The Net 54 100

The Net54 100


Whilst there have been a few books and occasional article on the country’s top baseball card and baseball memorabilia collectors, we think it would be interesting, fun and informative to establish The Net 54 100.

This list would include the names of the most important and knowledgeable collectors and a look at their specialty.

General criteria would be the breadth and depth of the collection- quality and condition, and rarity of the material. Also we would include those collectors who have a true expertise in a particular arena and a world class collection to support their expertise. If we uncovered the names of the top 3 folks in each of these areas that would give us nearly half the list. The other names would be collectors with a deep knowledge of an area, but a limited collection, set collectors not listed below, unique specialty collections.

Finally, we should have an annual award for the best card collection and the best memorabilia collection and, of course, an award for America’s Most Important Collector.

Categories Include:
Baseball cards
19th century baseball cards
T 206
Pre WWI Tobacco cards
E cards
1930-1940’s R Cards
Regional Issues
1950-1960’s R Cards
Baseball Memorabilia-
Advertising Display Pieces
Negro League Material
Dead League Material (Union, Players, American Assn and Federal League
Pacific Cost League- pre 1960

[ullmandds]

do the recipients get trophies...or ribbons?

[Jacklitsch]

Does anyone else think this is not a good idea?

Bruce: Please do not email me as any will be deleted beore being read.

[Mrc32]

In before this thread becomes a trainwreck!

[Matt]

What's the point?

[ullmandds]

it seems to me that most "regulars" on here know who the experts are if need be...perhaps a roast of sorts at the annual dinner at the nat'l would be more appropriate than this idea?

[barrysloate]

Not a good idea Bruce. Collectors tend to be private. How many times have people asked you to show scans or ask for more information about your collection, only to get no response?

You have one of the best Federal League Collections, or so you say. May I ask you to go first? Please tell us about all your Fed League pieces.

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Not a good idea Bruce. Collectors tend to be private. How many times have people asked you to show scans or ask for more information about your collection, only to get no response?

You have one of the best Federal League Collections, or so you say. May I ask you to go first? Please tell us about all your Fed League pieces.

Barry beat me to it. Almost exactly what I had typed word for word before pushing send...

[barrysloate]

Tony- it was the natural response. Bruce has a fine collection with many areas of specialization, but is very private about it. Why would he expect others to share unless he is willing to do the same?

[collectbaseball]

We think that this is a pretty silly idea.

[botn]

The irony of his proposal is so fantastic considering he has shared less than 3 images of his own collection. What a total clown...

[D. Bergin]

I would like to nominate myself for finest collection of 1988 Donruss cards, packed in monster boxes in a back closet and awaiting the relaxation of fire codes in my community.

[mintacular]

Me up for '90 Upper Deck

[Ladder7]

[barrysloate]

There's a Seinfeld moment applicable to every thread.

[Jim VB]

Will there be a red carpet at the awards ceremony? (And, free parking goes without saying.)

[Jantz]

Whats the point?

We all know Archive has the best collection!

Jantz

[bigtrain]

If the purpose of such a list is to provide collectors with a resource by naming experts who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise with others, then I think it is a good idea. If the purpose is to recognize and heap praise upon those advanced collectors who are already pretty good at tooting their own horns, then I am not interested.

[Jay Wolt]

I think a better thread well served would be.
Asking all N54ers what's their area of expertise that they collect as opposed to the top 100

[teetwoohsix]

It was pointed out in another one of these threads that this is more than likely an attempt to find out "who has what" so "they" can solicit certain collectors for the things "they" need for "their" want list.

Anyhow-how about it Bruce?Start the list by showing us some of your "group's" collection??That might entice people to subscribe to your idea?Just a thought................

[slidekellyslide]

I nominate Bruce Dorskind for #1 SUPERCOLLECTOR OF THE UNIVERSE. He certainly is the most knowledgeable and by far has the best collection.

VOTE DORSKIND!!!1

[nolemmings]

I have no problem with the concept Bruce proposes--it is essentially already done by PSA on an annual basis, although with the obvious tie-in to their products. However, that right there might explain why I am doubtful it would work here.

The collecting mentality is for the most part different here. Although there is certainly no shortage of cutthroat competition among us for cards we want, there is still a general sense of collegiality by which we appreciate all collections, large or small, niche or general, high condition or no, graded or not. I get the distinct impression that those with the "greatest" collections here do not want to be recognized in that way, and do not need to be. I also would bet that in saying so, I am preaching to the choir.

Many here might think it elitist, but I have no objection to recognizing and acknowledging those collectors whose contributions and/or collections are exemplary. I also have no problem doing that privately and without ceremony. Makes no nevermind to me.

[Robextend]

I wouldn't be in the top 5,000 but I always like a thread with a Seinfeld reference.

Since it is a fact that most collectors are private, I think that the idea is very unrealistic. It is nice to know that on the board we have our resident experts on T206, Old Judge, etc...and I think that is good enough for most of us.

[Rob D.]

Fantastic idea.

In Bruce's honor, I suggest the awards be called The Groupies.

(Jantz, that's a pretty offensive signature line you've got going there.)

[Matt]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I nominate Bruce Dorskind for #1 SUPERCOLLECTOR OF THE UNIVERSE.

