Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I enjoy the cooler temperatures of the season and, of course, the food, but those are just ancillary reasons. The truth is that I enjoy the time of reflection, having gratitude…
Collecting Tips
Tips on building your collection.
Authenticating a Babe Ruth Game-Used Bat Attributed to His 500th Home Run
On Sunday, August 11, 1929, the New York Yankees visited Cleveland’s League Park to take on the Indians. Babe Ruth, batting cleanup, led off the second inning of a scoreless game. On the first pitch he saw from Willis…
Jose Altuve: Houston’s ‘Little Big Man’ Continues His Hobby Surge
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve stands just five feet, six inches tall. He tips the scales at 165 pounds, soaking wet. But his impact on Major League Baseball games, namely postseason contests since 2017, cannot be overstated. He…
Who Wants a Fascinating TTM Autograph Project?
TTM = Through the Mail I’ve always found hobby projects to be most enjoyable when they have a specific theme and force me to learn something new while adding items to my collection. Of all the different manners in which…
50 Years Ago, the ‘Miracle Mets’ Won it All
Is Jerry Koosman the most overlooked pitcher in the hobby? Ask a collector to recite Koosman’s career stats and see what happens. A lanky southpaw, he tallied 147 wins for the New York Mets during his 12-year tenure in…
Does a Player’s Autograph Add Value to His Card?
Ever since I entered this great hobby, I’ve been collecting on-card autographs. The majority of them I got signed in person. I’ve always found it fascinating to watch a player sign his cursive, and then see if he adds…
Insuring Your Collection to Protect Your Investment
How much time have you spent in acquiring your collection? How much money have you invested in securing all your cards, autographs and memorabilia? If you took a moment to ponder these questions, you may be persuaded to insure…
Saluting a Celtics Legend: John ‘Hondo’ Havlicek
On April 15, 1965, in just his third NBA season, Boston Celtics great John Havlicek defined his basketball legacy. With five seconds left in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers – and the Celtics…
Autographed Cards and the PSA Set Registry
Autographed cards have been steadily growing in popularity in recent years. Once just a child’s novelty, signed trading cards, particularly vintage and key examples, have become a legitimate hobby category that is enjoyed by many high-end collectors. For more than…
New Year’s Resolutions and Hobby Goals for 2019
It is the time of year that many of us review the past 12 months and recognize the changes that we want to make moving forward. Our collecting lives are no different and so I have made a series…