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Goodbye My Friend

8/26/2014

5 Comments

 
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In the late 1970s when I was a kid, I convinced my dad drive me to card shows at the Hillside Holiday Inn in suburban Chicago. Chuck Thomas was a dealer at those early Hillside card shows which were a madhouse, a frenzy.  Tons of dealers, cards, people.  I visited every dealer table at those shows trying to figure out which table had the best deals on the best cards.  I most likely visited Chuck's table.  I'm sure he chatted me up.  He probably commented on the stack of 1956 Topps baseball cards I would have had in my 12 year-old hand.  I'm sure he told me a story or two about the players or he had some trivia or interesting tidbit about the cards themselves.

Years later, we became friends when I started setting up at the Orland Park shows.  My first time out as a dealer at Orland, I only took one table.  At $30 a pop, I didn't want to start the day out $60 or $90 in debt by purchasing multiple tables.  It was a good thing too.  At my first Orland show about 12 years ago or so, the room was crowded but I did not get much action.  I knew a few of the modern card guys from the north-suburban shows.  Born and raised up north, this was my first venture into the south suburbs of Chicago.  I knew two vintage dealers -- John Meckler and Jim Goodfriend.  Both guys were regulars up north. I also met Goodfriend when I was a kid at those Hillside shows.  You would think that when you buy cards from a guy from age 12 to 35 he might be nice to you when he sees you at a show.  Hell no, not Jim Goodfriend.  He was a complete tool when I first started setting up at the Orland shows.  In no uncertain terms, he told me to leave.  Obviously, I ignored him. 

Chuck, on the other hand, took me under his wing from the get go.  About the third time I was set up in Orland, Chuck brought me a shoe box filled with 1955 Bowman baseball cards and two monster boxes of 1974 Topps. He sold them to me for a song. I thought there was something wrong with the cards.  I didn't know Chuck very well and I assumed he was hustling me some how.  I asked some of the other dealers why they did not buy those cards from Chuck.  I learned Chuck never offered the cards to anyone else, he brought them just for me.  He practically gave me the cards.  For the next 10 years or so, twice a month, Chuck was Santa Claus... bringing me one tremendous gift after another.  I sold him some cards too but I always felt guilty because of all the great deals he gave me.  For the last couple of years, I couldn't charge him much.  I often just gave him cards he needed to complete various sets.  How do you charge a fee to Santa Claus?

Chuck was no ordinary Santa Claus.  He didn't have a band of elves making toys.  Instead, he scoured the Orland and Sun-Times shows along with eBay for deals on cards.  He bought cards by the thousands.  Usually, the bulk of the cards were 1974 Topps, of which he would make sets and sell them on eBay.

From years of building these 1974 Topps sets, he became an expert on them  He could tell you which cards were difficult to find; which cards always had snow or a printing mark on the upper right corner; which cards were never centered; and which cards always had rubber band marks and more.  I always wanted to sit down with him and a video camera while he discussed each and every card in that 1974 set.  He had some enlightening or interesting note about all of the cards.  It was remarkable to listen to him talk about those cards.

He was also an expert on the Post Cereal cards issued from 1961 to 1963.  Back in my early Orland days, I was having trouble differentiating the Post Cereal cards from a similar issue placed on the back of Jello packages.  The Post and Jello cards look almost exactly alike except for slight variations.  I remember asking John Meckler some questions about the Jello cards.  He gave me some answers but finished each statement with "that's what Chuck said."  From John, I first learned about Chuck's vast knowledge of these unique cards.  So I began to pick Chuck's brain and he taught me how to spot a Jello from a Post Cereal card. Then Chuck started to bring me stacks of Post Cereal cards.  I love the Post Cereal cards and eagerly greeted each and every stack of cards Santa Claus brought me. 

There were endless discussions about the Post Cereal cards.   The cards were issued a few years before I was born.  But Chuck was a kid in his prime baseball card collecting years when the cards came out in the early 1960s.  He told me that the difficult cards from those sets were originally placed on the back of Raisin Bran cereal.  Chuck said that kids hated Raisin Bran, so fewer of those cards made it into circulation.  The cards with the greatest circulation were on sugary cereals.  Chuck shared stories of making a conscious effort of joining his mother on grocery trips so he could direct her to the Raisin Bran.  He hated Raisin Bran like all the other kids, but he wanted those cards.

