NOW LIVE: Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide

[bcbgcbrcb]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I now have in hand, the initial 100 copies of my Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide. This soft cover book consists of a total of 273 pages in full color with over 1,000 images of cards, postcards, original photos, broasdisdes, etc. documenting nearly 400 prominent individuals who participated in the Negro/Cuban/Puerto Rican Baseball Leagues from the 1880's through the mid-1950's.

A huge thank you goes out to my three advertisers: Hake's Americana & Collectibles, Goodwin & Co., Heritage Auctions & Bagger's Auctions. Without their support, this guide would not have been possible to produce.

For those of you who had contacted me previously to reserve a copy, I have already sent you an e-mail earlier this morning with all pertinent details. For anyone else who would like to purchase a copy, the cost is $29.95 + $7.40 for USPS Priority Mail = $37.35. Paypal is preferred (please be sure to include shipping address in the "Note to Recipient" area) but checks and money orders are accepted also. Below are the payment instructions:

Paypal Address: vguerrerobb@yahoo.com

Mailing Address: Phil Garry
908 Lake Destiny Road, Unit #G
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

I would like to thank everyone who supported this endeavor, particularly fellow Net 54 member, Steven Greenes, who was responsible for much of the research that went into putting this guide together.

[cyseymour]

Just placed my order... looking forward to it! Should be a cool book.

[ullmandds]

me too...looking forward to learning about an area I know very little about!!!

[ethicsprof]

congratulations, phil.
i'm eager to learn some new things---many,many new things!!!
I just paid via paypal.
all the best,
barry

[Runscott]

Thanks, Phil. Paypal sent. Based on conversations with Phil before/during the creation of this book, I'm certain it will be useful to all collectors of the subject matter, and interesting to those who collect different stuff.

[jerseygary]

Just ordered mine!

[Vol]

Can't wait to learn!!

Thanks, Isaac

[Nashvol]

Ordered mine!

[triwak]

Paypal order sent. Looking forward to my copy!! Thanks ~ Ken

[talkinbaseball]

U.S. Postal Money sent.

thanks,

john

[h2oya311]

Looking forward to receiving my copy!! How soon before a second edition is required??

[bcbgcbrcb]

Derek:

When the next wave of 1,000+ "fresh to the hobby" Negro League collectibles hits the market........

[ibuysportsephemera]

Got mine today..beautiful book Phil...congrats!

[FirstYearCards]

Excellent job on the book, thanks again, Bill.

[Kenny Cole]

Got mine today too. Very nice job Phil.

[jimivintage]

Got mine as well! Great stuff! Much bigger than I imagined!

[gnaz01]

Just ordered mine, Phil. Can't wait to get it.

[ZernialFan]

Thanks Phil!! Received mine today. Very impressive............I hope to learn
a lot about what is and may be out there connected to the Negro Leagues.

[Runscott]

Received mine today as well - thanks Phil. Very professional looking product.

[ethicsprof]

I received mine today and am very,very pleased.
congratulations on a well-researched, informative, and beautiful tome!
all the best,
barry

[ullmandds]

just got mine today, Phil...thanks again...looks great!!!

[triwak]

Mine arrived today. Fantastic!!!! And I love the organization - alphabetized individual cards, and chronological team cards. Well done, my friend!!

[toppcat]

Killer job-this is a must have....

[Northviewcats]

Received my copy yesterday. Outstanding resource. Thanks Phil for putting it together.

Joe

[aljurgela]

Looking forward to getting my copy....

Al

[ElCabron]

I don't mean to be a bummer, and I appreciate the work and intent behind Phil's book, but PLEASE tell me that everyone who has received a copy so far has also received some sort of addendum correcting some of the many, many errors and incorrect information. Please? Phil? Anyone?

-Ryan

[glynparson]

received in a timely manner. Thanks Phil

[bcbgcbrcb]

I would first like to thank everyone who has purchased a copy of my guide. I hope that it proves to be the most useful reference tool of it's kind in the hobby.

I will now respond to comments made by a fellow Nert 54 board member, Ryan Christoff, whom everyone in the hobby knows to be, if not the foremost expert in the field of Negro League Baseball collectibles, certainly among the top two or three.

Less than two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend a good part of one day at Ryan's dealer table at the National in Chicago. Together, we did a quick review of my guide which had just been published two days earlier. While Ryan pointed out a number of things that would require updates to be made, I eagerly took notes of everything that Ryan mentioned.

First and foremost, there was a 1924 Cuban League postcard picturing Oscar Charleston which, upon further research, had been determined to be fake. Along those same lines, there was a group of 1948-49 Toleteros "Test" cards which were auctioned off a number of years ago and have also subsequently been determined to be fakes.

Beyond those two admittedly significant errors, Ryan pointed out a couple of Cuban team composites that I labeled as such which were part of Cuban League publications but that was not specified in my descriptions.

