Burdick Award finalists

[obcmac]

Very happy to see obc'er Rob Fitts among the nominees. I personally feel that Beckett, while important, has a very large negative contribution to the hobby...the focus on prices and condition has added no positivity as far as I can see. Rob's books have added to the depth of baseball knowledge in a much more positive way. I very much appreciate what KO has done for the hobby as well. My two top choices

Mac Wubben

[buymycards]

I would have to agree with the selection of Mike. I recently purchased 900 minor team sets that I have listed on eBay. Mike must have invested 1000's of hours of research just compiling the rosters, plus obtaining stats, photos, and keeping tracking of the ever changing roster of players during the course of the season.

Producing these 100's of sets was a major undertaking, which he did very thoroughly and precisely and he was able to produce early cards of many players and coaches who went on to become hall of famers.

Rick

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by obcmac

Very happy to see obc'er Rob Fitts among the nominees. I personally feel that Beckett, while important, has a very large negative contribution to the hobby...the focus on prices and condition has added no positivity as far as I can see. Rob's books have added to the depth of baseball knowledge in a much more positive way. I very much appreciate what KO has done for the hobby as well. My two top choices

Mac Wubben

I think one could argue that the baseball card boom in the early 80's happened as a direct result of Dr. Beckett's pricing guides being readily available. IT allowed everyone to actually put a definitive price on their cards and therefor helped to fuel the fire of those who were currently collecting and those who had long ago put away their cards in attics and now wanted to rekindle their childhood passion. I know personally that, while I was an avid collector for eight years before the first book form price guide appeared in bookstores it wasn't until I ran across the first Beckett in a mall located in Omaha, Nebraska (I lived in Illinois but was ditching a wedding I didn't want to go to) did I realize what my collection was worth and helped me to start very successful card shows from my parents garage. I do believe, without a doubt Dr. Beckett deserves consideration for this honor.

Now let's talk about the Gummy Arts guy....I find it very hard to have any interest in those cards and cannot understand the desire to won them. Nothing against Mr. Noren but those cards are not attractive in my opinion.

[drcy]

As a side note, the Nobel Prize is given only to living people (sorry, Rosalind Franklin fans). There were even questions if John Nash deserved his because, while alive, he hadn't worked in some years due to being schizophrenic.

[Al C.risafulli]

I'm so thrilled to see Mike recognized this way. I have such an appreciation for SABR and all they do, and so I know how much diligence must've gone into this.

If you are of a certain vintage, as I am, the various TCMA issues were absolutely vital - so many of us kids in the 70s and 80s were infatuated with cards but didn't have the budgets for the real "oldies" (as we called them). It was through the TCMA issues that we learned about the '27 Yankees, the '60 Pirates, the great players and teams of yesteryear - and also the thousands of minor league players and teams scattered throughout the country that, in the days before cable TV and 24-hour sports networks, we would never have otherwise learned about.

I remember I would rip out old TCMA ads from hobby publications and circle the sets I wanted, so that my mom could pick out a few for my birthday every year. I still remember getting that 1927 Yankees set, the joy of owning a Babe Ruth baseball card, and reading the stats on the backs of players I'd never heard about before. From there, it was only a few steps away from trying to track down actual playing days cards of some of those guys.

I'd bet that Mike Aronstein and TCMA are probably responsible for creating more vintage collectors than anyone. I know that there were a lot of worthy candidates for this, so, bravo to SABR, kudos to Mike.

-Al

[GeoPoto]

Originally Posted by drcy

As a side note, the Nobel Prize is given only to living people (sorry, Rosalind Franklin fans). There were even questions if John Nash deserved his because, while alive, he hadn't worked in some years due to being schizophrenic.

The Nobel "Prize" is more than recognition/honor, the prize is $$$. It is expected to reward accomplishment and subsidize further discovery, which doesn't work as well with those who have passed.

[drcy]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

The Nobel "Prize" is more than recognition/honor, the prize is $$$. It is expected to reward accomplishment and subsidize further discovery, which doesn't work as well with those who have passed.

Good point. Except many Nobel Prize winners are really old, and it is given when they are retired.

[Leon]

Congrats to all of the recipients. Very well deserved!
I also hope SABR will do an all inclusive HOF of collectors with our founding fathers (deceased) included. Personally, I don't think there can be anyone ahead of the person named for the award.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...Burdick+letter

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[jason.1969]

Originally Posted by Leon

Congrats to all of the recipients. Very well deserved!

I also hope SABR will do an all inclusive HOF of collectors with our founding fathers (deceased) included. Personally, I don't think there can be anyone ahead of the person named for the award.



https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...Burdick+letter



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I will take the idea to the Awards Subcommittee. No shortage of deserving folks!