Almanacs “On March 4th in NEPA - Scranton Times-Tribune” plus 3 more |
- On March 4th in NEPA - Scranton Times-Tribune
- Baseball cards outvalue peanuts and Cracker Jacks - Southtown Star
- Plunkett Research: Online Retail Sector Perfectly Positioned to Grow ... - TMCnet
- Baseball cards: not just a game - Worcester Telegram & Gazette
| On March 4th in NEPA - Scranton Times-Tribune Posted: 04 Mar 2010 03:08 AM PST On this date in NEPA 75 years ago, a Troy, N.Y., man visiting Scranton was robbed of $80 by a young woman he met at a beer garden. The man took the young woman back to his hotel room, where he left her unattended, and according to police, she stole the money from the man's shoe. 50 years ago, a snowstorm dropped 16 inches on the area, with 15.7 inches falling in a 24-hour period. The 15.7 inches broke the previous 24-hour snowfall record held by the Billy Sunday blizzard on March 1, 1914, when 15 inches fell in a 24-hour period. 25 years ago, the fire inspector was sifting through the remains of Sokalksy & Sons Furniture Store on Birch Street. An early-morning fire destroyed the building. 10 years ago, a 12-foot Burmese python was discovered in an apartment on Albright Avenue. The python was believed to have been abandoned and was probably without food for several days, according to officials with the Humane Society of Lackawanna County. Almanac Today is Thursday, March 4, the 63rd day of 2010. There are 302 days left in the year. In 1789, the Constitution of the United States went into effect as the first Federal Congress met in New York. The lawmakers then ad-journed for lack of a quorum. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th president of the United States. In 1908, a fire at Lake View School in Collinwood, Ohio, claimed the lives of 172 children and three adults. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt took office as America's 32nd president. In 1977, some 1,500 people were killed in an earthquake that shook southern and eastern Europe. In 1989, Time Inc. and Warner Communications Inc. announced plans for a huge media merger. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. | |
| Baseball cards outvalue peanuts and Cracker Jacks - Southtown Star Posted: 04 Mar 2010 01:56 AM PST
The boxes of baseball cards you so carefully collected are invaluable for the memories they evoke. But do they have any real value? Many collectors hope their hobbies will one day bring them a fortune. And with the recent sales of Batman and Superman comic books for about $1 million each, the fantasy of a big windfall may have crossed your mind. 
Here's what anyone with a collection, or looking to start one, should know. SIZING UP VALUE Three big factors generally determine a card's value: the player pictured, the card's condition and its rarity. Hall of Famers and marquee names are obviously more sought after, but even a player no one remembers can command thousands of dollars. That's because collectors aim to complete sets, or obtain all cards issued in a given year or edition. So a 1963 card of a forgotten player can still be valuable. A card's condition can also produce big swings in price, but more on that later. You should also know that vintage cards – generally those from before 1970 – are in greater demand since they're harder to come by. Cards from after that era are easier to find because companies started ramping up production, notes Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. Collectors in later years also realized cards could be valuable, so it's easier to find modern cards in good condition. That said, even relatively new cards can still have value. A 1993 Derek Jeter rookie card in near mint condition, for example, can be worth about $350. To get a baseline for how much your cards are worth, browse the Web sites of auction houses such as Heritage Auction Galleries (www.ha.com) or Lelands (www.lelands.com) for price listings on comparable cards. Tuff Stuff's Sports Collectors Monthly (www.tuffstuff.com) also has a portion of its price guide online. Another common pricing reference for collectors is "The Beckett Almanac of Baseball Cards and Collectibles." The guide is also online at www.beckett.com, although you need to pay for access. Subscriptions start at $6 a month. Keep in mind that price guides are usually based on cards in good condition; cards with wear and tear could be worth far less. You could always bring your cards to a hobby store too. A knowledgeable worker should be able to give you an idea of what they're worth for free, so long as you're not hauling in crates of them. Of course, you'll want to double check any casual estimates. HOW TO SELL If you have cards worth around $500 or more, consider selling through an auction house. This gives you access to a pool of experienced buyers willing to pay top dollar for quality cards, says Joe Clemens, price guide editor at Tuff Stuff's Sports Collectors Monthly. Auction houses typically take a commission of about 15 percent, although that figure can vary depending on the sale