Baseball & Bubble Gum:
The 1952 Topps Collection

by Tom Zappala & Ellen Zappala
with John Molori
Foreward & Contributions by Joe Orlando

Baseball & Bubble Gum: The 1952 Topps Collection showcases the most iconic postwar baseball set in hobby history. With the end of World War II, the advent of television, and an explosion of love for our National Pastime, the players making up this historic collection became bigger than life – players like Mantle, Berra, Robinson, Spahn, Snider and Mays. All of the 407 cards in the set are presented in full color along with a narrative about the player and their stats. The last chapter of the book discusses the great appeal of the 1952 Topps set; how the collection was developed; the nuances of particular cards, along with their scarcity, popularity, and in some cases, the card value.

Baseball & Bubble Gum:
The 1952 Topps Collection

An All-Star’s Cardboard Memories

by Tom Zappala, Ellen Zappala, and Joe Orlando
with Rico Petrocelli
Foreward by Dr. Jim Lonborg

An All-Star’s Cardboard Memories features the personalities, playing styles, and baseball trading cards of 56 Hall of Famers who played between 1960 and 1990. Red Sox Hall of Famer, Rico Petrocelli, played with or against all of them – from Mantle, Berra, and Koufax to Brett, Fisk, and Yount. Rico shares his memories and thoughts about their personalities and talent. In addition, each player’s baseball card issues are presented in full color along with a discussion of their rarity and popularity.

by Tom Zappala and Ellen Zappala
with John Molori and Jim Davis
Foreword and Contributions by Joe Orlando

The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players celebrates the 100th anniversary of one of the greatest baseball card collections in the world. The players included in this superb set were some of the best in the game, and their stories provide a journey through one of the most exciting eras in baseball history. A history of the Cracker Jack product and its close connection to baseball is also included.

The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs

by Tom Zappala and Ellen Zappala
with John Molori and Steve Grad
Foreword and Contributions by Joe Orlando

The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs showcases the most sought-after signatures in the history of our National Pastime. From Ruth to Jeter and all of the greats in between, the players included in the book represent a cross section of baseball history. Read the stories of the professional and personal lives of the men who signed their names on the sweet spot, along with an analysis of their autographs.

Legendary Lumber:
The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History

by Joe Orlando
with Tom Zappala and Ellen Zappala

Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History highlights the most desirable game used professional model bats in the history of our National Pastime. For each stick magician featured, there is a narrative highlighting a significant offensive accomplishment along with the story about the bat itself. The book spans baseball history, from the early days to the present and features all the greats from Ruth and Keeler to Suzuki and Jeter.

Bless Me Sister:
A Slightly Irreverent Look at Attending Catholic Grammar School

by Tom Zappala

This light-hearted trip down memory lane takes you from the late 1950s into the 1960s as seen through the eyes of an inner-city Italian American parochial school kid. You’ll follow his humorous adventures from the first day of school to graduation. The school was filled with city kids who were always looking for an angle, but they learned, loved, and laughed, thanks to the good Sisters of Notre Dame.