The all-time best of Net 54

[the 'stache]

Being a relatively new member of the forum, it is clear to me that I have missed a great many memorable discussions held in the past. Why earlier today, in a thread about T202 cards started by JoeyF1981, reference was made to a topic from two tears ago. It focused on a single T202 card with an unidentified ball player sliding into a tag at third base. As the discourse evolved, photographic evidence was provided, and meticulously scrutinized. Several members came to the conclusion that the player in question was none other than "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Though not everybody agreed, I felt the conversation was nonetheless a classic example of what was possible here; it showcased the incredible baseball knowledge, and analytical minds Net 54's members possess.

After reading that topic, I began to wonder what other great discussions I might have missed. So, I'd like to ask our longtime members to nominate, if you will, threads from the past that they feel achieved distinction. Please provide links.

I am doing this for the benefit of newer members who would like to learn about the history of the forum (myself included). I feel it would be greatly educational, as these wonderful conversations should be preserved.

[Zach Wheat]

Oh my gosh so many discussions which were enjoyable and enlightening as well...it is hard to choose a couple. I typically save important threads in a Word doc as well as the various links.

The Skydash find (Colgan's Chips E-270-2, T-206, T-210 Red Border & others) and follow up discussions was one memorable series of thread. It was interesting to follow from the beginning when everyone thought Skydash was possibly a hoax. Leon (sorry Leon) has to take partial blame for this, due to the previous year's April Fool's hoax (That thread was pretty interesting in & of itself). The thread turned into a gripping thriller with new information after every post...it was exciting to read and was something akin to participating first hand in a well written thriller.

Here are links to some of the Skydash Threads:

The Original Skydash Thread - Rare E-270's? Is This Real or an April Fool's Joke?:
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=87060
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=87401

Meeting Skydash:::>
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...ash+experience

Skydash - Is This You? Offshoots to the Skydash Discussion (T209-1):
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...,+T205,+etc)--

Followup Thread to the Skydash Find::>
http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=87501

Thread to SCD Coverage of the Skydash Find (Link Fixed):
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...ash+Collection

SCD Article on Skydash:
http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.co..._in_forum_post

Description of the Skydash Find (With Link to Photos):
http://www.dodgersblueheaven.com/200...dash-find.html

Skydash Auction Preparation:
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=89194

Detail on 1 of the Skydash/Mastro Auctions:
http://www.auctionreport.com/auction...e-hobby-finds/

The Auction (Bidding Commentary):
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=88060

Discussion of Skydash Auction Results:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...+the+aftermath
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=90125

Discussion on Redating the E 270-2's as a Result of Skydash & Why Thorpe is a Drawing Not a Picture:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...+proper+dating

And a link to the old Master listing of threads:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/

Skydash Cards for Sale:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Also the in depth discussions of N172s. I forget the exact title, but I believe there is a link in the Archives under N172. Good topic.

Z Wheat

[atx840]

I've only been here a few years but recently the Black Swamp find and Blue OM threads were great to see unfold.

The Skydash find was another one.

[the 'stache]

Those sound great. I look forward to reading them.

I've got a lot of free time right now (at least six more weeks on my butt), so I'm looking for those really great, passionate talks where people research, and dig into their collections. Rare finds (like the Black Swamp find, which I read about in my magazine from Heritage Auctions) are always fascinating to me. I was reading through the last Robert Edwards auction catalog, and found out about the ultra rare T207 red cross backs. These hidden little gems can hold my attention for hours at a time.

[Kawika]

There was a pretty interesting thread a couple of years ago where Tim Cathey sleuthed out some new biographical info about Dutch Revelle. Dutch's nephew even ended up coming on the board. http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...light=Richmond
There was also a great thread where Mark Fimoff came up with the particulars of date, location and a few mysterious substitutions related to the New York Giants Fatima card photo. Someone else will have to provide the link; I couldn't find it.

[the 'stache]

That's awesome, David. I'm reading it right now. It's simply incredible that his nephew agreed to participate. That is the exact kind of read I'm looking for, by the way. So if you or anybody else wants to link more of these research projects to this topic, please do so. I will read every single one from start to end.

I think part of the reason this particular type of discussion appeals to me so much is that I was a research major in college (political science). I'd planned on going to law school before changing career paths, so I spent three years in the library researching Supreme Court precedent cases on Lexis and Westlaw.

There's something so satisfying about taking a subject you know little about, rolling up your shirt sleeves, and diving in. While there are many famous, all-time greats and Hall of Famers represented in the sets like the T206, there are also lesser known players. Their very inclusion in the monster alone would merit further research. But these men led fascinating lives, and finding everything we can about them honors their memory, and enriches our lives.

