Glossary Of Baseball Collectible Terms

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ALCS - Short for American League Championship Series. A stage in baseball's playoff system to get to the World Series.

Auction - An offering of baseball collectibles where the buyer must bid against other potential buyers, as opposed to ordering an item from a store, catalog, price list, or advertisement at a set price.

Auction House - A firm that conducts auctions. A venue to hold auctions offering items to be bid on. A company that holds live auctions in house or and on the internet. Popular auction houses include eBay, Heritage Auction Galleries, Lelands sotheby's, and others.

Authentication - Verifying the originality or genuineness of a sports collectibles item. For sports cards, the largest and most respected third party authentication (and grading) is Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). For sports autographs, the most well known authentication service is PSA/DNA. For other sports memorabilia items you must depend on the selling dealer's knowledge and integrity.

Autograph - A person's signature. Autographs are a very significant part of the Baseball memorabilia market. Frequently autographed items include photos, cards, and equipment, baseballs, bats, uniforms, gloves, etc.

Autopen - A mechanical device that is used to duplicate a precise signature. The Autopen machines provide high quality signature replication with any common pen, pencil, or marker. Autopens are often used by celebrities who receive numerous requests for their autographs, and are also known to be used by scam artists to forge signatures on flat items.

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Barrel - the business end of the baseball bat. The thickest part of the bat that is intended to meet the ball.

Barrel Brand - The markings stamped or burned onto the barrel of a baseball bat by the manufacturer, usually identifying the player's name, and registered trademark(s) of the manufacturer. The player's name may appear in block letters, indicating that the manufacturer has no right to produce bats for anyone other than the player whose name appears on the bat. The player's name may appear in a scripted or facsimile signature version, referred to as signature model, which indicates that the manufacturer has the right to produce bats for the public, minor league teams, and college teams, bearing the player's name. Such an arrangement is referred to as an endorsement contract.

Bazooka - A brand of bubble gum that began to be marketed in the U.S. by the Brooklyn, New York based Topps Company shortly after World War II.

Beckett - A well-known publisher of sports card price guides. The first Beckett price guide was published in 1979. This guide is widely credited for ushering in the modern sports card collectibles market.

BGS - Short for Beckett Grading Services, a professional sports card grading company.

Birdcage catchers mask - A catcher's mask with a strong wire face resembling a birdcage designed, and used in the early days of baseball. 

Black Bat - Also known as a World series "Black Bat" They were given to participating players, and dignitaries from teams in the world series. They have facsimile signatures of the entire team in gold on a dark black ebony bat.

Black Sox - A name given to the members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox team involved in a scandal with local gamblers, and accused of throwing the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Resulting in the suspension of eight players from baseball. "Eight Men Out" is a well-known movie that tells the story of this infamous event.

Blank Back - A baseball card that has no printing on the reverse side by design or as a result of a manufacturing error. Blank backs that are manufacturing errors usually carry a premium.

Blanket - Also known as Felt Blanket, B18 blanket, An early 20th-century collectible consisting of a square piece of felt or other fabric which came wrapped around a package of cigarettes, so-called because they were sometimes sewn together to form a blanket. Most popular are the 5 1/4" X 5 1/4" B18 blankets from 1914.

Bleeding - or Bleed -A term most commonly used with autographs when an Item is signed, and the ink spreads into the material signed. For example when Sharpie is used to sign a baseball it tends to "Bleed" into the baseball. When one color leaks into another area not intended. 

Blue Back - A card with a blue back. This term is usually connected to the 1951 Topps Blue Back baseball card set.

Bobbing Head Also known as; Bobble Heads; Nodders; Bobbing Head Dolls, A series of fragile hand-painted ceramic doll emulating a popular sports figure, player, team, or mascot that first came over from Japan in the 1960s. Sports, Accessories & Memorabilia (S.A.M.) reintroduced new dolls in the 1990s. Bobble Heads are also a popular giveaway at Major League Stadiums today.

Bobble Head - Also known as; Bobbing Heads; Nodders; Bobble Head Dolls, A series of fragile hand-painted ceramic doll emulating a popular sports figure, player, team, or mascot that first came over from Japan in the 1960s. Sports, Accessories & Memorabilia (S.A.M.) reintroduced new dolls in the 1990s. Bobble Heads are also a popular giveaway at Major League Stadiums today.

