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Q9: What are some of the terms used for card grading ? Using a system of grading codes based on those established by price guides such as Beckett, Tuff Stuff, Sports Collector’s Digest, collectors can determine the approximate condition of items offered by interpreting the following grades. Grading is very subjective and there can also be grades in between the levels below. MINT (MT) - while we rarely use this grade, occasionally it can be found for items that we appraise as appearing nearly perfect to the naked eye. With respect to cards, it would be defined as one with 50/50 centering all around, razor-sharp corners, a photo that is well-registered and completely focused, and no visible imperfections on card front or back. NEAR MINT-MINT (NRMT/MT) - is qualified by at least 60/40 centering, only the slightest hint of corner wear upon close inspection, and may have a barely visible print spot, lack of intense color, or a slight focus imperfection. NEAR MINT (NRMT) - card displays at least 70/30 centering, may have a visible slight touch of corner wear all around, and/or a few slightly visible print spots, a lack of intense color, or a slight focus imperfection. EXCELLENT-MINT (EX/MINT) - centering equivalent to NRMT (70/30), but 2 or 3 corners display an obvious "fuzzy" quality. Essentially, a card that would have been deemed NRMT if not for the corner wear being more apparent. May have a barely visible print spot, a lack of intense color, or a slight focus imperfection. EXCELLENT (EX) - all four corners show visible signs of wear, but are not rounded. Centering at least 80/20. May have a visible print spot, a lack of intense color, or a slight focus imperfection. VERY GOOD (VG) - Corners are rounded and the card may have creases or wrinkles. FAIR TO GOOD - in this grade, card has rounded corners and other major defects such as scuffing, pinholes, loss of gloss, multiple creases. In general, a markedly worn card and often used as a "filler" until a better one comes along. A few Frequently Asked Questions from MLB.com (T9) What is the best way to start collecting baseball cards? The first rule to starting a collection is to remember to buy what you like. You want to collect items that are of interest to you. Make sure to enjoy what you are collecting! A few ways to accomplish this are to collect by your favorite player, team or set of cards. There is also collecting purely for the enjoyment of opening packs. The advantage of buying your favorite player is that they are cards you enjoy looking at, as well as following their stats over the course of a career. Collecting team sets presents the challenge of building a whole collection of a certain type of card. You will have to buy each card individually or buy unopened boxes in search of that missing card(s). Finally, collecting by set is a great project to do over a period of time. The "got it, need it" method is employed here as you rifle through packs to see what you have. Topps offers the ability to purchase some full sets, if choose to go that route. Opening packs to see what you get provides the enjoyment of not knowing what you are getting. The other nice thing is that you get the surprise of game used cards or other special cards included in the pack. However you collect, the designs and photography of the cards capture baseball at it's finest. Why should I collect baseball cards? By collecting cards, you will be continuing a tradition started over 100 years ago. In the present, collecting provides another forum for you being a fan of the game. You can collect in the manner that provides you with the most enjoyment. Besides it’s present value, your baseball card collection will be something to pass down, similar to family photographs. Future generations will enjoy looking at cards of the past to see images and designs. A great guardian/child activity that fosters communication, teaches children about statistics and how to complete a project (i.e collecting a full team set.). What was the first baseball card or set of cards produced? The first baseball cards were produced in the late 1800's. They were originally designed as a cardboard insert to give a pack of cigarettes a rigid inner, keeping cigarettes from breaking in shipping. One of the most famous of these cards is the Honus Wagner, which holds the record as most expensive card sold. Honus Wagner objected to smoking, and thus requested his card be pulled from the packs, creating the first "short print" Baseball Card. There are very few copies of these that have ever been found. A similar scenario just played out in 2006 Topps on the Alex Gordon Rookie Card. Alex Gordon was not yet eligible for his card to be produced, and Topps pulled his card from the set, but apparently not all of them as a few copies have been found in packs! How do I determine the value of my cards? Certainly, a card is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. You should always remember as well that most price guides list a retail selling price - it is not realistic to expect a retail store owner or dealer to pay you what the price guide may show for a card. Most cards that are being sold by collectors will sell for less than the guide, as stores have to buy at a wholesale level. Having said all of that, Beckett price guides are one of the oldest and trusted price guides that have been in use for over 20 years. Another reputable price guide is published by Tuff Stuff. Both will give you an idea of retail selling prices for cards. What is the production schedule of the card companies? Most cards are begun to be planned appox 13 months out. It takes time to design a card look, a theme that the set will fall under and the player selection. From there, players have to be approved for inclusion by the Players Association. The statistics and the biographies written and approved, and photos chosen. Finally, any insert programs that involve Autographs or Game Used Memorabilia items have to be acquired from the athletes, and made into cards as well. It takes time to put a set together. Once a baseball season ends, is that the last time cards for that year are produced? No - Baseball cards are being produced year round, as collector interest and different markets need different items. Rookies are often included heavier in late season releases to reflect call ups later in the Baseball season. What is a factory set? A factory set is the complete set of cards issued by a manufacturer. The most common and issued factory set is from Topps, but Upper Deck, Fleer and Donruss have also issued these over the years. The set will contain all of the base cards issued for that brand by the manufacturer. There will not normally be any shortprinted insert cards included in these sets, but any Rookie Cards that were part of the basic set will be included. Some of the famous Rookie Cards included in factory sets are the 1993 Topps Derek Jeter Rookie Card, 1987 Topps Barry Bonds, 1989 Topps, Fleer or Donruss Randy Johnson or the 1985 Topps Roger Clemens Rookie Card! Cards that were pulled from the set, like the 2006 Topps Alex Gordon, or the 1989 Fleer Variant Billy Ripken card that had a swear written on the end of his bat will not be included in the sets. Sets make a great "Legacy Collection" for yourself, or an excellent annual birthday or holiday present for a loved

