Saturday, March 18, 2023. Chicago Sports Spectacular, Rosemont, IL

​After a lousy Friday, I did not expect much on Saturday. The crowd was better and more people spent time viewing my display cases but sales were not much better. Disappointing.

The saving grace for me was the many folks who stopped by to chat. I seem to know more people at this show than any other show. It was great to see Iowa dealers Tim and Susan Payne; and big Mark from Dubuque. I saw Minnesota dealers John and Johnny. Al from Milwaukee stopped by and we had our running joke about doughnuts. 

I saw Jim and his lovely wife, who are always on the hunt for Wisconsin supper clubs. My old pal Chuck stopped by and purchased a few cards. I remember when Chuck would come out with his son when he was just a lad. Chuck informed me that he is all grown up and engaged to be married. Congrats! My time flies!!

Troy from Mears Auctions stopped by. I told Troy that the coolest thing I ever saw at any show was his booth at one of the Chicago Nationals where he had a full Lou Gehrig game used uniform on display, from the hat, jersey, pants, stirrups and cleats. It was cool!

Troy told me that back in the day, he would walk the big Chicago shows with a cart and buy as many jerseys as he could because they were real inexpensive back then before the interest in them exploded.

Jim C. stopped by for a chat. I saw another Indiana guy, Bob Lucas. Old Gary Rapata stopped by as well. 

I really should have brought a mobile bar and served cocktails to make it a real party. 

I saw the weird guys from the summer show who wore costumes. Those guys are weird and give me the heeby geebies. 

I had time to chat with my main man Kevin Wolff. I learned that Kevin is a renaissance man. He is a mild-mannered landscaper by day while at night, he is an artist, creating Bob Ross style paintings. He also paints murals in restaurants and teaches painting. Kevin also played some hockey. He gave me a hockey card of himself. He also signed that cool photo of his world record catch of a fish. Thanks Kevin! What a cool dude!

My best sale came at the end of the day. Earlier a guy came around and photographed a bunch of my cards. He came back later and sat down at Dave's table. Dave apparently met these guys recently at Eddie's show in Darien. He said they spent four hours at his table in Darien. This time, they sat for an hour and purchased a couple of cards with Dave. Then, as the show was closing, they went through my cards. Ended up being my best sale of the day. Thanks Darien dudes!

I also purchased a bunch of cards from Junior, as usual. Though I missed out on some good buys when Junior brought over a stack of Koufax cards. With low sales, I did not have the funds on me. Then he brought over a nice stack of Ernie Banks cards while I was in the bathroom. Dave snapped those up and got a good deal. Junior is the man!

Even though sales stunk, I have to admit that I did have a good time.

Next up is the Orland Park show on Sunday, March 26, 2023. I am feverishly pricing a new binder of 1970-71 Topps basketball. I hope to have it finished by Sunday. Looks like I'm going to be snowed in on Saturday, so I should have the time to get it done.

Next Oak Creek show is coming up fast on April 1! Once again I have sold out 180 tables and have 130 dealers. The wait list continues to grow. Dealers, if you could pay me in advance for your spot prior to April 1, I would greatly appreciate it. I just don't have the energy or the time to walk the building and collect table fee from 130 different dealers. Please send table fee via PayPal, friends and family, to abrandongordon@hotmail.com.

​See you all in Orland!

I think I took this photo below on Friday at the Spectacular. This is the view from Dave's cases. You would have thought we had scurvy or something with the lack of people by our booth.

My pal Lou Georgetta died yesterday at age 66. I've known Lou a good 25 years, maybe longer. Lou was one of those guys who felt like family the minute you met him -- so warm and kind.

Lou was the only other person I knew who was a card-carrying member of the old Chicagoland Sports Collectors Association. I joined the CSCA in 1978 and attended as many of their card shows as I could at the old Hillside Holiday Inn in Suburban Chicago. Lou was there as well. We reminisced about those days regularly.

Lou was one of the biggest hockey fans I knew and sold hockey cards and memorabilia at many card shows, including the Woodstock show, the old Gonzaga Hall shows, Fred Copp's old shows, Orland Park, Schaumburg and he made it up to my Oak Creek show a couple of time.

He would have attended more shows but diabetes and related illnesses held him back. He unfortunately spent months at a time in hospitals and rehab facilities. Through it all, he was always positive. He would call me and an hour would go by in a blink of an eye. He would say that he was planning to set up at a show soon. I always looked forward to seeing him and was lucky enough to see him regularly.

As you know, I too, have diabetes. It is a beast of a disease and will swallow you whole. One of the many effects of diabetes is that it hampers your ability to heal from injury and slows your blood circulation. Lou was hard hit and could not move around very well. His awesome son Anthony took him to shows the past several years. I just saw Anthony last weekend in Rosemont and he said his dad was getting ready to set up at a show soon. Lou was always preparing for the next show.

