What was the salvation of the Prewar card hobby

[bigfanNY]

For decades I would mention book and someone would say. Goodnight Sibi Sisti wherever you are.

Thanks for sharing your story on how it influenced you and your collecting. How did you first start tracking down players address?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

How did you first start tracking down players address?

In the really early days, I'd call up directory assistance for where I thought the player might live. I remember one really helpful operator in Dallas who knew who represented Mantle and she happily gave me that address. True, Rhodie and McQuaid. Funny what you remember. Of course, no answer from Mick.

Thankfully, it wasn't long before I discovered Jack Smalling's address lists!

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

For decades I would mention book and someone would say. Goodnight Sibi Sisti wherever you are.

The book had some awesome quotes.

"Satchel Paige could have been the greatest pitcher in major league history, if he'd been given the chance. Don't look back, America, something might be gaining on you."

"In 1955, there were 77,263,127 male American human beings. And every one of them in his heart of hearts would have given two arms, a leg and his collection of Davy Crockett iron-ons to be Teddy Ballgame."

Inspired me to get those cards specifically.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

"In 1955, there were 77,263,127 male American human beings. And every one of them in his heart of hearts would have given two arms, a leg and his collection of Davy Crockett iron-ons to be Teddy Ballgame."

Inspired me to get a 1955 Topps.

I wanted the beater with the red and blue pencil crayon checkmarks on the front!

The funny part is, I guarantee you every one of the actual cards featured in that book would today command a significant premium. Just like the great 80's movie Mask inspired me to buy every '55 Rube Walker I saw. Back then, that amounted to two! Hard to believe it was a challenge to find something like that in those days, but I was a kid in Canada. Much different than all of you lucky NYC kids with your legendary church basement shows. We didn't have autograph guests yet back then. The best show find I made didn't really become anything of note until years later, and it's really nothing in the way of show finds. I picked up an autographed '69 OPC Hank Aaron. It's still the only OPC version I've come across. It was $18, which was actually very big money to a kid at the time. I was offered that or a Munson RC for the same price. I'm happy with my decision. Still have it, too.

[Exhibitman]

Oh, yeah, the home run chase, boy, did that open the spigot of interest in baseball history in cards and Topps was really on it. First, the 1973 all time leader cards. I wonder how many kids' first Ruth, Cobb, Young, or Gehrig card was a 1973 Topps ATL card? I know my friends and I chased those cards relentlessly.



The 1974 Aaron card and subset put me on a chase for every Aaron Topps card.



And don't forget the 1975 Topps MVP set. I went after the subset and the actual cards. Bitterly disappointed to learn that there was no 1955 Campanella or 1962 Wills. It all just sucked me into the vintage vortex. For me, the capstone was the 1976 Topps All Time All Stars subset. A perfect set for the Bicentennial of the USA and Centennial of the National League.



I don't know of anyone here bothers with them, but that was also the era of an explosion in really obscure regional sets and product sets. I felt like I was just stumbling across pissant baseball sets everywhere i went



We'd all end up with bits and pieces of weird stuff in our collections that we never could quite figure out.

[ALBB]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Oh, yeah, the home run chase, boy, did that open the spigot of interest in baseball history in cards and Topps was really on it. First, the 1973 all time leader cards. I wonder how many kids' first Ruth, Cobb, Young, or Gehrig card was a 1973 Topps ATL card? I know my friends and I chased those cards relentlessly.



The 1974 Aaron card and subset put me on a chase for every Aaron Topps card.



And don't forget the 1975 Topps MVP set. I went after the subset and the actual cards. Bitterly disappointed to learn that there was no 1955 Campanella or 1962 Wills. It all just sucked me into the vintage vortex. For me, the capstone was the 1976 Topps All Time All Stars subset. A perfect set for the Bicentennial of the USA and Centennial of the National League.



I don't know of anyone here bothers with them, but that was also the era of an explosion in really obscure regional sets and product sets. I felt like I was just stumbling across pissant baseball sets everywhere i went



We'd all end up with bits and pieces of weird stuff in our collections that we never could quite figure out.

Yea, same as me...when those Aaron tribute cards came out....I started my quest to grab all of them..