He had such a great memory and shared many wonderful anecdotes.  My favorite story is about the 1963 Fleer.  Unlike the Topps cards that came with a stick of gum, the Fleer cards were packed with a cookie.  All of Chuck's friends hated the cookie. He, on the other hand, loved them.  He was able to load up on those cookies because he was the only one who liked them.  I can just picture young Chuck flipping and sorting cards with a mouthful of cookies. 

When I met Chuck, I had just ended my 11-year career as a journalist and was completing law school.  Chuck had been a practicing attorney long before I met him.  He spent many years as a Will County prosecutor.  I eagerly listened to his tales from the front lines, dealing with infamous folks like Drew Peterson.  When I started practicing law and landed a job in Downtown Chicago, Chuck would visit me on occasion when he had to be at the Daley Center or an administrative hearing with the Secretary of State's office.  We would go out to lunch Downtown and talk cards.  It was heaven.

Essentially, that's what we did at the Orland show -- talked cards.  My corner of the room is sort of like a corner tavern.  I invite folks to pull up a chair, stay awhile and chat.  At my tables, Chuck was like "Norm" from Cheers -- only funnier, with much more wit.  He regularly enthralled the crowd at my table with tales from his many years of collecting cards.  I always knew there was going to be some laughter when Chuck sat down.  He would spew all sorts of one liners, he was the Rodney Dangerfield of the Orland Park card show.

Jokes aside, his passion and joy for collecting old baseball cards was something to behold.  He was always one of the first guys to enter the room at Orland in the morning and one of the last to leave.  He would come in wearing a T-shirt featuring an image of a 1956 Topps Ernie Banks card.  He always carried a duffle bag filled with cards and often went home carrying boxes and boxes of cards, freshly purchased.  



The thing that struck me most was how he glowed when he was at the card show.  As soon as he entered the room, he could not hide his joy and happiness.  You know how you automatically squint when there is sun in your eyes?  Well, when Chuck was in a room full of sports cards, he automatically smiled, it was a reflex.  He could not hide his joy.  I don't know if he was even aware that he was smiling and glowing.  He was just so happy to be in that room with all those cards and all those people who loved them just like he did.  It was so genuine, so honest, and incredibly endearing.  I think that best describes Chuck Thomas -- genuine, honest and incredibly endearing.

Though, I admit there are other words too.  I must not forget the word compassionate.  My wife has had a lot of health problems. A few years ago, she had to go to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for some testing and treatment.  I was distraught.  I must live 60 miles away from Chuck but when my wife left for Minnesota, Chuck came right over.  I showed him my basement hideaway which he dubbed "The Card Bunker."  He then drove with me and my kids to Milwaukee for the Gonzaga show.  I can't say how much I appreciated his efforts and company at that time.

Chuck was my buddy.  While we met twice a month at the Orland show, had lunch Downtown, he also visited me at the Bloomingdale and Schaumburg shows.  It was such a treat to hang out with Chuck.

On my computer, I have hundreds of saved emails from Chuck.  Seems like we wasted our work days emailing each other back and forth about cards.  Many of his emails poke fun at Jim Goodfriend.  They're so funny and priceless.  I know Jim probably reads my blog.  Jim you were a real jerk but I'm over it and you've actually gotten much nicer over the years.  Though you deserved all the jokes Chuck made about your sweatpants.  Man, I'm going to miss those emails.  The ones titled "Chuck's Wide World of Sports," or "Right, Right, Right," or "Monster Chuck Strikes Again," or "Skinny Daddy's Sportscards."  Most of the emails were just some quick tidbits like these below:


From 4-25-13:

               Tony, everyone complains how hard it is to get checklists for the '74 Topps baseball set, so I bought 189 of them this                    morning on e-bay.  It's bold moves like this that have won me my fortune.

               My client and I have to be at 100 W. Randolph tomorrow for a prelim on that professional regulations case I told you                      about.  I won't have time for lunch, maybe next time.  Until then, see you on Sunday.  I am desperate for a 1977 topps                    baseball #354 Pirates team in nice shape.  Chuck 


From 1-25-13:

              Tony, I have some items listed on ebay.  Last weekend was King Con II, which turned out to be a much better show                       than the first one.  Jim Colias and Leroy were there and some of the other guys from Orland...including                             
              right...right...right.  I have a bunch of cards that fall into the following categories:  Post cereal baseball--about 275 cards,               semi-high and high number baseball, mostly '70 through '73, and some sharp baseball commons from the '60's.  Hope                 to see you soon...CT   right...right...right.

