Sunday, February 23, 2025, IBEW Local 364, Rockford, IL

Nice to be back in Rockford. It has been a while. Promoters John and Mike always put on an excellent show.

I was happy to see that my tables were located next to my pal Gary George, who has a lot of regulars at this show. Gary and I have known each other for a long time. I was impressed that he remembers the first time we met which was at Corky's old show at the Holiday Inn in Elgin. Gary remembered that he stopped by my table and purchased some 1953 Topps for his set. What a great memory! I thought we met at Gonzaga. Anyway, Gary is a great guy and I am lucky to know him!!

I was jealous at the number of guys who walked up and sold Gary some awesome vintage cards in Rockford. I was offered a near set of 1972 Topps baseball but I just have so many '72s and turned it down.

Another guy walked up to my tables with a 1952 Topps Willie Mays in a SGC 2 and wanted $3,700. I honestly thought about it but I learned from Mike S. to buy the card, not the holder. The card had a big ole crease down the middle from left to right, making it seem more like a 1 than a 2, so I took a pass. Ray A. ended up purchasing the card. Cool card, nonetheless.

Seemed to be a lot of folks walking around selling cards, which is something I love to see. I am always looking to buy cards.

There also seemed to be a lot more vintage collectors today than I remember in Rockford. I had more folks checking out my cards than usual. Sales were definitely better than my last time at this show.

I found it interesting that I did not really see many of the same people who were at the Madison show yesterday. Pretty much a completely different crowd than Madison, which is only an hour away from Rockford.

It was great to see Tom Mularz, who has been out with some health issues. Tom was set up across from me. Tom had to have some emergency surgery recently and kept threatening to show me his scars. I pass out from the sight of blood and declined to view the scars. Welcome back Tom!!

This is an excellent show but I seem to have conflicts on most dates. The next Rockford show conflicts with Orland on April 27. Eventually, I'll make it back.

In the meantime, Oak Creek is just days away, slated for Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, Oak Creek, WI. I've sold 192 tables! I keep finding a spot or two to stick a table. I probably could get a lot more tables in if I was to shrink the aisles but I want everyone to be comfortable and it gets crowded enough each month.

I'll be set up on the stage in the Chapel. Hope to see you there!

Saturday, February 22, 2025, Sheraton Hotel, Madison, WI

I arrived at the Sheraton to a sea of dogs and yellow snow. Apparently, there was some sort of dog show in town and many folks and their pets were staying at the Sheraton. 

This month I brought out all the baseball and football binders along with two display cases of graded cards. I don't submit cards for grading but I do purchase graded cards. I seem to buy more and more graded cards these days because they walk up to my table more frequently. I pull out my phone like everyone else and check the comps. If I feel I can make some money on the card, I will purchase it.

Well, Eddie from Orland drove up to Madison and purchased just about all of my graded Mantles. Thanks Eddie! As I result, I had my best Madison show ever! Unfortunately, my graded inventory is now lacking in star power. Not sure when I'll bring them out again; maybe to the Sports Spectacular.

Also contributing to my great day were my usual slew of regulars like Bill, Paul and Tim. I was busy all day. Usually things start to die at my tables after noon but customers continued to pick through the binders well after noon.

I love to turn my sales into purchases when I have a big day. I bought a 1965 RBI Leaders with Mantle in a GMA 4 holder. The same guy had a 1952 Topps Joe Ostrowski in a PSA 4 which I purchased as well. Then a guy come up to my tables with an unopened 1980 Topps football rack pack which I purchased. See pictrure below.

 A lot of guys came by with overpriced stuff including one guy who brought over a couple of graded vintage football cards like a 1959 Topps Jerry Kramer rookie. Both cards were O/C 9s and the seller had them priced as 9s with no qualifiers. No thank you! If a card has a qualifier like an O/C tag, it is more difficult to sell and its value is greatly reduced.

Nice crowd as usual. So many great people to chat with at the Madison show including promoter Beau, Mike H., Gary G., Tyler H., Mark A., Bronko, Showtime, Tom C., Eric U, Tom K. I probably could have stayed after the show and hung out at the bar with the guys but I was sooo tired. I didn't sleep well the night before and wanted to get home and pass out, which I did!

