I am heartbroken to report the passing of Bill Zone, who died at age 82 in Crown Point, Indiana, on July 14, 2026.

I have known Bill a good 25 years or so, meeting him at the Orland Park card show. In addition to Orland, I would see Bill at the Sun-Times shows, the National and most any show I set up at in Northern, Indiana.

Bill possessed a warm kind soul, he brought a smile to my face every time I saw him. He collected 1986 Fleer basketball. He would walk up to my table at card shows and say, "You got any for me?" Then we would start talking '86 Fleer. 

A big Michael Jordan fan, he started purchasing '86 Fleer back in 1986 and he was amazed at how those cards rose in value. At some point, the cards were just too expensive for Bill, a retired steel worker, to continue to purchase, though he already had three or four complete sets.

I regularly advised him to sell his sets and enjoy the money. He would just smile. He enjoyed the cards far more than he would the money. I got it.

Bill was such a mild-mannered guy, he seemed like somebody you would meet in Mayberry. He would park himself at my table at card shows and we would chat. He loved 1960's football and Johnny Unitas. He hated to drive a car, especially on the highway. His lovely wife Karen or his daughter Christine would often drive him to shows.

I was always a little shocked when he would end our conversations with a dirty joke because he seemed more like the local church pastor than a salty guy at the local tavern with endless dirty jokes. His delivery was so good -- a master storyteller and jokester.

Bill was born in 1944 in Gary, Indiana. He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967, then worked for U.S. Steel for 30 years before retiring in 1999. He loved his pet cat and had cat stories for me as well.

Folks often marvel at my card-show schedule and wonder why I do it every weekend -- well the main reason is I get to meet and hang out with people like Bill who just make my life better. 

I will miss you Bill. Thank you for your camaraderie and friendship.

Next Oak Creek show is on August 8, 2026. We are also running a show on August 9 at the Kenosha Public Museum.

Can't wait that long to see yours truly? Well come on out on July 18 to the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton, Illinois, where I will be set up with a combo of binders and display cases.

Also, the next Oak Creek Vintage show is on July 25. Then on July 26, I am back at the amazing Orland Park show at the Civic Center in Orland Park, Illinois.

I also learned from Wikipedia that Pep was the first cereal to be fortified with vitamins in 1938. Pep was a wheat flake that was marketed as a healthy breakfast option with mildly laxative properties.

Early Pep advertising was mainly through print ads in newspapers and magazines. From 1939 to 1941, Pep focused its advertising on housewives, claiming the vitamin-enriched cereal enhanced beauty.

In 1942, Pep changed its advertising focus from housewives to children and began sponsoring children radio shows​ like Tom Corbett -- Space Cadet and The Adventures of Superman, according to Wikipedia. 

The pinback prizes were introduced in 1943 and initially depicted U.S. military units and squadrons. They are about the same size as a penny and are highly sought after by military collectors.

In 1945, Kelloggs introduced pins into Pep Cereal that depicted characters from newspaper comics like Little Orphan Annie, Felix the Cat, and the Phantom. The pins were available through 1947.

Kellogg's also changed the Pep packaging to focus on the comic characters.

Five different series of Pep pins were issued with a Superman pin included in all five series. In total, 86 Pep Pins were issued. Research shows complete sets of Pep Pins selling between $800 and $1,200.

In addition to the pins, you could obtain a beanie to hold your pins by sending two box tops and 10 cents to Kellogg's. 

Pep Cereal was discontinued in the U.S. in the 1970s and discontinued in Canada in the 1990s. Sadly, I have no recollection of Pep Cereal. The 1970s was the height of my breakfast cereal consumption but I preferred the sugary cereals like Captain Crunch and Lucky Charms. Though, if I had been a kid in the 1940's, I would have suffered through the mildly laxative Pep cereal for a few pins. 

​Now I'm hooked on these things and have to complete the set. Anybody have any Pep Pins for sale? Bring 'em to Orland!!

The Woodstock show, pictured above and below, is one of my favorite shows. It only happens a handful of times each year. Also, crowds are never too big but there are always vintage sports enthusiasts who make my day. My sales are much better at Woodstock than many larger shows.

There are a lot of set builders at the Woodstock shows. I wish this show was monthly. Maybe a new venue is needed?

After the Woodstock show on October 18, next up for me was a new show at Downers Grove North High School, on October 19, put on by Breaktime Card Shows and its young promoter Costa. 

