I can't say how disappointed I am but the Salvation Army cancelled the August 1 show. I do not know yet whether they will allow the September show.

I am not angry with them. I get it. We are in the middle of a deadly pandemic and I had been wondering if running the August show would have been reckless and irresponsible. The lawyer in me is thinking of liability issues. But the card dealer/collector in me is so ready for a show!! It has been four months since I last set up at a show!!

I was planning to give out face masks at the show and have disinfectant stations throughout the room... which I think I will do if I can ever run the show again. I am wondering if I should just throw in the towel for 2020 and shoot for 2021 when, hopefully, we will have a Covid vaccine.

The flea market in Kenosha is open. I might just set up there. I'll let you know. Did I say I am disappointed? 

- Tony

Hey Guys:

I decided to cancel the June 6 show. I don't think we are out of the woods yet with this Covid virus. While Wisconsin does not appear to have it all that bad, the virus is rampant where I live in work in Illinois. A lot of people I know have had it and a few of their elderly parents have died. Many have lost their jobs. It is a sad state of affairs.

Right now the August 1 show is a go. I recommend that everyone wear a mask to the show. I will try and provide hand sanitizer.

Stay safe!

​Tony

May 5, 2020

Well, I did not get a chance to check out eBay yesterday but I am rearin' to go today. Recap:

I lost that autograph lot at $24.05. I am currently losing a PSA 7 Slaughter at $30. I am not going to up my bid.

Today I see a PSA 5 Slaughter for $40. Pass. I see a raw Slaughter with one bid at $6.50. Listing states EX+ and no creases. Surface is scuffed and corners are bad. This card is certainly not EX+. I would like one that is actually EX+. Probstein has a PSA 4 Mantle currently at $507.77.

I see a Mantle, perfectly centered with what appears to be fake corner wear. Natural corner wear has a frayed quality to it. Fake corner wear has a flattening effect, like someone pushed the corner down onto a table. Ahhh, the description states the card is a reprint. Why not say reprint in the headline?

Someone is selling a GMA 1 reprint Mantle for $1. The card is covered in mold. Why? Just why?

Well that is all for auction. Let's see what there is in BINs:

What is the deal with all the Mantle reprints today? Okay, I just filtered out reprints. Now I see a Hodges for $29.99. Seller says card is EX and he calls the card high grade. He is silent on creasing but to his credit provides some high resolution and close-up scans. There is some staining on the lower back edge. The back also seems to show a hairline crease, mid-way down, starting from the left edge and heading right about an inch or so. Pass.

Someone make Dean's and COMC go away! Ugh, how did a reprint Mays get in there? I just filtered out reprints!! Maybe if I hold my breath, I can get through the Dean's and COMC minefield quickly. I'm seeing a bunch of listings for 1954 Bowman Power For Peace Airforce non-sports cards. I wouldn't mind purchasing some of these but they are a little expensive for non-sports, anywhere from $3 to $10 per card.

I see an 8-lot with an Erskine and other minor stars for $80. Pass. There is a Slaughter for $35. Seller says EX with no creases. I see some wear and something that looks like a hairline crease on the back. Pass, though I am tempted. I'd be willing to drop $25, not $35.

I have seen Siriussports around forever and have bought some cards from him in the past. I am disappointed to see his listings featuring trimmed cards for $7 to $8 each. A little too high for trimmed cards. Wow! Another seller has a PSA 2 Williams for $800. Tempting. I see a PSA 3 Mays for $150. Too high. There is a Mantle 3.5 for $600. Too high.

I spoke too soon about a PSA 3 Mays for $150 being too high. Some dillweed has a PSA 2 up for $260. Okay, that is all for today. Another disappointing day. I need just six cards. I may have to start looking outside of eBay to complete the set.

May 7, 2020

I was really disappointed on May 5 when it seemed like all the listings on eBay were shoddy. Then I arrived home from work and had four or five packages waiting for me. Receiving the packages is the fun part. I received the Reynolds from 707. Free shipping means regular envelope and card in a top loader, no other protection. The Reynolds was dinged up which I found disappointing for a $12 card. Luckily, I won another Reynolds in a six-lot which was much nicer than the one I received from 707. I was able to upgrade a bunch of cards from that six lot. I received my Al Robertson complete with a big crease that I could not detect through the scan and the seller was silent as to creasing. Man, eBay sellers are flat out nasty! Can we have card shows yet?!!!

Anyway, my set is really shaping up and it is fun to flip through the binder. I received my Pesky PSA 6 and placed the seller's business card in the slot in the binder. I think I am going to try and obtain a raw Pesky. I don't really want to crack this one out of the slab. I'll just keep it until I can obtain a raw card.

I took a day off because I had already viewed all the cards ending yesterday. Let's see what is up today on FleeceBay:

Probstein's Mantle that I observed the other day ends tonight and is up to $568. Some outfit called Southernfriedcards with just 36 feedback has a waterlogged Mantle, clearly fake, with five bids at $34. Someone is getting scammed. In the description, the seller says he is selling it as a reprint but does not know for sure. Yeah right! I recommend avoiding that seller.

I see an eight-lot with an Erskine. I have had nice luck with upgrades from my small lot purchases. The eight-lot is starting at $15.50 and ends in two days. I am going to throw down $30. There is a Beckett 5 Mantle for $800. Pass. Now I see an absolutely trashed Bob Friend for 75 cents plus $4.05 shipping. See below. Who in their right mind would purchase this card? The bigger question may be, why even post this on eBay? I think I would throw that card in a quarter box for a card show.

That's about all for auctions. Now for BINs. Lot's of Mantle reprints. I love the guys who post upside down scans. I see a Hodges for $35. I may have seen this one already. Clearly a crease on the back scan. Pass. There is a Slaughter for 50 bucks. I can't drop 50 bucks on a Slaughter. I might be willing to do $30.

Someone is asking $1,650 for a PSA 6 Mantle. Pass. There are a ton of autograph listings in the BINs today. Oh there's the Dean's and COMC minefield. I just won't buy from these folks. Dean's is too high and COMC does not offer any description whatsoever and rarely includes a back scan.

I see a beat-up Yogi for $60. Pass. Here's another listing that just makes me wonder. See below. A trimmed Adcock for $2 plus 55-cents shipping. I wouldn't take that card if it was free. As a seller, I don't think I could ask more than a dime in good conscience.

The Battersbox has a chewed up Berra for $22.50. Pass. I am amazed at the many different types of reprint Mantles. Well, that was disappointing. Pretty much nothing in the BINs. Maybe I'll get some luck with that Erskine lot. I really don't think I am going to be able to complete this set on eBay.

May 14, 2020

Took some time off again. I received those five lots and was able to upgrade some cards. I think my best purchases have been the lots because the overall price per card is much cheaper than my single purchases and I have been able to use some of the cards as upgrades.

I won that 8-lot with Erskine from May 7. I am still waiting for it to arrive. I am down to just five cards and have started to do individual searches for these cards. It does not make sense to weed through all of the 1954 Bowman listings when I just need the five cards.

Let's see what I can find today. I am going to start with Slaughter. There are 114 cards up. I see one with a corner crease for just 8 bucks. Tempting but I want one without a crease. COMC has one that actually included a bunch of scans. They grade the card Poor to Fair. Pass.

I see one that looks like it has some paper loss on Enos's cheek. Pass. Most cards are low grade, high priced. Wow! I see a listing where the seller is either posing as Greg Morris or just flat out swiped his listing. Here is a link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1954-Bowman-Set-Break-62-Enos-Slaughter-VG-VGEX-GMCARDS/402089320659?hash=item5d9e6420d3:g:A5sAAOSwYA5eRLmQ. I don't know how long the link will be active but you gotta see it to believe it. Look in the heading where it clearly states "GMCARDS." This guy ain't GMCARDS. Man, fraud is incredibly pervasive on eBay!!

Okay, I found one that I would like to buy but there are some problems. First off, the seller has some negative feedback. I'm hesitant to purchase anything from someone with negs. Do you guys buy stuff from sellers with negative feedback? Second problem, no mention of creases. There does not seem to be any creases from the scans but I can't tell for sure. I didn't think the Al Robertson I purchased was creased and it arrive with a huge crease across the middle of the card. I just can't pull the trigger unless the seller specifically states that the card is not creased. I hate when guys say "check the scan." The scans do not show all of the creases. Pass!

I found one that I have placed in my cart and just may purchase. Price is $14 plus $3.75 shipping. Card is off center but has sharp corners and edges. Seller says EX+. In my opinion, a card cannot be EX+ when it has centering issues. Seller is silent on creases and I just can't tell from the scans. If I can't find anything else, I will take a chance on this once.

Siriussports has one for 24 bucks. Looks like there is a scratch. Pass. Okay, I don't really like what I am seeing. Prices are way too high. More sellers with negative feedback. I am going to purchase that one I placed in my shopping cart. Woot! Down to four cards!!

That's all the time I have for today. Maybe I'll check out the Mantles tomorrow.

April 29, 2020

None of the items from yesterday have ended yet. I had placed a $300 bid on a Mantle. It is currently up to $335. The description is silent on creases. I can't tell if it has any by viewing the scans. I do see some rounding of the corners and it is off-center. I can't decided if I should up my bid. I've got about five hours to think about it.

I've also been outbid on the Reynolds at $15.50. I don't want to pay that much for a Reynolds. I placed bids on two different Fellers. I'm high bidder on one at ​$78.50. I'm not sure why I bid so high. I think I'm starting to get frustrated and am throwing down some higher bids. The other Feller is a Beckett 4.5 and I've been outbid at $20.50. I'm high bidder on all the other cards from yesterday.

Let's see what is up today:

I see a wrapper. The back shows some sort of rot. I'm not sure I want it with the rot. I think I'll throw down $10. I'm high bidder at $9.38. Not much else up for auction today. I'm going to check the BINs.

I see an SGC 70 Snider for $150. Pass. I see a beat up and chewed Reynolds for $3.75. Pass. Some outfit called Four Sharp Corners has a bunch of high grade SGCs up. There is a Al Robertson SGC 86 for $14.99. I am tempted but I just don't want slabbed cards. I'd have to crack it out to place the card in my binder. Plus, this is a common. I can't believe I can't find this card raw for five or six bucks!

I see a Feller with a real nice front but major damage on the back. Pass. I see a nice looking Campy for just $25. I spent $50 on mine. I see a PSA 9 Mays for 10K. I might have to pass that one up. There is a Slaughter SGC 88 for $100. I don't need one that nice. A Becket 7 Berra for $390. Pass.

I see an "Earl Toggeson" for $2.99. I don't quite know who Earl Toggeson is. He is not on my want list. Same seller, who can't spell, has an Al Robertson for $2.99. Spelling champ says the card is EX+. I'd say Poor to Fair with heavy corner wear. Looks like a crease on one edge but I can't tell for certain. No description other than "The card in the scan is the card you will receive." Thanks buddy. Pass.

I see a Snider for $72. No back scan. Seller does state that the card has a crease. There is also no top edge, so I'm wondering if the card is trimmed. Either way, I can't do $72 for a creased Snider.

I see an Erskine for $10.50 plus $4.99 shipping. No description whatsoever. Corners are worn. I'd probably pull the trigger if the seller bothered to state that the card contained no creases. I just can't tell from the scans. Plus $16 or so for this card with worn corners is too high.

Oh no, I've hit the Dean's mine field. Gotta get outa here fast! Wow, Dean's has a Billy Martin covered in tape and is asking nearly $30. Really?!! I may just have escaped the Dean's mine field. I was starting to think it went on forever. Another seller has a trashed Berra for $80.