Lou grew up on the Northwest Side of Chicago and attended St. Patrick's High School. He had a great Chicago accent when he spoke. I always thought he should have been a sportscaster with that great voice and incredible sports knowledge. 

​Later, he served on the Franklin Park Village Board. Franklin Park is a small Chicago suburb located just southeast of O'Hare Airport. When Lou was in Franklin Park, I was living nearby on the Northwest Side of Chicago and regularly used Franklin Park as a shortcut around the near Northwest suburbs. Any time my car would hit a pothole, I would kid Lou that he needed to fix all the roads in his town. He would laugh.

Another great thing about Lou is that he always looked out for me. When I had my falling out with John Leary, former promoter of the Orland show, back in 2014, Lou was the first to call and tell me that John was an idiot. When John sold the show to Rich, it was Lou who got me back in there by urging Rich to give me a call and invite me back to the show. If not for Lou, I probably would have never gone back to the Orland show.

Also, back in the fall of 2020, when every card show shut down, it was Lou who got me back setting up by informing me that the Schaumburg show was back. Oh, it was so good to be back at a show after that five-month COVID hiatus and hanging out with Lou.

I was heartbroken when my pal Donny called to let me know Lou had died. The thought of not seeing Lou, not talking with Lou, not having a laugh with Lou is devasting. My sympathies to Donny, who was very close with Lou and was at his side at most every card show. Condolences to Lou's family and all of his friends. We lost a good one. Man, was I lucky to know Lou and call him my friend. I will miss you Lou! 

Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Sax-Tiedemann Funeral Home 9568 W. Belmont Ave., Franklin Park, IL. Chicago Cubs attire preferred!! 

Friday, March 17, 2023, Chicago Sports Spectacular, Rosemont, IL

I had a premonition about this one after having bad shows the week before. That premonition came to fruition as I had a bad show at the Sports Spectacular.

My spot was in a better location than the November show, where they had me in the parking lot -- I'm VIP, all the way! Attendance was excellent. I watched copious amounts of collectors walk by my table, especially Friday. Nobody wanted to look at my cards Friday. It was disappointing.

I only had a handful of sales on Friday, which sucks because it is such a long day. I got there around 10:30 a.m. and the show stayed open until 8:30 p.m. My good buddy Tony Schaefer purchased some cards. Thanks Tony! Another good buddy, big Scott purchased my 1952 Bowman small George Halas. Thanks Scott! I had a few more sales and I took note that it was all people I knew but now I can't remember exactly who purchased cards. 

Saving grace on Friday were my boothmates, Dave, PJ, and Kevin. I enjoyed hanging out with those guys. The show would have been especially brutal if I was there myself and did not know anyone. 

I was happy that I was also next to Stack 'N Sell, who regularly vlogs about the Oak Creek show. Nice group of young guys.

A few more observations. My booth was located in the new room. The show was on the first floor, across from the tattoo convention. The show is normally on the second floor. I do remember that in the 1990's the show was occasionally on the first floor and this extra room was used. I am not sure if my placement in the new room affected my sales. A lot of folks said they could not find me. Though the room was filled with people all weekend.

It was nice to see some new and improved food options. There was a bar set up in the lobby with a sandwich menu. I went out there for a pork-ends sandwich that was pretty good. The Tattoo convention also had a food court. I never made it in there but PJ and Kevin went in there regularly to purchase food.

One of the best parts of being in the new room was that it was far away from the autographs and my thoughts and conversations were not drowned out by the autograph announcements.

Another observation was the mass amounts of vintage cards at the show. Most vintage dealers I have seeen at this show in years. There was some great stuff all around. A lot of big names like Ruth, Gehrig and Cobb on many tables.

Dave commented that the set builders, who we rely on, were noticeably absent. I think if we had more heavey hitters in our display cases, we might have fared much better.

On the buying front, I purchased a beat up 1959 Topps Mickey Mantle. It is always good to add a Mantle into my inventory, no matter what the condition.

​Not much else to report. I largely just sat around.

Pictured below are my neighbors Stack 'N Sell, who seemed much busier than I was during the show. My only complaint was that their customers kept placing their boxes and briefcases on my display cases, as did the young guy in the red hoody did here. Those three display cases in the photo are mine. They just gathered dust all weekend.

Also, check out those boxes behind Stack 'N Sell. They belong to this total douchebag set up next to them who did not like my walkway into my booth. He wanted that space and pinched the back of Stack 'N Sell's booth.

Saturday, March 11, 2023, Bridgeview; and Sunday March 12, 2023, Orland

My first mistake for this weekend was having high expectations. I mistakenly thought I was going to have a great weekend but instead, I laid an egg. 

This was my third Bridgeview show and the previous two were good, so I thought this one would be good as well. No such luck. I'll be back though. You can't get rid of me that easily!