In general, the Downers show, pictured below, was pretty good. Costa always takes care of me and gives me a nice spot. The only problem I observed at this show seemed to be the rules placed on the show by the school. Nobody could park in the back of the school and load in. Everyone had to park across a busy street and cart their wares into the building through traffic and rain. I think there is a reason why Costa has not booked any more shows in Downers since this one. Load in and load out was so difficult and dangerous.

Costa has all sorts of shows planned. He does a really nice job. Check out his Facebook page here: ​(1) Facebook

After the Downers show, I was set up at the Italian Community Center show in Milwaukee on October 25, run by my old pal Bill Stocks. The ICC show is small but Bill and his family do a really nice job. I always appreciate the freshly baked goods for sale, along with coffee, drinks and other munchies. Bill ran another show at the ICC in April of 2026 when I was in Strongsville. Not sure when he has another one planned. I hope to attend the next one! Pictured below is the groovy patio at the ICC.

As I write this up, it is June 2026, and I have my next Vintage Show coming up June 20 at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, Oak Creek, WI.

While the vintage show is small, I plan to continue it indefinitely. I find that the vintage show is a necessity in today's card show market which is dominated by Pokémon. While I have no issues with Pokémon or Pokémon dealers, I just have no interest in it. I continue to love vintage sports cards and think the wave of the future for me is more vintage sports shows. I really could use some more support for the vintage show. I am also considering doing some elsewhere in Illinois and Wisconsin... any suggestions?

I have a bunch of great vintage dealers lined up for the June 20 show. I plan on bringing out my newly reloaded binder of 1965 Topps football.

Hope to see you Saturday! Show goes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will be in the gym this month. Free admission!

We are firmly in the Pokémon era, an era I do not embrace. Most of the card shows I attend are largely filled with Pokémon dealers. Don't get me wrong, I really like the Pokémon dealers. Nice folks. I just have no interest in Pokémon cards, even though I am aware that Pokémon is the hottest thing on the block right now.

In an effort to set up at a show with no Pokémon dealers and customers, I started running a Vintage-Only show, 1986 and older, at the Salvation Army back in August, 2025. 

Honestly, the response has been underwhelming but I think it is necessary to keep holding these vintage-only shows to carve out a place for us vintage card addicts. In October of 2025, I held my third vintage show, pictured above and below.

Next Vintage-Only Show is scheduled for May 30, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, Oak Creek, WI. As you can tell, it is a small show but if you are a vintage fan, you will enjoy the show. Free admission.

I am also running my second show in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, on May 24, 2026, at the Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center, 225 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove, IL. This show will feature everything. There will be a few vintage dealers as well. Show runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free admission. Tables are available for $40 each. Send me an email if you are interested in setting up at abrandongordon@hotmail.com.

In March of 2025, I was contacted by Kris and Donny from the Kenosha Tourism Bureau. Donny had visited the Oak Creek show, loved it, and proposed I run a show in Kenosha, WI, with the bureau's assistance.

​I was not looking to expand my card shows but the prospect of operating a show with some government assistance piqued my interest. So I drove to Downtown Kenosha to meet with these guys, who I did not know from Adam. It didn't take long to hit it off. Kris is like that super cool dad who coached your little league team and taught you how to pitch. Donny is like your buddy who picked up tickets to Pearl Jam and kept the beer flowing the whole concert. After five minutes, I felt like we had all been friends for years.

They had all sorts of proposals for me. I liked them all. We agreed to meet again and explore locations in Kenosha for a card show.

At the next meeting, these guys took me all over town and I learned that Kenosha has some amazing venues for any type of event, including a card show.

Of all the venues we visited, I liked the Kenosha Public Museum the best. I had been to the museum years earlier when the wife and I took our kids there when they were small. I loved it then and I love it now as a site for a card show.

On my tour of the museum, the guys introduced me to Tommie, the museum events coordinator. Oh my, Tommie reminds me of my kids. She is so sweet and helpful.

Eventually, I picked a date of October 5, 2025, for my first show. It was a small affair, with tables in one room and the hallway.  Response from dealers was positive. I was able to take some dealers off the Oak Creek waitlist for the show, some of my regulars decided to set up as well. We ended up with a nice mix of modern and vintage sports along with Pokémon.

