Why We Love Collecting Pre-War Baseball Cards.

[71buc]

I’ve been addicted to baseball since 1971. I really don’t watch any other sport other than the occasional football game. I attend spring training annually and go to roughly 25 games a year between Seattle and Pittsburgh. This year I also saw games in San Diego, LA, San Francisco, and Cleveland. Call me crazy. I’m a child of the 70s and that era is where my heart is. Nonetheless I believe there is more talent in the game today than any generation that came before it. I’m not a fan of all of the rule changes. Specialization has made the game more predictable. Nonetheless, 100 mph fastballs are now common, athletic middle infielders like O’niel Cruz, and Elly De La Cruz measuring 6’7” throwing 95+ across the diamond, while running 31.5 feet per second, with exit velocities of 122 mph are the future. Don’t get me wrong, I love baseball history. My son is named afterHank and Roberto. Nonetheless, please remind me how big was The Beast (Foxx)? He was 6’ 195 lbs which is about the size of an average middle infielder today. I highly doubt Foxx had comparable athletic ability. I’m a romantic like most baseball fans and collectors. However, I will take todays international game over any other generation’s even with the excessive strikeouts. Model Ts are cool and interesting I much prefer a new Corvette when it comes to performance.

[FrankWakefield]

After reading what James I. said up there about announcers back in the day (to which I agree), it reminded me of transition points in the broadcasts.

First... baseball was easily understood when the pennant winner of each league met in the World Series in a best of 7 series; AND this took place with day games. As a school kid, you could maybe watch a black and white TV to see a bit of the game in study hall. People walked around with transistor radios and an earphone tethered to the radio. People would ask or tell one another the score, the inning, and maybe a few details. You'd hear the game in most of the stores, where somewhere in there would be a radio.

Then came Fox. The first World Series game I remember seeing on Fox, was a night game (which had become somewhat common by then). But that wasn't what's seared in my memory. Fox higher ups had forced upon the baseball announcers the need to promote some new TV show that was on Fox... I don't recall CBS, NBC, nor ABC ever doing that crap. I felt like Fox was prostituting baseball to improve ratings in some unassociated timeslot. I'm still put out over it.

I hated the pitch clock less than I thought I would. I dislike the massive everchanging playoff system, which is geared towards generating more money for owners, the players, MLB, and the MLBPA... it all couldn't give a hoot in Hell about how confusing it is as it changes, and how crazy it his to have World Series games scheduled for around Halloween and even into November.

[Yoda]

Who would you rather listen to call a game on radio, Joe Buck or Red Barber?

[Chuck9788]

One thing that attracts me to vintage cards (especially pre war) is wondering who the original owner was and how over time the card ended up in my hands.

[lampertb]

Originally Posted by Chuck9788

One thing that attracts me to vintage cards (especially pre war) is wondering who the original owner was and how over time the card ended up in my hands.

Exactly why I actually like cards with personalized stamps on the back. I remember a number of years ago there was a long T206 thread about who this one particular guy was who stamped hundreds upon hundreds of T206s, which are now dispersed around the market. Such stuff is simply interesting!

[FrankWakefield]

Between the two, Joe Buck, barely. Barber was great.

Scully, true greatness.

I know there are McCarver haters out there, bunches of them; but I liked him. He knew baseball, knew baseball history, he was a ballplayer. I liked when he'd get revved up so that he could try to explain something. I really liked Jack Buck. I recall him adding color for Harry Carey. Thumb's up for Carey, two thumbs up for Jack.

Garagiola and Kubek were a good team. Waite Hoyt adding some color and knowledge. I liked Shannon adding color for Jack Buck... during a pitching change, I think, where the Braves were beating up on the Cardinals, H Aaron had just doubled in a run or two and was standing on second base... Shannon says something close to this, "Folks, there's two baseball superstars standing out there at second base, Hank Aaron and Dal Maxvill." I loved it!

I liked Joe Morgan and Jon Miller. I liked Joe Nuxhall, "the old left hander rounding third and heading for home." Not a fan of either Brennaman; nor of Skip Carey. Thumbs up for Eduardo Perez, and Ron Darling, and Mr. Hershiser.

[darwinbulldog]

I don't pretend to know what caused it, but I suppose I'm lucky it's baseball cards that hooked me and not something more psychoactive.