Why only #1?

[martin neal]

No one has actually determined how many collectors there are in the Dorskind group. Hell, they may take the all the spots.

[Bosox Blair]

Only tangentially related...I was reading a bit last night about Lionel Carter.

As many know, he had one of the greatest collections ever assembled and was (for a collector) fairly high profile. Around 2006 (from memory) he suffered a break-in and theft of part of his collection. He was in his late 80s at the time. He and his wife were so shaken up by it that he pretty much immediately set about selling the collection that he had taken a lifetime to assemble. Within a couple years, he passed away. Apparently after the sale he scarcely wanted to talk about cards and collecting anymore.

This story saddened me, but it made me understand why some collectors guard their privacy.

Cheers,
Blair

[barrysloate]

There would be no harm in citing the people who have expertise in certain areas, with the idea that if a collector had a question about a certain collectible, he could freely email one of these experts for advice. I know vintage baseball books quite well and I often get emails with questions about value and rarity. I even got one today. And I always try to answer and help out another collector.

But giving an award to the guy with the biggest collection is no doubt elitist and serves no purpose at all. If anything, it's just going to alienate the collectors who don't have the wherewithal to afford the rare cards and memorabilia.

I wonder if Bruce were asked questions about say Federal League pieces, advertising display pieces, or any other collectible he knew really well, if he would be willing to share his time and help out another collector. If so, then I would say this is a good thread. We have an archive at the top of the page that directs us to articles written about various areas of baseball collectibles, and that is a valuable resource. Having experts out there willing to field questions and help others get started would be equally useful. But I doubt that sharing information was the reason Bruce thought of this thread.

[Anthony S.]

At the risk of sounding immodest, I'm going to go ahead and nominate myself. Now mind you, this is merely the penultimate 1909 Obak Carson extant in my cardboard empire. Obsequious fawners over my myriad memorable memorabilia acquisitions, the line forms to the left. Genuflectors, to the right:

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Matt

Why only #1?

I saw this thread and responded within about 1 minute...then said nah, it will get handled, and didn't hit the reply button. I think it should be the Penultimate Collection!! And I vote for Bruce "the Group" Dorskind as the "be all end all". Are we done yet?

Seriously, I can't imagine anyone of us thinking "I have the best collection in the world, or even on the board." We tend to be proud of our collections but with a bit of humility. Hey, I show a ton of pictures of some of my cards but I know that my collection pales to others......and even if it didn't, I wouldn't make a big deal about it. I get excited for other collectors when they get excited about their new toys. It's a great hobby.

[uffda51]

I'm your guy for 1982 Donruss. Now, what to wear on the red carpet?

[barrysloate]

Isn't 82 Donruss the set with the backward Warren Littlefield?

[drdduet]

I thought it was 1982 Fleer and it was John Littlefield???

[ullmandds]

Then again...if certain collectors were labeled as "experts" in a given area of collecting...questions may go directly to these "experts" and the rest of the board will miss out on adding knowledge...and interesting threads may dwindle to nothing more than recurring t206 debates!

[barrysloate]

Darren- that's funny. Warren Littlefield was a program director at NBC who believed against the network's wishes that a comic by the name of Jerry Seinfeld was worth supporting even though his pilot tanked. John Littlefield was the pitcher. I have Seinfeld on the brain.

[sox1903wschamp]

I suspect the "group" started this thread just to get a rise out of us. And it's working as were up over 30 posts in a few hours .

[barrysloate]

It's proceeding at train wreck speed, but in a very orderly manner. It's making all the scheduled stops.

[Robextend]

...

[Jewish-collector]

This thread is good entertainment.
See you all at the National in Baltimore.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Jay Wolt

I think a better thread well served would be.
Asking all N54ers what's their area of expertise that they collect as opposed to the top 100

Jay,

Get a hold of yourself. This is America. What we do, is rank things. It's the only growing part of our GNP.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by drdduet

I thought it was 1982 Fleer and it was John Littlefield???

Damn. This will not help my hoard of 1981 Fleer vendor boxes!

[ElCabron]

This thread offends me, and I'm sure no one wants to offend me, so please stop.

-Ryan

P.S. Don't quote me on that.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by NoizeBringer

This thread offends me, and I'm sure no one wants to offend me, so please stop.

-Ryan

P.S. Don't quote me on that.

.

[calvindog]

Ryan, just for the record if that is your signature line I am deeply, deeply offended.

[Leon]

Archive, be on notice. My lawyers will be contacting you shortly!!

[celoknob]

I don't have any chance of actually getting a prize, but can I still get a certificate for participating? My young son always gets one of those just for showing up.

[T206Collector]

I second the notion that the sole purpose of this thread was to self-promote, both for the opportunity to brag about his/their own collection and also to learn about material from other collections that could potentially be acquired.

But I very much enjoy reading the fallout posts.

[Section103]

Mark me down as disappointed. I was hoping to make a batch of popcorn and sit down to watch an epic d*** swinging contest.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by celoknob

I don't have any chance of actually getting a prize, but can I still get a certificate for participating? My young son always gets one of those just for showing up.

I say trophies for everyone!

[David Atkatz]

Bruce are the top 100.

(And then some.)

If you don't believe me, ask Bruce.