Another excellent Madison show in the books. I'm excited for the March 29th show when representatives from PSA will be on hand accepting submissions. I am pretty sure this will be the first time ever that PSA has set up at a Wisconsin show. I just may bring a few cards to submit.

This was a double-bill weekend with Rockford on Sunday. Rockford blog coming soon.

Next up is Oak Creek on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Looks like I will have 194 tables. I'll probably be set up on the stage in the Chapel. Oak Creek dealer waiting list is up to 163 people. Crazy!

Dealers tables are selling nicely for the Wisconsin MegaShow set for April 19 at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. I finally contracted with a company to rent tables. I have rented 400 8-foot tables. If you are interested in setting up, send me an email at [email protected].

See you in Oak Creek on Saturday!!

Sunday, February 16, 2025, Civic Center, Orland Park, IL

There was a light dusting of snow on the morning of February 16th as I drove down to Orland Park. Prior to the show, news reports had called for much more snow that never came, thankfully. Though it was much colder on Sunday, than Saturday. I had a very chilly load into the Civic Center.

Today I put out all the baseball, football and basketball binders. I brought the hockey with me but did not have enough space to put it out. I also placed out two display cases and filled them with all sorts oddball oversized cards like 1929 Kashin Publications, 1936 National Chicle Thin Pens, 1936 Goudey Wide Pens, Exhibits from the 1930s through the 1960s, some 1964 Topps Giants, some 1962 Topps Baseball Bucks along with other odds and ends. It was kind of a cool display and drew lots of looks and some sales.

Jason from "Everyday Card Collector" purchased my 1936 Goudey Wide Pen Frankie Frisch which he shows off here: Card show pick ups with two prewar HOF playing days items.
​
​While I was setting up, dealer Jeff P. called me over from across the room to let me know about the new vintage dealer set up next to him. In general, I don't buy cards from dealers, especially the ones that have vintage cards out on their tables. Rarely is a dealer going to give me cards at a price where I can make a little money. So, I just don't bother at most shows to even look at the other tables.

It is the modern card dealers like Jeff who will bring me a nice deal on vintage because they don't have much interest in it. I have bought some nice groupings from Jeff over the years.

In general, I sit behind my tables and wait for folks to bring me cards. I rarely go out searching.

One customer brought me some 1963 Salada Coins and some 1964 and 1971 Topps coins, which I purchased. Jim had a pile of groupings as usual. I purchased some 1972 high numbers and some early 1960's random cards. Thanks Jim! I also purchased some cards from Walt, who always brings over his vintage box where I can usually find a few things I can use.

Though, I have to admit, Jeff did pique my interest and I wanted to check out the new guy's table but as soon as I finished setting up, there were customers at my tables and I was busy the entire day.

The legendary Pat Quinn was the first guy at my table this morning. I had beefed up my autographed notecard binder and brought out my autograph card binder, after reloading it prior to the show. Pat likes the autographs and complimented me on having more out than usual.

Chris is usually one of the first guys at my tables in Orland and he found a bunch of cards in my newly reloaded 1961 Topps baseball binder. Rick was at my tables earlier than usual and dinked around a few binders and found some cards. Another regular, whose name I forget, I think he lives in Indiana, purchased some 1973s. I also have a couple of great guys who share the name Mike and they both purchased a bunch of cards. Thanks guys!

Then the floodgates opened and the crowds arrived. The aisle in front of my tables was tight most of the day. I had large groups of guys at my tables and sold a ton of cards, including my entire early 1970's basketball binder.

I was surprised sales were so good because on the day before, while I sat around at the Woodstock show, I took stock of my binders and they appeared fairly empty, so I figured Orland would be slow. What do I know? I had a great day in Orland! Thank you everybody!!

My old pal Paul P. made a surprise appearance. Me, Will and Joe were really happy to see Paul, who used to regularly hang out at the show but hardly attends these days. After the show, we all went to the sub shop to wrap up another excellent Orland show. I love the Orland show!!!

The Orland show has a larger number of vintage dealers and customers than most any other show. Also, you don't see much Pokémon in Orland like all other shows -- it is still a sports-focused show, which I just love!! 

I could tell promoter Rich was not feeling well. When you have health issues, like I do, you can sense others who are suffering as well. I hope Rich feels better by next month. Such a nice guy who runs one of the best shows around.