Also, Ryan pointed out a number of items in the card section which he indicated do not exist and should be removed. All of these items have been named in albums, as part of uncut sheets, etc. but no known examples have surfaced thus far in the hobby. In my opinion, these items are not mistakes but could simply have the added disclaimer "Unconfirmed" placed next to them.

Other than that, there was a misspelling of a Hispanic players' last name as well as differences of opinion on some values which is a completely subjective area. Thus, these would not qualify as errors.

We also discussed the idea of Ryan doing a much more comprehensive review of the guide once he returned back home so I agreed to forward a complimentary copy to him immediately. Due to the timing of late summer activities, we both agreed that it would be best to revisit things after the Labor Day holiday weekend.

In the interim, I started to go back to my electronic version of the guide and begin making some of the updates that Ryan had suggested while also giving some thought on how best to go about handling the fact that 100 copies have already been published. My thought was to get back together with Ryan after the summer and determine the full scope of not only his recommended changes but also numerous additional items that he would make available for future print runs.

Unfortunately, Ryan felt the need to give his input in this thread before we had a chance to discuss further. As everyone can imagine, I am quite hurt by Ryan's comments which call into question not only the credability of my guide but also my knowledge of Negro League Baseball collectibles in general.

In closing, although my guide might not be perfect, at least it is a good head start towards educating many in the hobby who are interested in Negro League Baseball collectibles but never had the opportunity to learn about them due to the lack of a comprehensive resource available on the market.

[cyseymour]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

I would first like to thank everyone who has purchased a copy of my guide. I hope that it proves to be the most useful reference tool of it's kind in the hobby.

I will now respond to comments made by a fellow Nert 54 board member, Ryan Christoff, whom everyone in the hobby knows to be, if not the foremost expert in the field of Negro League Baseball collectibles, certainly among the top two or three.

Less than two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend a good part of one day at Ryan's dealer table at the National in Chicago. Together, we did a quick review of my guide which had just been published two days earlier. While Ryan pointed out a number of things that would require updates to be made, I eagerly took notes of everything that Ryan mentioned.

First and foremost, there was a 1924 Cuban League postcard picturing Oscar Charleston which, upon further research, had been determined to be fake. Along those same lines, there was a group of 1948-49 Toleteros "Test" cards which were auctioned off a number of years ago and have also subsequently been determined to be fakes.

Beyond those two admittedly significant errors, Ryan pointed out a couple of Cuban team composites that I labeled as such which were part of Cuban League publications but that was not specified in my descriptions.

Also, Ryan pointed out a number of items in the card section which he indicated do not exist and should be removed. All of these items have been named in albums, as part of uncut sheets, etc. but no known examples have surfaced thus far in the hobby. In my opinion, these items are not mistakes but could simply have the added disclaimer "Unconfirmed" placed next to them.

Other than that, there was a misspelling of a Hispanic players' last name as well as differences of opinion on some values which is a completely subjective area. Thus, these would not qualify as errors.

We also discussed the idea of Ryan doing a much more comprehensive review of the guide once he returned back home so I agreed to forward a complimentary copy to him immediately. Due to the timing of late summer activities, we both agreed that it would be best to revisit things after the Labor Day holiday weekend.

In the interim, I started to go back to my electronic version of the guide and begin making some of the updates that Ryan had suggested while also giving some thought on how best to go about handling the fact that 100 copies have already been published. My thought was to get back together with Ryan after the summer and determine the full scope of not only his recommended changes but also numerous additional items that he would make available for future print runs.

Unfortunately, Ryan felt the need to give his input in this thread before we had a chance to discuss further. As everyone can imagine, I am quite hurt by Ryan's comments which call into question not only the credability of my guide but also my knowledge of Negro League Baseball collectibles in general.

In closing, although my guide might not be perfect, at least it is a good head start towards educating many in the hobby who are interested in Negro League Baseball collectibles but never had the opportunity to learn about them due to the lack of a comprehensive resource available on the market.

I haven't received my copy of the book yet, so I can't comment on its quality. But you wrote that you knew of these fakes from Ryan "less than two weeks ago" yet presumably you were selling the book after you already knew of the fakes. You go on to call the book "a good head start"... but I didn't really want a head start, I thought I was receiving a definitive resource.

I am not objecting to the fact that fakes were discovered - it happens. But I'm surprised that after they were discovered, you still went ahead with the decision to sell the book. I would honestly rather have a refund and purchase a corrected copy than buy a copy with known fakes that is soon to be revised. Can you offer a refund/return/exchange once my book arrives so that I can get a revised one instead?