I see a Pesky for $25. I don't want to drop that much on a Pesky. I see a ton of cards listed by COMC. Their listings state they are "the world's largest consignment service." That is a pretty broad statement to make. I would argue that PWCC, the largest seller of cards on eBay is a bigger outfit that COMC. Anyway, COMC fails to put descriptions in their listings. I would not consign with them for that fact alone!

I see a Mays slabbed by some outfit called Five Star Grading. I have never heard of Five Star Grading. The slab looks like PSA. I wonder if the seller took a PSA 1, made his own label, and placed it over the PSA label. Oh, and he wants $800 for the card. Yeah, right!

I see a Snider graded VG for $64. Description silent on creases. I can't tell if it is creased from the scans. Corners are soft and frayed. Pass. Same seller has an Al Robertson for $4.25. Same issue as with the Snider. The seller grades the card VG with no other description. Card has visible corner wear. I can't tell if it is creased. Seller offers free shipping. Well, for $4.25 and free shipping, what do I have to lose? I was about to place the card in my shopping cart and continue shopping with this seller, only to see I won a Robertson yesterday and a Larsen. Cool! I won the Robertson at $3.25 but got stuck with $4.50 in shipping. I won the Larsen at $14.79 with just $2.75 for shipping. Just paid for the cards. Down to 13 cards. Woot!

Next, I see a Roe that looks beat to crap for $14. Pass. Okay, nothing else ending today in BINs. I still have to make a decision on that Mantle. It is still at $335 with four hours to go. I'll let you know what happened with my next report.

April 30, 2020

Recap time. I am currently high bidder on a Pesky PSA 6 at $12.21 with two hours to go. I've been outbid on the BVG 4.5 Feller at $20.50 with five hours to go. I may up that bid later. I'm am still high bidder on the wrapper at $9.38 with six hours to go.

I lost a Larsen at $7 but, as I reported yesterday, I won one on April 28. Now for some crazy high prices that don't make any sense. I lost a Roe at $22.50, a Feller at $86 which is great because I had bidder's remorse at $78. I lost a Reynolds at $35.97. Really? I lost the Mantle at $486 which is way too high for the card. The seller was silent on creases and I could see some wear plus centering was bad.

Let's get back to it...

My old friend tripleplayvintage has some Sniders up with no back scans and no description. Pass. Seller Greg Morris seems to be fetching crazy high price. He's got a Feller that he says is VGEX with an impression. The border looks stained but I can't be for certain from the scan. It's at $9.50 with eight bidders and ends tomorrow. I'll throw down $20. I'm high bidder at $14.51.

Greg Morris has a Berra. He states card is VGEX with an impression. Scans look nice. Card is at $12.50 with 12 bids and ends tomorrow. I'm going to throw down $50. I'm high bidder at $13.50. I see a PSA 5 Mantle for $670. A 5 SMR's at $800. That's a lot of money to drop. I have to think about that one.

Greg Morris has a Piersall number 210. There is definitely some staining on the right edge. It almost looks like a sun burn. Pass. Another seller has a PSA 4 Mays at $179.50. A 5 SMR's at $200. Pass.

There is a seller with a bunch of five-lot listings. He has one with a Reynolds, starting bid of $9.99. He has a lot of scans but I can't tell if the Reynolds is creased. There is definitely one big ole corner ding. Geez, for $9.99, might as well. I threw down $15. Same seller has a five-lot with a really nice looking Piersall number 210. I'm going to throw down $20.

I see an SGC 4 Feller at $10.65 with two bids. I'm going to throw down $30. I'm high bidder at $11.50. I see a Hodges for only 99 cents but it has a crease. Pass. I see a creased up Feller for $10. Pass. I see a Beckett Mantle 5 for $900. Pass. I see a Snider for a starting bid of $9.99. Seller has only 42 feedback with a 95.7 rating. Pass.

My five-lot guy has a lot with a Loop Variation Roe that looks nice. There is also an autographed Jerry Snyder. I'm going to go $30. Man, another Snider from tripleplayvintage. This guy has a monster inventory. That is the third Snider I've seen from him today. If he bothered to place a back scan and state whether the card was creased, I might bid. Though, the negs in his feedback would be tough to overcome.

I see a seller with a six lot that includes a Reynolds. No back scan but he says only one card in the lot is creased. Lot is at $9.99 with one bid. I am going to throw down $30. I'm high bidder at $12.50. There is an SGC 3 Mays for 80 bucks. I'm tempted but will pass. There is a Slaughter for $9.50 but it has a weird white stain on the back. Pass.

There is a Berra PSA 3 for $70. A 5 SMR's at $80. Pass. Next, I see a lot of 18 cards. Headline states VG-EX No Creases but the description states lot of 35, not 18, and in Poor Condition. No back scan. There is a Piersall but I don't know which one it is. Seller doesn't bother to state the card number. Pass.

Okay then. I'm not going to check the BINs because I went into auctions for the next couple of days. Tomorrow I'll just check the BINs. That's all for today. It would be nice if I won some of these auctions! 

May 1, 2020

Happy May Day! Here is a recap:

I won the Pesky PSA 6 for $12.21. This is the first graded card I have won for the set. Now the debate begins on whether to crack it out and keep it slabbed. I lost out on the wrapper with the rot at $11.03. I'd like to find one that doesn't come with a free slice of rot. All of my other bids are still active.

So yesterday I went through a couple of days of auctions. Today I am going to check BINs. Of course as I enter the fray I am immediately dropped into the Dean's minefield. Help! Some of these other seller's are following Dean's lead. Wow, some big prices. If my name was Fat Daddy Warbucks I'd purchase the Erskine SGC 88 for $129 and the Berra PSA 8 for $550.

Seems like nothing but high-dollar cards up today. Anybody want to loan me 12K for a Williams? How about $18,500 for a PSA 9 Mays? I see a really nice looking Snider for 90 bucks. I gotta think about that one. Description states the seller has more '54s. Let's see what else he has. Another seller has a Snider for $70 but it is not as nice as the one for $90.

I see a Slaughter for $18 but it is pretty scuffed up. There is a beat up Reynolds for $16. I see another Snider for $100 and it is not as nice as the one for $90. There is a beat up and stained Piersall for $9.17. What a weird price. Oh, I see a Reynolds for $12 from the top-hat man 707. Free shipping. Corners are frayed. Listing says vg-ex. Doesn't mention creases and I don't see any from a pretty clear scan. I'm gonna think on this one.

I decided to purchase both the Snider and the Reynolds. I paid a little more than I wanted but I would like to finish this set while I still have hair on my head. Too late. Anyway, this is the first time I purchased a card from 707. I have purchased three or four display cases from him at the Sun-Times show. He's tough to deal with in person. He doesn't like to discount a penny. I've been getting better deals on display cases elsewhere.

​That will do it for today. I'm down to 10 cards. Woot!

May 3, 2020

It's hard to work on this set during the weekends but I have found some time today. First off, I probably should not have purchased that Reynolds from 707 because I had two outstanding bids out there during the purchase and, of course, I won both cards. So I now have three Reynolds cards. No big whoop. The nicest of the three will go into my set while I will sell the others. 

I won a Reynolds in a six-card lot. The lot also includes a Shantz, Friend, Adcock, Furillo, and Mike Garcia. Hopefully I can use some of these cards as upgrades. I won the lot for $26. The other Reynolds came in a five lot that I picked up for just $10. That lot also included Murry Dickson, Andy Pafko, Willard Nixon and Don Bollweg. I won two other five lots from the same seller both for 10 bucks each. In those lots I got the Piersall #210, Al Robertson, Owen Friend, Dick Littlefield, Jonny Bucha, two Jerry Snyders with one autographed, Hank Thompson, Preacher Roe, and Hobie Landrith. I also won a Feller SGC 4 for $26 after losing an SGC 4.5 for $37.55 along with a nice looking raw Feller at $86. Now I have two graded cards. Unfortunately, it is impossible to avoid graded cards in this day in age. I miss the pre-graded days!

Anyway, I am down to just seven cards. Let's see what I can do today...

I see a Mantle "GMA" 3 for $399. What is GMA? I am certainly not going to purchase anything slabbed in something called GMA. I see a Berra PSA 3 for $69. I am tempted but I am going to pass. I think PSA 3's have creases, right? I see a Mantle pictured in a screwdown for $232.50. I avoid anything in a screwdown if I can help it. The screwdown case hides all the flaws.

I see a Mays for $169. I am going to pass because the listing states this card is a refractor and I'm pretty sure there were no refractors in 1954. When did refractors start showing up? 1990's? I see an eight-card autograph lot for $4.25. I am going to throw down $10. I am high bidder at $5.50.

I see a Slaughter for $19.99. Front looks nice but there appears to be a thin crease on the back. However, the seller is silent as to creasing. I am not going to take a chance at $19.99. There is a Mantle PSA 1 for $319.19. I am willing to pay more for a better card. I see a PSA 7 Slaughter at $17. I was going to throw down $40 but the lack of back scan placed me at $25. There is that old saying... buy the card not the holder. I'm outbid at $26. Same seller has a PSA 8 Slaughter at $45. Pass.

There is a Mays at $124 but the scan is really poor. Pass. Same seller has a second Mays with a better scan for $989. Pass! That is it for auctions. I thought a Sunday would have far more cards up. I am going to check out BINs. Some outfit called the Battersbox has a ton of commons up. They have a Slaughter up for just $12. They rate it VG and have one of those listings that details their grades. They say VG can have a crease. Pass!

Battersbox has a crazy amount of '54 Bowmans up for BINs. Okay, Battersbox wins the most '54 Bowmans listing award. Another outfit has a GMA Mantle for $519. Yeah right. Battersbox has another Slaughter. This one is VGEX, they say, and sells for $15.25. Their definition of VGEX states crease. Pass.

I finally made it through all of the Battersbox listings. Now I am stuck in listings by vintageamerica13. All of their listings are for autograph cards. I will store this info for future reference. While auctions today were thin the BINs are endless. Oh my, another Dean's minefield.

I see a Slaughter for $14.05. The seller is COMC. No grade, no description. I would not recommend consigning cards to COMC unless they start placing grades and description in their listings. Pass! A Mays PSA 6 for $548.97. Pass.

Wow, a ton of BINs but nothing for me! Disappointing. I really thought I would have better luck on a Sunday. Oh well. Let's see what Monday offers.

April 22, 2020

I took about a week off from this project. I was getting really frustrated with the poor scans and poor descriptions and seemingly endless scams. I am now ready to get back at it. First off, a recap of my previous bids:

The Kuenn, pictured above, arrived and it is really nice. Campy arrived and it is a sweet card. It might be too nice for my set. My Braves lot arrived and it is EX. I will see what I can upgrade from that group. On April 15, I won a Nellie Fox for $15. It arrived and is nice! I won the Matt Batts at $4.26. I was able to get the Ford at a best offer of $35. I lost the White Sox lot at $26.

I am disappointed in the poor packaging on the vast majority of cards I have purchased on eBay. I have been lucky that none of the cards arrived damaged which could have easily occurred due to poor packing. In addition to my earlier recommendation that eBay require all sellers to state whether a card is creased, I think eBay should require all sellers to ship cards in a toploader safely attached to a piece of cardboard and packed in a bubble envelope. Frankly, sellers who fail to properly package cards, just suck in my book.