Now Orland, is almost always good and I have been setting up there for years. No such luck this weekend. You know I'll be back.

Sales were bad at both shows and buys were non-existent. 

On the plus side, I got to hang out with my pals Will and Joe all weekend. Love those guys! Where was everybody else? 

I know both the Bridgeview show and Orland show will bounce back. The promoters are superstars. We all have duds sometimes. I just have to forget about last weekend. I won't doink that field goal attempt next time.

Next up is the three-day Sports Spectacular, formerly known as the Sun-Times show. I am a little nervous heading into this show. I always like to have some momentum going into a big show. I will be there, regardless. I am bringing out display cases. I am working on pricing a bunch of new stuff for those cases. If you want to see any binders this weekend, let me know ahead of time.

Come see me in Rosemont, Illinois, this coming weekend and let me know where you were the past weekend!

Next Oak Creek show is April 1. Dealers tables are sold out!

Saturday, March 4, 2023, Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, Oak Creek, WI

As a lover of sports cards and card shows, I gotta say that this is the best show around. I am not just giving myself a pat on the back but I attend a TON of shows and there is no other show quite like the Oak Creek show. I do not think there is a monthly show in the country as large as this show. There is no other monthly show with our attendance. There definitely is no other show in the country with the variety here -- modern, tons of vintage, Pokémon, wax, supplies, autographs, publications, memorabilia -- all here and in great depth!

I purposely limit each dealer to two tables max, that way I can provide more dealers than any monthly card show -- 130 dealers! We're not talking tables, we're talking 130 different dealers!! You can't find that anywhere else but Oak Creek!

I also have something here in Oak Creek that even those mega shows across the country don't have -- the personal touch of a life-long sports card collector. There are no showy corporate booths here. No mega-star autograph guests. Just people, large amounts of people, that come together every single month for the love sports cards and non-sports cards. There is a definite buzz, a joy and excitement that I see nowhere else!

Speaking of mega shows like the National, I attend every National, including just about all of the Nationals ever held in Chicago, going back to 1983. From 1983 on, the only thing I ever wanted to see at the National was sports cards. Everything else is clutter. Currently, the sports card dealers are getting pushed out of the National in favor of corporate booths and crap... but not in Oak Creek where we have everything I have ever wanted in a card show -- vintage sports cards! I appreciate everything else that is sold at the show but I freaking love vintage sports cards and we rival most mega shows with the number of vintage sports card dealers we have here.

In addition, the greatest thing about the Oak Creek show is that it all came about organically. I never planned for this and never expected this. I started with a few guys nearly nine years ago and more folks latched on steadily until it grew into this amazing event. I can't even pat myself on the back if I wanted to because I am only partially responsible. This amazing show is the result of all the dealers who set up every month and all the customers who regularly attend. You guys rule!!!

As the show has grown, it is still largely just me hustling to get everything done. As usual, I spent a lot of time working on the show during the week prior to the event on March 4. Tons of calls, texts, Facebook messages. Two dealers cancelled the day before the show because they said they had COVID -- this seems to happen every month. I contacted about a dozen folks on my wait list and was able to fill the spots. I still have a large wait list!!

There were several no-shows on the day of the show, which always drives me nuts. Why can't people call me, email, text, Facebook message and let me know they are not coming? I could have pulled more people off the wait list!

I know that there will be no shows, so I try to overbook the show and was able to fill some of the spots that way. Also, I wait until the morning of the show to give myself a spot, taking one of the no-show spots. This month, I was able to get a spot in the gym. Woot! Who knows where I will be next month.

Lisa helped me set up Friday night and we were able to shed an hour off my normal set up time. It only took five hours, instead of the usual six. Thank you Lisa! Since we did not have to go home after set up, we spent the night nearby at the Homewood Suites Hotel. I've stayed at this hotel a good four or five times in the past and the cost was never more than $100 for the night. This time, I was charged $200! Lisa figured we would search for another hotel but I was too tired and just dropped the cash. I meant to Priceline it prior but I got too busy. Next month, I'm hitting Priceline and probably will not be staying at the Homewood Suites ever again.

Though, it sure was nice sleeping in a bit because the Homewood Suites is located just a few minutes away from the Salvation Army. I looked for TV camaras when we arrived around 7:15 a.m. because Fox 6 said they were going to be there and do a piece for their morning show. No Fox 6. Apparently, they chose a craft fair in Waukesha over us. Their loss because we had quite an event with 970 people through the door! We're so close to 1,000!!! Come on! Let's hit 1,000 for April!!!

We did get some media coverage as Ross Forman from Sports Collectors Digest attended and interviewed me and Scotty P. He already posted his story here: https://hubs.li/Q01FqmRV0. Ross may post some additional feature stories on several of our dealers that he interviewed at the show Saturday. Thank you Ross!