Thanks,

Jamie

[ElCabron]

Phil,

I'm sorry if you were hurt by my comments. That was not my intent. I like you and am still willing to help if you'd like me to. My input wasn't personal, but I can see why it would be hard not to take it that way. You've put a lot of hard work into this project and it probably felt like I was saying it has no value. That's not what I'm saying at all. I think the idea of a guide like this is great. It's something that there is a clear desire for by many collectors. What I don't understand is why there was such a rush to publish it.

I don't claim to be the world's authority about any of this, but I don't think it's too outlandish for me to suggest that you probably should have sent me a proof copy or something to look over BEFORE publishing it. So many of these errors are easily fixed. I'm not talking about your price estimates, either, when I mention the errors. My #1 main issue, and the reason I posted in this thread, is the fact that you included fakes. Saying the 1951-52 Denia set is from 1950-51 is relatively minor. An easily fixable mistake. Listing a 1946-47 Almanaque Deportivo card of Ray Dandridge when it was never even produced is not a big deal. Including a white guy named George Brown who has no affiliation with the Negro Leagues whatsoever is bizarre and probably preventable by looking at his picture on the card, but still, not a big deal. No one is really harmed by these. There are many others like those, but they are somewhat harmless, although even one of them would drive me crazy if it was something I published myself. No, the inclusion of fakes is what I find potentially harmful to the hobby. I've always taken a pretty harsh stance about this, so it's not just now with you. And I want to clarify that I am in no way implying you had anything to do with fake cards. I know that you were only trying to be comprehensive and genuinely believed they were real. And also somehow honestly thought George Brown was a Negro Leaguer.

Legitimizing fake cards is a step in the wrong direction. If someone who bought your book pays $3,000 today for a fake Willard Brown card because they thought it was real after seeing it in your book, in my opinion YOU have some responsibility in that. Perhaps not legal responsibility, but you understand my point. If you're publishing a guide, people are probably going to assume you know more about the subject than they do and it's possible they will take your published work as truth, even when you have "guide" right in the title. Again, we're not talking about new information coming out after you published. That can and will happen and there is nothing you can do about that, other than update it for the next version of the guide you publish.

Everything I'm talking about was easily preventable. Even after you printed the first batch of books. I told you how important I felt it was to at least include some kind of note or something about the fakes if you were still going to send out copies of the book, but it doesn't seem like you did that. I wasn't trying to take a dig at you by posting on the board. I was trying to prevent fake cards from being considered real. With all the other errors, I was hoping you might consider not publishing this first batch of books, as I mentioned to you on the phone, and then putting out a much more comprehensive, much more accurate guide at some point in the future

Again, I'm still willing to help out in whatever way you need me to. I've been saving scans of Negro League items for over 15 years. I have a pretty large archive of images. In your memorabilia section, I have either owned at some point or currently own about half of those items. That means I have high resolution scans of them. I have images of MANY other items and lots of card issues you've probably never heard of. I'm happy to share any of those with you. I don't think you realize that a good portion of this stuff gets traded privately. Combing auction house catalogs only gives part of the picture. I know you feel like I was attacking you personally, Phil, but I wasn't. I was attacking your book. Maybe your book should surrender, hit the gym, and come back stronger than ever!

-Ryan

[bcbgcbrcb]

Ryan:

Since you don't know how I was planning to handle the situation, you should have asked me first before posting on a public forum but it's too late for that now.

While you continuosly mention your willingness to help in whatever capacity needed, you did not volunteer to assist in any way to help put the guide together when I first began the process and was seeking help from anyone and everyone on Net 54 who had some expertise in this field. I also asked several times for scans of cards on Net 54 that I was missing, many of which you indicate that you have (and I'm sure you do) but nothing was ever sent to me. You did offer to forward images via e-mail somewhere along the way but, for some reason, I never received anything. Since you were in no way obligated to help me, I just moved on with my work.

It is very easy to sit back now, after the fact, and the book has already been published and make critical comments. Obviously, your expertise far exceeds mine and I'm sure that you could have put something like this together with virtually no issues but never chose to do so. In summary, your expertise was not available when it meant putting something together to help the hobby but it is now available to find fault with the finished product.

Rest assured that I will take the necessary steps to ensure that my buyers are alerted to any major issues with the guide that are known to me. I will have to further assess things before making a decision on whether a revised edition will be produced at some point in the future.

[ElCabron]

Okay, well let me know if you change your mind. Just so you know, I didn't see your posts asking for help as I was rarely checking the board at that time. I'm not sure why you didn't just call me and ask me since we've known each other for years, but it's fine. Sorry if I was too busy trying to raise 4 kids in two different states while in the middle of a brutal custody battle to send you some scans. I'm not trying to critique your work after the fact any differently than I would have before it was published. Someone should have, Phil. That's all I'm saying. It would have saved a lot of headaches. Also, I didn't just randomly come on some public forum without talking to you first. I did talk to you. And I was under the impression that there would be something included with the books you sent that corrects, or at least points out some of the more egregious errors. When everyone started posting about how great the book is and no one mentioned it, I correctly assumed you didn't include anything.

