Posted By:
BobI was born as a collector because of Sports Collector's Digest having read my first issue in 1978. I have read maybe 6 issues over the last 8 years. Why? Because of Coach's Corner.
Being in management, the most important thing is to listen to the consumer and this periodical does not care about what any of us have to say. It does not take into consideration any complaints and expects us, the readers (and those who support it either by advertising or subscribing) to be 'okay' with the finalized product and to look past the general displeasures that we have that truly effect the hobby.
They expect us to purchase their magazine and their teaching tools. I have in my hand 'The Standard Catalog Of Sports Memorabilia' published in 2003 by Krause/F+W Publications. They have on their ackonwledgments page a list of contributors and fine articles about detecting fraudulent autographs by Rocky Landsverk and Ron Keurajian. I wonder what Mr. Landsverk and Mr. Keurajian think about Coach's Corner? Anyone ever ask them?
I would especially be interested in Mr. Keurajian's response as he does in depth studies on the signatures that ALWAYS appear in Coach's Corner Auctions like 'The Bambino', Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson and Hack Wilson.
Hey Ron, what do you think of the two Walter Johnson signed bats that they had last month? In the SCOSP, it says 'unknown' as far as it's value goes...is about $500 the right price?
This is something that I think could have been corrected a long time ago, but it's now been I believe seventeen years since Coach's Corner first touched down on Krause turf and it's safe to say that SCD is totally dependant on the advertising of CCSA.
It will simply be a matter of time (50 pages now...wow...you don't say!) before the hobby entirely gives up on this once legendary periodical and a billion dollar collectible field will be void of a newsprint that they can call their own. It's simple math as far as I am concerned. If 1,000 people (that number may be quite high, but I know quite a few people who feel the way I feel) refuse to subscribe to SCD because of CCSA, does that number not benefit the publication as it makes more sense to keep that huge advertising contract of CCSA on board? $40,000 or about $100,000? Hmmm...
My thoughts for what they are worth. Looking forward to some feedback.
Bob
P.S I love this site!