***  DOUBLES  -  ALL-TIME Leaders  ***
Rank Player (age)         Doubles
 1.  Tris Speaker HOF       792
 2.  Pete Rose              746
 3.  Stan Musial HOF        725
 4.  Ty Cobb HOF            724
 5.  George Brett HOF       665
 6.  Nap Lajoie HOF         657
 7.  Carl Yastrzemski HOF   646
 8.  Honus Wagner HOF       640
 9.  Hank Aaron HOF         624
10.  Paul Molitor HOF       605
     Paul Waner HOF         605
12.+ CRAIG BIGGIO (39)      604
13.  Cal Ripken             603
14.  Rafael Palmeiro        585
15.  Robin Yount HOF        583
16.  Cap Anson HOF          581
17.  Wade Boggs HOF         578
18.  Charlie Gehringer HOF  574
19.+ BARRY BONDS (40)       564
20.  Eddie Murray HOF       560
21.  Tony Gwynn             543
22.  Harry Heilmann HOF     542
23.  Rogers Hornsby HOF     541
24.  Joe Medwick HOF        540
     Dave Winfield HOF      540
26.  Al Simmons HOF         539
27.  Lou Gehrig HOF         534
28.  Al Oliver              529
29.  Frank Robinson HOF     528
30.  Dave Parker            526
31.  Ted Williams HOF       525
32.  Willie Mays HOF        523
33.  Ed Delahanty HOF       522
34.  Joe Cronin HOF         515
35.  Edgar Martinez         514
36.  Mark Grace             511
37.  Rickey Henderson       510
38.  Babe Ruth HOF          506
39.  Tony Perez HOF         505
40.  Roberto Alomar         504
41.  Andre Dawson           503
42.  Goose Goslin HOF       500
     John Olerud            500
44.  Rusty Staub            499
45.  Bill Buckner           498
     Al Kaline HOF          498
     Sam Rice HOF           498
48.+ LUIS GONZALEZ (37)     495
49.  Heinie Manush HOF      491
50.  Mickey Vernon          490
51.  Jeff Bagwell           488
     Harold Baines          488
     Mel Ott HOF            488
54.  Lou Brock HOF          486
     Billy Herman HOF       486
56.  Vada Pinson            485
57.  Hal McRae              484
58.  Dwight Evans           483
     Ted Simmons            483
60.  Brooks Robinson HOF    482
61.  Zack Wheat HOF         476
62.+ JEFF KENT (37)         474
63.  Jake Beckley HOF       473
64.  Larry Walker           471
65.  Frankie Frisch HOF     466
66.  Jim Bottomley HOF      465
     Jim O'Rourke HOF       465
68.  Reggie Jackson HOF     463
69.  Dan Brouthers HOF      460
70.  Sam Crawford HOF       458
     Jimmie Foxx HOF        458
72.  Jimmie Dykes           453
73.  George Davis HOF       451
     Paul O'Neill           451
     Jimmy Ryan             451
76.  Joe Morgan HOF         449
77.+ FRANK THOMAS (37)      447
78.  Rod Carew HOF          445
   + IVAN RODRIGUEZ (33)    445
80.  George Burns           444
     Andres Galarraga       444
82.  Gary Gaetti            443
83.  Dick Bartell           442
     Don Mattingly          442
85.  Roger Connor HOF       441
     Barry Larkin           441
     Fred McGriff           441
88.  Luke Appling HOF       440
     Will Clark             440
     Roberto Clemente HOF   440
     Steve Garvey           440
     B.J. Surhoff           440
93.  Eddie Collins HOF      438
94.  Cesar Cedeno           436
     Joe Sewell HOF         436
96.  Wally Moses            435
97.  Billy Williams HOF     434
98.  Joe Judge              433
99.  Joe Carter             432
     Tim Wallach            432

