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Sold My Entire Binder of 1967 Topps Baseball Cards Today!!!!

10/20/2013

After a real solid show last weekend at Gonzaga, I was motivated all week to reload some binders. I was very productive. I reloaded 1974-75 Topps hockey, 1959 Topps football, 1963 Fleer baseball, and 1962 Post baseball.

Upon arrival to Serb Hall this morning, I was happy to see that we were back in one of the larger rooms. I actually don't mind the smaller bar area but I do appreciate the extra table space in the large room. The show opened at 9 a.m. I finished set up at 9:35 a.m. -- late as usual. I had a real nice start to my day with my good friends Mark, Jim, Jeff and Bill making many purchases. Thanks guys! It was also nice to see my pal Andy stop in today.

Around 11 a.m., I seemed to have a little lull. I walked around the room but didn't see anything to purchase. I wish I would have remembered that I need some penny sleeves, but I forgot. I'm going to have to stop off at a card shop after work tomorrow and pick up some sleeves. I go through a ton of those things.

By noon, things picked up again at my tables. I was busy up until 2 p.m. Scott picked up some Cardinals. One of my autograph hounds pulled a large pile of cards to send out for signatures. Mike purchased my entire 1967 Topps baseball binder. Thanks MIke! Now I have a bit of a dilemma. I am currently reloading my 1968 Topps binder. I'm wondering if I should go back and create a new '67 binder. I have some backstock but not as compete as a few weeks ago when I completely reloaded that '67 binder. Right now, I'm leaning toward holding off on creating a new '67 binder until I get more cards. What do you guys think? Should I go back and create a new '67 binder or continue on my way and finish off '68 then work on '69, my usual progression?

I'm going to pause this blog to wonder out loud what is going on with the Broncos? I'm watching the Broncos-Colts game. I expected a big game from Peyton Manning but he is looking human tonight and getting outplayed by Andrew Luck. One more football comment, what's up with the Bears' defense? How come they suck so bad?!!

Okay, back to the blog. One of the unique things about this show is that the promoter PJ offers a deal to dealers that if you place 10 items into the live auction, you get a free table (a think you have to purchase two tables and you get a third for free). I'm always struggling to try and figure out what to put in the auction. Last month, I did pretty well with some 1969 Topps semi-stars. Today, I thought I'd try some 1933 Goudey reprints. I actually hate reprints but I seem to unwittingly pick them up on occasion when I'm purchasing a box of cards. My 1940 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio reprint sold for $1. Then someone swiped one of my 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth reprints. WTF?! Really? I can't believe someone swiped that card. There are always low-lifes hovering around at these shows. I guess I should be thankful they didn't take something that actually has some value. But it does suck getting ripped off, even if it is just for $1.

I had a really good show so I can't be pissed off. I'm actually pretty happy. I am definitely skipping the December 29th Orland Park show in lieu of Serb Hall. I may be back up in November as well. PJ had originally scheduled the November show for November 24th, the same day as the Sun-Times show. He may change the date to November 17th. If so, I plan on setting up at that show. Stay tuned to my website for further details. I had planned on taking the 17th off to prep for the Sun-Times show, but if PJ schedules a show, I'll set up. My Serb Hall shows have been lights out of late.

Another interesting tidbit about today's show. At the end of the day, while I was still busy, a large guy walked in and started looking at some cards at some other tables. Bill asked him what he was looking for. He responded: "My card." Bill asked his name. It was Earl Tatum. Mr. Tatum played in the NBA from 1976 to 1980 for the Lakes, Pacers, Celtics, Pistons and Cavaliers. I was too busy to look for his card. Once my crowd finished off their purchases, I found his 1977-78 Topps card where he was on the Lakers. I was going to try and chase him down to give him his card but the numbnuts who run Serb Hall were taking down tables and setting stuff up for some sort of banquet. I hate when this happens. It makes me so nervous. I feel like the workers are going to swipe stuff from my tables. So I hustled to put all my stuff away and get out of the room and out of the way of the numbnuts. It would have been nice to give Earl Tatum his card. Mike ran over and got an autograph. I hope he comes back again!