price. So for a card that sells for $500, you'd pay a commission of $75. Cards of lesser value can be sold at hobby stores or baseball card conventions. EBay is another option, although Clemens notes that the overall breadth and quality of cards isn't as great, so bids tend to be lower. One way to drive up your card's value is to get its condition professionally graded, since this gives buyers confidence about what they're getting. The two big grading services, Professional Sports Authentication in California and SGC Grading in New Jersey, seal cards in plastic cases, which are tagged with the card's serial number and a grade ranging from one to 10. The points make a big difference. A rookie Mickey Mantle card with a grade of 8, for instance, was sold by Heritage Auction for $71,700 last fall. The same card with a grade of 1 sold for nearly $3,600. Grading can be expensive, however – $5 to $20 per card, depending on its estimated value, plus another $20 or so for shipping each way. So it's only worth doing if you think your cards will sell for a worthwhile amount. You can find out more about grades and fees at www.psadna.com or www.sgccard.com. NOTES ON COLLECTING Topps issued its first cards in 1951, and is the most well-known publisher of baseball cards. The company last year also won exclusive rights to use the logos for Major League Baseball and its teams. But issuers such as Panini and Upper Deck have their followers too, and you may prefer the style of those cards. A 12-pack of Topps cards costs about $2 at big box retailers. Cards are randomly packaged, so there's no guarantee on which players you'll get, said Warren Friss, the company's general manager. If you don't have the patience to collect cards one pack at a time, Topps also started selling entire sets in the mid-1980s. Sets have 660 cards and cost about $60 online at www.topps.com or at hobby stores. Topps also issues several special editions a year. As for which players and teams to hold onto, it's no secret which cards will gain the most value. "Collect players you believe are going to do well, rookies you think are going to have long, good careers, and stand the test of time," Friss said. Beyond that, collecting should be inspired by your love of baseball and the cards themselves. "They're meant to be fun, and looked at and played with," Friss said. "It's not always about making an investment. For some people it's just the fun of looking at their heroes." Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. | |
| Plunkett Research: Online Retail Sector Perfectly Positioned to Grow ... - TMCnet Posted: 04 Mar 2010 01:28 AM PST
|
Mar 04, 2010 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Plunkett Research has released its newest market research and competitive analysis report, Plunkett's E-Commerce and Internet Business Industry Almanac, edition, which identifies and analyzes major trends shaping the internet business and e-commerce industry. According to Jack W. Plunkett, CEO of Plunkett Research, "The online retail sector is perfectly positioned to grow in 2010. Consumers want convenience and low prices, and they are turning more and more to the Internet for bargains. Amazon.com's stunning 2009 sales results are a perfect indicator." As described by the Company, major trends affecting the E-Commerce and Internet Business industry analyzed in Plunkett's report include: Internet film and TV content grows as viewers' options and downloads expand. User-generated content, social media, video, blogs and wikis abound. Health research remains a leading use of the Internet. Bricks, clicks and catalogs create synergies. Amazon posts growth while other retailers suffer. Online advertising nears 10 percent of total U.S. market. Last mile challenges tumble; Mass broadband markets emerge. Telecommunications move online, unified communications, telepresence. "The continuing growth in broadband subscribers at home is another very positive boost to online sales," says Jack Plunkett. "Consumers will rely on the web more and more for basic shopping. Meanwhile, online travel sales will start to recover over the near term." A complete computer and software industry trends and statistics analysis is provided in Plunkett's E-Commerce and Internet Business Industry Almanac, edition. With Plunkett's E-Commerce Industry data, you get the competitive intelligence you need to fully understand business trends, technologies, markets, finances and the leading companies. This carefully compiled book also includes a detailed glossary, E-Commerce industry contacts and thorough indexes. A complimentary Introduction to the E-Commerce and Internet Industry can be viewed at Plunkett's website.
((Comments on this story may be sent to health@closeupmedia.com))
Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Baseball cards: not just a game - Worcester Telegram & Gazette Posted: 04 Mar 2010 01:35 AM PST
NEW YORK —
The boxes of baseball cards you so carefully collected are invaluable for the memories they evoke. But do they have any real value?
