Smithsonian Baseball: Inside the World's Finest Private Collections

by Stephen Wong

To a collector, there is no joy parallel to finding that elusive home-run ball, or a jersey worn by a legendary player. Smithsonian Inside the World's Finest Private Collections celebrates the abiding passion for our national pastime, as witnessed by the dedication of the sport's most devoted collectors. The first book of its kind, Smithsonian Baseball features revealing stories and lavish photography highlighting 21 of the best private collections of baseball memorabilia in existence. From a rare copy of the first written rules of the game (1848) to Mark McGwire's record-shattering home-run ball (1998), these impressive collections span baseball's entire history. Some of the game's most historically significant artifacts are part of these private collections, yet most have never before been seen by the public. Marvel at the memorabilia as you read about the historical background of the objects and get to know each collector's passions and motivations. Some of the collections are all-encompassing; others focus on a specific era or type of memorabilia -- game-used bats, for example, or folk art, or celluloid pin-back buttons. One collection features only relics and memorabilia from the grand old ballparks of the past; another comprises items from overseas exhibition tours of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of the most valuable vintage photographs and advertising displays as well as the most sought-after baseball cards are in these collections, including the famous T206 Honus Wagner, the highest professionally graded set of 1915 Cracker Jacks, and a gem-mint condition 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. A father-daughter collecting duo has an impressive collection of World Series scorecards and programs, dating back to the inaugural series in 1903. The book also includes seven "tips" essays. The hobby's leading experts offer advice on collecting and authenticating artifacts, and show how to build and organize your own impressive 19th-century memorabilia or baseball card collection. Weigh the benefits of having a general collection versus a very narrow one. Find out how to store and display your collectibles. Learn to distinguish between an original first-generation photograph versus a wire photo, a vintage jersey worn at home games as opposed to one worn on the road, a player's game-used bat and one made for retail sale -- and much, much more. It's the perfect gift for any baseball fan, young or old, a baseball collectible in its own right.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

296 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Graeme Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar. Beautiful.

[Dick Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

For baseball nerds only (of which I am one).

[Don LaFountaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, and I think that most baseball fans will!

The author, Stephen Wong, went around and spoke with baseball memorabilia collectors. Documenting their collections, he wrote out the stories from his interviews, and took some incredible pictures. Some of the items found in this book include:
- Photos of some of the baseball players from the 19th century
- Vintage advertising, including some very colorful player endorsements
- Baseball cards. Though many have been seen before in other books, they don't fail to bring a
baseball fan back to their youth!
- Photos of game used memorabilia such as bats, baseballs, signed photos, and ads
- Even old games, including slot machines and gumball machines.

I think that any baseball fan will want to have this book simply for the pictures, though the chapters are interesting in their own right. The author says that collections can be done by anyone, and the book even gives tips on collecting. Though the tips are informative, and the author is right that anyone can start a collection, the fact is that the collections that are in this book are world class. If you look at the names of the collectors, they include a number of doctors, filmmakers, and children of people who worked for baseball clubs. They have the money and access to work their collections, and it seems unlikely that the average fan will be able to build these types of collections. With that said, as is pointed out in the book, if a person wants to start a collection, they should do it for the love they have for the game and the enjoyment they get from collecting.

[Liz De Coster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pay attention to the subtitle, that these are not publicly accessible or held collections. I was more interested in the baseball cards and scorecards than some of the other materials.