Michael O'keeffe

Calling this book "controversial" is putting it mildly. When this book came out, a leading hobby publication, Sports Collector's Digest, gave no mention of its publication (despite its status as a hugely important book examining the legitimacy of high-end sports collectibles). Why would they ignore such a hot-button topic?

A main character in "The Card" is Bill Mastro, an auctioneer and hobby pioneer, the man behind the T206 Honus Wagner find, and one of the most influential men in the sports memorabilia business. Mastro also takes out a large number of advertising pages in Sports Collector's Digest each year ... so why bite the hand that feeds you?

But it isn't just Mastro who finds himself under the microscope. The whole of the graded-card industry is examined, drawing monumental conclusions that would impact an entire industry—if it could ever get that industry to pay attention to the truth.… (meer)

Being a baseball fan isn't a requirement to enjoy this book, which presents a zippy, engaging look at the world of baseball card collecting. The authors take readers behind the scenes into the roiling, cut-throat business (and it has become a business) of buying and selling historic baseball cards. And at the same time the authors throw in a bit of Honus Wagner biography, corporate history, and insights into the psychology of collectors. An easy read and a pleasant distraction (in the good sense of that word.)… (meer)