Wow!!! I am overwhelmed by the interest for the October 3 show, set from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, in Oak Creek, WI. I have been overrun with phone calls, texts and Facebook messages. I am slowly trying to get back to everybody. Please be patient, I am just one person and I have a business to run on top of the show. Did I say I was overwhelmed?

So I am doing my best to get back to everybody but as we get closer to the show, I probably won't have time to deal with all these phone messages. Sorry!

A little more info about the show. Entrance will be on the west side of the building, next to the playground. There will be one-way traffic through the show, starting through the gym then into the back room and out and up through the hallway to the front doors which will serve as an exit only. Everyone must wear a mask! Dealers will be set up in the gym, back room and hallway.

Dealers!! Your booths will be set up six-feet apart from one another. That space must be left bare. No card tables! All dealers must wear a mask.

I am not doing my usual pack giveaway. I'm going to wait until COVID ends before I have folks digging through boxes again. 

I really appreciate the response and interest in the show. I am still ironing out the dealer line up. Looks like dealer tables are sold out. I wish I had a staff to respond to everybody but it is just me. So please don't get angry if I don't respond to your inquiry, I just can't get to everybody. See you at the show! Tony

I just received word from the Salvation Army that they are going to allow the October 3rd card show, with restrictions. The show is going to be held in multiple rooms with dealer tables social distanced. I may have to limit dealer space to two tables and I am going to have to do away with table fee discounts to make sure I have enough funds to pay for the event. Everyone who attends the show must wear a mask. You can't enter without a mask and you will be asked to leave if you remove your mask while in the building.

Dealers interested in setting up, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks! Tony

 I think it has been about seven months since I last attended a card show. Well, Lou and Don have been urging me to attend the show at the Hyatt Hotel in Woodfield, Illinois. So this past Sunday, September 6, 2020, I dragged myself out of bed and ventured out to the show. 

Now this show has been going on for years at several different locations. Most people remember it as the Rolling Meadows show that was held for decades at the Holiday Inn, which is currently being torn down. I think the show moved to the Hyatt about a year ago. 

The Hyatt is snazzy. I made sure to wear my mask and observed that everyone at the show, both customers and dealers, were all wearing mask. I saw one guy wearing gloves. The show was spread out between two rooms and a large hallway. All the dealer tables were social distanced apart.

I was impressed with both the number of dealers and customers. It was also great to catch up with everybody. Lou and Don had the first tables in the first room. It was great to see those guys. Next to Lou and Don on one side was Eric Unglaub and on the other side was Jeff P. Across the way was vintage Tom. There was one other dealer in the room who I did not know, he was selling reprint pre-War. It was nice to see everyone in that room after such a long lay off. I purchased some cards from Tom and Eric.

In the hallway, Del had the space to himself. It is always great to see Del, whom I've known forever. In the second room, which is much larger than the first room, there were a dozen or so dealers. I only knew a handful of them like the Zeigerts, Karl, Skip, and Nick. It was great to catch up with everybody.

Everybody seems to be waiting for my show, Gonzaga and Orland to return to action. Well, it does not look like these shows are returning any time soon. Jeff was saying there is a limit to 50 people in a room in Illinois. We agreed that there is no way to keep Orland at just 50 people in the room.

There was some chatter about some other shows. Some had set up at the last Schererville show in Indiana over the summer and said it was tremendous and they are waiting for the promoter to announce another one. I saw that one listed and I just wasn't ready to brave the pandemic yet to go to a show.

Others mentioned the Madison show with mixed results. I used to set up at that show regularly and it was always hit or miss. The promoter Darin is a great guy and if you are near Madison, I recommend that show. I thought about going but Madison is more than a two-hour drive for me. I just don't have the patience to sit in the car that long.

I know there is a show this coming weekend at the Cherry Vale Mall in Rockford, Illinois. That show is also a long drive for me. I probably won't go. Then there is a show coming up in Woodstock that a lot of people were talking about. I need to check with the promoter to see if there are tables.

A few mentioned a show in New Berlin, Wisconsin, but this show seems to be geared toward bobble collectors. There just isn't much happening right now between the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor. I have mentioned the flea market at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds in Wisconsin. I haven't made it out there yet. Maybe I'll check it out next weekend.