Book Price - Also known as "Books" "Books for," Book Value, The retail selling price that appears in a price guide.

Bowman - A well-known card manufacturer that began production in 1948 with baseball, football, and basketball cards. Their basketball production was halted that same year, while baseball and football cards were produced through 1955. The following year, Topps purchased the company and ended their rivalry in the sports card market. In 1989, Topps once again began production of cards with the Bowman name. Cards with this brand name are prominent in the modern sports card market.

Buckle Back - A baseball glove commonly used in the early days of baseball. A wrist adjustment on the glove to help fit a comfort level, and keep the glove snug to the hand located on the lower back of the glove.

Button Back - A baseball glove most commonly used during the 1940s-1960s. A wrist adjustment on the glove to help fit a comfort level, and keep the glove snug to the hand located on the lower back of the glove. Here is an example of a Button back glove.

BVG - Short for Beckett Vintage Grading, a division of Beckett Grading Services.

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Cabinet Card - An oversized card that was issued by tobacco manufacturers. They were commonly produced on a thick cardboard stock and available as premiums in the 19th and early 20th century. Curio cabinets were very common in this era, and a favorite place for collectors to display these treasures, thus the name cabinet card.

Cachet - A design or inscription on an envelope to commemorate a postal or philatelic event. A collectible Baseball Cachet could include a players achievements, milestone, and record breaking accomplishments. A postal stamp and cancellation will coincide in date, or and relationship to commemorate the days event. Popular Cachets include Z Silk Cachets, and Gateway G silk Cachets. Cachets are also a popular item for player autographs.

Cello Box - A box that contains cello packs. These boxes were distributed to retailers for individual pack sales. Most cello boxes contain 24 packs.

Cello Pack - A form of card packaging. These packs usually contain more baseball cards than the standard wax packs. These packs are wrapped in a transparent packaging, much like cellophane. Cello packs that have a star visible, especially on the front, are collectable and carry a premium over that of the price of the single card.

Center Brand - Also known as Bat Label. A term used with collectible baseball bats. The markings stamped or burned onto the center face of a bat by the bat manufacturer, usually identifying the name, location, and registered trademark(s) of the manufacturer. The center brand can be useful in determining The date or era a bat was made. 

Certificate of Authenticity - Also known as COA - A statement of the genuineness of an item (often an autograph), printed on a piece of paper, thin cardboard, that is furnished to the buyer by the seller. Certificates of authenticity can be issued by the seller or a third party authentication service. The validity of the certificate of authenticity depends upon the integrity and knowledge of the seller or authentication service.

Checklist - A list of cards in any one set or series. Checklists can be found in books and price guides, although the term is more commonly used for checklist cards, which are often included in sports card sets. These are intended as aids for collectors and commonly include small boxes that can be checked when the card is obtained. For this reason, many vintage checklists are of great value if found free of markings.

Clubhouse Signature - A signature that is not signed by the intended athlete. Most clubhouse signatures were done by bat boys, equipment managers, and other available clubhouse workers. It was, and still is common for a star player to have a clubhouse employee sign his name.

Common - A term used to describe a card that is not a rookie, semi-star, or star card. These are usually the least expensive cards in a set. "Singles" has also become a widely acceptable term for commons. The term Common can also be used in regard to lesser known or desired players in any given memorabilia set such as silk blankets, or figurines for example.

Cracker Jack - A brand of snack consisting of caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts. It is also well known for being packaged with a Toy Surprise Inside. This term Cracker Jack is used as reference to the 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack baseball card set that was issued as an insert in Cracker Jack boxes. Cracker Jack is also an inexpensive Baseball bat sold by Hillerich & Bradsby (Louisville Slugger) during the 1920s-1950s. Possibly taking advantage of the snacks popularity the Bat has no relationship with the Cracker Jack candy.

Crescent Padding - An extremely desirable style used for baseball gloves from 1890 to 1910. A Crescent baseball glove features a raised padding in the shape of a crescent to form a pocket to aid in catching the baseball. From the 1920's to the 1940's, crescent or raised padding was used for softball gloves.

