rjackson44]

rest in peace bob

[pclpads]

Extremely sad and lousy start to the new year. RIP.

[Harry111]

So sorry to here of Bob's passing. Icon in the hobby. He will be missed

[DaveW]

So sad to hear about Bob. I always enjoyed his blog and communicated with him a few times. He was always friendly. A hard man to replace.

[Rickyy]

Wow so sad to hear this. Bob was a real credit to this hobby. My condolences to his family and friends....

Ricky Y

[Mark70Z]

Sad news for sure. He'll be missed.

[cubman1941]

A great loss to all of us. I communicated with him lots of times when he was editor of SCD. He always appreciated the times I could add something to the catalog. I continued to communicate with him over the years and he always was only to eager to help me. I will miss him!!

[trdcrdkid]

I never knew Bob Lemke personally, but I was a big fan of his writing and his enthusiasm for the hobby. I first became aware of him when I picked up the first issue of Baseball Cards magazine from the newsstand at Dominick's Finer Foods in the spring of 1981 and read his editor's column. That column, and the one from the second issue of Baseball Cards in fall 1981, have stayed with me all of those years, so I've scanned them below in Bob's memory.

[divecchia]

Bob was a true hobby legend. He will be missed.

RIP, Bob!!!

Condolences to his family and friends.

Donato

[paul]

Truly one of my favorite people in the hobby. He will be missed by so many.

[Bobmc]

This is a shock and such sad news.
Mr. Bob Lemke was a giant in his field. He reminded me of Harmon Killebrew in that he was so warm and affable. He had a special way of communicating that just made you feel good.

If there is ever to be a Mt Rushmore of sports collecting, I nominate Bob Lemke to be up there.

RIP

[Joe_G.]

Very sad indeed, he will be missed. I always enjoyed the Standard Catalogs, particularly the earlier editions that included the full listing of Old Judge cards. His approachability and enthusiasm fueled so many collaborations that made his catalogs more complete than otherwise likely. I enjoyed adding content to the catalog in part due to working with him. Prayers with friends and family.

[dstudeba]

Very sorry to hear about this. Bob really cared about the Big Book and his work in compiling it. Wonderful contributions he made to the hobby.

RIP Bob

[joeadcock]

God with him

[edhans]

My prayers go out to Bob and his family.

[glchen]

Very sad to hear this. I communicated with Bob just a little, to try to add a few cards to the Standard Catalog, and he was always very friendly. Condolences to his family.

[Stampsfan]

As an SCD subscriber for many years, I enjoyed his insight, knowledge, and writing. Never met him, but he seemed like a good, honest man. God bless.

[AustinMike]

Very sad to hear this bad news.

Thank-you Bob for the big SCD book and all your other contributions to the hobby. But especially for the beautiful Mantle and Post cereal custom cards.

[Rich Klein]

While in another thread we were wishing for the conclusion of "Hauls of Shame", the new SABR Baseball Card Blog is going strong. David Cycleback just posted an article about black lights and here is my tribute to Bob Lemke.

https://sabrbaseballcards.blog/2017/...-to-bob-lemke/

[ValKehl]

Rich, nicely done tribute to Bob.

[rebelsart]

Very saddened by the news of Bob Lemke passing away last week. His love and contributions to this hobby are everlasting. Thank you Bob, Rest In Peace.

[DixieBaseball]

Mr. Lemke was great about collaboration with Standard Catalog. He was approachable and allowed for many additions year in and out to the SC. I remember emailing him about a card he didn't have listed in the Tin Tops set, and he simply asked me to provide scans, and with a few more emails, the card was added the following year. Still own that one of kind Southern Leaguer.

Prayers to his family - God bless

[whiteymet]

I don't think anyone has posted a link to Bob's Obituary.

For those interested you can see it here:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fdl...?pid=183475437

Fred

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by whiteymet

I don't think anyone has posted a link to Bob's Obituary.

For those interested you can see it here:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fdl...?pid=183475437

Fred

Thank you, Fred, for thoughtfully loading up Mr. Lemke's obituary. It was fascinating to read of all the serious, important contributions he made to our hobby, and elsewhere. His loss is really hurting me, and I know a lot of others.

May God rest his soul, and comfort and care for his beloved wife and family.