Boy it sure was fun going to that show at the Hyatt. There was not a whole lot of vintage there but I did manage to buy some stuff. The Hyatt show is well-known as a modern show -- which is why I blindly reserved two tables for the October 4th show. I don't expect a whole lot of sales but I will enjoy the company and just being at a card show, any show!

I don't plan to bring my usual set up on October 4 because I did not see a whole lot of vintage buyers. There seemed to be a lot of dime boxes at this show so I'll bring out my vintage cheapy boxes. I have been growing my vintage baseball glove collection these past few years and would like to bring out some gloves. 

Other than Don's cool WHA programs, I did not see a whole lot of publications at the Hyatt show, so I'm thinking about bringing out a couple boxes of publications. I have a smattering of modern cards I need to dig out. It will freak people out seeing that stuff on my table but I need to make some sales!

I will bring out three display cases and have a limited display of vintage stars. I just don't want to bring out the regular stuff because I don't think it will sell. I think I'll bring out some vintage lots. I also have some 1990's lots and sets that I may bring out. With the tables being just 6-footers, I don't think I'll have space for much else.

I don't expect there to be any vintage set builders at the show. If you are a vintage set builder and are planning to attend, shoot me a line and let me know what years you want me to bring out.

It will be a weird show and I'll have a weird set up because this is a modern show. I think I only saw two vintage dealers when I was at the show last weekend. Traditionally, this show only gets one or two vintage dealers, unlike other shows where vintage dealers are plentiful.

Some guys relish being the only vintage dealer in the room. I do not. I always like there to be many vintage dealers because with more vintage dealers you get more vintage collectors/customers. Looking around the rooms on Sunday, I only saw two guys tops who have purchased vintage cards from me in the past. 

I am going to bring some money to spend, so if you are selling vintage (1969 and older), stop by my tables!!

​I am looking forward to setting up at the show. It has been way too long!!

May 15, 2020

Today the search is for Mickey Mantle. I have attempted to filter out reprints but of course all sorts of reprints show up. There are 69 cards. I am going to see if I specify the year 1954 whether more reprints are filtered out. Yes, that brought it down to 27 cards but I still see some reprints. Ugh!

I love the guys who sell "novelty" cards. It seems like a novelty card is just a reprint made to look real. I am not a fan. Anyway, only one of the 27 cards posted today is not fake or overpriced. The card is a PSA 2.5 auction. It had one bid for $15 and ends in six days. I am going to throw down $200. I'm high bidder at $15.50. Based on my observation over the past month or so, this card will probably end up going for $400-plus. The card is way off-center and probably creased. I'm not going above $200. I'll wait for another one.

I think I will try Willie Mays. Initially 92 cards pop up but I need to filter out the reprints. That brings it down to 64 but I still see reprints. I have now specified the year 1954. Forty-eight cards. I am tempted to bid on one for $150. It is way off center but seller says no creases. There is a lot of surface wear, however, and I will pass.

Okay, like Mantle, prices for the Mays are all over the board. There are a bunch of them at $150 with dings, some scuffing but no creases. The problem with these cards is that they are all horribly off-center, so I am going to hold off.

June 8, 2020

Well, that Mantle PSA 2.5 where I bid $200, ended at $500. I have been checking eBay, here and there, for the cards I need. No luck. I also took Chris's advice and checked Sportslots. I was impressed with the way Sportslots had all the cards from 1954 Bowman organized and found it easy to navigate. Unfortunately, I did not have any luck with the cards I need. 

I also checked some major auctions. I believe it was Huggins and Scott that had a low grade 1953 Bowman Mantle and a low grade 1954 Bowman Mantle in one lot. When I factored in the buyer's premium, shipping and sales tax, the price was too high. Another auction house had a complete set that was only at $800 with a few hours to go. I thought about it but I just want four cards, not the whole set. Though, I'm starting to think that it may be cheaper to buy a complete set then to purchase the final four cards I need as singles.

Today, I will give eBay another try. I need Mantle, Berra, Mays and Hodges. I'll check Mantle first. After applying six filters, I got it down to 31 cards but there clearly are some reprints in there. Prices are all over the board. A seller from Milwaukee has an auction for an SGC 3.5. Current price is $425.  Probstein sold one at auction for $461 in March. I'll throw down $430... and just like that I am high bidder. I'm going to sit at $430 and not go any higher.