I gave myself four tables in the hallway and filled them with display cases and vintage cards. I had an excellent show. The Pokémon dealers reported excellent sales. Some of my sports dealers did not do so hot. The show was largely attended by folks I had never seen before. All in all, I was pleased with how the show went for its first time.

A huge thank you to Kris, Donny, Tommy, along with all the vendors and customers from the first show. I appreciate you!

​I ran a second show in February of 2026. More on the second show in a future blog. 

My third Kenosha show is scheduled for May 3, 2026. The second show was larger than the first with more dealers and more customers. I expect this third show to be even larger. 

Unfortunately, space is limited at the museum. I may have to eventually move the show to one of the larger venues Kris and Donny showed me. We'll see how it goes. But for now, my next Kenosha show is set from noon to 4 p.m. at the Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Avenue, Kenosha, WI. Free admission.

If you want to check out the museum during the show, there is a fee to explore the museum.

Dealer tables are available for this next Kenosha show. Send me an email to abrandongordon@hotmail.com for info.

In the meantime, I have some other shows that I am operating. My next Vintage Show is Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, Oak Creek, WI. We are sharing the building with a flea market. Free admission. Concessions will be available.

The next regular monthly Oak Creek show is set for Saturday, April 4, 2026. As usual, dealer tables are sold out.

Hope to see you guys at one of my shows soon!!

Pictured above left is my main man Scotty P., who has been an avid supporter of the show since the beginning. Thanks Scotty! Checking out Scotty's cards in this picture is Chris, who has also been a supporter of the show since the beginning. Thanks Chris! Super cool dude Mark Lewis is in the background on the right. He's my guy at the Salvation Army who has become a great friend. He makes the show run smoothly. Thanks Mark!!
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Everybody loves free pizza!!
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This photo captures longtime dealers JR, right, front, and Ray, with the table to JR's right. Can't say how much I appreciate these guys!!
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Pictured left is Dennis, who comes all the way up from Indiana to set up at the show. Thanks Dennis!!
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I am so appreciative of everybody who participates in the monthly Oak Creek show. Thank you everybody!!!

Next Oak Creek show is set for April 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, Oak Creek, WI. As usual, tables are sold out. Please do not arrive before 9 a.m. Dealers are complaining that there are too many customers in the building while they are trying to set up. Please give them a chance to set up!

​Don't miss my monthly vintage show in Oak Creek! Next one is Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free Admission and nothing but vintage, vintage, vintage!!

Back when the show was at the Clarion, I used to give out free food like donuts and sandwiches. However, when the Marriot Corp. purchased the Clarion and changed the name to the Four Points Sheridan, they fired all the Clarion management and forbade me from bringing in food. As a result, I decided to give away free packs of cards instead of food, so I could still give something away without the Marriot being on my case. I carried the free-pack tradition with me to the Salvation Army. Seems like mostly kids take the free packs these days. At the September 2025 show, one of the kids pulled this Jake Woodford autograph card from one of my free packs. I still give out free packs at every Oak Creek show. Come find me and get your free pack!!

Pictured above is one of my longtime dealers Dan Musich. One of the nicest guys you will ever meet. I am so lucky to have dealers like Dan at my show!!

People stop by my table and show me stuff at every show. I can't remember who had these unopened basketball packs at the September show but they sure are cool.

Pictured above here is Vince and Frank's table. I met these guys years ago at the old Gonzaga show. You can see them top right. I have been so lucky to know them because they are two of the nicest guys you will ever meet, plus they have one of the most unique tables at the show.

Well, that's it from the September show. It is currently January 2026 and I am preparing to set up on January 10 at the Waukesha Expo Center. I'm hoping to have my 1963 Topps baseball binder reloaded before the show but I am not sure that I will get it done. 

I am continuing with my Oak Creek Vintage Show in 2026. It is not nearly as popular as my regular monthly Oak Creek show but I really feel like there is a need for it as card shows have changed over the years and outside of a few shows, there just is not a lot of vintage around. As you know, I only like vintage. So it is real fun for me to immerse myself at the monthly Oak Creek Vintage Show. This month I am running the show on a weekday because all of my Saturdays are filled with other shows. The next Vintage Show is slated for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the Salvation Army, in the Game Room. Tables are available for just $35. Send me an email if you want a table to abrandongordon@hotmail.com. 

The next regular monthly Oak Creek show is set from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 7, 2026. As usual, all 197 tables are sold out and my waiting list is just silly.

Hope to see you this weekend in Waukesha!!