One of the highest quality collections of collecting’s most famous baseball cards is featured in a new hardcover book that’s set for release later this summer.
The Diamondbacks Collection: 50 of the Greatest Cards in Sports Collecting History details the stories behind cards in the collection of Ken Kendrick, managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kendrick’s well known collection includes some of the best known cards in the hobby—from rarities like the T206 Wagner and Plank to Goudey Ruths to important rookie cards like the Leaf Jackie Robinson, Bowman George Mikan and Bowman Mickey Mantle.
The hardcover book is collaborative effort by authors Tom and Ellen Zappala, hobby expert Joe Orlando, and sportswriter John Molori. It’s the seventh volume in the series of collectible books authored by the Zappalas and Orlando.
A comprehensive narrative about each player’s personal and professional life is included, offering a glimpse of the human element of the players pictured. Orlando discusses the nuances and intricacies of every card in the collection and analyzes why Kendrick’s collection is so important in the hobby. Orlando also takes a look at how the sports card collecting hobby has evolved over the years.
While the hobby has evolved into a very sophisticated industry, the book’s premise is that most collectors first collect for the love of the player. Kendrick’s love for cards stemmed from his admiration for the players.
The cards from Kendrick’s collection include:
1909 T206 Honus Wagner PSA 8
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 10
1916 M101-5/M101-4 #151 Babe Ruth PSA 8 (Sporting News)
1916 M101-5/M101-4 #151 Babe Ruth PSA 6 (Famous & Barr)
1909 T206 Eddie Plank PSA 8
1933 Goudey Napoleon Lajoie PSA 9
1911 T3 Turkey Red Ty Cobb PSA 8
1933 Goudey #144 Babe Ruth PSA 9
1933 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth PSA 9
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle PSA 10
1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson PSA 9
1934 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig PSA 9
1934 Goudey #61 Lou Gehrig PSA 9
1948 Leaf Satchel Paige PSA 8
1941 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio PSA 9
1911 T205 Ty Cobb PSA 8
1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams PSA 7
1955 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 9
1954 Topps Henry Aaron PSA 10
1935 National Chicle #34 Bronko Nagurski PSA 9
1948 Bowman George Mikan PSA 8
1951 Bowman Willie Mays PSA 9
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan PSA10
1909-11 T206 Portrait Cy Young PSA 9
1909-11 T206 Bare Hand Cy Young PSA 9
1909-11 T206 Portrait Walter Johnson PSA 9
1909-11 T206 Bat Off Shoulder Ty Cobb PSA 8
1909-11 T206 Bat On Shoulder Ty Cobb PSA 8
1909-11 T206 Green Portrait Ty Cobb PSA 8
1909-11 T206 Red Portrait Ty Cobb PSA 8
1909-11 T206 “Magie Error” Sherry Magee PSA 8
1915 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb PSA 9
1916 Famous & Barr Co. Jim Thorpe PSA 8
1927 E126 Babe Ruth PSA 8
1934 World Wide Gum Babe Ruth PSA 9
1938 Goudey #274 Joe DiMaggio PSA 9
1938 Goudey #250 Joe DiMaggio PSA 9
1939 Play Ball #92 Ted Williams PSA 9
1941 Play Ball Ted Williams PSA 9
1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson PSA 9
1949 Bowman Roy Campanella PSA 10
1949 Bowman Satchell Paige PSA 9
1952 Topps Willie Mays PSA 10
1953 Topps Willie Mays PSA 10
1954 Bowman Ted Williams PSA 9
1954 Topps Al Kaline PSA10
1955 Topps Sandy Koufax PSA 10
1957 Topps Brooks Robinson PSA 10
1959 Topps Bob Gibson PSA 10
1968 Topps Koosman/Ryan PSA 10
1979 Topps Ozzie Smith PSA 10
Other books in the series include The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories, The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players, The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs, Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History, An All-Star’s Cardboard Memories, and Baseball & Bubble Gum: The 1952 Topps Collection. Most are available on Amazon.com.
The book’s official launch will take place at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City in late July.
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Legendary Lumber Book Earns National Acclaim
PSA, NSCC to Launch Internet Radio Show
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The Four Top 20 Cards Ken Kendrick Doesn’t Have
D-Backs Owner Ken Kendrick’s Collection on Exhibit