Let's get back to working on the set, I need 16 cards:

I see a really ugly Berra at $14.50. Pass. Some nut-jobber listed an Erskine with the loop variation for $829. I'll sell you one for $20. Okay, extremely poor selection up for auction today. I'll check BINs. I see an Allie Reynolds for $15.50. Too high. Pass.

Now I see a bunch of PSA 9s at astronomical prices. Pass. I see a Slaughter for $30. It looks nice. Do I want to spend $30 for a Slaughter? Not yet. I see a Jim Robertson, card 211, for $4.04 plus $3.95. Price is too high but I am willing to do it because I am losing patience. However, seller's description says VG and it describes its VG rating as including creases. It does not say that this card in particular is creased but I can't take a chance at $8. Pass.

I see a Doby at $20. I'd really like to be at $10 but I don't think I'll find one at $10. Description says no creases. I'm going to pull the trigger on this one.

Well, that's all I have time for today.

April 23, 2020

So I have been waiting for the Ashburn and Reese I purchased on April 9 to arrive. At first, I thought it was the seller's fault until I checked tracking. The seller dropped off the package containing my cards at his local post office in Amesbury, MA, on April 10. Thirteen days later the cards have still not arrived at my house!

Tracking shows that April 11, the package arrived at the USPS regional distribution center in Brockton, MA, at 1:02 p.m. and departed the center at 7:27 p.m. Then nothing! Blank for four days. Where was the package between April 11 and April 15?

An entry on April 15 states the package is in transit to the next facility. What does that mean? Where exactly was my package on April 15 and where was it from April 11 to April 15?

On April 21 the package arrived at the regional distribution center in Chicago. Okay, where was the package from April 15 to April 21? Actually, I don't know where the package was all the way back from April 11. What is going on? Some might say delivery is slowed due to the pandemic. I might buy that if it weren't for the half a dozen or so other packages of cards I bought shortly before April 9 and long after, have all arrived, including some packages of soft sleeves I bought on the same day as the Ashburn and Reese. The sleeves arrived on April 14 -- nine days ago! Why is this one package delayed so long?

On April 22, the package departed the Chicago facility and arrived at the distribution center in Palatine, IL. Oddly, there are three different entries in the tracking log showing the package arriving in Palatine. How can the same package arrive at the Palatine facility three different times in one day?

Today, April 23, there is no new entry. Apparently my package is still in Palatine and I am concerned that it has been cut up into three different packages! Something funny is going on here. I am starting to think that I am not going to receive these cards. Obviously it is not the seller's fault but he's the one who will end up losing out when eBay or PayPal refunds my money.

I just may call the Palatine distribution center which is located just blocks from my office to see what is going on.

Anyway, back to eBay and let's see what I can find today. Though, I have lost confidence that anything I purchase from here on out will actually arrive in my mailbox. Reason 147 as to why card shows are better than eBay -- your cards never gets lost in the mail!

First off, I see a lot of 14 different cards. I only need the Feller. Lot has four bids and is at $12.83. The description is extremely vague. It states some cards are Poor while others are EX and some may have creases and other condition problems. Well, I just want the Feller and it is the one star in the lot, so you would think the seller would give a detailed description on the Feller... NOT! I can't bid.

My old friends tripleplayvintage has a Slaughter up. As usual just a scan of the front, no scan of the back. The description states the card is EXMT. I clearly see a dinged up upper right corner. Below the ding may be a crease but it is tough to tell from the scan. No further description other than EXMT. I might have bought a dozen or so cards from tripleplayvintage if they bothered to put up a scan of the back and offered a detailed description stating whether the card is creased or not. Also a card with a major visible corner munch is not EXMT! What is wrong with these people!!

Tripleplayvintage has a bunch more cards I need currently up for auction and ending today. I'm not going to even look at them. Pass. Okay, that's it for auctions ending today. I'm going to check the BINs.

I see a Pesky for just $5.99 but it is too ugly. Way off center and rounded corners. Pass. I see a beat up and creased Duke Snider for $45. Pass. I see an Al Robertson, card 211, PSA 4, for 12 bucks. I don't want graded cards. I already have the cards I previously purchased in 8-p0cket sleeves and in a binder. I want to be able to enjoy these cards and the best way, in my opinion, is to have them in a binder where I can flip through the pages at my leisure. 

I see another Al Robertson. This one is for $5 plus $3.25 shipping. Add in sales tax and that is just way too high for this card. Seller claims EX/EX+, looks more like low-end VG. This is another one of those sellers that has a chart explaining their grades. They state that EX/EX+ does not have a crease. I see some blemishes that may be creases or wrinkles. Pass.

Next, I see a Snider for $70. Seller says VG/EX and no creases. I can clearly see some major scuff marks on the front. The biggest problem is that the scans of the front and back are both cut off. I can't fully see the card! Why would I purchase this card when I can't fully see it? Pass.

Ha! You too can have your own personal Russ Meyer card, pictured below, with added artwork to include a mustache, beard and necklace, for just six bucks plus $4.99 shipping! Don't forget sales tax!! What a steal!!

Obviously, I took some liberties with the listing details but this Russ Meyer card is posted for sale in a BIN for $6 plus $4.99 shipping. Unbelievable!

I almost pulled the trigger on a Duke Snider for $50 but I can clearly see a crease on the back scan, even thought the seller makes no mention of it. I have been scrolling through hundreds of commons that I don't need. Very few stars and they are way overpriced.

At this point, it is getting to be a big waste of time. I can't spend any more time today, I gotta get back to work. A disappointing day to say the least.

April 24, 2020

I am so discombobulated with this extended Stay-At-Home order that I do not even know what day it is. I was very surprised to learn that today is Friday. Where are the days and weeks going? Life during the pandemic is a blur!

Anyway, according to the tracking, my Ashburn and Reese arrived at my local post office at 5 a.m. this morning and left on a delivery truck at 7:10 a.m. and is expected to arrive in my mailbox by 8 p.m. I will have to see it to believe it. Remember, the seller shipped the cards on April 10, two weeks later, I still do not have them.

The Whitey Ford I purchased on April 16 arrived yesterday. It is pretty nice. I am very happy with that one.

I am hoping for some success today, after a big zero yesterday. Let's see what is up for auction today....

I see a creased up Berra at $37 with 13 bids. I am tempted to bid because I am losing patience but I would really like a card in better condition and hold off. I see a beat up Mays at $71. Pass. I see an Oisk at $14.99 -- too high.

I found a Hodges that has some corner and edge dings. I can't see any creases. The scans are very clear. The seller merely states that the card is in "Great Condition." It is currently at $12 with one bid. My initial thought is to throw down $30 because I am starting to get impatient. But without the magic words "No Creases," I will put down $25. I am high bidder at $12.50.

I am tempted to bid on another Hodges that is an SGC 50, one bid at $3. Oh, what the hell, I'll throw down $20. I am high bidder at $3.25. I see an auction for a Fox, Campanella and a Bob Lemon for $25 starting bid. I don't need any of the cards but for that price I'll throw down $30.

I see an Oisk that has a hole in it for $3. Pass.

Pretty nice selection at auction today. Wow, what a difference a day makes. I think I'll check the BINs as well.

I see a Mantle listed as Good for $400. I can clearly see one crease, possibly two. Pass. There is another Mantle, SGC 1 at $333. Pass. Oh my, I am now stuck in an endless stream of commons that I do not need. Ugh!

Y'all ever see Dean's Cards on eBay? I have been seeing this outfit forever. If anything, Dean's Cards is consistent -- consistently the highest priced seller on eBay. How do they ever sell anything? Right now I am looking at a Preacher Roe loop variation PSA 6 for $78.50. The base Roe PSA 6 has an SMR of $20. I can see maybe asking $30 for the variation but $78.50, come on now!

I see a Snider for $250. Pass. There is a Mantle PSA 4 for $969. SMR is $800 for a 5. Pass! Now I see a guy selling raw commons at $22 each. Ha! Gotta love BINs. This is where all the over-priced cards go to die. Oh, I spoke to soon. I see a Snider for $45.95. Card looks clean except for some corner wear. I can't tell from the scans if there are any creases. Seller is silent on creases. He states the card is VG-EX. He has best offer. I was successful with my Ford best offer of $35. I'll try the same here and ask if the card has creases. My offer was rejected. Without any statement about creases, I'm not going to up my offer.

Is there a way to filter out certain sellers? I'd love to filter out Dean's Cards and tripleplayvintage. Dean's has a beat-to-crap Reynolds for $9. Pass! Big block of cards from tripleplay… pass! I see an absolute crapper of a Hodges for $25. Pass! Oh there is a card number "2156" of Rocky Bridges, that one is news to me. I would be in trouble if there were more than 2100 cards to this set!

Way off center Slaughter at $14. Fair price but I want one better centered. Worn Mays at $133. Pass. I see a Reynolds at $17. I really don't want to drop $17 for this card but I do think about. The seller claims the card is EXMT. Not! I clearly see corner wear and a wax stain along with centering issues. Pass.

I see a Ford for $60 in worse shape than the one I bought at $35. Dean's is asking $190 for a Billy Martin PSA 6 that SMR's for $40. Oh, Dean's has a complete set up for 10K. Ha! I have now entered into Dean's Neverland with crazy priced listing after crazy priced listing. Wow!

Some other numbnut has a Mantle PSA 4 at $800 while SMR lists a 5 at $800. Someone make Dean's go away, please!! Now I see a Slaughter for $22 from another seller and consider purchasing it. However, shipping is $6.25. To make matters worse, the seller's description states, and I quote, "This is the card you will get. I am not a professional grader of cards. If you are looking for a professional graded card, they are out there and I would recommend buying the professional graded one. If you don't think you will be pleased with the card I have listed with the inserted pictures I took, then don't buy it." Wow! I will take the seller's advice and not buy the card. A simple statement as to whether the card has a crease or not would have been sufficient. No reason to be a dick! The seller makes no mention of a crease and I can't tell from his scans whether the card is creased. No way I will ever buy cards from this jerkoff.

I see a Roe for $15.95 with no back scan. Pass. Okay, I can't look anymore. All I see are Dean's endless overpriced listings. Ugh! Well, tomorrow is another day!! Thankfully!!

April 28, 2020

I took several days off again. It is too frustrating to do this every day. The lack of description is driving me crazy. Here is a recap of my purchases and bids:

The Ashburn and Reese actually arrived on April 24, 14 days after I purchased the card. The seller did an excellent packaging job. I was expecting the envelope to be trashed but everything was okay. I'm thankful to finally have the cards. My Doby showed up as well and it is nice. My set is really starting to shape up and it is fun to flip through the binder and look at all the cards.

I lost the Erskine at $34. I probably should have placed a stronger bid on the SGC 50 Erskine. I lost that one at $21.50. I lost the Fox, Campanella, Lemon lot at $36.56.

Let's see what we have for today...

I see a Berra SGC 2.5. I want one a little nicer. I see a raw Mays for $989.99. Pass. I see a raw Larsen that the seller states he believes would grade a 5 or 6. I never trust a seller's PSA-style evaluation of his raw card. Scans of front and back are clear. I see nothing that indicates a crease. Card has one bid at $12. I am gonna throw down $15. I'm high bidder at 14.79. 

I see an Al Robertson. Again, no description whatsoever. Scans are blurry. No bids at 99 cents. I am losing patience and decide to take a chance at $5. I see a Larsen for 50 bucks. Pass. I see a Mantle that the seller claims is "VG-VGEX" -- what does that mean? I can't see any creases on the scans which are clear. Corners are rounded and there is a centering issue and a wax stain on the back. Card is at $281 with 22 bids. I would probably bid $400 if the seller had stated "No creases," but he is silent so I'll throw down $300. I'm high bidder at $300. I may consider bidding $350. The card ends tomorrow.