Chuck and I suffered from a rare affliction called "Cards On The Brain."  The prescribed treatment is constant discussion about cards.  Chuck and I made all sorts of big plans during our many discussions.  We were going to go to the National together this past summer in Cleveland.  He even gave me table fee.  Then he got sick and I gave him his money back.  I didn't want to go to the National if he couldn't go.  We talked about opening a card shop together.  He was going to retire in January and was ready to give a card shop a chance.  I think we might have actually done it. 

Chuck enriched my life.  He was more than a friend, he was a contributor.  He is irreplaceable.  It's surreal. I went to his wake. I felt like littering the floor with Post Cereal cards.  Though, out of respect for his family, I kept the cards in my pocket.  He has a wonderful family.  I enjoyed seeing the photos of him relaxing with his kids and pets.  I can't believe Chuck is not here any more.  It's just not fair.
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5 Comments

NO DISCOUNT ON THE DISCOUNT CARDS!!

8/18/2014

1 Comment

 
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On Sunday, August 17, 2014, I was set up at the Bloomingdale show at the Indian Lakes Resort.  For the past year, I have been commuting to my real job located a short drive from Bloomingdale.  It takes me 40 minutes to an hour to get to work on weekday mornings.  On this cloudy Sunday morning, I left my house at 7:04 a.m., stopped at McDonald's drive thru and made it to the show at 7:34 a.m. -- unbelievable.  Monday morning, after the show, it took more than an hour to make the same drive... without the stop for an egg McMuffin.  One day I am going to find a job where I do not have to commute for more than 15 minutes. One can dream, right?

Note to self -- bring a jacket when setting up at the Bloomingdale show because it is freezing cold in that place.  Luckily I had a flannel in my car. 

We had a nice number of dealers on this day. There were a couple of guys from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Their wives wanted to shop in Schaumburg and they thought they'd set up at the show while the ladies shopped.  It looked like they had a nice amount of customers at their tables.  They had a nice mix of modern and vintage for sale.  I, of course, tried to recruit them for my Milwaukee show.  Speaking of my show, it is coming up on Saturday, September 13.  I think I am going to bring out my array of discount boxes to that show along with some autographs and publications that I don't normally bring out. 

Back at Bloomingdale, I had a nice show.  I sold Reggie White and Steve Young rookies to a new customer.  I sold a second Steve Young rookie and a Joe Montana rookie to a regular customer.  I sold my 1961 Topps Frank Robinson to Randy.  Bill and I did a nice cash and trade deal.  Willie picked up a bunch of 1969 Topps football.  Ron completed his 1969 football set with purchases of a Bart Starr and Willie Wood.  I wish I have kept some sort of log as to how many times guys completed their sets at my tables.  Completing sets is just about my favorite thing to do.  I feel like I have done my job if a customer can complete their set at my table.

My quarter discount box was a hit today. I sold quite a few cards out of there.  I offer five cards for one dollar.  I really should call it the Tommy Ward box.  I had a guy pull out 50 cards and request a greater discount.  Other dealers heard this guy ask me for a discount on my discount cards.  They were up in arms.  Admittedly, I was taken aback at first when the guy asked for a discount on my discount cards.  I gave him a few bucks off.  I don't normally discount the discount cards because, well, they are already discounted.

With the subject of discounting discount cards in the air, the Woj and I started reminiscing about one of the all-time worst customers.  We're talking 10-plus years ago when Fred had a Friday night show in Elk Grove Village.  There was this one guy who drove all the dealers crazy.  He would spend an hour at my table.  He would totally engage me. Take all of my time. I could not help any other customers because he would ask questions about most every card while he looked through most every binder. After what would seem like a lifetime, he would pull out one, single common, no name, off-grade, wax-stained, foul smelling 25-cent card, with just a hint of tape residue on one corner.  Just one card! Not two, but one!! 

So I would think, fine, waste my time for a quarter, okay, I'm a sucker.  But it wouldn't end there. He wanted that single 25-cent card for 15 cents and would get offended if I would not discount my 25-cent card by 10 cents.  He was completely serious. He would tell me all sorts of weird stuff as to why I should give him a 10-cent discount on a single 25-cent card. He always said he needed it to show his students because he was some kind of school teacher.  I think for a year or so, he came to each show and pulled this same routine -- question each card, spend an hour at my table, pull one 25-cent card, and want it for 15 cents, then tell me he was a teacher and needed it to show his students.  I would cringe when I would see him walk into the room.  