​Next Orland show is slated for Sunday, March 23, 2025. Be sure to bring your kids to that one because word on the streets is the Easter Bunny is making an appearance.

Next up for me is another double-bill weekend with Madison on Saturday, February 22, 2025, then Rockford on Sunday, February 23, 2025. I can't decide if I want to spend Saturday night in Rockford, instead of driving the two-hours home from Madison and the hour out to Rockford in the morning. New for next weekend will be 1980 Topps baseball. I am also planning to bring out all of my graded cards which haven't been out since the November Sports Spectacular in Rosemont. I sold quite a few graded cards at the Sports Spectacular and have since picked up a new pile that I have been pricing up, mostly T206s.

The next Oak Creek show is coming up quickly on March 1. I am amazed that I keep getting daily requests for tables. I have to add up my waiting list, I might be approaching 200. 

Tables for the MegaShow on April 19 at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex are filling up nicely. I finally contracted with a rental company and will be providing 8-foot tables for all the dealers. Those interested in setting up at the MegaShow need to prepay. Tables cost $50 each and payment can be sent via PayPal to [email protected] or you can pay me cash this weekend in Madison or Rockford.

A big thank you to Rich, Karen and crew for another excellent show in Orland. I'll see you guys next weekend! Woot! 

I recently realized that I have been collecting baseball cards for 50 years. Crazy! I have been spending a lot of time lately reflecting on my card collecting journey, especially my early years in the mid- to late- 1970s. For me, those were the days!

As I have stated before, I first purchased baseball cards in 1975 at the pharmacy located a few blocks from my house in suburban Chicago. Soon, I started to accumulate older cards from 1968 through 1974 by purchasing them from my friends and their older brothers. By 1977, I had a huge collection of cards, all sports.

I knew card shows existed but did not know how to find out where they were located and when they occurred. I first learned about card shows in 1976 when I watched the 5 p.m. Chicago news on TV with my mom and we saw a feature story on a card show that had occurred that day. I remember being angry that my mom did not take me there. Her response was that she did not know about it. I was determined to learn where and when card shows occurred.

Until I could learn the locations of card shows, the pharmacy remained my main source for obtaining cards. I collected all four major sports.

I soon discovered that cards were available for purchase at the Twin Drive-in Movie Theater's Sunday Flea Market in nearby Wheeling, Illinois. My dad was a flea market junky and we went there just about every Sunday in the summer. My main focus at the flea market was to find toys, comic books and sports cards then convince my dad to buy them for me -- which was very difficult. Dad did not like spending money on me. He usually ended up buying me a few pairs of socks at the flea market that would fall apart shortly after bringing them home. He also filled up our house with all sorts of junk from the flea market like old TVs, radios, furniture, knick knacks and stuff. If you needed something in my house, say a baseball bat, a mitt, a bike, a bed, Dad got it at the flea market.

He had this mantra to never pay retail which I think he learned as a kid on Maxwell Street in Chicago. The Maxwell Street Market opened in the mid-1800's on Chicago's near West Side. It was an open-air market, created by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe and reflected the markets from the motherland. I suspect sometime in the 1940's, my dad regularly attended the Maxwell Street Market. By the 1950's, he was setting up there every Sunday, selling odds and ends from his grandfather's electrical supply shop located on the near Northwest Side of Chicago.

As a child of the Depression, he grew up frugal and remained very tight with his money when I was growing up. Me, on the other hand, did not understand money and wanted to buy anything and everything -- especially sports cards.

I know I talked about this before, but I'll tell it again. The first time I ever saw a card older than 1968 was at the Twin Flea Market -- this was around the year 1977. An old man was selling 1955 Topps for 50-cents each. I wanted them like I never wanted anything else in my young life. I begged my dad to buy me some. 

For dad, buying anything at the flea market was a game, even a 50-cent sports card. The game began as I stood nervously by. Dad explained to the old man that the cards were worth only 10 cents and he was extremely overpriced at 50 cents. I worried I would not get one of those 1955 Topps. It was so painful to watch the game. I just wanted some cards!