Same seller has an Allie Reynolds at $12.50 with eight bids. Seller claims card is EXMT. It actually looks EXMT from the scans. However, once again he does not mention whether the card is creased or not creased. I'll throw down $15. I'm outbid at $15.50. Pass.

Same seller has a Feller at $69.79 with seven bids. Seller claims the card is EXMT. It has a wax stain on the back and a ding on the lower edge. Otherwise it is nice. Of course, seller does not mention with the card is creased or not creased. I'm going to throw down $80. I'm high bidder at $78.

Same seller has a Roe, claims it is VG-VGEX, whatever that means. The card is at $12.51 with six bids. I'll place $15. I'm high bidder at $13.29. Different seller has a Larsen at $1.75 with two bids. Seller states card is VG. Blurry scan of the front, no back scan. Card looks Fair, not VG, lots of issues but with the blurry scan, I can't be certain whether there is a crease or not. At $1.75 I'll take a chance and throw down $5. I'm high bidder at $2.69. Same seller has a bunch of star cards I need with low starting bids. I just can't place bids on these low-grade cards. I prefer cards in a little better shape.

Wow! I finally see an authentic Ted Williams card. I've come across quite a few reprints. This one is PSA Authentic Altered. Pass. I see a 10 lot that has an Erskine. Upon closer review of the scans, the card is majorly creased. Pass. I see a Pesky PSA 6, opening bid at $10.99. I'll throw down $20.

I see a Feller BVG 4.5. With Becket, the card could very well have a crease. I don't see a crease in the scan. Card is at $7.50 with four bids. I'll throw down $20. I'm high bidder at $8.50.

Okay, that's all for today. I placed many more bids today than normal so I am happy with that aspect but I am still annoyed that seller's are not stating whether their cards are creased. I might have to return some of these cards if they show up creased.

April 11, 2020

My big lot has not arrived yet. Tracking says it made it to Illinois so I expect it will show up either today or Monday. Also, the handful of items I bid on yesterday have not ended yet. I noticed that a large number of '54 Bowmans are scheduled to end tomorrow. Might as well place some bids.

I found a Doby, listing states no creases but the corners have heavy wear. It is currently at $1.55 with two bids. Shipping is only $2 and seller offers combined. I think I'll bid $10. I'm high bidder at $1.83.

There is a large seller on eBay with the name Tripleplayvintagestore. I always see their listings but never bid. They only show a scan of the front of the card and they do not give a description. I see that they have a bunch of 1954 Bowmans scheduled to end tomorrow. I just can't bid without a back scan and a description. Anybody ever bid with these guys? If so, have you been pleased with your purchases?

Wow, there are three complete sets up ranging from $600, initial bid, to $1,500. I'm too far along on my set but that one at $600 is tempting.

I found a Mays that looks decent except for some corner wear. The seller's description states the card is clean and advises to look over the scan. Well, you can't see all the flaws of a card in a scan. I hate when sellers don't list a description of the card and just say to look at the scan. The card is at $34. I can't see any creases from the scan. I think I will take a chance and bid $75. Outbid at $76. Without a better description of the card, I am not going to take a chance and bid any higher.

​Well, that is it for cards ending tomorrow. I did not have a whole lot of luck today. Most of the cards I saw were creased up. Hopefully, I'll have better luck tomorrow.

April 13, 2020

Well, I didn't work on this project yesterday but I am back at it today. My lot showed up on Saturday. I ended up receiving 195 cards when the headline in the auction stated 170. So, with 25 extra cards, I really can't complain about the purchase. I paid just under $2 a card. The Mathews is creased up. I might replace it. About 10 percent of the cards are creased. I was worried that more like 90 percent of the cards would be creased.

My only complaint is that just about all of the cards have soft corners. I am toying with the idea of trying to find another lot in better shape to replace this one. I would say the majority of the cards grade Good to VG, while the seller stated 85 percent were VG. All in all, I think it is awesome to have the majority of the set already without laying out a ton of money. 

With the lower grade cards, I don't feel as much pressure trying to buy high grade stars. I have been working on a high grade 1966 Topps baseball set and finding cards in high grade at a price that won't break the bank, especially high numbers, is extremely difficult. I have been working on that '66 set forever and don't know when I'll finish. I can definitely see the finish line for this '54 Bowman set.

Here are the results of my most recent bids:

I placed $10 on a Doby and lost at $13.50. I put $75 on a Mays and lost at $217. No big whoop, there are plenty more of these cards to bid on. On the plus side, I won a Kiner at $19.99. Let's see what is up for auction today....

I see a Campy that is really far off center at $26 with no bids. I am going to pass, I would like one better centered. I found another Campy that the seller states is VG but a big ole crease is jumping out. As I stated before, a card can't be VG with a crease, in my opinion.

I see a Mathews. Seller says it is in GOOD condition. I see at least one crease. This one does not seem to be an upgrade from the one I have. Pass. Same seller has a Berra. Looks like a light pen or pencil mark across his face. Pass. Same seller has a Ford. The scans are really bad. Too fuzzy. Pass.

The same seller has a Campy. Creased. Pass. He has a Snider as well. His scans are blurry and he doesn't provide a description. Pass again.

There is that damn tripleplayvintage again. I just can't bid with these guys. You gotta put up a back scan. Sheesh!

I see a Kuenn with a big ole stain. Pass. I found another Kuenn which looks pretty nice. Two bids at $1.04. Card ends tomorrow. I am going to bid $12. I'm high bidder at $2.26.

The guy with the blurry scans has a bunch of team lots ending tomorrow. No back scans. He says the cards are overall GOOD, which means probably creased. I am thinking about the Dodgers 12 card lot which is at opening bid of $30 and $4.25 shipping. There are a few cards in there I could use like the Erskine and Roe. I need to upgrade my Billy Cox, not sure if this one would be an upgrade. There is a Hodges with a pin hole. A nice looking Reese, which I already have. Man, for 30 bucks, I can't pass this one up. I'm high bidder at $30.

Same seller has a Braves lot. I don't need any of the cards but I have a tough time passing up Braves at a decent price. I'm high bidder at $25. Maybe there will be some upgrades in there.

Damn Tripleplayvintage… they have a nice looking Snider but without a back scan, I just can't pull the trigger. Plus, they have a bunch of negative feedback. Ugh! These guys have a Mantle with a back scan! Front looks good. Back shows a crease on the bottom edge. Card is at $277. Pass.

Well, that's all for today. Seems like most of the cards posted are creased. I don't want creased cards! Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

April 14, 2020

My Junior Gilliam arrived and it is officially the nicest card in my set. One soft corner, really no other flaws. None of the cards from yesterday have ended yet. I'm still high bidder on the Kuenn, Dodgers and Braves lots.

Let's see what eBay has to offer today.... I see a stellar looking Campanella at 50 bucks for an opening bid. I think I'm going to go for it. I'm high bidder. Card ends tomorrow. Well, that's about it today. I already have all the cards posted that are scheduled to end in the next day. I still need 18 cards. Maybe I will find some tomorrow!

April 15, 2020

The eight cards I won from that set break last week arrived. Three cards were creased even though the listing claimed they were in EX+ condition. I am glad I stuck to my guns and did not bid on more cards from this seller. Now I won't bid on cards from this seller again. If a card is creased, a seller must state so in their description, in my opinion. A statement advising to just check the scan... does not cut it. You can't see all the creases in a scan. Also, a card listed as EX+ should not contain a crease or in this case multiple creases. Sending me a card with multiple creases that was listed as EX+ is totally dishonest. 

I have not spent this much time on eBay in years and now I feel justified for avoiding eBay. I have found that the vast majority of vintage card sellers are either dishonest, lazy or just plain ignorant because they put up fuzzy scans, don't scan the back, and don't honestly describe their cards.

This little exercise clearly shows that card shows are superior to eBay. At a card show you get to meet the dealer in person. You get to inspect your card in person. You don't pay any shipping cost. You don't pay sales tax. You get to go home with your card as soon as you pay. It has only been about six weeks since I was last at a card show and, man, am I missing card shows.

The only drawback to card shows is you do not have the same number of cards available as you do on eBay. I doubt there are more than 500 to 1,000 of 1954 Bowmans at any of the shows I regularly attend while eBay consistently as 23K to 25K. I do have to say that my show inventory is pretty strong right now. I had just reloaded my binder before I started this set project. The reload was the impetus for my desire to build the set. So any show that I am set up at as a dealer will have a nice selection of 1954 Bowmans.

Getting back to my set build. I finally took the time to take stock of my recent purchases and realize my want list was off by one card. I need a Don Larsen, card 101. As far as my bids from yesterday, someone beat me out on that Dodgers lot while I won the Braves lot for $25 and a Kuenn for $2.76. The Campy has not ended yet. I need 18 more cards. Let's see what there is today....

I found a seller that is having a partial set break. He claims the cards have been sitting in a closet for 30-plus years. Yeah right! No description. He advises to check the scans. First card I see is an Erskine. Looks nice from the scan. Opening bid is $14.95. Add in the $3.95 shipping plus a buck or so sales tax, the final price will be overbook, a la, overpriced!

I see a nice Nellie Fox with one bid at $10. It would be a nice upgrade to the one I have. I'll throw down $15. I'm high bidder at $10.50 with a day to go.

Wow, a seller has a lot with 42 cards, six bids, currently at $17.50, and 12 watchers with a day to go. I probably don't need any of the cards but at that price, I can't resist throwing down $25. I'm immediately out bid at $26.

The guy with the team lots has a bunch more up. I can't resist the White Sox lot and bid $25. I'm high bidder at $25.

I found a Berra that looks perfect but this is another seller that fails to offer a description and has the lame statement "see the scan." The seller grades it VG so there must be some flaws I cannot see from the scan. It is at $45. If the seller would have stated "No creases," I'd be a player. But the facts that there is no statement regarding creasing coupled with the seller's grade of VG, I think there has to be some hidden flaws in this card. Pass.

I found a nice looking Matt Batts, card 183. Seller states "no creases." Card has one bid at $2.99. Shipping is $3.25. Seems kind of high for a common but I just haven't seen any other Matt Batts' cards. I'll throw down $5. I'm high bidder at $3.25 with a day to go.

Okay, I found an unusual listing for an Allie Reynolds, card 113. Scans look good. No bids. Opening bid is $8.99. So far, I'm ready to bid. Then I read the description which states condition is "EXMT++." However, I can clearly see corner and edge wear. This card is EXMT++ only to a blind man. But here is the kicker -- shipping is 99 cents unless you want a bubble envelope, in that case shipping is $4.49. I gather that the seller will ship it in a regular envelope with no protection for 99 cents or in a bubble envelope without any further protection, like a piece of cardboard, for $4.49. Pass! 

Well, I'm done for today and further disillusioned with eBay. Man, these sellers are lame! eBay is Scam-O-Rama! I really think eBay needs to tighten the rules for selling cards. How about requiring sellers to state whether a card is creased or not? Man, building a set during a pandemic is exhausting! Good thing these pandemics seem to only occur once every 100 years. 

Thankfully, tomorrow is another day. Maybe I'll have better luck. I am starting to wonder whether I should check the BINs (Buy It Nows). Maybe all the honest sellers are posting their cards as BINS. Seems like the bulk of the raw card auctions are shady.