***  DOUBLES  -  Active Leaders  ***
Rank Player (age)         Doubles
 1.  Craig Biggio (39)      604
 2.  Rafael Palmeiro (40)   585
 3.  Barry Bonds (40)       564
 4.  John Olerud (36)       500
 5.  Luis Gonzalez (37)     495
 6.  Jeff Bagwell (37)      488
 7.  Jeff Kent (37)         474
 8.  Frank Thomas (37)      447
 9.  Ivan Rodriguez (33)    445
10.  B.J. Surhoff (40)      440
11.  Ken Griffey (35)       430
12.  Ruben Sierra (39)      427
13.  Steve Finley (40)      425
14.  Bernie Williams (36)   420
15.  Gary Sheffield (36)    413
16.  Manny Ramirez (33)     411
17.  Garret Anderson (33)   403
18.  Julio Franco (46)      394
19.  Juan Gonzalez (35)     388
20.  Carlos Delgado (33)    384
     Shawn Green (32)       384
22.  Omar Vizquel (38)      376
23.  Moises Alou (38)       375
24.  Todd Helton (31)       373
25.  Bret Boone (36)        366
26.  Jim Edmonds (35)       362
27.  Ray Lankford (38)      356
28.  Chipper Jones (33)     355
     Sammy Sosa (36)        355
30.  Ray Durham (33)        354

1955 Topps Double-Headers (Doubleheaders) Without a doubt this is my favorite set - PERIOD. Regular issue, test issues, inserts ... whatever ... this is # 1 !!! Patterned after the famous Mecca Double Folders issued in the early 1900's, these colorful 2 1/16" x 4 7/8" cards are actually 2-cards-in-1! They are perforated in the center and depending on which way you fold the card you create cards of 2 different players. Unperforated 1955 Topps Doubleheaders can sometimes be found. The 1955 Topps Doubleheaders set has been featured in many hobby magazines often with a full color spread showing how the individual cards fit together to form a spectacular stadium scene !!! All 132 players (66 cards) in the 1955 Topps DoubleHeaders set were also in Topps regular 1955 issue. TOP ROOKIES: Harmon Killebrew & Hal Newhouser Top STARS: Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Jackie Robinson, Al Kaline, Warren Spahn & MORE !!! No doubt about it - the best !!!

1951 O-Pee-Chee Baseball Also know as OPC or Topps Canada, the 1971 set is an interesting set to collect and is really very different than its Topps Counterpart for a number of reasons: OPC changed approx. 20 cards including the introduction of some of the earliest "traded" cards and added more Expo player cards at the expense of #202 "Reds Celebrate" and #289 "White Sox Team". The first four series had different card backs that included French translations - this resetting of the type created several uncorrected errors including ERA’s that look like Batting Averages and Vice-Versa. This set is legendary for its short print run (5% - 10% of Topps’ Production). Anyone who has tried to collect older OPC will attest to the fact that they are hard to find, even in Canada. TOP ROOKIE: Steve Garvey TOP STARS: Nolan Ryan, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Pete Rose, Ted Williams & MORE !!!

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