Eventually, dad got me two cards; I think a Ron Jackson and a Jim Finigan. I don't remember what he paid but I am sure it was less than one dollar. However, before he handed me the cards, he demanded that the old man give me a plastic page to store them. I had to wait even longer to receive the cards as dad and the old man argued over the plastic page. I think I lost a few pounds during this painfully long negotiation for what I considered the holy grail. Once in my hands, I quickly forgot about the torturous process of obtaining the cards. On that warm summer day in 1977, I held, what I believed was the coolest thing known to mankind -- two 1955 Topps common cards. I was determined to get more!

As 11-year-old me walked the dusty rows of the old Twin Flea Market, the answer to my money woes stared me right in the face. I am pretty sure even a lightbulb popped over my head.

I convinced dad to let me set up at the Twin Drive-in Flea Market so I could earn some money to buy sports cards. It really did not take much convincing; he was on board the minute I made the suggestion. Before long, we were reliving his days on Maxwell Street. We found a bunch of old card tables around the house and went through the masses of junk we had in the basement and garage, priced it all, loaded it into the station wagon and began setting up at the flea market every Sunday.

I just wanted to make some money to buy baseball cards. For my dad, it was a reawakening of his inner self. It was like he was back on Maxwell Street circa 1952. He taught me all sorts of stuff about selling at the flea market. We priced everything. He came up with the prices. Then he had a specific way he wanted to load the station wagon. Once we set up the tables, he had a specific way he wanted everything to be displayed.

Once we were set up and the masses walked the gravel aisle in front of our tables, he shouted at everyone like he was back on Maxwell Street, lured them over and convinced them they needed our junk. It was remarkable, really. We sold all sorts of broken, filthy, outdated junk. We soon ran out of inventory, so, he started setting me up in the morning, left me at the table alone, then walked the flea market to buy us more stuff. He was a phenomenal salesman and an even better negotiator. He'd come back every hour or so with a box of stuff for me to sell at more than double for what he purchased it for.

The best part of setting up at the flea market with dad was to witness what I call "the trumpet hustle." As a kid, dad learned to play trumpet from famed Jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Dad was a brilliant trumpet player but as Dizzy told him, he couldn't riff, but still technically great.

Back at the flea market, dad would buy a broken trumpet for a few bucks, take it home, fix it up, replace all the major parts, and bring it back to the flea market the following Sunday. Often these trumpets did not look like much. They were dinged and discolored. He would put one out each Sunday on the table and I would wait for the show to begin. 

The curtains opened when someone would ask him if the trumpet worked.

"Yes, it works. Let me show you," he would say like he was Ray Charles in the "Blues Brothers" movie.

He would walk around to the front of the table, pick up the trumpet, dramatically shake out his arms, loudly press the valves that he recently oiled, then put that thing to his lips and the most beautiful sound would appear. Everyone around stopped in their tracks. Before long, a crowd would gather around our table and listen to dad play. He would then sell that trumpet he purchased for five bucks for a good fifty to a 100-dollar profit. He'd take the money from the customer. Give me a wink then go off to find another broken trumpet. He did this every Sunday. It was a sight to behold.

He would explain to me that you gotta buy low and sell high. Sure, all great in theory but he had this gift, I did not. Besides, I just wanted to earn a little money to go buy some cards!

Luckily for me, there were a dozen or so guys selling vintage cards each Sunday at the Twin Flea Market in the 1970's. With money in my pockets, I purchased a ton of cards each Sunday. I went back to the old man with the 1955 Topps and bought a ton of stuff from him. We soon became friendly and he taught me how to sell cards at the flea market. By age 12, I had procured a large inventory of vintage cards but had no idea how to price them -- there was no Beckett, no internet, no way to price cards, or so I thought.

The old man pulled out a copy of Sports Collectors Digest and handed it to me. I marveled at all the ads for cards. In those days, Sports Collectors Digest was like a thick book filled with treasure. The old man would pick up a card from his table, say a 1958 Topps Willie Mays, then show me all the ads in SCD for 1958 Topps Willie Mays. The old man priced his cards through the ads. The old man gave me a copy of SCD. I quickly subscribed. 

With SCD in hand, I started to fill up photo albums of cards and priced them through the ads in SCD.

I continued to marvel at dad when he would put on his trumpet show but before long, dad marveled at me, as I started taking over the tables and filling them with photo albums of sports cards and drew my own crowds. Soon we were competing as to who would make more money. Dad with his broken junk or me with my sports cards. I started making more money than he did. He then stopped hanging out at the flea market and would drop me off in the morning, set me up, then come get me in the afternoon and take me home. I loved showing him the wad of cash I took in from selling sports cards.