April 16, 2020

Well, I won that Campy. It looks like a beaut. Hope it comes that way. I had to pay $3.37 in sales tax along with $3.99 in shipping, which I did not like. There are still several auctions up and I am currently winning. Let's see what else is out there today...

Okay, I see a Slaughter. Once again, an odd description. It states EX-MT in one sentence then Very Good in the next sentence. Well, what is it. Is the card EX-MT or VG? I see a faint line in the middle of the card which may be a crease but I do not know for certain and the seller is silent as to creasing. I think I will pass. Wow, this is a frustrating process!

Same seller has a Feller. Same deal with the description. Pass. I'm seeing a lot of cards I need but they are all creased up. Disappointing selection today. Okay, I am giving up on trying to build this set exclusively through auctions. I am going to check out the BINs.

Hello! The BINS provide infinitely more cards at much high prices, as I expected. I found a Ford that looks pretty good from the scans except for a weird speck on the back. Seller says card is VG-EX but is silent on creases. The card is for sale at $45 but the seller has a best offer option, so I will offer $35 and see what happens. I also asked if the card had any creases and for an explanation of the speck on the back. It sort of looks like paper loss.

Okay, some of these prices are absolutely ridiculous. A Feller BVG 8.5 for $3,750? Really? First off, Beckett graded cards have little to no value to me. It is well documented that Beckett routinely overgrades. I only buy cards in a Beckett slab if they are ridiculously cheap. I checked SMR for an 8.5 and it states only $400. Where does this seller come off?

I see a Pesky, a little high at $8.25. Seller claims it is VG-EX and also includes a little chart explaining his grades. He says VG-EX may include light crease. They don't say whether this particular card has a light crease. Pass.

Okay, that is enough for today. This is much more difficult than I anticipated. So do you guys regularly shop on eBay? Man, I just really don't like it. This is like pulling teeth. It is awfully painful. 

​Stay tuned for Part Three.

How is a vintage sports card addict supposed to get a fix during a pandemic? Seems like everyone is shouting at me to stay home. Where am I going to go, just about everything is closed plus there is the real possibility I can contract a deadly disease. You don't have to tell me twice!

I have really ignored eBay these past several years. The problems I have with eBay are too numerous to mention here. But, since I can't go to a card show, eBay is just about the only way to purchase cards. I am having problems with my scanner so I have not been able to post cards for sale on eBay. Hopefully, I can figure it out sooner rather than later.

I recently reloaded my 1954 Bowman baseball binder which gave me an opportunity to get reacquainted with this great set. After loading the binder, I realized I was 15 cards or so short of a complete set which got me thinking that I should build a 1954 Bowman baseball set for my personal collection. I think it is an underrated set and features some really cool paintings of some of the greatest players in history like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Bob Feller and Roy Campanella. Of course there is the difficult Ted Williams card, pulled after he signed an exclusive contract with Topps for the 1954 season.

The Bowman 1954 set was issued during a competition with Topps for sports card dominance. Both companies had exclusive agreements with certain players. As a result, the Bowman set has Mantle, Feller, and Campanella, while Topps does not. However, Topps has the amazing rookie cards of Kaline, Banks, and Aaron, while Bowman does not. In my opinion, sports card fans win because there are two amazing sets of cards from 1954 to collect.

I thought it would be fun to build the entire set completely from cards purchased on eBay. I am not going to pursue the Williams. I might want to include some autographed cards and a wrapper. Below is a diary of my attempt to build the 1954 Bowman baseball set on eBay:

April 7, 2020

First off, I am a passive bidder. There is no card that I must own, so I won't get into a bidding war and overpay for anything. My method  is simple, I just throw down my max bid. If I win, great. If I lose, no big deal. While these cards are 66 years old, they are not rare. If anything, eBay has shown us over the past 20 years or so that NOTHING is rare. There are more than 25,000 1954 Bowmans currently on eBay, so I won't ever run out of cards to bid on.

Day 1 of my attempt to build a 1954 Bowman baseball set exclusively on eBay. I punched "1954 Bowman" into the search box on eBay. Decided to look at auction only, cards ending soonest. I saw a lot of nice commons for reasonable prices. However, when I factored in the shipping costs ranging from $3.10 to $6, the price of the cards became a lot less reasonable.

I figured maybe if I purchase multiple cards from the sellers, I could get a break on shipping. To my dismay, none of the sellers on Day 1 offered shipping discounts. Most of them did not accept returns. My scam radar started to go off. I checked what other cards these guys were selling. Most seemed to sell mostly modern cards with a handful of vintage scattered in. I am always a little uncomfortable when I see one vintage card on a seller's eBay page along with 25 or more modern cards.

I have learned over the years that eBay is scam central. I have been burned a few times. So, in order to avoid getting scammed, I make sure I scrutinize a listing before placing a bid.

I saw a Mantle pictured in a thick screwdown for $350. The seller claimed the card was real, not a reprint. He claimed to have owned the card for 20 years. The other items he had for sale included mostly Dallas Cowboys memorabilia. It just seems odd that a guy with 50 modern Dallas Cowboys items has one vintage card, a 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle.

I have seen a lot of fakes and reprints over the years. The real 1954 Bowman backs have a light gray-white-ish base with red overprint. Seems like a lot of the fakes/reprints have fuzzy backs with yellowish dark shade, almost like a varnish look. The Mantle had the fuzzy back varnish. Fake, in my opinion. Too bad, I would have loved to have purchased an EX Mantle for $350. He had no bids. I am glad others saw that it was fake. Scammers suck!

Another seller had a really nice looking Gil Hodges. The description said miscut. There was no photo of the back. I am always hesitant to purchase a card that does not have a picture of the back. A closer look at the card showed an uneven cut on the top edge, like someone unskilled took a scissors to it. Pass!

Found another Mantle, it had corner and edge wear and what looked like a little tire track across the top. Still at $250, worth a bid. Upon a closer look, the card is perfectly centered. My scam radar always goes off when I see a perfectly centered vintage card. There was no quality control in 1954 and this was the era of liquid lunches. Those guys working the presses could care less whether the cards were centered.

I also observed that Mantle's teeth were bright white while the border was a dimmed white. The differences in the shade of white is another item on my scam radar. The back looks legit, nice and bright gray, no varnish. However, upon a closer look, the edges look handcut, pass!

I then came across an item featuring 170 different 1954 Bowman cards, including some stars. I recognize the seller as someone I have dealt with before so I am confident the cards are legit. The picture is bad, see below, so I can't get a good idea on the condition. I am not creating a Mint set, so I do not mind some wear but I do not want cards creased up.

The description states that 85 percent of the cards are in VG. I don't believe it. I have learned over the years that cards are always at least a grade or two lower than the seller claims. I threw down a bid of $280 and was immediately outbid. Cards went up to $290.

Decisions, decisions. Do I want to bid on a near set of 1954 Bowman cards in Good condition? There is a Rizzuto, Mathews, and a handful of other stars. I decided to bid $300. Immediately outbid. Lot sent up to $305. 

Being that we are in the middle of a pandemic, my income is down, so I have to be conservative. Also, I need to figure in sales tax, since eBay is now charging everyone sales tax. I am thankful there is no buyer's premium. Sales tax plus buyer's premium has priced me out of the big auction houses.

I still think the best deals are at card shows. I hate that I have to purchase cards on eBay, but there is no other choice in these trying times.

Okay, I'll throw down $400 but that is my final bid. Nice! I'm high bidder at $355. There is still six more hours to go on the auction. I doubt I will win the lot. I am going to hold off bidding on any other cards until I learn whether I won the lot.

That was an interesting start to my attempt to build a 1954 Bowman baseball set on eBay.

April 8, 2020

The eBay auction for the 170-card lot of 1954 Bowmans ended at about 9 p.m. I kept checking all evening and my bid at $355 held out and I won the cards. Initially, I was excited. Then when I went to pay for the cards I saw that I was being charged $11 shipping and $22.88 in sales tax, for a total of $388.88. My enthusiasm was dampened when I thought about dropping all that money on cards I did not inspect in person. What am I going to receive? What if the cards are all creased up? I much prefer purchasing cards at shows where I can actually hold, feel, and touch my purchase.

The seller's description does not mention creases which does not mean the cards do not have creases. I would feel much better if he specifically stated no creases. Well, 1954 Bowman commons book at $12 each. If the cards are not creased up, I got a really nice deal at $2.29 a card. If they are creased, I overpaid.

I spent a lot of time last night analyzing my purchase. I went over the seller's description umpteen times and found some anomalies. First off, the listing states 170 cards while the description states 180 cards. Then the seller listed all the cards in the lot. When I counted the cards listed, I came up with 194 cards. Well, what did I just purchase? 170? 180? 194 cards? I better receive at least 170 cards and all the stars stated in the description!

Based on the guy's description, these are the numbers of the cards I now need to complete the set: 10, 15, 23, 38, 45, 58, 62, 65, 74, 84, 89, 90, 92, 94, 97, 105, 113, 122, 132, 135, 138, 161 170, 177, 183, 195, 210, 211, 218 and 221.

There are 224 cards in the 1954 Bowman set, so whether I am receiving 170, 180 or 194 cards, I am receiving the bulk of the set minus the majority of the stars and semi-stars. So I will continue today trying to purchase more cards based on the list above.

Again, I typed in 1954 Bowman, auction only. I feel that I get the best deal with an auction. Buy It Nows seem to always be overpriced.

Same issues as yesterday. I see some cards I need but the shipping cost prices me out. I found a seller with a Carl Erskine, card number 10, which I think I need, though I am not 100 percent sure because the seller of the lot I won really screwed up the description. The Erskine looks nice, just a little off-center. Initial bid is $5, no one else has placed a bid and the card ends in 21 hours. 

A couple of problems. First, the seller only has 68 feedback. I am always a little suspicious of low feedback. Those with low feedback are usually the scammers, in my experience. Second, shipping cost is $4.05. So, if I win, the total would be 9.05 plus sales tax. Does eBay tax the shipping cost? I am going to assume they do, because I do not have a very high opinion of eBay and think they will pull that kind of crap. So tack on another 75 cents for sales tax and I would be paying $9.80, which is about the actual value of the card. As a dealer, I could not pay $9.80 because I would not be able to realize a profit. But, here, I'm building a set as a collector with no immediate plans to sell the set. As I result, I can do the $9.80.

However, the seller does not offer a shipping discount for multiple purchases and does not offer returns. These are problems in my book and I will pass.

I found an Ashburn, card number 15, a little off-center and soft corners. This card books at $80. The card has six bids and is only at $7.50. Shipping is $3.00 and seller offers shipping discount and accepts returns. He also has more than 4,000 positive feedback. Item description states no creases. I think I'll throw down $20. I'm high bidder at $9.50 with a day to go. Woot!

Same seller has a Minoso and it looks like a beaut. It has bids and is currently $8.88. The card books at $30. I think I'll throw down $15. I am now high bidder at $9.50 with a day to go.

Same seller has a Pee Wee Reese, card number 58, with corners that are slightly rounded. Nice centering. Does not appear to be creased. I am a little concerned that the description does not state anything about creasing. The seller specifically stated in the Ashburn description that there are no creases, here no mention. 

The card high books at $100 and it is currently at $13.50 with seven bids. I think I'll throw down $25. I'm high bidder at $14 with a day to go.