In spite of your hurt feelings about what you perceive as bashing your book, I actually think it's still great and worth buying, even in its current error-filled state, just for the memorabilia side. It's quite awesome to see all those images gathered together in one place. In fact, I think the card section is the only part I have any real problems with. You're probably right that I should just put something together myself so I would know it was accurate. But your guide is still good and I would still recommend it to people as long as they know about the errors. The memorabilia side would have made an awesome book all by itself. Your work was not wasted, Phil. But I'm not shocked there are mistakes due to what seemed like a rush to publish.

Again, your book is worthwhile and definitely something anyone interested in this material should buy, as long as they are made aware of the inaccuracies. Plus, what other book features images of so many cards of albino Negro Leaguer George Brown?

-Ryan

[cyseymour]

Just for the record, I decided to keep the book.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Thanks, Ryan.

I think that just about everyone is in agreement that the guide is a great resource overall and, thanks to your review, I will be making all buyers aware of all known, major issues in written form in the very near future. I think that will satisfy both of us for the time being and also work out best for all of the collectors who have already purchased or will purchase a copy of the guide in it's present form in the future.

Maybe one day, a new, improved version will hit the market. We'll have to see.........

[bcbgcbrcb]

Earlier this morning, I e-mailed a one-page "Addendum to the Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide" to everyone that purchased a copy from me. If anyone purchased a guide and did not receive an e-mail from me, please let me know and I will forward it to you.

Going forward, all future copies of the guide that are sold will contain the Addendum inside the front cover. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.

[Runscott]

Phil, I didn't get one.

[rjackson44]

i love it and ill leave it at that thanks phil

[bcbgcbrcb]

Scott:

PM sent.

[ibuysportsephemera]

Phil,

I didn't get one.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Jeff:

PM sent.

[bcbgcbrcb]

I will be at the East Coast National Show on Saturday from 10 to around 1 and will have copies of my Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide if anyone would like to buy one and save $6 on shipping, cost will be $30. I will be wearing a multi-color tie dye shirt with lots of books in my hands.

[cyseymour]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

Earlier this morning, I e-mailed a one-page "Addendum to the Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide" to everyone that purchased a copy from me. If anyone purchased a guide and did not receive an e-mail from me, please let me know and I will forward it to you.

Going forward, all future copies of the guide that are sold will contain the Addendum inside the front cover. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.

I've received neither the book, nor the email, nor the addendum... thanks.

[cyseymour]

Originally Posted by cyseymour

I've received neither the book, nor the email, nor the addendum... thanks.

Further research has shown that the reason for this is that I sent the payment to the wrong email address. Fortunately, the guy had not received the money... looks like I am in the clear and a re-order is coming soon...

[Runscott]

Phil, Given that we paid using Paypal, why don't you just check your paypal history and send the addendum to all the email addresses? It's really a no-brainer.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Exactly what I did, Scott. With over 50 payments, I could have easily missed a couple.

[Kenny Cole]

Phil,

I'm still missing the addendum. Please send it to me at your earliest convenience. Thanks,

Kenny

[bcbgcbrcb]

Kenny:

I just sent you a PM

Thanks

[bcbgcbrcb]

I just wanted to let all board members know that I have just received my second print run of 100 copies of the Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide from the printer. These are noted on the cover as "Second Edition" and are basically the same format as the first print run with a dozen or so new items added as well as a number of corrections made, following the guidance of a fellow board member. Once again, special thanks go out to my advertisers this time around: Hake's Auctions, Heritage Auctions, Goodwin & Co. & Bagger's Sportscards, without whom this second print run would not have been possible.

Initially, I was planning to offer this second edition at a deep discount to those board members who purchased a copy of the original guide in an effort to compensate them for a product that was far from perfect. Unfortunately, about a month ago, I had to undergo a serious medical procedure and subsequent expenses will not allow me to absorb a lot of printing costs. Therefore, the Second Edition copies will once again be for sale at $29.95 plus $5.95 for USPS Priority Mailing.

If you would like a copy, please e-mail me privately at: vguerrerobb@yahoo.com or send me a PM through Net 54.

Thank you all again for your support!

[Jeffrompa]

Hope everything goes well Phil. Congrats on the book it isn't easy , I know .

[bcbgcbrcb]

It's been over 3 years since I posted the initial availability of my Negro League Baseball Collectibles Guide on Net 54 Baseball back in April, 2014. Since that time, I know that many new members have joined Net 54 Baseball and many collectors have begun collecting Negro League Baseball material. For these reasons, I decided to post here once again, I still have a handful of copies left for sale, if anyone would like to purchase a copy of this worthwhile reference book, please follow the instructions contained in the first post of this thread.

Once again, I would like to thank my fellow Net 54 Baseball board members for all of their support over the years.