May 23, 2023
For Immediate Release
Tom and Ellen Zappala’s Newest Sports Card Collectibles Book, The Diamondbacks Collection, Receives 2 National Awards.
Peter E. Randall Publisher is pleased to announce that Tom and Ellen Zappala’s latest book for sports memorabilia collectors, The Diamondbacks Collection: 50 of the Greatest Cards in Sports Collecting History, was recently recognized nationally for its value to collectors and excellence in publishing.
A collaborative effort by authors Tom Zappala, Ellen Zappala, hobby expert, Joe Orlando, and contributor John Molori, The Diamondbacks Collection: 50 of the Greatest Cards in Sports Collecting History, was honored with a silver medal in the sports category at the 35th Annual Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Awards ceremony on May 5, 2023, in San Diego, CA. The book was also honored with a bronze medal in the 27th Annual “IPPY” Independent Publisher Book Awards contest. Both the Ben Franklin Awards and the IPPY Awards recognize excellence in book editorial content and design and are regarded as the highest national honors for independent publishers.
The Diamondbacks Collection was released nationally to excellent reviews in 2022 by Peter E. Randall Publisher. This beautiful coffee table book details the story behind the most iconic cardboard gems ever assembled in any private collection. Ken Kendrick, managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has compiled an amazing array of sports cards that is unsurpassed. From the famous 1909–1911 PSA 8 T206 Honus Wagner, to the 1948 Leaf PSA 9 Jackie Robinson, to the 1948 Bowman PSA 8 George Mikan rookie card, this prestigious collection consists of 50 of the highest-graded and most sought-after cards in the hobby.
The players immortalized on these cards are sports legends, and the admiration for these stars prompted Kendrick to collect their cards in the first place. A comprehensive narrative about each player’s personal and professional life is included, giving us a glimpse of the human element of these great athletes.
In addition, longtime collector and hobby expert Joe Orlando discusses the nuances and intricacies of every card in the collection and the set to which it belongs, and analyzes why Kendrick’s collection is so important in the hobby. Orlando also takes a look at how the sports card collecting hobby has evolved over the years, from the explosive growth of the 1980s through to the hobby’s recent dramatic growth.
The Diamondbacks Collection: 50 of the Greatest Cards in Sports Collecting History is the seventh volume in the series of award-winning baseball collectibles books published by Peter E. Randall and authored by the Zappalas and Orlando including, The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories, The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players, The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs, Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History, An All-Star’s Cardboard Memories, and Baseball & Bubble Gum: The 1952 Topps Collection.
For more information or to order The Diamondbacks Collection: 50 of the Greatest Cards in Sports Collecting History or other books in the series, visit https://tomzappalamedia.com/books/