The best part of all this was that I learned about SCD where there was a calendar for sports card shows! Woot! I quickly joined the Chicagoland Sports Collectors Association, a group that put on three shows a year at the Holiday Inn in Hillside, Illinois.

New problem. Dad was still not on board with the sports cards, even though he saw the cash I earned each Sunday at the flea market. He would not take me to the card shows nor the card shop I discovered through SCD that was located on South Archer Avenue, in Chicago, a long way from the northern burbs where we lived.

Well, I could be an annoying %$#@ as a kid and annoyed dad to death until he relented. First he took me to one of the card shows in Hillside -- a glorious affair. I felt like I found Valhalla. Dad was just annoyed.

We would be at the show for about 15 minutes before he would ask if I was ready to go. Of course not! Once we did leave the show, he would take me to his office in Downtown Chicago and I would have to sit there and look at my cards for hours until we finally went home where I would place my new cards in their rightful spot in my photo album. The album was filled with plastic pages specifically made for sports cards that I purchased at the shows and through ads in SCD. I still have that old photo album. It holds 1978 Topps football cards these days.

Eventually, dad would drop me off at the card show in the morning, go to work, then come back for me in the afternoon. Those were some of the best days of my life. I'd find myself talking to Minnie Minoso or Billy Williams who were signing autographs for free! I became friendly with tons of kids at the shows. No one had brief cases, like the kids today at shows. We all had shoe boxes.

But just like the kids today, we would sit amongst ourselves and buy and trade cards. I still have a Joe DiMaggio autograph I bought from one of those kids for $10 in 1978. I had it authenticated at a show in the 1990's. I was surprised when it came back legit.

Man, this hobby has been fun. I still have as much fun at age 58 with cards as I did at age 12. Dad has even come around. At age 87, he still goes to flea markets, he still buys trumpets, and even buys cards -- though, he buys the worst stuff known to man. He won't take my advice on buying cards. There probably isn't a person alive with more crap cards in his garage than dad. Oh well. I am thankful for the time spent with him in the 1970's at the Twin Flea Market and those old Hillside Holiday Inn card shows. Eventually, I even convinced him to take me to the card shop on Archer Avenue in Chicago.

I really miss those days. At least I have card shows to attend today but flea markets are not the same. There is nothing like the old Twin Flea Market. I absolutely loved that place.

The Twin flea market was huge. I loved wandering around there. Most sellers sold stuff they had stored away for years in their basements or attics. You could dig through boxes and pull out absolute treasures. There was no antique and collectible industry like there is today. No price guides. No "comps."  No You-Tube videos telling you how to invest in sports cards. It was a raw and real time that was incredibly fun.

That winter, 1978, dad found an indoor flea market at the Axle Roller Rink in nearby Niles, Illinois. We started to set up there. I recognized many of the people from the Twin. More treasures were to be had at the Axle Roller Rink. It was there that I purchased my first T206 card, a John McGraw, for just five bucks!  

I still live in the same area where I grew up and regularly drive by the land where the Twin once stood and lament its demise. When it closed in the early 1990s, I figured some developer purchased it. As I was getting ready to write this blog, I did some google research on the Twin and learned that the Palwaukee Airport, which was adjacent to the Twin, purchased the land to build some drainage ditches to keep the runways free of water which explains why a lot of that land is still empty -- why can't a smaller version of the Twin come back?!! There is plenty of room!!

The old Axle Roller rink is long gone. The building remains and now houses a Salvation Army thrift store. I sure would love to see that old indoor flea market come back. I don't know of any indoor flea markets in the area any more. I sure would love to find one. My outdoor flea market of choice these days is at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds in Wilmot, Wisconsin. The Wilmot flea market is the closest thing to the old Twin Flea Market I have found. A lot of people I know like Wolf's Flea Market at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. I don't like that one at all. Booth fees are too high. Most of the sellers there are "professionals." You won't find anyone dumping stuff from their attic. You got a better shot at the Wilmot flea market. There is a lot of old junk at the Wilmot Flea Market and it has a better old timey vibe than Wolf's. I set up in Wilmot every summer. I still love it! Fifty years collecting baseball cards. Oh my! I am still a card junky, a card show junky, and a flea market junky. Some things for me will never change. Man, if I could do dad's trumpet hustle, that would be something! 