Many collectors hope their hobbies will one day bring them a fortune. And with the recent sales of Batman and Superman comic books for about $1 million each, the fantasy of a big windfall may have crossed your mind. Here's what anyone with a collection, or looking to start one, should know. SIZING UP VALUE: Three big factors generally determine a card's value: the player pictured, the card's condition and its rarity. Hall of Famers and marquee names are obviously more sought after, but even a player no one remembers can command thousands of dollars. That's because collectors aim to complete sets, or obtain all cards issued in a given year or edition. So a 1963 card of a forgotten player can still be valuable. A card's condition can also produce big swings in price, but more on that later. You should also know that vintage cards — generally those from before 1970 — are in greater demand since they're harder to come by. Cards from after that era are easier to find because companies started ramping up production, notes Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. Collectors in later years also realized cards could be valuable, so it's easier to find modern cards in good condition. That said, even relatively new cards can still have value. A 1993 Derek Jeter rookie card in near-mint condition, for example, can be worth about $350. To get a baseline for how much your cards are worth, browse the Web sites of auction houses such as Heritage Auction Galleries ( www.ha.com) or Lelands ( www.lelands.com) for price listings on comparable cards. Tuff Stuff's Sports Collectors Monthly ( www.tuffstuff.com) also has a portion of its price guide online. Another common pricing reference for collectors is "The Beckett Almanac of Baseball Cards and Collectibles." The guide is also online at www.beckett.com, although you need to pay for access. Subscriptions start at $6 a month. Keep in mind that price guides are usually based on cards in good condition; cards with wear and tear could be worth far less. You could always take your cards to a hobby store, too. A knowledgeable worker should be able to give you an idea of what they're worth for free, so long as you're not hauling in crates of them. Of course, you'll want to double-check any casual estimates. HOW TO SELL: If you have cards worth around $500 or more, consider selling through an auction house. This gives you access to a pool of experienced buyers willing to pay top dollar for quality cards, says Joe Clemens, price guide editor at Tuff Stuff's Sports Collectors Monthly. Auction houses typically take a commission of about 15 percent, although that figure can vary depending on the sale price. So for a card that sells for $500, you'd pay a commission of $75. Cards of lesser value can be sold at hobby stores or baseball card conventions. EBay is another option, although Clemens notes that the overall breadth and quality of cards isn't as great, so bids tend to be lower. One way to drive up your card's value is to get its condition professionally graded, since this gives buyers confidence about what they're getting. The two big grading services, Professional Sports Authentication in California and SGC Grading in New Jersey, seal cards in plastic cases, which are tagged with the card's serial number and a grade ranging from one to 10. The points make a big difference. A rookie Mickey Mantle card with a grade of 8, for instance, was sold by Heritage Auction for $71,700 last fall. The same card with a grade of 1 sold for nearly $3,600. Grading can be expensive, however — $5 to $20 per card, depending on its estimated value, plus another $20 or so for shipping each way. So it's only worth doing if you think your cards will sell for a worthwhile amount. You can find out more about grades and fees at www.psadna.com or www.sgccard.com. NOTES ON COLLECTING: Topps issued its first cards in 1951, and is the most well-known publisher of baseball cards. The company last year also won exclusive rights to use the logos for Major League Baseball and its teams. But issuers such as Panini and Upper Deck have their followers too, and you may prefer the style of those cards. A 12-pack of Topps cards costs about $2 at big box retailers. Cards are randomly packaged, so there's no guarantee on which players you'll get, said Warren Friss, the company's general manager. If you don't have the patience to collect cards one pack at a time, Topps also started selling entire sets in the mid-1980s. Sets have 660 cards and cost about $60 online at www.topps.com or at hobby stores. Topps also issues several special editions a year. As for which players and teams to hold onto, it's no secret which cards will gain the most value. "Collect players you believe are going to do well, rookies you think are going to have long, good careers, and stand the test of time," Friss said. Beyond that, collecting should be inspired by your love of baseball and the cards themselves. "They're meant to be fun, and looked at and played with," Friss said. "It's not always about making an investment. For some people it's just the fun of looking at their heroes."
Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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