Tom Zappala

Tom Zappala is a businessman in the greater Boston area who is passionate about maintaining the traditions and historical significance of our National Pastime. His keen interest in baseball history inspired him to co-author the award-winning nonfiction books, The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories (First edition: IPPY Award Bronze Medal, 2010. Second edition: Ben Franklin Award Gold Medal, 2019 and IPPY Award Silver Medal 2020), The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players (Ben Franklin Award Silver Medal, 2013), The 100 Greatest Baseball Autographs (Ben Franklin Award Gold Medal, 2016), Legendary Lumber: The Top 100 Player Bats in Baseball History (IPPY Award Gold Medal 2018 and Ben Franklin Award Silver Medal 2018), An All-Star's Cardboard Memories (IPPY Awards Bronze Medal, 2019), Baseball & Bubble Gum: The 1952 Topps Collection (Ben Franklin Award Silver Medal 2021), and The Diamondbacks Collection: 50 of the Greatest Cards in Sports Collecting History (Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2022). Zappala co-hosts The Great American Collectibles Show which airs nationally every week. He enjoys collecting vintage baseball memorabilia for the love of the sport. Very proud of his Italian heritage, Zappala co-hosts a popular Italian-themed radio show which airs in greater Boston, and authored a humorous look back at his years in Catholic Grammar School entitled Bless Me Sister.