Here's some photos I found online of the Twin:

Saturday, February 15, 2025, Woodstock North High School, Woodstock, IL

The theme last week was SNOW. Here in my little burg outside of Chicago, we were hit with snow on Wednesday and Friday -- though, its bark was worse than its bite. There is a lot of snow on the ground currently but the various agencies of government that handle snow removal did an excellent job.

My only issue with the snow Saturday prior to the Woodstock show was with my driveway. I shoveled, loaded the car, and had a clear drive through Lake and McHenry counties.

Sales were steady in the morning then died out in the afternoon. I brought out all of my baseball binders and most of my football. I thought I would have room to place out the basketball binders but I misjudged my space and did not get them out. Though, I pulled them out for Angel who purchased a bunch of Harlem Globetrotter cards. Thanks Angel!

Scotty found some cards along with several other guys and I ended up earning just about the exact same amount of money I earn every single time in Woodstock -- it is so weird. No other show is as consistent!

I brought out some cash this morning to purchase some cards. There was much to buy last month and I was unprepared -- not this month, I was ready to buy! I only had one group of cards walk up. One of the modern dealers gave me a small stack of cards that included a 1961 Topps Ernie Banks All-Star. Tough card. I always like picking up 1961 high numbers.

The day went by fairly quickly and before long, I was on my way home with the car loaded up for Orland on Sunday.

There is no Woodstock show in March. The next one is April 19, unfortunately, I can't make that one because I have the Wisconsin MegaShow that day. Then the Woodstock show shuts down until August, which is a real bummer because I really like this show and wish I could do it every month. So, my next Woodstock show will be in August.

The next Oak Creek show is coming up on March 1. We had more than 1,400 through the door for the February show, I expect much of the same for March. Tables are sold out. The MegaShow is coming up on April 19 at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. Tables are selling fast. Get yours soon by emailing me at [email protected].

​A huge thank  you to everyone who purchased cards from me in Woodstock. See you in August!!

Sunday, February 2, 2025, Bridgeview Community Center, Bridgeview, IL

A couple of months ago, vintage sports card dealer and good friend Mark Smith, who resides and mostly sets up in Michigan, sent me an email asking about some Chicago-area shows. We hatched a plan to set up together at the February 2nd Bridgeview show.

Back in the day, Mark regularly drove in to Chicago and Milwaukee for shows. Mark is a tremendous dealer and a great guy. I've really missed him since he stopped coming our way. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to hanging out with Mark.

Bridgeview show promoter Nick Parsons was really kind and accommodated us. Mark had three tables, I had two -- five pretty great tables of vintage. I drooled at the three Paul Hornung rookies in Mark's display case.

It was like old times, hanging out with Mark. A few guys came out to see him which was much appreciated. The only drawback was that the guys set up behind Mark took a lot more space behind their tables than they should. There was a little barrier Mark and I had to dance around to talk to each other. If you are taking up more than half the space between your table and the dealer behind you, you are a jerk. The guys behind Mark were jerks.

Jerks aside, the show had a nice crowd along with some autograph guests including former White Sox players Neal Cotts and Geoff Blum and former Bears quarterback Bobby Douglas. My pals Will and Joe showed up early. Joe got autographs from Cotts and Blum. Will found a bunch of cards for his sets at Mark's tables.

I had a few guys stop by like Mike, Andy, and Chris. Thanks guys! Then there was the guy with the really old Phillies jacket who bought a bunch of cards. I sold some cards to another guy who said he ran a local ministry. The big winner was Nick, who purchased a pile of 1971 Topps high numbers for his set. Thanks Nick!

On the buying front, I purchased a whole set of 1956 Topps Daniel Boone. I love vintage non-sports. It has been a while since I had some Daniel Boone cards.

Mark seemed to do well and was happy. He said it was like old times. Yes! Come back soon. We really need to get Mark up to Milwaukee!!

Anyway, a fun day in Bridgeview. Not sure when I can make it back there. This is a tough show to fit into my schedule but I hope to set up in Bridgeview again soon!

