Ask Babe: More questions for the Babe

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Dear Babe: What can you tell me about APBA game cards? Can you have them graded? -- Ryan N., Clarkston, Wash.You can get anything graded, but you don't see many APBA cards getting that treatment. "Since the point is to play the game, and there are no pictures, there doesn't seem to be any collector interest in having them in slabs,'' said Francis Rose Jr. of Gaithersburg, Md., a collector and dealer.For the uninitiated, APBA baseball is a game in which a player's stats from a given year have been broken down on a playing card to correspond to rolls of a pair of dice along with various game situations listed on the playing boards.Based on my research, it looks like the game made its debut in 1950. However over the years, cards for players from throughout baseball history have been created.At one point there was a newsletter for aficionados, but it has gone by the wayside, replaced by www.apbajournal.com, hosted by Rose. Also, the APBA game company posts information on its Web site (www.apbagames.com), said Don Adams of North Brunswick, N.J., an APBA collector since 1953."There has never been an official standard for grading cards, but I did provide an informal system when I published a bi-annual pricing guide (baseball only),'' Adams. You can view Adams' grading scale by visiting my blog at www.scrippsnews.com/waxpak.Dear Babe: I purchased a set of Stan Thompson golf clubs several years ago from a private party. These clubs were specifically made for a man with the initials on each one. The set includes 1 thru 4 woods and 2 through 9 irons. -- Edward Votaw, Banning, Calif.Thompson was a club designer of some note. "The Ginty was one of his inventions -- a precursor to today's rescue or trouble clubs,'' said Bill Nelson, a long-time collector and golf shop owner. "His clubs date back to the late 40s -- early 50s thru the 90s.''The set is worth $50-$75, Nelson said.Dear Babe: I have a Daniel Moore print of "The Goal Line Drive'' from the 1982 Auburn-Alabama game. It is No. 448 of 3,000. -- Chuck Northington, Marietta, Ga."'The Goal Line Dive'' by Daniel Moore is a print of Bo Jackson of Auburn diving over the pile to score a touchdown against Alabama in the 1982 Iron Bowl,'' said Chris Oyler, owner of The Beveled Edge (www.thebevelededgeonline.com) in Homewood, Ala. "It just recently sold out through Daniel Moore's publishing company, New Life Art. The secondary market value is $275-$400. The market demand for Auburn prints is dramatically lower than they are for many of Daniel Moore's prints of other schools."Dear Babe: I have a program from the 2006 FIBA U18 tournament signed by all the players on the team. The signatures include Michael Beasley, Kyle Singler, Jerryd Bayless, Donte Green, Taylor King, DaJuan Summers, Chris Allen, Nolan Smith, Lance Thomas, Johnny Flynn and Spencer Hawes. -- Anna Skurka, Pleasanton, Texas This is interesting in that you have a lot of young players. The key will be which, if any, go on to become stars down the road. "I'd say $50 on the soccer program is fair for now. Maybe more of these players will make it big one day," said Mike Breeden, an autograph expert and editor of Tuff Stuff's autograph guide.BABE NOTE: Donruss Threads Football is out with the usual array of jersey and autographed cards. Collectors will find relic and autographed cards for current players as well as former stars and legends. The release also includes cards for Aaron Rodgers, who is set to take charge of the Packers offense. In addition to his base card (No. 46), Rodgers has a Threads jersey card numbered out of 250 and a Dynasty Prime jersey card numbered to 25. For more information on Threads, visit www.donruss.com.(Send card questions to Babe Waxpak, PO Box 492397, Redding, CA 96049-2397 or e-mail babewaxpak(at)charter.net. If possible, include card number, year and brand or a photocopy. Please do not send cards. For Babe Waxpak's blog, see www.scrippsnews.com/waxpak. Babe Waxpak is a feature of The Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)