Sad News -- Frank Barning

[orioles70]

Sad news...I enjoyed BHN and was a long time subscriber.

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[Steve D]

That's sad news for me too.

I met Frank and Vivian shortly after they moved to San Diego. I'd see them at the monthly card show at a bowling alley in El Cajon (suburb of San Diego). They were one of my primary sources of T206s in the early 1980s when I was getting started on them. Then, when I got back into them around 2003 (after selling all my cards in 1991), they got me restarted on them. The first T206 I bought then, was a raw Cobb red background from them on ebay; it's now a PSA 4, and is firmly ensconced in my set.

They were always great to me. After I joined the Air Force in 1985, I'd see them on the rare occasions I went to a major show; but they always remembered me, that I'd joined the Air Force, and they always asked how I was doing.

Rest in Peace Frank, and my condolences to Vivian and their son Randy.

Steve

Edited to add:

Frank is also one of the few to actually have a card made by Topps:

[Rich Klein]

There were 66 of us in Hobby Media who got those cards in 1992.

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...een-topps-set/

One of my favorite board members now has the uncut sheet referenced in this article.

Rich

[toledo_mudhen]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

There were 66 of us in Hobby Media who got those cards in 1992.

Hey Rich - COMC has you for sale!

1 card at $60 ish and another for $475 ish

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23427875717...r=533975411231

[marzoumanian]

So sad to hear this news. When I got back into the hobby in 1985, one of the first actions I took was to subscribe to Baseball Hobby News. What a great publication that was. Geared to the collector, not advertisers. No puff pieces. The articles were in-depth, not blurbs. There was a section where you could write about your collecting interests and submit it to BHN. It was a thrill when it ran mine.
I was disappointed when Frank and Vivian made the decision to end the publication in 1993. There will never be another pub like it.
Frank was truly a good person. When I would see him at Nationals he would always engage me in stimulating hobby and baseball talk. He was a man of passion and showed interest in what you had to say. You can't fake that. The hobby has lost someone special. Thank you, Frank and Vivian Barning for all you did for this great hobby. RIP, Frank.

[roarfrom34]

Very sorry to read this...While it's been probably been 20 years since we last corresponded, I know he was a big fan of Gil Hodges and it's a shame that he will miss his HOF induction in July.

RIP Frank

[Troy Kirk]

Very sad news, Frank was a nice guy and a great ambassador for our hobby. I used to be a writer for Baseball Hobby News for the last few years of that publication and would see the Barnings at card shows. He had a binder of T206 cards on his table for $3 each which I usually flipped through, but I don't think I bought any, I wish I had. He surprised me and asked me to man his table once while he took a break and walked around the room. It was a sad day when Baseball Hobby News ceased publication and a sadder day now to hear that Frank is gone.