Bravo!

Edit: by the way, I have to agree with Chris. I love the Dutch Revelle portrait. There's only two or three on the bay right now. Is it considered a scarce card?

[camlov2]

Zach mentioned the word archive, so.....
When you need a break from serious threads you might want to check out some that are posted here-

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=141809

[the 'stache]

It looks like this is Dutch's page on Baseball Reference:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/mi...d=revell001rob

The date of birth is incorrectly listed as 1882 instead of January 1881, and his last name is misspelled with the 'e' at the end. But everything else lines up, including his catcher Tom Messitt.

He was quite the pitcher. But I can't for the life of me decipher the team name in their team photo.

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by atx840

I've only been here a few years but recently the Black Swamp find and Blue OM threads were great to see unfold.

+1

[e107collector]

I agree with the posts mentioned above. They are great reads.

I would also nominate the one on the "Black Old Mill Overprints." There is some great detective work by board members, especially Wonka.

Tony

[BradH]

One of my favorite threads probably wouldn't interest a lot folks on this forum, because there are no baseball players in the T218 set, but it's one that makes this site so great. I'll always rememebr it because it is the one that brought me to Net54 (through a google search). It's in the Boxing/Wrestling cards section and is over four years old, and hasn't been updated since last fall, but I still refer to it from time to time:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...highlight=T218

One thing I think a lot of new members don't realize is how easy it is to search and find old threads on this site. Or how easy it is to just go back through previous pages and see threads from recents days/weeks.


PS - Bill, I don't know the history or reason for your avatar, but I thought of it this past weekend in Cooperstown. I had a great conversation with Mr. Fingers at the Otesaga Hotel on Sunday morning. Nice guy.

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by camlov2

Zach mentioned the word archive, so.....
When you need a break from serious threads you might want to check out some that are posted here-

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=141809

That sounds good, Brian. I will check it out!

Edit: I did a search on the forum, and on Google, for that very type of thread. Somehow I missed it. The link you provided should give me lots of reading. Thank you!

[g_vezina_c55]

[QUOTE=atx840;1164852]I've Blue OM threads
QUOTE]

X 2

[Sean]

Originally Posted by e107collector

I agree with the posts mentioned above. They are great reads.

I would also nominate the one on the "Black Old Mill Overprints." There is some great detective work by board members, especially Wonka.

Tony

I agree, this was the most interesting thread that I've found.

[tuckr1]

Anyone have the Skydash link to the first discussion and background of the find?? I tried searching but didn;t find the first post about the back story of the find

[T206Collector]

When Net54 got switched over from Network54.com to its own standalone site, I archived all of the T206 discussions I could find on the old forum on my website. I catalogued them by topic as a resource. You can see them all at www.T206Collector.com

[camlov2]

Originally Posted by tuckr1

Anyone have the Skydash link to the first discussion and background of the find?? I tried searching but didn;t find the first post about the back story of the find

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=141809

Post 28 has them both linked.

[wonkaticket]

Originally Posted by e107collector

I agree with the posts mentioned above. They are great reads.

I would also nominate the one on the "Black Old Mill Overprints." There is some great detective work by board members, especially Wonka.

Tony

Here is the links. Jim Rivera was a big part of this as well as Dan McKee and Rob Lifson along with a pretty cool FBI agent.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=112134

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...206+Overprints
Part 2 Leon blew the first thread up...silly rabbit.

Here is where the scammer Pat Chan owner of T206museum was pretending to be other folks on the board.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...highlight=chan

[ScottFandango]

what about the Vaseline Wagner thread?

I loved the parody photoshop Pictures that followed!

[kmac32]

You would have to do a search to find it but there was a great post a few years back about E121 different backs and Koester Bread cards.

[barrysloate]

John- your photo of the FBI agent on the park bench gets my vote as one of those priceless moments on Net54.

[auggiedoggy]

Originally Posted by scottfandango

what about the vaseline wagner thread?

I loved the parody photoshop pictures that followed!

+1

[wonkaticket]

The Andrew thread got me thinking about all my past killing time while on the phone Photoshop’s I can’t remember why I made some of them but thought I would post some older pics from days gone by….there have been some really funny images folks have posted over the years.






Barry & Leon I seem to have done a lot of Barry I guess because if you know Barry he's the nicest most laid back guy you will meet and it was just funny to picture Barry in these polar opposite lives in these images…or I have an odd man crush you pick…

[barrysloate]

I had to open my big mouth.

[toppcat]

If no one mentioned it just click the Archive Center at the right top of the screen and read away!

