Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell was once the hobby’s most famous non-signer, but he has relented in recent years. Still, in the end, he'll take a handshake first.

The debut of SCD's Industry Spotlight series starts with James Spence, head of one of the leading third-party authenticators in the sports hobby, JSA.

The NBA's decision to hand over its basketball card license to Panini raised a lot of eyebrows in the industry. To help explain the situation and address other issues, SCD sat down for an exclusive interview with Lisa Goldberg, the NBA's senior director of trading cards and memorabilia. 

Bobby Doerr made a lot of baseball history on how own. However, the famous member of the Red Sox also pursued historical artifacts, making him a collector of baseball history, as well. Check out an exclusive interview with Bobby Doerr. 

The former fiery relief pitcher was once dubbed Pancho Villa by his teammates. Senior Smoke, another nickname, reflects on his four World Series appearances and on collecting.

Amos Otis didn't stop the world during his 17 seasons in the Major Leagues. But he feels in today's ballparks, he might have gotten a shot at 3,000 hits.

For John Fulgaro, cards can mean business cards. And the business cards he's collected are of defunct teams, leagues and other oddities of the sports world. Take a look inside his unique collection of cards, stickers and more. Meet the author of John Fulgaro’s Sports Logo Guide.

A pioneering African-American lawyer shares the collecting link to his father. His collection boasts some of the best jerseys on the world.

Certainly never dull, SCD contributor Paul Post caught up with McLain at a signing autobiography, I Told You I Wasn't Perfect, at a recent card show near Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The book recounts his tumultuous career and years after baseball, from suspensions and wrangles with Commissioner Bowie Kuhn to his penchant for gambling, romps with gangsters and racketeers and eventual incarceration in prison. In the interview, McLain talks about today's game and its flaws.

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher John Hiller is one of few players who feels selling his signature is like prostitution.