Next, I find a Junior Gilliam, card number 74. It looks nice. Different seller with just 168 feedback. This seller offers shipping discount for multiple purchases and accepts returns. Seller claims the card is VG and does not mention anything about creases. The card has two bids and is only at 1.04. I think I'll throw down $8. I'm high bidder at $1.51 with a day to go.

Same seller has a Larry Doby, card number 84, with soft corners. He says it is VG. Card is at $2.80 with two bids. I think I'll throw down $8 again. I'm high bidder at $4.25 with a day to go.

Next, I see another Gilliam but since I just threw down a bid on one, I don't want to bid another just yet. Pass.

I then see a Whitey Ford, card 177. It looks battered and the seller says it is VG. No way. Pass.

April 9, 2020

Day 3. Today is an important day because an entire set is ending today, listed card by card. I have to work at my real job then try and find time to bid.

I received tracking on the lot I purchased. Says I should receive it tomorrow. I  appreciate that the seller shipped it so quickly. 

A quick review of my current bids. I am high bidder on the Ashburn at $9.50. I've been outbid on the Minoso, it is now at $15.50. Too high for this card. I am not going to increase my bid. I'm high bidder on the Reese at $20.50. I'm high bidder on the Gilliam at $2.25. I am also high bidder on the Doby at $5.50.

The guy breaking up the set has 25K in feedback. He charges $3.50 for shipping and does not offer a shipping discount. He also does not accept returns. So any card I bid on, I have to factor in $3.50 plus tax. I am not too high on the lack of shipping discount and the refusal to accept returns. However, I just can't pass up the opportunity to place bids on all the cards I need from one seller in one day!

First up is an Erskine, nice shape but terribly off center. It is currently at $6 with 6 bidders. After factoring in the shipping and tax, I cannot place a bid. The price would be too high.

Next up is a Harvey Kuenn, card number 23. Nice looking card with one soft corner. Seller says EX. I'm thinking VG. Currently one bid at $1.99. I'm going to throw down 7. I'm high bidder at $3.25 with seven hours to go.

There is a Minoso with soft corners and bad centering. One bid at $1.99. I'm going to throw down $8. I'm high bidder at $2.75.

Next up is a nice looking Kiner, card number 45, at $9.50 with three bids. Some slight corner and edge wear. I am going to throw down $15. Looks like I matched another bid and am losing at $15. I'll up it to $20. I'm high bidder at $15.50.

I see an Enos Slaughter, card 62. Seller says EX but the card has corner wear and some wax stains on the back. Card is at $12.50 with seven bids. I am going to throw down $20. I'm high bidder at $13.50.

The Mantle, card 65, is listed in Good but clearly has creases and stains. I appreciate the fact that the seller does mention in the description that the card is creased. It is up to $125 with 13 bids. I am going to throw down $150. I'm high bidder at $132.

The Mays, card 89, is listed as EX or better. I say GOOD would be more appropriate. I don't see any creases and the seller does not describe any. The corners are soft. Surface wear is evident as well as edge wear. There is also what appears to be a pen mark on the lower left edge. Card is currently at $67 with 11 bids. I am going to bid $75. I'm outbid at $76. With that pen mark, I'm not going to up my bid. Pass.

The Campanella, card 90, is listed as EX or better. I can see some corner wear. The back has some scuff marks. It almost looks like a corner crease but tough to tell for sure. The description does not mention a crease. I am a little skeptical. Current bid is $26.40 with 11 bids. I will throw down $35. I would probably bid higher but there does seem to be either a crease or bend on the back. Outbid at $36. I will not up my bid because I think this card may have issues that the seller is keeping quiet about.

The goofy description from the lot I won, shows I need common Ken Raffensberger, card number 92. The one from this set break, looks pretty good. A ding on one corner and a little bit of a centering issue. Card has no bids and starts at $1.99. I am going to bid $4.

I also need another common, Solly Hemus, card number 94. The one from this set break looks pretty good. I see some corner wear. It is at $1.99 for an opening bid. Again, I'll place $4.

Next up is a Gil McDougald, card 97. Description says EX. No way, the seller is on crack! There is clearly creasing visible near the upper left corner. Currently no bidders with an opening of $1.99. I'll throw down $7. Without the crease I would have been willing to go $15 to $20.

I need a Sal the Barber, card number 105. This one looks pretty good with some corner wear. Definitely not EX, as the seller claims. It is at $1.99 for an opening bid. I decide to throw down $5.

Next on my list is Allie Reynolds, card number 113. The one from the set break has some minor corner dings and centering issues. It is also at $1.99 for an opening bid. I am going to throw down $7.

I need Carl Furillo, card 122, an underrated player from those great Brooklyn Dodgers teams from the 1950's. Description states EX or better. Again the seller was hitting the crack pipe too hard. The corners are soft. A lot of scuffing on the back. Looks like there may be a small crease. The card is currently at $2.25 with two bids. I will throw down $7. I can't do much more with a potential crease. I am high bidder at $4.23.

I need a Bob Feller, card number 132. I think the seller is asleep at the wheel. The description states EX or better. From the back scan, I can clearly see a crease. The corners are also soft and the card has centering issues. It is currently at $13.50 with four bids. Without that crease, I would be willing to bid $40 to $50. The crease drops me to $20. I'm high bidder at $16.05.

Up next is a Johnny Pesky, card 135. Maybe the seller started to feel the effects of Corona Virus because this card is clearly in POOR Condition and he is stating that it is EX or better. Heavy corner wear. Scuff marks on the front. The back shows multiple creases. The card is at $4.45 with three bids. Pass.

I need a Gil Hodges, card number 138. The one here looks okay. Though, I am starting to grow a little concerned with this seller. The Pesky listing at EX is troubling. The Hodges is at $14.50 with seven bids. I am going to throw down $25. I am high bidder at $22.53.

The Berra, card 161, is scuffed and the corners are soft -- not EX as the seller states. I cannot be certain whether there are any creases. Seller does not mention creases in the description but I have seen enough of this guy's listings to lose trust. The card is at $41. I will bid $45. I would bid higher but I no longer trust the seller's description. I'm high bidder at $42.

I need Duke Snider, card 170. The seller lists this card as VG, the first card lower than EX, I have seen in a while. He also lists that the card is creased. From the scan, I cannot tell where the creases are located. I don't see any creases -- which is why it is so imperative for sellers to be honest and state whether a card is creased. This seller does not always state whether a card is creased. Looks like a little scuffing on the back. Some corner wear. In my opinion, a card cannot achieve the rate of VG if it is creased. I know a lot of sellers disagree but I NEVER grade a card VG if it is creased.

The Snider is at $13.50 with six bids. I will throw down $18, but that's as far as I will go. I am high bidder at $15.50.

The Whitey Ford is listed as EX or better -- NOT! The corners are rounded and there are scuff marks. While I cannot detect any creases from the scans, it does not mean the card is crease free. Actually, I would not be surprised if the card is creased because of the rounded corners. The card is at $24.50 with five bids. I will go as high as $35. I am high bidder at $29.

I need another common, Matt Batts, card number 183. Description states VG with creases. Pass.

Next up is a common Bob Cain, card number 195. Description states EX. Corner wear and scuff marks evident. Back shows some odd lines that may be creases. I'll take a chance at $1.99.

This set contains two Jimmy Piersall cards. I think card number 210 is the original Piersall. The lower number Piersall was used to replaced the Williams. I need card 210. Corner wear, scuff marks. Card is at $3.55 with 3 bids. I'll throw down $7. Outbid at $7.50. I'll pass because I also noticed what may be a pen mark on the back.

I need Jim Robertson, card 211. Corner wear, some wax stains on the back. One bid at $1.99. I'll bid $4. I'm high bidder at $2.25.

I need Preacher Roe, card 218. The one pictured here is what I believe a "Loop" variation. Some of the cards in this set have a small black loop at the top. Some sellers charge more for a card with the loop. While this one is listed at VG+, it is clearly beat up. Heavy corner wear. The description states that it is creased. It is currently at $1.99 with two bids. I'll go $4. I'm high bidder at $2.82.

Lastly, I need Frank Baumholtz, card 221. I see corner wear. There does not appear to be any creases and the description is silent as to creasing. Opening bid of $1.99. I'll go $4.

Well, that was kind of time consuming. I scrutinized the scans. I think I am done for today. I am going to let the chips fall as they may. Hopefully, I win some of the cards and the seller does not jam me with an extra $3.50 in shipping per card.

April 10, 2020

Day 4. Much to report today. I lost more auctions than I won. I really had a problem with the set break seller's descriptions that were clearly off. I might have upped my bids had the seller provided honest detailed descriptions -- which is one of the many reasons I normally avoid eBay.

Anyway, here's the stuff I lost:

Before I started bidding on the set break, I found a Minoso from another seller and bid $15. I lost at $15.50. I also placed a bid on a Doby from another seller. My max bid was $8. I lost at $14.50.

Now comes my bids with the set break. I started with a Kuenn and placed a $7 bid. Lost at $7.50; I bid $20 on a Kiner and lost at $20.50. I also put down $20 on a Slaughter and lost at $20.50. I put down $150 on a Mantle in absolutely crap shape. I lost at $227.50.

I placed a bid of $75 on a Mays that had a lot of condition problems and lost at $104.62. I placed a bid of $35 and a Campanella that was also problematic and lost at $49.60. I put $7 on an Allie Reynolds and lost at $7.50. I bid $20 on a creased up Feller and lost at $29.99.

I put $25 on a Hodge and lost at $29. I put $45 on a Berra and lost at $52. I put $18 on a creased up Snider and lost at $26.65. I put $35 on a problematic Ford and lost at $36. I put $4 on common Jim Robertson and lost at $4.25. I put $4 on a creased up Preacher Roe and lost at $4.25.

Obviously, I was sniped at the end on most of these cards which is fine because the condition did not warrant higher bids on my part. I just won't overpay. 

Now for my winnings.  I placed a bid of $8 on the Gilliam pictured above and won at $8! I put down $25 on a Pee Wee Reese, pictured below, and won at $22.50. I put down a max bid of $20 on an Ashburn and won at $11.50. I placed a bid of $8 on a Minoso and won at $6.01 which shows how unpredictable eBay can be because earlier I had placed a bid on a different Minoso from a different seller at $15 and lost at $15.50. This one I only bid $8 and won at $6.01. There is no rhyme or reason!

I put $7 on a Furillo and won at $6.01. I put $4 on a Raffensberger and won at $1.99. I put $4 on Solly Hemus and won at $2.49. I put $7 on Gil McDougald and won at $3. I put $5 on Sal Maglie and won at $3.25. I put $4 on Bob Cain and won at $1.99. Lastly, I put $4 on Frank Baumholts and won at $2.50.

Successful day in my book. I was able to knock off 11 cards from my list. I need just 19 more cards to complete the set or so I think... I haven't received that lot yet and I don't know exactly what is in there.

Let's get back to bidding on cards. Ugly stuff up today on eBay. Most everything is creased. There is a Mantle with paste and scrapbook residue on the back. Starting bid $250. No takers. There is another Mantle missing a huge chunk of the upper right side. Starting bid $75. No takers.

I finally find something bidworthy -- a Kiner. Corner are soft. I don't really see any other flaws. Starting bid $19.99 with $4.49 in shipping. I'll bid the minimum. Card ends tomorrow.

Saw another Mantle. A whole bunch of creasing visible on the back. It's at $243. I'll pass. I see a Slaughter. A little scuffing on the back otherwise nice. Currently at $2.59 with two days to go. $3.95 shipping. Reputable seller. I'll throw down $25. I'm high bidder at $6.89.