Cut Signature - or "Cuts" - A signature on a small piece of paper, or "cut" from a larger piece. The lowest Item in value for a signature. Index cards are the next step up in value, and both sell at a fraction of the higher priced Photos, Baseballs, Bats, and equipment. Cut Signatures are often cut from an item that has been ruined to save its value such as a baseball card, cover of a publication, photograph, letter or notebook on which it was originally signed. Cuts are commonly used for inserts by baseball card companies

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Diamond Star - A set of cards that was produced from 1934 to 1936 by National Chicle. The set consists of 108 color cards that feature artwork done from original photos. The set is one of the more popular pre-war issues.

Ding - A term used to describe the damage on the corner of a baseball card. A ding is commonly caused by dropping or mishandling a card. A card with a ding (or dinged corner) is greatly devalued. A Ding can also be in reference to the indentation mark on the surface of the cover of a publication or photograph left by being struck by an object.

Doctored - A term used to describe a collectible item that has been altered to cover up a flaw. A doctored baseball card might have been trimmed, as to sharpen "dinged" corners, or remove the fraying on a Doctored pennant for example. Any collectible item that has been doctored will be devalued, and this practice is frowned upon, among the collecting community. 

Donruss - A sports card manufacturer that began production in 1981 with a baseball set and a golf set.

Double Header - A unique set of baseball cards that was issued by Topps in 1955. The cards are larger than standard and feature colored art drawings of baseball players. When the card is folded in half, another player's body matches up with the shared feet and legs of the card. A Double Header in baseball is when two teams play two games in one day with the same crowd in attendance. When referred to as A day night or Twi-Night Double Header one game is played in the afternoon and one in the evening typically with separate admission fees.

Double Play - A baseball card set Issued by Gum Inc. in 1941. This set features 75 black and white cards, each depicting two different players.

Double Print - A baseball card that has twice the print run of the rest of the cards in the set. This is due to the fact that, occasionally, two of the same cards will appear on a sheet (usually 132 cards per), which is later cut into individual cards.

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Error Card - A card that contains a mistake. An error card may have an incorrect photo, a misspelled name or incorrect statistical information. Error cards will only be worth more money if the mistake was corrected, and the card that was printed in the fewest quantity is worth the most. Not necessary the card with the error.

EX - Short for Excellent.

EX-MT - Short for Excellent - Mint

Exhibit Card - A larger-type card that is roughly the size of a postcard made by the Exhibit card company. Exhibit cards were commonly sold in arcades and were produced from the 1920s to the 1960s.

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Factory Set - An entire set of cards that was packaged by the manufacturer for sale to the public. These sets usually include a distinct box with a security seal or inner-packing to secure the cards. Sets from the factory generally carry a premium over hand-made sets.

FDC -Short for First Day Cover. An envelope or cachet that is designed to be postmarked to commemorate a specific event on the day or anniversary of the event.

Flat - A term used at autograph shows to describe a picture, poster, magazine, postcard or card. Usually "flats" have a different pricing structure than equipment, uniforms or baseballs.

Fleer - A manufacturer of sports cards. The company produced baseball cards from 1959 to 1963, as well as several football sets and a single basketball set in this same era. In 1981, the company once again began production and is a leading manufacturer in today's market. Fleer is now owned by Rite Aid, the well-known Pharmacy.

Foil Packs - A group of cards that are packaged by the manufacturer for retail sale. These packs are so named for their metallic packaging.

Full Bleed - This is the term used when a card has no border. The image on the card goes up to the edge of the cardboard.

Full Ticket - A Ticket for a baseball game or sporting event that has not been used or the rain check "Stub" has not been torn off. A fully intact ticket as it was made. A Full ticket separated from a Ticket block as an uncut sheet of tickets printed for a series. Today Full Tickets are more common where as tickets are scanned upon entry as opposed to "ripped"

Full Web - Baseball gloves that were most commonly made between 1900-1915 that had sewn in webs known as a "Full web" These webs were sewn directly to the thumb and forefinger and extended to where the thumb and forefinger meet.

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Gamer - A term used to describe a game used peice of equipment such as a Bat or glove.

