2010 Standard Catalog...1st Impression

[FrankWakefield]

Yes... 6 pages worth. And then 2 more pages for Hall of Famer pose variations. Good coverage of N172. And there's even more for the N173s.

The Standard Catalog is exactly that, the standard by which others are measured. This is the one to get.

[Bob Lemke]

The 2010 edition, at 1,368 pages, is 26% slimmer than the 2009. That's the result of the 2001-date major league cards being moved onto the accompanying CD.

No vintage sets or cards were removed, but none were added, either.

The page count for the book is set by corporate bean-counters with an eye towards print-cost efficiency and a cover price point that will maximize sales.
Once the editors are told what the page count will be, it is up to them to fill it with an eye towards serving the widest possible audience, not just vintage/advanced collectors.

This resulted in recent years in many "non-card" collectibles being removed from the book, so that the latest 20,000 new cards from Topps, UD, etc., could be presented.

Based on what I've seen happen in Krause/F+W's coin catalog division, I would expect that some attention is being given to the notion of putting the entire data base of vintage and modern issues onto a set of CDs, independent of the print edition. In the interim, I'd like to see some of the vintage stuff added to the CD that rides along with the print edition.

In the limited time that I have available by my contract with KP/F+W to maintain/enhance the vintage major and minor league sections, I have been trying to cast a critical eye on pricing that has remained virtually unchanged since the 2007 book. Many of the price revisions you'll see in the 2011 book will be the result of a rather ham-handed process, as opposed to card-by-card analysis of each set. Fine tuning will continue with each subsequent edition to try to bring the book's pricing columns into the real world . . . or as much so as can be done with an annual book that deadlines 6-9 months before it reaches readers' hands.

I am also, mostly on my own time, adding vintage issues to the data base in hopes that some day they will be made available in some fashion.

The reality of hobby reference book publishing is that ink-on-paper is SOOOO 20th century and that new ways have to be found to put this information into the hands of collectors on a basis that makes business sense for the publisher.

The collective expertise on this fourm, and the willingness to share information to benefit the continued future of the hobby is a big facotr in my willingness/ability to try to keep this project alive.

[buymycards]

I buy the big book every year, and each year I have questions about the pricing. I love the book for the checklists and references, but the price fluctuations from year to year can be puzzling. For instance, the T206 Demmitt in VG in the 2009 book was $3800 and the O'Hara was $4000. The 2010 book shows both of them at $6500 in VG. I don't subscribe to VCP, but I follow the Demmitt and O'Hara pricing in auctions and on ebay, and I don't see any valid reason for this large increase. The same increases are in place for many of the T206 HOFer's, even though the actual realized prices seem to have dropped off in the past year.

Rick

[ullmandds]

Bob...I think I can speak for most everyone in saying we all greatly appreciate the great work you've done to continue to improve the "bible!" as it DOES get better every year...and I agree books are so last century!!! I haven't yet purchased the 2010 book...I think I will today.

Can someone who has it tell me if the scarcities in the E102 set have been changed to reflect their actual value/scarcity...ie the Miller fielding and the doyle...I think it is. They are listed as commons in the 09'!

[hcv123]

Firstly a HUGE thank you to Bob Lemke for overseeing such a huge and critical ongoing project.

Second, some thoughts having an understanding of both the "business" side of things as well as the collector/dealer demand.

1) Supporting the idea Bob put out about including all issues on the cd version - specific pages could be printed as needed/wanted - would save a lot of paper (probably much more profitable) and be much more efficient - apology and understanding noted of those who don't have/use computers.

2) How about an internet based subscription? New information could be added more timely ("real time"). Subscribers could have an e-mail option when there are updates. Again a print option could be available. Subscriptions could be based on time or on number of sets. You can buy a subscription for a month, year, etc.. or for 30 sets, 100, sets or 1000 sets. Browsable for free by set title (no checklist or pricing info unless you subscribe)

3) Perhaps a partenreship with VCP - I am not a member and unfamiliar with their format or technology, but perhaps Bob/Krause supplies the card database and VCP keeps the pricing updated?

Happy collecting and be well.

-Howard "A Few of My Favorite Things" Chasser

PS. Always looking for rare and unusual Roberto Clemente items. Top 5 wants:

1) 1960 Complete bazooka box
2) 1958 Kahn's weiners
3) 1968 Topps Disc
4) 1960 Harmony Milk 8x10
5) 1962 Dapper Dan program

[Rich Klein]

But the biggest reason for keeping a print copy going is readers and users need to have something tangible if they are not buying an item on line.

Having said that; thanks to the abomination that was the early years of this decades when it came to new products being released (i.e. 90+ baseball products in 2004 before hitting team issues; etc.) caused the overload of pages.

I do agree with Bob that print is so 2000's but I personally, and I suspect most of the readers of this board, prefer to have something tangible to look up items with.

And the other; unspoken reason for keeping a print publication going is that having such a deadline always keeps on on their toes for new items. Out of sight, out of mind and especially so if such a book like the SC was only on line.

I may write more later, but with my experience I'd hate to see such a book fall by the wayside.

Rich

[sportscardtheory]

Is this better than the Beckett Almanac? The Beckett Almanac seems to be missing a LOT of vintage stuff I sometimes need to find.