The newest book by Tom Zappala and Ellen Zappala, The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs, has been awarded top honors at the 29th Annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards ceremony in Portland, Oregon.
The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) annually recognizes excellence in book editorial content and design with their prestigious Benjamin Franklin awards. The awards, which include 55 categories, are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers.
The Zappalas collaborated with autograph expert Steve Grad, writer John Molori and PSA/DNA President Joe Orlando on the book.
A gold medalist in the sports book category, The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs was released nationally in 2016 by Peter E. Randall Publisher. The book showcases the most desirable signatures in baseball history while detailing the professional and personal story of the players.
The autographs showcased in the book were selected on the basis of rarity, historical importance and popularity.
The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs includes individual autograph analysis by PSA/DNA Authentication Services experts to educate the reader in the specific characteristics of each player autograph and what to look for when hunting for the real deal.
The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs is illustrated with original autograph images on a variety of mediums along with photos of the player. In some cases the player images appear on a period photo or baseball card, but in many cases the player images are original works by sports artist Arthur K. Miller.
The book is available here.
Other books authored by the Zappalas include the award-winning baseball books, The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players, and The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories. The Zappalas also co-authored Nardo: Memoirs of a Boxing Champion, the autobiography of former Welterweight Champion Tony DeMarco.
Related Stories:
Collector’s 17-Year Search for “Moonlight” Graham’s Autograph
Newly Discovered Early Autograph Collection Includes Scarce Hall of Famers
Riddell Blaze Helmets Aimed at Fans, Collectors
2016 All-Star FanFest Autograph Schedule Includes Over 40 Names
100 Greatest Baseball Autographs Book Set for Summer Release
Signatures for Soldiers Turns Autographs into Assistance
Hall of Fame Memory Left Indelible Mark
The Strange Saga of Clancy Smyres and Why His Autograph is More Valuable Than Babe Ruth
