Collecting Sports Legends: The Ultimate Hobby Guide [Hardcover]

Joe Orlando (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2008

This comprehensive guide takes the reader on a historical journey, providing an in-depth look at the icons of sport, captured through their greatest collectibles. Composed by the leading experts in the field, never before has one book covered such a variety of hobby subjects. For those interested in building a fine collection of sports memorabilia, from baseball cards to autographs to game-used bats, each subject is covered in great detail.

Within each chapter, the best of the best has been selected by the experts. Whether you are a hardcore collector or just an avid sports fan, this book not only helps bring the legends of sport to life but it provides crucial tips on how to assemble a world class collection.

From Babe Ruth to Tiger Woods, from Wilt Chamberlain to Joe Namath, every major sport is covered. This book contains hundreds of sports memorabilia images, including many of the finest examples in the world.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 376 pages
• Publisher: Zyrus Press; 1 edition (December 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193399021X
• ISBN-13: 978-1933990217
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 10.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Sports Cards
  • #57 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Sports Memorabilia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific browse for anyone who has ever laid claim to a sports card collection of their own!, February 8, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Collecting Sports Legends: The Ultimate Hobby Guide (Hardcover)

Sports card collecting as been an enduringly popular hobby since their advent in the mid-19th century down to the present age. A 376-page compendium, "Collecting Sports Legends" author Joe Orlando provided insightful commentaries while showcasing more than 375 sports cards, some of them truly legendary, many of them extremely valuable, and all of them memorable ephemeria in celebration of outstanding athletes in their chosen fields of sport. Superbly and profusely illustrated throughout out, "Collecting Sports Legends" begins with an informative introduction, 'Ten Tips for Building a Collection', and 'Cardboard Classics: A Look Inside the Top 250 Sportscards in the Hobby'. Then this fascinating repository launches into Orlando's ranking of the twenty most important cards, following grouping sports cards into their own separate categories of baseball, basketball, football, hockey, boxing, golf, and miscellaneous. The next section is 'Building a Dream: A Look at Collecting the Top 30 complete Sets in the Hobby' by Brian Bigelow; 'Collecting Sports Autographs' by Rob Rosen; and 'The Top 100 Autographs in the Hobby' by Steve Grad. More informative sections by Joe Orlando follow including 'Legendary Lumber: A Look at Collecting Game-Used Bats'; The Top 40 Game-Used Bats in the Hobby'; 'Collecting Sports Tickets'; 'Top 15 Sports Tickets in the Hobby'; and 'Tempting Treasures: A Look at Collecting Unopened Packs'. Of special note is the concluding section, 'The Tope 25 Unopened Packs in the Hobby' by Steve Hart. Informed and informative, certain to be a popular addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Antique/Collectibles reference collections, "Collecting Sports Legends" is a 'must' for the novice sports collector and has a great deal to offer even the more experienced and dedicated sports collecting enthusiast. Above all else, "Collecting Sports Legends' is a terrific browse for anyone who has ever laid claim to a sports card collection of their own!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview with fantastic images!, January 23, 2009

By 

UYU906 (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Collecting Sports Legends: The Ultimate Hobby Guide (Hardcover)

This book provides an excellent overview of the sports card and memorabilia industry. Fantastic images of the great cards in the hobby really stand out! Recommended for novices, hobby veterans, or women who wonder why grown men are so interested in little pictures of athletes on cardboard.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a Cardboard Gem!, January 22, 2009

By 

Scout - See all my reviews

This review is from: Collecting Sports Legends: The Ultimate Hobby Guide (Hardcover)

I had a chance to meet Joe Orlando a couple of years ago, and he was quite charismatic. His latest tome, Collecting Sports Legends, was a great read and featured some fantastic card/player images. Aspiring card collectors would be well-served by obtaining a copy for themselves, and they should pay close attention to Mr. Orlando's suggestions for a thematic collection.