[CW]

HAha! Classic images, John!

Here's a few....

The nun's Wagner

Brooklyn CDV thread

And this is not necessarily a thread, but it is an invaluable link located at the top of the page that some folks may not notice...

Detecting alterations and reprints

Also, under the community tab you will find a collection of image galleries featuring cards and items from Net54 members' collections.

[egbeachley]

I always liked the ones that out the fraudsters such as the micro-trimmer who got over half his work graded and the unopened package creator. Need to find those.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Only half? He must not be one of the better ones.

[ScottFandango]

Originally Posted by CW

HAha! Classic images, John!

Here's a few....

The nun's Wagner

Brooklyn CDV thread

And this is not necessarily a thread, but it is an invaluable link located at the top of the page that some folks may not notice...

Detecting alterations and reprints

Also, under the community tab you will find a collection of image galleries featuring cards and items from Net54 members' collections.

Nuns Wagner! I called it Vaseline Wagner ! That is a classic shot! That look on his face.....

[xcgrammer]

One way to see big topics is to sort by "hits"

[the 'stache]

John, those pictures are incredible.

How do the kids say it nowadays...? You have "leet" Photoshop skills. Chapeau, sir, chapeau!

I did a Google lookup on Barry, and though he's one of the most respected people in the hobby, it cracks me up that some of your "creations" accompany any information that comes about him.

Between those, and Chuck's Mona Lisa, I am laughing hard tonight.

Chuck, I will be on my deathbed (hopefully many, many years from now), and still laughing about this:





The first time I saw that in the Nun's Wagner thread, I completely lost it. It was the perfect picture at the perfect time.

I so love this place. Outside of the occasional visit to the Brewer or Packer forums I frequent, this is pretty much the only website I need on a daily basis.

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

Oh my gosh so many discussions which were enjoyable and enlightening as well...it is hard to choose a couple. I typically save important threads in a Word doc as well as the various links.

The Skydash find (Colgan's Chips E-270-2, T-206, T-210 Red Border & others) and follow up discussions was one memorable series of thread. It was interesting to follow from the beginning when everyone thought Skydash was possibly a hoax. Leon (sorry Leon) has to take partial blame for this, due to the previous year's April Fool's hoax (That thread was pretty interesting in & of itself). The thread turned into a gripping thriller with new information after every post...it was exciting to read and was something akin to participating first hand in a well written thriller.

Here are links to some of the Skydash Threads:

The Original Skydash Thread - Rare E-270's? Is This Real or an April Fool's Joke?:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...nest+appraiser

Meeting Skydash:::>
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...ash+experience

Skydash - Is This You? Offshoots to the Skydash Discussion (T209-1):
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...,+T205,+etc)--

Followup Thread to the Skydash Find::>
http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=87501

Thread to SCD Coverage of the Skydash Find (Link Fixed):
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...ash+Collection

SCD Article on Skydash:
http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.co..._in_forum_post

Description of the Skydash Find (With Link to Photos):
http://www.dodgersblueheaven.com/200...dash-find.html

Skydash Auction Preparation:
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=89194

Detail on 1 of the Skydash/Mastro Auctions:
http://www.auctionreport.com/auction...e-hobby-finds/

The Auction (Bidding Commentary):
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=88060

Discussion of Skydash Auction Results:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...+the+aftermath
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=90125

Discussion on Redating the E 270-2's as a Result of Skydash & Why Thorpe is a Drawing Not a Picture:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...+proper+dating

And a link to the old Master listing of threads:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/

Skydash Cards for Sale:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Also the in depth discussions of N172s. I forget the exact title, but I believe there is a link in the Archives under N172. Good topic.

Z Wheat

Thank you so much, Zach!

If you all don't see me post for the next three days (not likely, but it could happen), it's because I'm engrossed in all these great discussions.

I did have one question after reading both of the Skydash topics. He'd mentioned that he had at least one Eddie Plank T206, and two or three of the Sherry Magee "Magie" T206 errors as well. Did he ever post pictures of them? His Imageshack account shows several of the tin tops, but I see only three T206 cards, one of which is a red backed Ty Cobb. Did he actually have the Plank and Magee error cards? (edit: after seeing there are additional topics regarding the Skydash find, it's possible (and likely) these questions have already been answered. I'm going to read the other threads, but if somebody could provide me with an answer anyway, it would be appreciated!)

Originally Posted by BradH

PS - Bill, I don't know the history or reason for your avatar, but I thought of it this past weekend in Cooperstown. I had a great conversation with Mr. Fingers at the Otesaga Hotel on Sunday morning. Nice guy.