After Bridgeview, I took the next weekend off to go see my son at Michigan State. We drove down to check out Ann Arbor, where neither of us had ever been before. I was surprised that the University of Michigan campus was so urban. I prefer Michigan State's campus in East Lansing with its old buildings and large open spaces. Though, overall, I really liked the town of Ann Arbor and enjoyed walking around.

Up next is Woodstock North High School, 3000 Raffel Road, Woodstock, IL, on Saturday, February 15, 2025. I am a little concerned about the weather as snow is in the forecast. I am going to do my best to wade through the snow and set up on Saturday. I just reloaded my 1973 Topps baseball high number binder along with 1961 Topps football. I plan on bringing my basketball binders as well.

Then on Sunday, February 16, 2025, I am setting up at the Orland Park Civic Center where I will have out all of my binders and two display cases of cards.

Farewell Skip

Well, that great card show in the sky took in another dealer on February 10 -- my pal George "Skip" Carroll, age 78, of Huntly, IL. I've known Skip a good 25 years or so. We met at Fred Copp's old show at the Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, IL. In those days, Skip carried a large amount of vintage sports cards but was always opening up the newest series of cards and building sets.

I remember one show at Indian Lakes where some a-hole stole a bunch of Skip's vintage cards. At some point, we all get ripped off, it is part of the territory but it still sucks nonetheless.

I enjoyed hanging out with Skip over the years. He was a huge White Sox fan and always had a thing or two to say about the Sox. I liked hearing his tales about operating a deli in Arizona with his wife. He also had great Chicago mob stories. A really neat guy and always a joy to be around. I also bought a lot of cards from Skip over the years.

​After a while, I kind of thought Skip was invincible after he beat cancer twice. Man, that sucked when he got sick and I was so happy when he recovered. I am so sorry to see him go. Man, they are having a great card show up in the sky. RIP Skip. I will always appreciate your friendship.

Saturday, February 1, 2025, Salvation Army Community Center, Oak Creek, WI

Many of you know my good buddy Mark Smith from Michigan. Mark used to set up all over the Midwest but has narrowed it down to mostly the monthly Taylor and Grand Rapids, Michigan, shows these past few years.

He had a rare venture into the Chicago area for the Bridgeview show on February 2. As you may recall, Mark was my partner when I first started the Oak Creek show. We used to hang out at the old Gonzaga Hall show in Milwaukee which is where we planned to create the Oak Creek show back in September of 2014.

Mark lasted the first five shows before he tired of driving to Milwaukee from Michigan twice a month -- can't blame him. Though, we were a pretty good team. As promoters, I was the good cop, he was the bad cop. He would get pissed off if a dealer no-showed or cancelled right before the show. I, on the other hand, was just thankful for any dealer willing to set up at our new show and gave a lot a leeway.

We were talking about those early days on Sunday in Bridgeview and Mark commented that when we started the show he thought I was too nice. He was right, I was too nice. I let the dealers really slide. Mark had some experience promoting card shows and I learned a lot from him. He was so helpful starting the show. One of the lessons from Professor Mark was that you can't be too nice. Mark was happy to learn that I have been hardened after more than 10 years of operating the show. I informed Mark that I am kicking dealers out left and right these days and not taking any guff from anybody.

I seem to get in some sort of altercation with a dealer or two every month and have to kick them out of the show -- which really boggles my mind because I have the cheapest tables around and bring in a huge crowd. Why fight with me? In addition, there are few things in life easier than being a sports card/Pokémon dealer. All you have to do is reserve the table, pay for the table, set up your stuff, sell stuff, pack it up and go home. There is no need to complain to me or demand anything from me. You would be surprised at the constant complaints and demands. I don't take kindly to complainers and demanding dealers. Luckily, it is not 2014 and I don't need these demanding dealers. With more than 150 dealers on my Oak Creek waiting list, I have a quick fuse these days and have been regularly tossing out problem dealers.

My problem dealer this month told me he can't make the Oak Creek show on the night before the show. He had a good excuse. He said he his wife went into labor and was in the hospital. The problem began when I congratulated him and then commented that I can't guarantee a spot for him the following month because I had to replace him with someone off the waiting list this month and most likely the new person would want to return. In addition, I placed a newsletter on every dealer's table the previous month letting them know that if they missed a show for any reason, I can't guarantee them a spot the next show. In the newsletter and in person, I told this dealer that I will try my best to get him in next month, but it is mathematics, there might not be space... and if I can't get him in, he would go to the top of the waiting list and get back in soon.