I echo the sentiments of those who are fans of his custom card creations. This was such a passion to Bob. His custom extension of the 1955 Topps All-American Football cards was nothing short of superb. I only own the Bronko Nagurski and Jackie Robinson, but feel fortunate to own those. I certainly treasure them as if they were genuine, and have said so for years. I never bought them 'cause I thought they'd appreciate in value, though that might happen now, but simply because I LOVED HOW THEY LOOKED.

I well remember opening the package he sent me with his 1961 Post Cereal of Sandy Koufax---he even got the coloring just right, the way I remembered it on a '61 cereal box! There have been numerous times I mentioned on NET 54 of my joy over receiving his re-created 1963 JELL-O Black Raspberry box with a variant photo of Mickey Mantle, and how in good taste Bob chose the great shot used on the JELL-O placards appearing in grocery stores / supermarkets. Brilliant in its own way. Man, this is tough; I'm tearing up. Finally, his 1952 Red Man Tobacco Mickey Mantle---a little masterpiece! Perhaps one of the other guys who own some of his customs will load up some scans. I can only paint pictures with words.

Bob Lemke was the right man at the right time for our hobby's giant growth in the 1980s.

I loved his constant hunger for research. He'd pour through masses of old issues of THE SPORTING NEWS. Just last year, he posted on his blog of finding a significant document in a spring, 1962 SPORTING NEWS issue regarding General Foods' massive cereal box baseball card promotion. It specifically mentioned how the JELL-O division was test marketing the baseball cards on the backsides of their little boxes in the Chicago area.

Larry Fritsch, Dr. Beckett, myself and some others were convinced the 1962 JELL-Os were in actuality a test issue, marketed in the Chicagoland area, as well as Milwaukee. Back in '62, Mr. Fritsch worked for the railroad, and rode the rails every day between Chicago and Milwaukee, and related to me over the phone in my research for my book, NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, that he got the '62s in Chicago and near his home area of Milwaukee. The rest of the country would have to wait for JELL-O baseball cards until their 1963 release. Long to short, Mr. Lemke's blog posting of that document finally silenced the stubborns with positive proof, who still held out the '62 JELL-Os were a national issue.

It's just a tough time. Gotta get. ---Brian Powell

[tinkertoeverstochance]

Bob Lemke, along with Anthony Stephenson, got me started on one of my favorite baseball sets of all time, 1909 Obak. Bob's generosity & knowledge was infectious. I now sit 4 cards from completion. Thanks Bob & Fare Thee Well!

Lee

PS - Below is an Obak that was once owned by Bob that I still own.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by tinkertoeverstochance

Bob Lemke, along with Anthony Stephenson, got me started on one of my favorite baseball sets of all time, 1909 Obak. Bob's generosity & knowledge was infectious. I now sit 4 cards from completion. Thanks Bob & Fare Thee Well!

Lee

Well said, Lee. I wish you the best on your quest to get the rest.

Mr. Lemke's death has sure been hard on a lot of us.

Best regards, Brian Powell

[drcy]

As time goes by and the new becomes normal and once radical ideas become common knowledge, we don't appreciate the pioneering work some did. Reading his bio and obituary it is clear he was a pioneer in the field, especially the publishing field. Happily, he was well known and well regarded throughout his career and is still appreciated at his passing. Part of his this is because he was always helping average collectors, so many knew him on a personal basis.

[hcv123]

I met Bob a few times at shows in Fort Washington PA and Pittsburgh PA. We had corresponded by e-mail about a few odd issues which he ultimately included in the standard catalog. I was a voracious reader of baseball cards magazine, SCD and the Standard Catalog (would go cover to cover when each new issue came out -anticipating seeing new additions! Didn't know him well, but deeply appreciate the immeasurable contributions his work did in helping our hobby grow. May his family be comforted and warmed by knowing how treasured he was in our hobby.

Howard Chasser

[phlflyer1]

Very sorry to hear of Mr. Lemkes passing.

I had the chance to meet Bob at a show in Philadelphia during the mid to late 1990s to share information about the 1910 All Star Baseball set that he published in SCD at the time.

He was a joy to talk with and will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family and friends.

[darwinbulldog]

Wow, I'm just seeing this. Bob was one of my favorite people in the hobby, even apart from his contributions as a pioneer. He was very helpful in responding to me when I was an incipient type-card collector and was always very personable and happy to share his wisdom. I'm happy to have a couple of his old cards in my collection today.