Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards 4th. edition

[JLange]

I only ask because I am not aware of anyone (since Bob Lemke left) reaching out on this board or elsewhere, to solicit additions and corrections. is someone actively managing and updating the entries? If so, who is it, and what can we expect going foreword?

I am of the opinion that the catalog should list every set and card known, not just the popular ones. Unfortunately, regionals and many other cards get short changed or cut out.

One final question to ponder... If it's not listed in "The Big Book," how can you say something is catalogued? Because it appeared in an edition 8 years ago? Because it appeared in some other tome published years prior to that? I know there are other sources like Beckett and Old Cardboard (which does a fantastic job and is an awesome reference site) but I selfishly want the catalog to have it all published in one annual book, officially Cataloguing all cards and sets.

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by JLange

I am of the opinion that the catalog should list every set and card known, not just the popular ones. Unfortunately, regionals and many other cards get short changed or cut out.

This is where they have failed to grasp the implications of digital vs physical. I can understand space and cost constraints with regard to the physical book, but there should be no physical restraints in the digital copy. For that matter, they should still include all the modern sets in the digital copy as there is no valid justification for eliminating them if they're not being printed.

I would love to see the Standard Catalog property sold to a company that exists in the present, rather than one that has only just barely entered the mid-1990s with regard to technology. How is there no app by now? Even Beckett's idea of an app is just a digital copy of their magazine, it's not even tied into their database.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by JLange

I only ask because I am not aware of anyone (since Bob Lemke left) reaching out on this board or elsewhere, to solicit additions and corrections. is someone actively managing and updating the entries? If so, who is it, and what can we expect going foreword?

I am of the opinion that the catalog should list every set and card known, not just the popular ones. Unfortunately, regionals and many other cards get short changed or cut out.

One final question to ponder... If it's not listed in "The Big Book," how can you say something is catalogued? Because it appeared in an edition 8 years ago? Because it appeared in some other tome published years prior to that? I know there are other sources like Beckett and Old Cardboard (which does a fantastic job and is an awesome reference site) but I selfishly want the catalog to have it all published in one annual book, officially Cataloguing all cards and sets.

Unfortunately your opinion and business fiscal issues aren't on the same plane. The SCD has seemed to neglect vintage since Bob left there. I don't think they care anymore. It is ONLY about selling the catalog *(which is sort of understandable from a business perspective) but that, to me, is a short term view.

As far as something being "cataloged" I (personally) have never used the SCD to say if something is or isn't cataloged. It is only the ACC, or other commonly used system (SCB and Egan for a few) that I have used. So for me, being in the SCD isn't being cataloged or not. I believe SCD has taken out and put in many different vintage issues over the years. I agree it would be nice to have all of the known sets in one place but that is a pipe dream with the SCD current management. I have some that are a few years old that I still use, and since not much has changed in vintage, there is no need to get another one.

[ALR-bishop]

I believe Tom Bartsch handles both the SCD magazine and Catalog currently. I know some collectors who have had some successes lobbying him to update certain checklists in the book, typically in regard to some variation. I think his business contact is either bartsch@fwmedia.com, or tom.bartsch@fwmedia.com.

I recently wrote to him about an article in SCD about the Topps 1968 Milton Bradley game and related Toops football and baseball sets that came with it, and did get a reply.

I do agree that since Bob Lemke left the enthusiasm no longer seems to be there. I have saved the last catalog that had post 80 listings and did get the 3d edition of the pre 80 only book, but think I may be done now. It was never a valuable resource on prices in my view