The Card. A Review.

1. At times, I felt like I had already read this book.

And in fact, I did... When it was called Card Sharks. The whole "Marvin Money" chapter seems like it was lifted straight from Pete Williams' 1995 book. Granted, O'Keeffe gives Williams credit. And I suppose that -- given the lack of books written about The Hobby -- there really aren't all that many sources to quote. But still the best book written about the history of The Hobby remains Card Sharks, and if you haven't read it yet, you should.



2. Michael Gidwitz is a guy that I'd like to have a beer with.

Or two. Or ten. If you haven't checked out Gidwitz's website preciouspaper.com, you ought to. It's a fun way to kill a couple of hours.


3. Keith Olbermann has restored my "faith" in professional grading services.

Let me state for this record: I've never "got" grading. I've never had any of my cards graded, and I've purchased three slabbed cards in my life -- all of which I immediately cracked open.

The best quote in The Card comes from the infamous, deplorable, one himself on page 87:

"' You want to know what I think of slabbers?' (Olbermann) asked. 'Homer Simpson is the safety expert at the Springfield nuclear plant. That's what I think of slabbers.'"


4. They did what to The Card?

Perhaps the biggest revelation in The Card, is at the very end. On page 204:

"(Brian) Seigel sells The Card, which he has had reholdered and is no longer known as the Gretzky T206 Honus Wagner, to an anonymous collector for $2.35 million."

So he had The Card regraded? And if so, who slabbed it, and what grade did it receive?