Game issued - A uniform, cap, helmet or piece of equipment manufactured and designed for use in a college or professional game or sporting event. A "game issued" bat was ordered by the player to be used but is not "game-used" until it actually makes its way into an actual game.

Game Used - A piece of equipment that has been used by a professional player of note during a game such as a baseball bat or glove. A piece of equipment used in a professional game such as a "game used" base. For example a bat used by a professional baseball player like Mickey Mantle is "Game Used" A bat that was used in a little league game is a used bat not a "Game used" bat.

Game Used Cards - A card that has a piece of game used memorabilia embedded into the card. These are often thicker than regular issue cards.

G Cachet - A cachet made by the Gateway Stamp company. The cachet can be Identified by A G with an arch over the top located at the bottom center area. Also see Cachet

Goudey - An extremely popular card manufacturer that produced cards from 1933 to 1941. The 1933 Goudey set is their most popular, and arguably the most popular pre-war set produced. The art drawing set features numerous Hall of Famers, including two cards of Lou Gehrig and four cards of Babe Ruth.

GPC - The initials GPC stand for Government PostCard. These pre-stamped postcards were especially popular for obtaining autographs by mail from outside stadiums. That way, a fan could hand a player a self-addressed stamped postcard that the player could sign and return at a more convenient time.

Grade - A description of the condition of a sports card or sports memorabilia item. Grade is always a big component of price. The higher the grade, the more desirable, and consequently, the more valuable the item. Nowadays nearly all valuable sports cards are graded using the 10 Point Grading Scale established by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) in 1991.

Grommet - The metal "eyelet's" or ring reinforcements inserted into the holes of a baseball glove that are used for lacing. The lacing is inserted trough the Grommet and helps protect the leather from ripping. Grommets shown here in red.

Gum Stain - A stain on a card that is caused by gum. When gum was inserted in packs, it was placed on top of the pack, between the wrapper and the card. Over time, the gum would stain the card. Cards with gum stains are worth only a fraction of those without. Topps received numerous complaints from collectors that the gum was either staining the cards, or creating an impression in them, sacrificing their "mint" condition. The gum was eliminated in 1991. :(

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High Numbers - A description of the last, or near the last series in a baseball card set. Traditionally, manufacturers would produce cards in several series. As the season would wind down, so would public interest and production. This lower print run resulted in more limited supply and later, more valuable cards.

High Series - Also known as a high number series or high number, a high series contains baseball cards from the last series distributed for a set in a given year. Many of these older high series cards are of great value, as they were often released after the baseball season, when interest for baseball was waning. Therefore, these cards were often printed or distributed in smaller amounts than those of the preceding series. The most well known high series is from the 1952 Topps set (#311-407), which includes Mickey Mantle's first Topps card (#311).

HOF - Short for Hall Of Fame

HOF'er - Short for Hall Of Famer. A phrase used to describe a player elected into The Hall Of Fame.

HOH - Short for Rawlings "Heart Of The Hide" baseball gloves which features top of the line HOH shell leather, deer tanned cow hide palm and finger back linings. Heart Of The Hide gloves are highly desired among glove collectors.

Hologram - The silvery, laser etched trademark printed as an anti-counterfeiting device by sports card and memorabilia manufacturers, and authenticators. As seen on this Hologram authenticated baseball

HSC - Short for Heritage Sports Collectibles.

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Inscription - An extra note or notation added by a player when signing an autograph. A player might add an Inscription on request, or at an autograph show an extra fee might be charged. On the resale market collectors will also pay a premium for inscriptions such as "500 Home runs," and pay less for personal inscriptions like "Good Luck Mary" 

Insert - A word that describes cards that were added to a regular pack to help increase sales. The first inserts were around the turn of the century, when tobacco companies used cardboard to keep packs of cigarettes from getting smashed. Eventually, pictures were included on the small pieces of cardboard. Over time, these premiums became collectible and a key element of different cigarette sales. Throughout the years, manufacturers have used many kinds of inserts. Inserts have evolved to the point where almost every new issue available contains at least one type of insert. These modern inserts are far rarer than regular issue cards. Inserts from the past have included posters, decals, and  scratch offs as well.

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