Woj told me that the psychotic school teacher once grabbed a set of cards from his table, asked Woj to break the set for one card of which he was willing to pay 5 cents -- yes, he was serious.  Woj told him in no uncertain terms to stick his 5 cents where the sun don't shine.  Thankfully, this nutjob stopped coming out to the show.  I think someone offended him in some way and he stopped coming out.  Yes, he got offended when dealers responded to his requests with hostility.

Today, other than the guy who wanted a discount on my discount cards, I have no complaints about the customers.  There were good customers in the room today.  My coolest sale of the day was to the daughter of Joe Marconi, who played for the Bears in the 1960s.  She purchased his 1963 Topps card.

On the buying front, I picked up all sorts of good stuff that will be priced and displayed shortly at a card show near you, including some 1955, 1963 and 1965 Topps baseball.  I also picked up some Exhibit celebrity cards.  I think I might throw the Exhibits on eBay.

Next week, I'm back in Orland.  I plan on reloading 1963 Topps baseball.  I also may change up my display.  I may bring out more discount boxes (so everyone can ask me for a discount on my discount cards).  Sales have been flat in Orland all summer and I need to change things up.  I am going to think about this one and see what I can do to put a charge in my sales.  I am also open to suggestions.... anyone, Bueller?

One quick note, I have had 800 hits to the website today. I think a few folks are waiting for the blog. I continue to get compliments on my website and my blog at each and every show.  I really appreciate the kind words.
1 Comment

The Dog Days of Summer

8/10/2014

0 Comments

 
After a really long week of work, I rewarded myself with two card shows -- Orland on Saturday and Gonzaga on Sunday. Like last show, Orland was dead early on. The difference this time was the lack of dealers. Quite a few empty tables. I had a few morning sales then it just died around 11:30 a.m. So I left the show for about a 1/2 hour to go to PNC to get some money to pay for some cards I purchased. I left Joe watching my tables. Thanks Joe! When I got back, still nothing much happening. I had a few sales in the afternoon. Will and Andy pretty much saved my show. They bought a bunch of stuff at the end of the day. Thanks guys. I, of course, bought a bunch of stuff as well. Overall, sales were down and upon reflection, it was a really slow summer at Orland. If history repeats itself, it is not going to get any better in the fall because football season in Orland is always slow.  I'm already skipping the Sept. 13 show because Mark and I scheduled our Milwaukee show that day. If this was three years ago, we would have never scheduled the Milwaukee show on the same day as Orland but the current state of affairs is pretty poor from my perspective. I'll probably skip the Thanksgiving show because that one is flat out horrible and has been for years. I may have to consider skipping more Orland shows. It is just too expensive and time consuming. Remember when Orland was a mob scene? The aisles were so packed with people it was tough to walk through.  Those were the days...

Gonzaga was a little slow as well but nothing like Orland. I still had a good number of sales but it was just down from what I have been doing. I also didn't buy much. Not a whole lot of cards came by my tables. It was nice to see Candy back at the concession stand with her outstanding cake and sloppy Joe. Candy and the concession stand are key to the Gonzaga show.

Quite a few of my regulars came out today like Mark, Jim, Jeff, Jack, Robin, Jason and a bunch of other guys. Andy made the trek as well today. Too bad I gotta wait a year to see Andy again. I sold some cards to Steve from Jim & Steve's card shop in Waukegan, Illinois, the best card shop around.

The show cleared out around noon today. I think a lot of guys were going to the Brewers' game. I wonder what it is like to have a winning baseball team in town. It has been 9 years since major league baseball was played by any of my hometown Chicago teams. Anyway, I was out the door at Gonzaga early today. I thought I'd be home early but traffic had other things in mind.  The highway was a parking lot. Ugh! It took me nearly two hours to get home. It is usually just an hour ride. Though, at one point I was so frustrated that I got off the highway and drove through some beautiful backroads and was reminded why so many Illinoisians like myself spend so much time in Wisconsin -- it is just a beautiful place.

Which brings me to the magical day of Saturday September 13, 2014, when Mark Smith and I are promoting a show at the Clarion Hotel Airport, 5311 S. Howell, in Milwaukee. The two Scotts from Milwaukee are setting up as well. Quite a few other dealers are mulling it over.  Mark and I are going to bring out much more inventory than we normally bring to Orland and Gonzaga. There is going to be some great stuff in that room so mark your calendars for Sept. 13. 