I think that is all for today. I don't like bidding on auctions that end in more than 24 hours. I'll report back soon.

The older I get, the more I realize I had a pretty unusual childhood. This was the 1970's. Suburbia at its finest. The kids I knew had boring, stale lives. They all seemed to live like the "Waltons." I could almost hear them each night, "Good night Mary Ellen. Good night John Boy."

At my house it was more like, "shut the hell up and go to bed!" 

The neighborhood kids knew what was going to happen each and every day. They knew their moms were going to cook bacon and eggs for breakfast, their fathers were out of the house by 8 a.m. to work and would be back for dinner, and the kids would spend the day at school, camp, or on the weekend take a short jaunt to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I, on the other hand, had to eat this crappy cereal every morning called "Puffed Rice" that my sister liked and I'd only get to eat if I woke up early enough before I was shipped off or shipped out somewhere. However, often I was shipped out on an awesome adventure.

See, my folks were unlike the white-washed sterile neighbors of 1970's suburbia. My mother did not spend all day in the kitchen or do laundry like the other women in the neighborhood. Hell, I don't even know what she did all day because she wasn't home and I did not know where she went. I just knew that her friends smoked a lot of cigarettes. 

My dad wasn't like the other dads. He didn't work 9 to 5. He didn't coach my little league team or take me out for ice cream. Instead, he was out somewhere hustling. He cut his chops on Chicago's Maxwell Street in the 1950s. Maxwell Street was a flea market, unlike any other flea market in the world because the vendors weren't there to sell you a pair of socks. No, they were there to convince you that the poorly made pairs of socks on their tables were made from the finest materials the world had to offer and for a quarter, your feet could be covered like those of pharaohs, kings, knights of the round table.

Maxwell Street was where the art of the "hustle" was born. My pop studied under the Maxwell Street elite. He knew that the vendors bought the socks from old Marty who lived on Blue Island Avenue and his wife made the socks in the basement of their two flat from Marty's old underwear. For a quarter, you got to cover your feet in old Marty's shit stain.

It has always been about the hustle for my pop. So while my friends were picked up summer mornings by these glowing yellow buses covered with all sorts of Indian logos and staffed by college coeds then taken to day camps where they did crafts, went swimming, played sports... I got picked up summer mornings in a Sanford & Son junker with old Harry Heller at the wheel.

I'm pretty sure Pop knew Harry from Maxwell Street. Harry was larger than life. A big personality. He went to college on a basketball scholarship. Afterwards, he bounced around the Indians and the Cubs minor leagues until he was drafted into World War II.

Harry was a hustler. He'd be glad to see me and in some weird way, I'd be glad to see him. But he'd always hurry me along. We had lots of other kids to pick up in the northern suburbs and across the North Side of Chicago. I didn't know any of those kids. I just learned to go along with the day's adventure.

Once we picked up all the kids, I knew we would end up somewhere hot. Often it was a 100 year-old beaten down school on the North Side of Chicago that had a cavernous gym with no air conditioning, just hot, wet air. There would be a dozen basketballs on the floor. Harry would disappear. Us kids were left in the gym to do whatever.

Often, I would try to toss a basketball to the ceiling of the gym. Those old gyms had these sky-high ceilings. I could never hit it. If I had a baseball, probably. But I couldn't jack a basketball that high. So I would end up shooting baskets until I got too hot. It always got too hot. Then I'd just sit around and wait to get back into the junker, drop off all the city kids, then go suburb to suburb and drop off all the other kids and eventually get home.

One summer morning, while expecting to be dropped off at an old time gym, I observed that the old junker ended up parked on Waveland Avenue, just outside the left field bleachers of Wrigley Field. This was the mid-1970's. The Cubs were out of town and the park was empty. We were led into Wrigley Field through an old metal door that I think has long been sealed over.

We were ordered to get in line, two by two, and were marched into left field down toward the Cubs dugout. Then we went past home plate and up right field, past the visitor's dugout. They parked us on the right field grass. We sat, and sat, then sat some more. It was one of those hot Chicago summer days. I was initially thrilled to be walking around Wrigley but sitting on that right field grass in the hot sun, with nothing to drink, dampened my enthusiasm.

Eventually, a familiar face -- Ernie Banks showed up and popped us kids out of our heat haze and we all stood up. I wondered how ole Harry hustled this up. I thought of my friends making freakin' lanyards at their Indian summer camps while I stood on the right field grass of Wrigley Field looking up at Ernie Banks. 

Ernie was a ball of energy. He told us that he was our tour guide for the day and we followed him along the outfield wall. I was a little light headed from sitting in the heat but damn if I wasn't going to get right on the heals of Ernie Banks. I listened intently as he plucked a leaf off the outfield ivy and explained how it was planted in 1937 by Bill Veeck, who I knew as the owner of the White Sox at the time. Ernie explained that if a ball got lost in the ivy, the umps rule it an automatic double.

Man, that ended up being a great day but not unusual for me. As a kid, I never knew what was going to happen, especially in summer. When I needed a baseball mitt, we went to see Pop's old friend from Maxwell Street, Morrie Mages. Old Morrie went from selling sports equipment on Maxwell Street to owning the largest sporting gear store in the world, at one time. If I needed a suit, we'd go find an old tailor on Roosevelt Road, near the old Maxwell Street, even though we lived all the way in the northern suburbs. Pops had to get a deal. There were no deals at the suburban malls. We only shopped at places where Pops could negotiate a price. 

All the furniture in my house came from the old Twin flea market in Wheeling, because pop could get a deal. When I wanted a fishing pole, I was only allowed to get a "pocket fisherman" because Pop went to high school with Ron Popeil. You remember that guy? He was a hustler too. All his stuff never worked but he was on TV all the time hawking stuff like the Mr. Microphone -- Hey Good Looking, Be Back To Pick You Up Later!

There was Pop's friend who had a car collection that would make Jay Leno blush. I got to ride in one of the original Batmobiles from the 1960's TV show. Pop's friend drove it on over. The Batmobile was in my driveway!

Pops was into politics too. We would have these lavish fundraisers at our house for all sorts of local political candidates. As a kid, I was invisible to these people. I would weed my way through the hoards in my living room to find the bowl of cocktail franks. Steal the bowl, hustle it up to my bedroom and chow down with my brother.

The best part of growing up was that Pop loved sports. The highlight was going to the All Star games in 1981, 1982, and 1983. We hung out at the hotels where the players were staying and I got tons of autographs. I hopped on an elevator in Cleveland in 1981 and found my self staring at Warren Spahn and Yogi Berra. I still have the autographs. Don Drysdale was on our flight back to Chicago, as he was the White Sox announcer back then. He signed my ticket stub. I still have it. My brother and I ran after Mike Schmidt outside Olympic Stadium in Montreal in 1982. In 1983, Pops got us tickets to the All Star game banquet, the night before the game in Chicago. I sat at a huge table with eight or nine all stars and ate dinner with them.

I think it was 1982 and Pops got me and my brother into the Cubs dugout before a game. I remember sitting with Larry Bowa in the dugout. Later that night we went to some sort of fundraiser dinner with the Cubs. I sat next to Steve Henderson. He was awfully nice.

Pop's became friends with all sorts of old-time baseball players. It was not unusual for Jimmy Piersall or Randy Hundley to call my house. I was always too scared to really say anything to those guys. I usually just took a message. I really wanted to ask Jimmy Piersall why he was riding Wayne Nordhagen. Piersall was a White Sox announcer for a long time.

It was a crazy way to grow up but when I think back on it, it was pretty cool. I really loved meeting Ernie Banks in the mid-1970's and feeling the gravel of the warning track in the outfield of Wrigley Field under my feet. I've got so many crazy stories from my childhood. Like the building on Division Street in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago that my grandmother owned with her brother. The building housed a boxing gym and Pop's would take me there with him to collect rent from the boxers. When I got my drivers license, I was sent all over the city and suburbs to collect rent or remove the change from the laundry machines in apartment buildings.

Pops is still around at age 82. He comes out to the card shows occasionally. I know he's hustled some of you guys. Sorry! That is the way he was made. He comes from a different time and like I said, I had a very different upbringing but I wouldn't change a thing!!

I might have told some of these stories in some earlier blogs. Forgive me for repeating them, if I did. Just feeling a little nostalgic and it is always fun to tell these stories.

I have been sick the past couple of weeks, so I apologize for not responding to calls. I don't think I had Corona Virus but I do not know for certain because I was unable to get tested. I called my doctor's office, they told me to stay away and go to the hospital. I went on the website for my local hospital and it instructed to stay away unless you can't breath. I was able to breath, though I did have some sort respiratory thing and have been coughing for weeks. I contacted my county health department, no help either.

I think Corona Virus tests are only available for White House staff, members of Congress and the NBA.

So I just did what I normally do when I have the flu: DayQuil, NiteQuil, and tea. In addition to the cough, I was woozy, nauseous, and had zero energy for about 10 days. Seems like all I did was sleep and the days flew by. Twelve days later, I still have that cough and my energy is not quite fully back but I feel sooo much better than I did just a few days ago. 

So here are my thoughts on Corona Virus. Those that think this is some sort of hoax or a plot to take down Trump are completely off their rockers. So are those that are comparing statistics between Corona Virus and the regular flu and misstating that this is
not as bad as the regular flu. Here's the problem with the comparison, the Corona Virus stats are going up exponentially, so there cannot be any comparison because we have not seen the bottom of the pandemic and we have no previous years on which to base such a comparison. In addition, the numbers are skewered because tests are not available for the mass population, as I found out first hand. This is NOT the regular flu and we do not actually know how many people are infected! With so few tests available, I gather that we do not know how many people are dying as a result of the Corona Virus. I am not going to play the blame game but from my observation, our ability as a country to deal with the pandemic appears extremely inept.

Also, we don't really know what happened in China since it is a military state and any statistics coming out of that country are not to be trusted. Was I the only one who observed the news story where a hotel in China was converted into a hospital for Corona Virus patients only to collapse once filled with people? What in the world happened there? I can only imagine what is really going on in China.

I have lived through many different strains of the flu and there seems to always have been a vaccine available. So I have been wondering for the past six weeks or so when I first learned about Corona Virus is why is there no vaccine? I also think this pandemic is only going to get worse until there is a vaccine. Since testing is only available to the rich and powerful, I am not going to hold out hope that a vaccine will arrive for us common folks anytime soon.

Therefore, my friends, I think we need to hunker down and stay home for the immediate future to avoid the spread of this horrible disease. As a result, my card show at the Salvation Army is postponed until June 6, 2020. There will be no shows in April and May at the Salvation Army. Not only is it now illegal to gather in the State of Wisconsin it is irresponsible to gather in groups during a pandemic.

I know so many wonderful people as a result of the card shows and I want everyone to stay healthy until we can safely get together again!

That being said, the March Gonzaga and Orland Park shows, where I am a regular dealer were cancelled this month and I am suffering serious card show withdrawal symptoms. I don't expect those shows to open in April either. What is a card show junkie to do? I have been sorting and pricing cards, so if we are ever able to have a card show again anywhere, I will be prepared!

I may start to post some cards on eBay if I can find some time. I have not done much on eBay for the past three or four years largely because the majority of my time has been spent at my day job, with family and my regular battles with diabetes.

I am actually at work now, my first time back since March 12. While I am not seeing clients and all of my co-workers are at home, I still have a lot of work to do. I am oh so thankful that the courts are closed, so I am going to use this time to catch up.

