OT Mr. Olbermann's Good Night

[FrankWakefield]

Jim and I are polarizing... maybe just Leon and Barry should post here, back and forth, to one another. Rush used to announce ball games, reckon he collects, too? He's a tad bit polarizing.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

Jim and I are polarizing... maybe just Leon and Barry should post here, back and forth, to one another. Rush used to announce ball games, reckon he collects, too? He's a tad bit polarizing.

I have spoken on the phone with Barry probably hundreds of times. We have had political debates and discussions (privately) many, many times. So far we have never had anything close to a heated exchange, ever. We do disagree on a few things but we are both fairly moderate. I guess I am just an eternal optimist about having intelligent discourse without it getting heated. That being said, the board voted that we don't discuss politics here, or even in the general chat section. So that is the way it is. As far as saying that you don't have, or do have, sympathy for him losing his job, who cares? Everyone is entitled to their opinion and if you speak it rationally, without too much political motivation or hatred, then I see no harm in it. Now, it could get extreme and then something would maybe need to be done, but not if it doesn't go there. All in my humble opinion. I wish Keith well in the future.

[Davalillo]

Frank,

No doubt Rush is polarizing and I would be very much against people talking about Rush or Sarah Palin or Obama or anything as it did not relate to cards.

I trust that Mr. Olbermann has made great contributions to the hobby and I think thats fine to talk about.

No political discussions from me.

Jim

[powderfinger]

Keith Olberman has been around baseball cards a long time. His knowledge would be greatly appreciated, at least by me, if he decided to share it here. Heck, he's even referenced as "a collector" by Lew Lipset in the T206 section of Lew's Encyclopedia of Baseball Cards.

[FrankWakefield]

Well maybe we're saying the same thing. If it is our fortune to have Mr. Olbermann post here about old cards, let us civilly welcome him, and keep it about cards.

[Rob D.]

Let's just hope Keith doesn't mention graded/slabbed cards in his posts. Because then civility just might go out the window.

[FrankWakefield]

Welcome, fellow polarizer.

[barrysloate]

Among Keith's better articles were the ones on the N300 Mayo set and T207's. Both were in early issues of SCD.

[Brian-Chidester]

It's too bad some choose to get a chip on their shoulder(s) about politics. But it seems endemic.

I for one would love to read any further Olbermann articles on vintage cards. Last time I saw anything recent was his post about a T209 pickup, which was short but sweet.

[Brian-Chidester]

I'd also love to see Keith or someone print up a reprint set of the 9 cards that he has of players/poses that were excluded from the T206 series.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't mind reprint cards so long as they are clearly labeled "reprint" with the year on the back, so as to not confuse the market. I've used them as place holders for years until I've gotten an original of each T206 player (which seems endless, but part of the fun).

As to the 8 Southern Leaguers and batting pose Collins that Olbermann has, there could easily be a short run of those with a disclaimer at the bottom of the back saying that they were unreleased in the original 1909-11 T206 series, but promos were printed, then have them labeled as reprints, c. 2011.

I suppose the short answer to that is that some jerkoff will find a way to dirty them up, erase the disclaimer and sell them on eBay. I know that going in, but you can't stop a guy from dreaming. I'd love to just hold a copy of those nine cards in my hands.

Anyway, that's one instance of Olbermann's card knowledge combined with his monetary wealth that made sure those rare specimens were well cared for.

[nolemmings]

Keith is a personal fave of mine, and I'm certain he'll be back in the mix in plenty of time for the 2012 campaign. I also wouldn't be surprised if he finds another expressive outlet for his talents beyond cable TV. For now, I hope he enjoys his upcoming birthday.

[barrysloate]

Leon and I are a model of how someone from the left and someone from the right can have an intelligent discussion and share ideas. He makes good points and so do I, and sometimes we do disagree. But we never fight. Maybe the two of us should go on the campaign trail to show how it can be done.