The morning of the show is always a bit chaotic for me with new dealers needing assistance in finding their spots. I am also trying to get all of the dealers to prepay me for their space prior to every show. It is just a cluster$%#@ trying to collect table fee from 130 dealers during the show. A good number prepaid and a larger number came over to my tables to pay. I need to get more to prepay and more to pay me first thing in the morning. Attention Dealers! Please prepay for your space. You can send PayPal, friends & family, to abrandongordon@hotmail.com. Those that don't have PayPal can send me a check or money order to Anthony B. Gordon, 201 E. Dundee Road, Suite 2, Palatine, IL 60074.

Lisa ran and got us our Sloppy Joes around 9 a.m. -- the best breakfast!

Sales were consistent at my tables, when I was there. I know I sold some cards to two of my favorites, Craig and Doreen. Thanks guys! A younger collector, who I believe used to set up at the show and whose name escapes me, purchased a nice pile of 1962 Topps baseball. I know I sold more stuff, but I just can't remember. Too much going on. I know I sold cards to quite a few new customers who I don't recall seeing before.

When I wasn't at the table, Lisa said she did not sell much. Our sales were much better last month. I might do a hybrid set up next time with binders and display cases.

On the buying front, not nearly as good as last month but I did pick up a 1963 Topps Tony Oliva Rookie PSA 6 from Jimmy C., who gave me a nice deal. Thanks Jim!

Then I met Matt from Minnesota, who every vintage dealer talked about when he last visited us at the January show. He pulled out a T206 Cy Young with an Old Mill back. At first, I thought he wanted to sell the card but he told me he just wanted to show it off. Then he pulled out a bunch more amazing cards including 1933 Goudeys Tris Speaker, Babe Ruth and Dizzy Dean. He had a 1910 Sporting Life Ty Cobb, a 1939 Play Ball Joe Dimaggio, a 1934 Diamond Stars Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg among a host of others. Cool stuff! See photos below.

Folks cornered me all day long to tell me how much they liked the show. Thank you! My old pal Willie S. hitched a ride with Dell and attended his first Oak Creek show since I expanded to 180 tables. Willie was set up at my very first show back in September of 2014. Along with Willie, it was great to see a lot of the long-time collectors who I first met twenty-something years ago at Gonzaga Hall like Mark, State Farm Dave, Steve, Jack, Bruce, and many others. Thanks for your support!

It was a pretty great day until several dealers came running to get me as one dealer caught a kid stealing. I ran to get our undercover police officer Tom and we questioned the kid. He admitted to stealing. He returned the cards he stole to the dealer who caught him -- Terry. I appreciate Terry's vigilance in catching the thief! I also recovered a small pile of stolen cards and was able to return most of them to several other dealers.

We tried to call the thief's parents but they would not pick up the phone. My guess is the kid gave us fake phone numbers. Later, I figured out that he was with his two younger brothers. I pulled them aside and was able to have one call his mother. I told mom we found her 13-year-old son stealing, asked that she come pick him up and to never bring him back to the show.

At first she was a little combative but by the time she arrived she was embarrassed and apologized.

Now I am wondering if I should allow parents to leave their kids at the show unaccompanied. My dad used to drop me off at shows when I was 12. I never considered stealing and I don't know any other kids from back then that stole. We were into cards and purchased them happily. I always had a game plan in my youth when attending a show. I knew how much money I had and tried to make that money go as far as it could. I checked out all of the dealer tables, took notes on pricing and spent my money with the dealers that had the cheapest prices. This was in 1978, so I could pick up Hall-of-Famers for a song. I had so much fun at those shows!!

I know kids are having fun at my show but it seems to be kids that are stealing. So I have to think about this one. I don't want to discourage kids from attending but I have to put an end to the thefts.

I am happy to report that there was no fighting amongst dealers this month. The two guys involved last month really regret it and have moved on.

Overall, another great Oak Creek show. I really appreciate all of the dealers, customers, Salvation Army staff and volunteers, and Officer Tom. Thank you everybody!!

Next Oak Creek show is scheduled for April 1, 2023. Once again, I have already sold out 180 tables -- hopefully, everybody shows up! To be added to my wait list, send me an email at abrandongordon@hotmail.com

No rest for the weary! I'm setting up at two shows next weekend with Bridgeview on Saturday, March 11; and Orland on Sunday, March 12. Hope to see you next weekend!!

There is only so much I can say about the Oak Creek show. See it for yourself with the photo essay below of the five different rooms at the show -- the Front Hallway, the Chapel, the Game Room, Fellowship Hall and the Gym. Be sure to visit all five rooms at the April 1 show!

Look at this spectacle!!!

BRONKO!

New dealer Rod Novak brought out ticket stubs and schedules which I thought were pretty cool.

The next seven photos are of dealer Scott Walter's booth in the Chapel. He always has one of the most unique booths in the show.