Again the April and May Salvation Army shows are cancelled while the June 6 show is a go for now. Please, stay home and stay healthy!

Saturday, March 7, 2020, Salvation Army Community Center, Oak Creek, WI

Unbelievable! Did you attend the show? Did you see that crowd? Oh my!! We must have had over 500 people attend the show!! I don't understand how we keep topping our attendance? Where is everybody coming from?

Prior to the show I had an inkling that this was going to be a monster show. My phone was ringing off the hook along with a mass amount of texts, emails and Facebook messages.

Dealer tables for the March show actually sold out in February but I kept getting request after request for tables even after posting here and on Facebook that they were sold out. So I started calling dealers to confirm to see if they were coming and a few dropped out and I was able to add a few guys from the waiting list. Unfortunately on the day of the show, I had four no-shows which just pisses me off. If you reserve a table you MUST attend unless you're ill or have a family emergency. I could have let four more guys into the show from the waiting list. That's also $100 I lost. I still have to pay for the room, advertising and wax for my giveaway. It is really selfish thing to do to skip out on a show when you have reserved a table. 

There was a time where I would let dealers slide if they did not show up. Now that I consistently sell out and have a waiting list, these no-show guys are banned from ever setting up again. So in the future, anyone who commits to setting up better be there or they will be banned. It just isn't fair to the guys sitting on my waiting list and it is not fair to me when I have so many expenses and to top it off that is such an irresponsible jerk-off thing to do.

If you attended the show, you probably did not notice the no shows. After I finished setting up my tables, I took a quick walk around to see if there were any no shows and advised the dealers next to them to spread out, so we did end up with 67 tables full of stuff, the most tables to date.

As I stated before, I am slowly donating tables to the Salvation Army. They are up to 68 tables but I obviously need many more to satisfy all the dealers that want to set up. I am thinking of adding another row of tables, once we get six or seven more. Though if we keep getting 500-plus in attendance, it may crowd the room if I add another row of tables.

I am considering renting the back room or placing dealers in the hallway but of course, I just don't have the tables to expand right now. I may have to rent a truck, purchase a dozen tables and bring them up on a non-show day. This would be a great expense to me so I have to think that option over.

Anyway, a bunch of dealers showed up at 7 a.m. I would appreciate it if the dealers would show up at 8 a.m. I can't get into the building until 7 a.m. and I need time to layout the room.

I also have customers showing up at 8 a.m. when the show does not officially open until 9 a.m. I am not a big stickler on customers showing up early but I would prefer if they showed up at 9 a.m. and gave the dealers a chance to load in and set up.

So this show has become a monster. It is a full-time job when I already have a full-time job. If you read my last blog, you saw that I requested some help. I also put out a call for help in my monthly email blast.

Young Jason Tworek responded and was hired on the spot. Jason is a super nice kid and was an amazing help at the show. He oversaw my free pack giveaway which is a job in itself. I probably spent a good $500 on wax Saturday for the giveaway, including some 2020 Topps. Did anybody pull anything good?

Jason also watched my tables so I could take bathroom breaks and eat a couple of Sloppy Joes. Then he watched my tables for an hour or so when I had to go around the room and collect table fee from the dealers. I can't thank Jason enough for his help!

But I think the enormity of the show is making me a little flustered. I had a really hard time setting up. I brought out my really old stuff to place in my display cases. I brought out four display cases and then realized mid-set up that I only brought out enough stuff for three. So after I laid out all the cards I had to take them out and redo it in an effort to stretch the cards to four display cases.

Then I flat out forgot/overlooked an entire bin of binders. The bin stayed under my table the whole show and I never put them out even though I had plenty of space to do so. Maybe it is just old age but I can't believe how forgetful I've become.

Anyway, with 500-plus people in attendance, I was busy. Mark bought a bunch of 1964 Topps football out of my newly reloaded binder. Jim bought a bunch of Goudeys. Eric purchased a 1941 Double Play with Stan Hack. Joel, who drove up all the way from the south suburbs of Chicago, purchased my 1952 Topps Minnie Minoso rookie. Thanks guys!

In fact, a bunch of guys drove up from the Chicago area like Tim, Paul, and Willie. Thanks guys, I know it is a long drive for you and I really appreciate the effort!!

Robin purchased some 1970 Topps baseball. A bunch of regulars dinked through the binders. My guy from Green Bay who is working on the 1959 Topps football set found a bunch more cards. Terry Hatch made an appearance and found some '71-72 Topps basketball at my table.

Quite a few guys told me this was their first time at the show and they were impressed. I also had a bunch of guys compliment me on this blog. I really appreciate the compliments. I write it while I'm sitting at work when I really should be working on other things but this is much more fun to do. My co-workers probably think I'm nuts. My desk is covered in show fliers and dealer lists and table layouts.

So my sales were pretty good. Not quite as strong at last month but I can't complain. On the buying front, I picked up a stack of 1952 Topps commons, a box of early 1970's (I know, I know, but this is a good customer and he sold them cheap). I also bought some more 1915 Cracker Jacks and a couple of T206s from Tim.

I had a lady contact me before the show who is trying to sell her brother's collection. The collection is from 1958 to 1966. Mostly commons and no high numbers. There are some stars in there but they are off grade. I made an offer that I thought was really strong but she did not take it. The problem may be is that she has seen the high book value for the cards but doesn't seem to understand that her cards are nowhere near the high book value. The cards are beat and I just can't offer any more money unless I want to pay more than I can earn selling the cards, which I won't do. So, I was a little disappointed, I would have liked to have gone home with the cards. 

I had a bunch of new dealers at the show again. A lot of folks mentioned that this is
one of the things they like about the show is that I get a regular rotation of new dealers. It seemed like all the new dealers had modern cards. I think this may have been my first show where modern dealers outnumbered vintage. There was an incredible inventory of modern cards at this show. In talking with the dealers, it seemed like NBA rookie Zion Williamson was the hottest card in the room. The three wax dealers were all happy with their sales. I am really happy that this show can support three wax dealers.

Pretty much all the dealers seemed happy with their sales. I had one new dealer who was selling mini-helmets with Packers and Badgers logos. He said he made the helmets but did not sell one. I was disappointed because I like to see all the dealers make good sales. I think his problem was the price. It looked to me that the helmets were overpriced. I also thought he might have sold some if he had additional teams. I hope he gives it another try some time in the future.

I have already signed up a bunch of new dealers for the April 4th show. I have to sit down this week and figure out my dealer line up for that show. I am a little worried that I oversold it already. Worst comes to worst I'll give away my tables.

Looks like I will start having some retired baseball players come in to sign autographs. I have never handled this on my own before, opting to allow others to bring in the signers. So this will be a learning experience. I need to put some money up front for the players and also purchase photos and blank baseballs. Do I need to buy 8x10 toploaders for the signed photos? I am also thinking that I won't be able to set up on the days I have autograph guests. I hope everybody is okay with that. I will have Jason handle the pack giveaway.

The show is continuing to grow and morph. I appreciate all the kind comments on the show. I really work my tail off on this thing. When I first started the show in 2014, I had no idea that it would ever turn into the show it is today. In some ways, I kind of miss those 12-dealers, 20-table shows at the Clarion. They were so simple to manage compared to this megalith.

I always think about the June 2015 show which was my low point when I had only five dealers and maybe five customers show up. I was ready to throw in the towel after that one but I had a contract with the hotel through December and would still have had to pay for the room seven more times.

So I took some time to contemplate the situation. I realized that dealers would not come if I could not bring in customers. I started to look at the show from the persepective of a customer. What could I do to make this show different, to make this show stand out, and to encourage customers to attend.

I recalled the many morning legislative meetings in Springfield, Illinois, when I worked as assistant general counsel to the Illinois Secretary of State. The head of the Department of Business Services would go out before the meetings and purchase a few boxes of doughnuts from a local bakery. The doughnuts were delicious and there was always a little discussion about them before the meeting. A lot of the management folks seemed much more excited about the doughnuts than the legislative agenda.

Doughnuts, I thought, would save the show. Doughnuts, I observed, saved the show! Prior to that July 2015 show, I advertised that free doughnuts would be available at the show. That morning of July 2015, I saw a much larger crowd than June, and the guys went right through the doughnuts. Again in August, I advertised free doughnuts and the crowd grew once again.

Then I used something I learned when I was publisher of the Chicago Barfly Newspaper, prior to attending law school. The Barfly was a free paper I created and distributed to more than 700 bars and restaurants in Chicago every month from 1994 to 2001. As a free paper, I relied on advertising to pay the bills. I learned that if I could promote certain bars with articles, they would pay for regular advertising. One of my best tools at promoting bars was anniversary parties. The bars would schedule an anniversary party, I would write an article and compliment it with photos, and I am proud to say that we were able to pack those bars for those anniversary parties. The bar owners made a lot of money and were very happy with me.

Thus, in September of 2015, I promoted my show anniversary party, along with free doughnuts and free pizza and low and behold I had a large crowd attend the show. Based on the previous months shows I figured three pizzas would be enough. I was not prepared for the crowd and the pizzas were gone within five minutes. Each subsequent anniversary party I purchased more and more pizzas until the Clarion was purchased by the Marriot Corp. who put a stop to my food promotions. But the food worked and the word got out and more and more dealers wanted to set up. Then more and more customers attended the show. For the past five years, this show has done nothing but grow. 

Everyone seems to like what I am doing which motivates me to do more. Thank you all for your continued support. It has been quite a ride since that first show in September of 2014. I honestly can't take all the credit for the success of this show. The credit goes to all the dealers and customers who come out month after month and spread good cheer. As much of a headache that it can be to run this thing, it is still so much fun and I have a great time. The day goes by so quickly because I am so engaged and have such a terrific time.

One oddball thing I noticed Saturday is that a lot of guys would not shake my hand because of the Corona Virus. So I won't be extending my hand any more and will try to put out some hand sanitizer at the April show.

Also, it is much easier for me to respond to emails than to phone calls. I have a pretty busy work schedule and have a tough time answering my phone. Please contact me through abrandongordon@hotmail.com. Also, if you have a question about cards, go to my Facebook page and post the question. That way the regulars can answer the question and save me some time. Like I said, it is pretty much just me running this thing, no staff, so I can't answer the large amount of questions that come in. The best time to talk to me is at the show.

As I have mentioned before, I have a really good relationship with the Salvation Army. I could not have found a better partner for the show. So I am trying to help out as much as I can. I donate tables and we had a real nice fundraiser for their youth soccer league. Next up, I am trying to help them raise funds to replace the matts in the gym. If you look on the stage you can see that the matts are tattered and worn. We decided to hold a silent auction to raise funds for new matts. I am looking for sports memorabilia to be donated for the silent auction. One incredibly nice lady read about my planned silent auction and gave me $20 at the show. Thank you so much!! We have such great people who come to this show. I turned over that $20 to the Sal and we are on our way.

Again, the next show is Saturday, April 4, 2020. The dealer tables will probably sell out shortly, so contact me for dealer tables as soon as you can. If you commit to setting up, you gotta be there!

The next show where I am setting up as a dealer is this Sunday, March 15, 2020, at Gonzaga Hall, 92nd/Greenfield in West Allis, WI. I won't be at the Sun-Times show but I will have all sorts of new stuff out at the Gonzaga show. Come on out!

Did I mention that you guys are awesome! Thanks again for all your support!! Below are some photos from the show this past Saturday.

Look at that crowd at 9:29 a.m.!!

Pictured here is me and my pal Bill Stocks. Thanks again everybody! See you soon!!