Brad, everybody I've ever talked to that has met him has had the same impression. Very nice guy. I for one would love to meet him.

I became a Brewer fan at a pretty young age (7 or 8), and of course back then (the late 70's to early 80's), the team was quite good. The Brewers acquired Rollie before the 1981 season in a trade with the Cardinals (we got Rollie, Ted Simmons, and Pete Vuckovich-the 1981 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, the 1982 AL Cy Young Award winner, and a guy I think should be in the Hall of Fame. Not too shabby.), and I became a fan of his pretty much as soon as he suited up. Even as a kid, I thought he had panache (though I didn't know the word for it back then ). I loved his mustache, and as a baseball fan, I appreciated how great he was as a pitcher. Even after he got hurt, and had to retire, I still had a special place in my heart for him. I still do.

I'm hoping to get back out to Las Vegas soon. One of my best friends, Brett, lives out there, and Rollie is one of the coaches of his daughter's youth baseball team.

I'd love just to shake his hand, and thank him for helping the Brewers get to the World Series. I'm afraid I'd talk his ear off though, lol.

[RCMcKenzie]

The Barry Sloate Action Jeans ad spoof is just wrong. You guys need to have more respect for the hobby pioneers than that.

[wrapperguy]

We have had 33 posts and no one has brought up Bruce Dorskind? You want a combination of information and complete trainwreck threads, just do a search for him or America's Toughest Wantlist. Cannot remember his screen name on this forum but you start getting involved in some of the hundreds of posts per topic and your six weeks are gone.

[the 'stache]

I will give that a look. Thank you for the suggestion, Jeff.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

The Barry Sloate Action Jeans ad spoof is just wrong. You guys need to have more respect for the hobby pioneers than that.

It's okay, John and I are good friends.

[Deertick]

This is by far the best thread:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=173269

[wonkaticket]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

The Barry Sloate Action Jeans ad spoof is just wrong. You guys need to have more respect for the hobby pioneers than that.

Barry did roundhouse the hell out of me when I saw him in NYC for that picture. Besides everyone knows that when the boogeyman goes to sleep each night he checks the closet for Sloate. You think I would take a chance being on the wrong end of that!

Besides this is the first image that comes up...that's not a bad thing for the ladies.


Everyone knows we love the kid from Brooklyn. Barry is one of the best folks I've had the pleasure to meet from this hobby and that's not a joke.

[Rich Klein]

And there was some thread that took one one day when I was still at Beckett and between 8 AM and 5 PM there were literally 400 posts including a side bar where Leon and I decide to go to lunch during the middle of the thread

[bmarlowe1]

This is still my favorite --

First go here:
http://tinyurl.com/3nxaubl

Then here:
( There are two intertwined discussions here - I admittedly hijacked the thread to interject the Mark Americans photo topic -
start with post #27 by Mark(bmarlowe) on 4/15/2009 at 4:16 PM, then scroll down a ways to post at 4/16/2009 at 11:17 AM and following down a bit)
http://tinyurl.com/4x45gkh

You can read a nice summary (start on p. 4) here:
http://sabr.org/cmsFiles/Files/Mysteryphoto5-09.pdf

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

And there was some thread that took one one day when I was still at Beckett and between 8 AM and 5 PM there were literally 400 posts including a side bar where Leon and I decide to go to lunch during the middle of the thread

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=84033

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by z28jd

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=84033

Yes, I remember that 400-posts-in-an-hour thread well. We used to be better at bombing a thread and talking about completely irrelevant topics when people take themselves too seriously.

[hangman62]

What about that dude - Marshall bring the noizzze !

[bijoem]

It was a short thread - but I've looked back at it a few times for a chuckle....



http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...rint+variation

[barrysloate]

We never have threads like the 400 post one anymore. The board certainly has changed...probably for the better. But those rockem' sockem' ones were fun.

[DaveW]

I remember that card of Melchoir - that's the funniest thing I've ever seen on Net54! Thanks for reminding me of it, it still makes me laugh. I forget who created that, but it was a great job of matching the typeface and color and making it look real.

[barrysloate]

I'm pretty sure Joe created the Melchior himself. Hi Joe- it's been a while!

[Jason]

I agree the Dutch Revelle thread was very informative.I also enjoyed the Skydash threads.I have about 15 Skydash T210's and am always looking for more.It was a nice condition collection that came out in that one,at least judging by the examples I have.

[bijoem]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I'm pretty sure Joe created the Melchior himself. Hi Joe- it's been a while!

yes, I created the card.
and like a little kid, giggled the whole time while creating it.
it was just a little light-hearted fun.

It has been a while Barry! I hope all is well.

[djrhanover]

H