Value of Zeenut Card with Buck Barker Writing on Back

[oaks1912]

Buck's Zeenut collection was sold to Frank & Vivian Barning following his death. Around 1991, the collection was sold to me, through a broker, and the 3000 plus different Zeenuts that Buck accumulated were sorted out on my kitchen table. As I recall more than 60% of his cards contained the now famous Barker shorthand on the reverse, some in pen...most in pencil. In addition to player transaction records, most contained the year that Buck acquired the card along with the collector he acquired it from. At the time, there were a few advanced hobbyists that requested a 'type set' of Buck's different sources (which included Jim Horne, Dick Dobbins, John Spalding, Lou Chericoni, Jeff Burdick, Larry Moe, Paul Marchant and Bill Weiss). Today, I would think that a Burdick marked back would contain a premium, but the others do not command a premium, despite being formerly handled by some hobby legends from the past (Larry, Do you consider yourself a legend ?........ ) The illustrated card below came from Bill Weiss in 1973

[caramelcard]

I consider Larry to be a legend.

[Jacklitsch]

Originally Posted by caramelcard

I consider Larry to be a legend.

+1

[camlov2]

I would love to see others, particularly if someone has one from Jim Horne.

[brianp-beme]

Being a generally lower condition collector, AND actually preferring my blank back cards to have some writing on them (you know, to spice up an otherwise dull surface), I have ended up with quite a few Buck Barker Zeenut cards. Like Mark mentioned, you do find quite a few of the hobby veterans and legends that Buck purchased his cards from and noted as such (the man was incredibly detail orientated). Besides the names Mark listed, I have in my collection ones from Lew Lipset, Frank Nagy, Bill Heitman, and even a Preston Orem originally picked up in 1958. They don't normally add much of a premium to the card, but are a cool reminder of how much research that this man did to identify all the mystery PCL players that only had their last name on the card (and which frequently was mispelled). Some of my favorite from the ones I have posted are the James Cagney caricature that Buck managed to utilize all the available space, and the 1925 Haughy card which he notes possibile last names that he researched at the Sporting News archives and found to be not a good match (my guess is this guy is still unidentified).

Brian

[irishdenny]

These cards are Brilliant! My take on these gentleman, They were so intrigued by the nature of the lost elements, that the little boys in themselves never grew uP! They may not be a dollar amount to enhance these pieces of history, However, If someone were to erase/alter them, I would feel it in the debts of my baseball soul...

Thanks for Scanning and posting them! I hope you don't mind, I've saved them for reference & I do hope that those who have more, will add to this thread! And that they won't mind me borrowing these timeless pieces of history either

[caramelcard]

Speaking about these and other collectors' markings, scribbles and stamps...

I've always thought these were very interesting for a number of different reasons. They definitely give you perspective on the hobby back in the day. It was about collecting and not about cash. Once in a while they might even shed light on the mysteries of the issue/player. Finally, in this case, the abundance of cards that have made it into our many different accumulations show how much work he put into his collection.

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by caramelcard

Speaking about these and other collectors' markings, scribbles and stamps...

I've always thought these were very interesting for a number of different reasons. They definitely give you perspective on the hobby back in the day. It was about collecting and not about cash. Once in a while they might even shed light on the mysteries of the issue/player. Finally, in this case, the abundance of cards that have made it into our many different accumulations show how much work he put into his collection.

+1

[conor912]

Originally Posted by caramelcard

I consider Larry to be a legend.

...and debonair to boot.