The guy went nuts. We spent hours going back and forth in emails which made me wonder if his wife really was in labor. Why would you fight with me all day over a $30 table at a card show if you are at the hospital with your wife who is in labor?

The guy called me names, insulted me, threatened me, and was ultimately kicked out of the show. Good riddance!

This happens every single month, especially lately when I just don't have space for guys who miss shows. So entitled! I have a four-letter word for them. As a result, I am no longer nice. Mark is so proud of me!!

Having said that, I don't think I am overly mean. I set up at a ton of shows and know that I bend for dealers more than any other promoter in the world. I only charge 30 bucks for a table when most promoters charge $50 or more. I make a concerted effort to set up the building so dealers have space to get out from behind their table and go to the bathroom. I make a concerted effort to have decent size aisles throughout the building, while other shows have miniscule aisle space, i.e. Joliet. Admittedly, there are a few tight spots in the building but overall there is much more space behind your table in Oak Creek and in the aisles than most any other show, again, see Joliet. I actually kicked out a dealer at the January show, who complained that he did not have enough space -- yet he had enough space to place out two tables, when he only paid for one and I mapped out his space for just one table. The audacity of some of these people! I have a four-letter word for them!

Along those lines, the amount of time I am putting into the show has increased ten-fold and I am going to slightly raise table fee to $35 for the April show. Hoping the increased fee will ease my pain from dealing with knuckleheads.

Knuckleheads aside, 99-percent of the Oak Creek dealers are awesome! Amazing people, who unlike the few knuckleheads, are a joy to be around and I have a great appreciation for them.

There were no knuckleheads at the February 1 Oak Creek show (I kicked out the phony baby guy on the day before). I had a great time and really enjoyed hanging out with everybody.

It all starts with my set-up crew: Lisa, Christy and George. Without these guys, there would be no Oak Creek show. The show has grown much too large for me to set it up by myself. I am so thankful for the crew! Plus, they always lighten my day, especially after fighting with some entitled idiot.

On Saturday, Lisa and I actually arrived a little early. I was able to set up my tables much quicker than usual and had more time to chat with the good dealers. Our friend Don August was back with more books and more free autographs. Don August is such a great guy and so much fun to be around. Unfortunately, with baseball season starting soon, we won't see Don until the fall. I'll try to get some additional autograph guests this year.

Now let's talk about the crowd -- WOW!!! Yes, it is no longer 2014 when we would sometimes get just 15 or 20 people at the show. We had 1,419 people at the show on Saturday!! New record. Woot! We also had 191 tables, another record. 

It was a sea of people all morning. I am starting to think that maybe we are getting too many people. The show is just crazy crowded in the morning. I suggest that folks think about arriving after 11 a.m. when the crowd starts to die down a little. It was tight in the building. 

My tables were crowded all day and sales were pretty good, oddly not quite as good as last month but still pretty good. Buys, on the other hand, were amazing! Oak Creek has become my best buying show by far. I picked up a bunch of old baseball and football programs from the 1950's and 1960's. I also purchased some old wax wrappers including a 1951 Bowman baseball wrapper. I purchased a complete set of 1971 Kellogg's baseball. I have only had a smattering of the Kellogg's baseball cards over the years, never a complete set because the 1971 issue is the most difficult to obtain and it has many variations in the set. Then I purchased Cubs team sets from the late 1960's into the early 1970's with many duplicates. I think I obtained at least 10 or 12 1972 Topps Jose Cardenal traded high numbers alone!! Tough card!! I spent some coin and came home with a nice haul!!!

This was a really, really enjoyable day. Everything went smoothly. My only regret is I failed to get back to the concession stand before it closed. I had a Sloppy Joe early and really wanted a brat late in the day. I gotta get my brat next month!!

A huge thank you to my crew, the volunteers from the Salvation Army, my main man Mark, my security, all the dealers and all the customers. You guys rule! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! What a day!!!!

We will tee it up once again in Oak Creek on March 1. Can't wait to see everyone next month... knuckleheads need not apply!!!

​Now for some photos:

Blog from the Bridgeview show coming soon. FYI -- I am taking next weekend off from shows. I'll be back at it on February 15 for the Woodstock, Illinois, show.