Has anyone read the book, The Card?

[xcantgobackx]

Its by Michael O'Keefe and Teri Thompson. Its about the T206 Honus Wagner that Wayne Gretzky used to own, but covers a broad range of baseball card topics. My girlfriend got it for me for Christmas and I'm about 60% through it. Its a heck of a read. It also give you a glimpse into just how crooked and shady a lot of aspects of this wonderful hobby are. Overall, very interesting and informative.

 

[wmb1289]

guess i have to go buy it now

 

[J.O.]

i started to read it, haven't touched it in a while though. was interesting

 

[masonphillip]

I'm curious to know this answer as well, I saw that book at Barnes and Noble this weekend and it appeared interesting at a quick glance.

 

[Pete14Rose]

It is a good read. Sadly, I don't need a book to tell me how shady this hobby is. Spend enough time online and you'll see it all.

I learned the worst about this hobby back in the day in the Grandstand Sports AOL chat room. I know I can't be the only one here that remembers that place.

 

[Therion]

It is a pretty good read but it is written on a reading level a bit lower than typical baseball books. The most interesting thing I found was the guy that collects Mad Magazine art (can't remember his name) and how people would just walk out of his house with stuff like it was a freebie table at the flea market.

 

[rsmath]

I was thinking about getting that book but never did.

Compared to the UD Card Sharks book, is the book about the same, better, or worse when it comes to the insider side of the hobby?

 

[EmeraldRain]

imho, you can't really compare Card Sharks to The Card, for insider info. One book is about the shrewd dealings of a man who'd probably kick your dog and punch your grandma for $10 and the other goes into good detail about the history of what many would consider a holy grail card and how the Gretzky/McNall card was altered and PSA knew about it. Both have their good valid points and and insider info for the hobby but on different scales. While reading The Card though, there were some spots were it seemed kinda slow and dragged out but still worth the read. The one I have found to be real eye opening but yet not the least bit surprising is the book Operation Bullpen, it talks about taking down the biggest forgery ring in the hobby. I'm only hlaf way through that one but just thinking about all that garbage thats out there, supposedly signed by big name HOF'ers.. sickening.