I see a nice-looking raw Mays for auction, currently at $51 with a day to go. Unfortunately, the seller does not state whether the card is creased, he says to check the scan which is so lame! The back has some lines that may be creases so I'm going to hold off. All the others are over-priced. I would like to be around $150 for this card... not $800.

Greg Morris has one ending in six days. I'm not going to bother to bid on that one. The others up right now are either too low of a grade or priced too high. I would like to be around $100 for a Berra. Greg Morris also has a couple of Hodges up but he does not state whether they are creased or not. The statement of "Look at the Scan" does not cut it for me. How hard is it to state "crease" or "no crease"?

That's all for today. Let's see if I win that Mantle! 

June 12, 2020

Holy Smokes! That SGC 3.5 Mantle from the other day where I bid $430 and figured it would sell between $450 and $500, actually sold for $988! There is a PSA 3.5 currently up with high bid around $500 with two days to go. I'm feeling a little bit too defeated to even place a bid. 

I think I will focus on the other cards I need. I checked Sirius Sports Auctions yesterday. He had a few '54 Bowmans up but none that I need. I saw on eBay that he has a raw Hodges in a BIN at $29.25. The card looks nice, just some centering issues and a wax stain. I would like to buy it but Sirus does one of those charts explaining his grades and states that this card is VG-EX which may have a slight crease. 

I see a seller has the same freakin' Hodges card up twice at two different prices. Gotta love eBay. Greg Morris has one up for auction at $4.25 with two days to go. The only description for the card states: The card in the scan is the card you will receive. As I have said previously, I hate this statement. I can't tell from the scan if the card has flaws. It looks like it may but I really can't tell. I just can't bid on these cards.

I decided to go back and place $460 on that Mantle. I'm high bidder! Woot!

Next up, Yogi Berra. I'm not even going to look at the Greg Morris listings. So does SMR price mean anything? The graded Yogis are well-above SMR. All the raw cards are creased and sellers are looking for 50 bucks for a creased Yogi. Not!

Lastly, Willie Mays. Again, everything is way over-priced. Lastly, I'm left wondering what that Mantle will end up at.

June 16, 2020

Oh my! Finding the last four cards I need at a decent price and in decent condition may be impossible!

That PSA 3.5 Mantle, the one where I placed a bid of $460, ended at $685, not nearly as high as the SGC 3.5 that went for $988 the previous week. Okay, today, I see a batshite ugly Mantle for $63 with eight hours to go. I'm going to throw down $75. Immediately outbid at $76. This card is sooo phugly that I can't bid any higher. Oh, I see that I am not the only one following Mantle prices. It seems like all the sellers upped their prices. Pass.

I just checked the Willie Mays cards up on eBay and I don't like anything I see there. I see a Berra that does not look too bad for $100. Seller says no crease but there seems to be quite a bit of surface wear. Pass. No other Berra's are worthy of a bid or BIN.

As for Hodges, I see one on first glance that looks good. Second glance shows writing on the back. There are no other Hodges worthy of a bid or BIN. The search continues....

June 26, 2020

The phugly Mantle sold for $174.50. I can't drop that much money on such a phugly card in good conscience.

"Phugly" seems to be the theme lately. Probstein currently has two extremely phugly Mantles up for auction. I am going to guess they will end between $175 and $250. Again, I can't pay that much for a phugly card in good conscience.

I see a Mantle that looks okay in the scan but there are a lot of red flags. First off, the card is scanned while in a toploader, so it may have creases but it is hard to tell for sure when the card is covered in a toploader. The toploader itself is scratched up. Secondly, the seller has about 380 feedback. I am not a fan of low feedback. Lastly, seller states he knows nothing about cards and purchased a storage locker where he found the card. I've seen this statement before and find it troubling. I am going to pass.

Greg Morris has one up for auction with seven days to go. He states the card is low grade and it is already up to $240. Pass. Now I see a whole bunch of phugly Mantles all priced way too high. Sheesh! The nicer Mantles are priced through the roof.

Let's see what's out there for Willie Mays. May not, all priced too high. Berra? Oh, I see Kit Young has one up. I haven't bought anything from Kit Young in a long time. Kit Young is one of the few dealers that has been around since I first started collecting vintage cards in the 1970's. Unfortunately, he is one of those eBay dealers that has the grading chart. The Berra is listed VG-EX which according to the chart may have a slight crease. Pass. All the others I see are overpriced or at least priced higher than I am willing to pay.