In the meantime, I'm setting up next Sunday August 17, 2014, at the Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale.  I plan on reloading my 1969 Topps football binder. I also plan on pricing more cards for my display cases. I have a really large inventory right now, I just wish I had time to price everything... Oh well. I hope everyone has a great week and see you Sunday in Bloomingdale.
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Mid-Summer Round Up

8/7/2014

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I have set up at two shows and a flea market since my last blog from July 13.  The first show was on July 20 at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows with a terrific group of dealers, new customers at each show, and great regulars like Larry and Randy.  Larry and I always do a cash and trade deal where I regularly pick up some great cards.  I got some 1948 Bowman Basketball on this afternoon. Randy works on vintage post-war sets and always finds some cards at my tables.  Then there is Bill, who I saw in June at the Wilmot flea market and convinced him to come out to Hoffman Estates where we did a nice cash and trade deal.  Bill took all of my Post cereal cards.  Then there is Willie, the best autograph dealer in the country, who always picks up some cards from my tables to send out for graphs. Fred, the promoter, always has some nice vintage on his tables. I usually pick something up from Fred before the day ends.  I went home with some cash in my pocket and loads of new inventory. A successful day.

The following week on July 27, I was set up in Orland. Thankfully there was no rain this time. Though, early on it seemed like some force of nature was keeping customers away.  I had nothing but a few flies in front of my table early on. By late morning, the show picked up and we had a nice crowd in the room. Unfortunately, it was largely a crowd of window shoppers. I was saved from ruin by my regulars Will, Joe, Rick, Dave, Paul, Dan, and Gil. Thanks guys! I also picked up a bunch of cards. I was smart this time and brought an empty box to carry home my new vintage inventory.

On the first weekend of August, I had a double dose of the Wisconsin-Illinois border. On Saturday, I took the wife and kids to the Bristol Renaissance Faire (King Richard's Faire for you oldtimers). I've been going to this thing for most of my life. I really like the food. I dined on sauteed mushrooms, roasted cinnamon walnuts, and hummus. They had more substantial food available but I can't eat hearty meals in the heat. For some reason, it is always hot when I go to this thing.  My kids like all the rides. So I munched on food while the kids went on the rides.  At the end of the day, I bought my son a wooden dagger. They called it an elf sword but it looked more like a dagger to me. We all had a good time.

On that Sunday, August 3, I set up at the Wilmot Mountain Flea Market in beautiful Wilmot, Wisconsin. This was my second appearance at this flea market this summer. I ended up in the same row as last time in June. This time I was wise and brought out a tent which was much needed because it got sunny and hot. I don't bring a huge inventory of cards to the flea market because I don't want them to bake in the heat and sun. In addition to cards, I bring out a lot of junk from the house and other wholesale items I've picked up over the years like costume jewelry and sunglasses.

My day got off to a great start when Andy and his son showed up bright and early.  Andy is visiting from Florida. I get to see Andy every summer. He's become a good friend and is always a pleasure to hang out with. Andy was able to find some cards in my dime box, 50-cent box and Cubs/Sox box.  While Andy was at my table, the guy who bought all my sets from the 1980s in June showed up and bought four boxes of unopened 1980s wax. I only bring the wax out to the flea market because it doesn't sell at the card shows. It sure was nice dumping off those boxes of 1987 Topps and 1989 Fleer.

I had a few autograph hounds spend some time at my booth picking out cards to send for graphs.  My regular Wilmot customer who buys old basketball cards was there and she picked up a nice group.  Bill was there again and we ended up doing a nice trade.  I sold a bunch of other junk like stuffed animals, children's books, DVDs, children's clothes and some toys.  I love the flea market! It's great to get money for some of this stuff that my wife wants to throw out. I really enjoyed my day. I passed out quite a few fliers for my Sept. 13 card show in Milwaukee. I'm hopeful that I see some of these folks at the show.


Up next is a double-bill weekend with Orland on Saturday (August 9) and Gonzaga on Sunday (August 10).  I've recently loaded up 1961 Topps baseball, 1971-72 Topps Hockey, and 1974-75 Topps basketball.
I'm working on 1962 Topps baseball and will have that binder ready for Orland. I hope to price some cards for my display cases but I'm not sure if I'll get the time.  I'm looking forward to seeing everybody this weekend. It's another baseball card mania weekend for me and I hope it will be for you!!


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    Tony Gordon

    Vintage Sports Cards Addict

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