Now for Hodges. Man, all priced too high. Another day of no bids. I am just not going to overpay for these cards. 

July 6, 2020

The Pandemic Set Build is now going into July. I did not think it would take so long when I began this thing some four months ago. I am down to just four cards: Mantle, Berra, Mays, and Hodges. I have watched the Mantle prices jump these past four months. Originally, I wanted to pay around $400 for a card with no creases but some corner and edge wear. These cards appear to be going between $600 and $1,000. 

The first Mantle I see is clearly fake but being auctioned as an original. The wear is obviously face and the back has that red-yellow tint that I see on all the fakes. The card is at $170 with three days in the auction to go. Somebody is going to get burned.

Creased up Mantles are going between $300 and $500. I can't pay that for a creased card. The Battersbox has one that looks VG for $587 BIN. They rate it VGEX. I can't tell from the scan if it is creased and they don't mention it in the description. They do the lame chart. So according to their chart, a VGEX description could have a slight crease. Pass. Would have bought it if they said "No Crease" in the description. Why is that so hard to say? Just say "crease" or "no crease." Come on vintage card sellers, stop being so lame!

An outfit out of Dayton, OH, has one up for auction for $600, no bids, three days to go. The condition is exactly what I am looking for. It has some corner wear and is slightly off-center. They even say "no creases." However, the price is about $200 more than I would like to pay. Though, the reality of the situation appears to be that $600 is now the going rate for this card in this condition. I am going to suck it up and throw down $600. Oooh, that kind of hurt.

Next up Mays. Like the Mantle, I'm looking for a card with no creases. I'm okay with corner, edge wear and centering issues. The seller from Dayton has one creased for $160. I'd like to be at $150 with no creases. No luck today. I may have to adjust my numbers for the Mays as well.

Let's see about Berra. I'd like to be between $50 and $100 on the Berra for one with no creases and corner/edge wear and possibly centering issues. No luck today. All the cards under $100 are creased. Again, I may have to suck it up and go up to $150.

Hodges? COMC has one for just 18 bucks BIN but they don't say whether it is creased or not and I can't tell from the scan. It almost looks like someone drew in the card number in pen on the back. Pass.

May favorite seller Dean's has one with two pieces of tape on the front for $22. Seems like all the other BINs have been there for a while. I'd like to be between $25 and $50 for a no-crease card. None up today.

The only thing to do now is to wait three days and see if I won that Mantle for $600. 

September 1, 2020

Sorry I have not blogged for awhile. Work has been crazy busy. Also, without shows, I sort of lost my motivation. I am back now. Spark has been relit. I have been searching eBay for the cards I need but have not had any luck. I lose every card. I have even placed some bids with private auction houses and lost those as well.

I am encouraged that my friend Andy found a '54 Bowman Mantle for his set on eBay. Let's give it a try today:

Right off the bat I see a fake listed as an original.

I was first tipped off by the perfect centering. It is pretty tough to find a perfectly centered original '54 Bowman. Next tip is the grainy texture. Original '54 Bowmans have a smooth texture. I have also seen a lot of fake vintage cards with the shellac-like back, another tip off. The seller has it listed at $600 BIN, hopefully nobody gets duped. Ebay is so disappointing. There are so many fakes and so many rip-off artists on there.

All the other Mantles I see today are overpriced. Ugh! As for Mays, all the ones I see are either terribly miscut or overpriced. Ugh, again. I found a Berra PSA 4 at $54 with a day to go. I threw down $60 and am high bidder. I won't get my hopes up, though. Maybe I was too quick to bid on that card because I just found a PSA 4 for $80 BIN (plus $5 sales tax) from a seller I think I know. I purchased the PSA 4 from I think, Big Tim, who reads this blog. Tim! I also need a Mantle and a Mays. What do you have?

The purchase was made easier when viewing endless PSA 2s listed at $80. Tim is reasonable. Thanks Tim!

Well, down to just two cards!!! Will I ever get the Mantle and the Mays?

Anyway, it is good to be back. Still no shows to speak of. Today is September 1 and I have not set up at a show since March. I wish that Covid vaccine would be out already!! Anyway, I'll try to blog again soon.