Pause again, touchdown Colts! It looks like the Broncos are going down tonight.

Back to the blog. As I said before, no purchases today. Nobody brought me anything. Next week is the Sunday Orland show. I hope to have the '68 binder completed, I'm working on pricing some stars for my display cases, and I'm also working on reloading my cheapy boxes.

Pause -- Manning sacked! Where's Denver's offensive line tonight?

Well, a big thank you to everyone at Serb, except for the thief, I had an excellent show. Hopefully, I'll be back there on Nov. 17th. In the meantime, come on out to Orland on Sunday!!!

Broncos are going down, baby!! Too bad I picked them in my pool. I'm starting to really like this Colts team.

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Orland Down, Gonzaga Up, Cards Are Fun, Buy A Card Today!!

10/13/2013

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A long-time customer/friend in the Chicago area is suffering from leukemia and I just want to pass on my thoughts and prayers to him and his family. He's a fighter and I expect to see him back at the shows shortly. I was also informed today that a dealer at the Gonzaga show is suffering from leukemia and I want to send some positive vibes his way and hope for a speedy recovery as well.

I had two shows this weekend. Saturday was Orland and Sunday was Gonzaga. A lot of empty dealer tables at the Orland show, which seems to be the norm lately. There is a lot of grumbling amongst the Orland dealers. Many are not happy. Orland is not bringing in the large number of customers that it has in the past. As a result, dealers aren't making the kind of money they used to make there, myself included. Many dealers are skipping Orland for other shows. I don't know where the customers have gone but we need to get them back.

I think the Orland show needs a spark. Here are some of my suggestions:

(1) There needs to be a food booth. I really miss the nice food spread that the former hot dog lady used to bring. I think food encourages folks to stick around longer.

(2) The fee for dealer tables needs to lowered. All the other one-day shows I do have lower table fees. I think a lower fee would lighten the sting when a dealer has a bad day.

(3) The promoter needs to encourage dealers to spread out onto empty tables and avoid having the bald guy put them away during the show when the tables are empty. A room filled with sports items is much more attractive to customers than a room that is only half-filled.

(4) The show needs autograph guests. Bring in some old-time Bears, Hawks, Bulls, Cubs and Sox. Guys who will sign for $5 to $10. It doesn't have to be any big names.

These are my suggestions. I'd love to hear yours. Orland was once a terrific show and I'd love to see it return to its former glory (so would my wallet!). I'm skipping the November 10 Orland show because Gonzaga is that day as well. I pay less in table fees at Gonzaga, I make more money, they have food, a live auction, and occasional autograph guests. Crowds continue to flock to Gonzaga. It is done right and is a much better show than Orland. One of the December Orland shows is on the same day as the Serb Hall show. I'm debating on setting up at Serb over Orland right now. I'm also considering Schaumburg and Bloomingdale over Orland. This is the process that dealers go through. There are multiple shows each and every weekend in the tri-state area (Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana). Most dealers will set up at the show where they know they will make the most money. I am currently making more money at Gonzaga, Serb, Schaumburg, and Bloomingdale than I make at Orland.

The reason I'm still there is that my Orland shows are not disasters. It is just that sales are down. I'd feel a lot better about the show if I didn't have to pay so much in table fee or if the promoter put an empty table next to me and allowed me to use it at no charge (like every other promoter in the country does). I still have some tremendous customers at Orland whom I look forward to seeing every month. It's a tough choice, I'm not backing out but I will skip shows occasionally, if I know I will do better elsewhere. I have observed that other dealers have opted out of Orland. It is a lot of time, money and effort that isn't worthwhile when sales aren't there.

While the crowd was definitely down on Saturday, I was busy most of the day. My cheapy boxes were a big hit. I can't thank the guys enough who spent time and money at my table. It's always great to see Chris, Rick, Paul, Joel, Tom, Jim and all the other guys whose names I can't seem to ever remember. I appreciate all you guys. Many were very complimentary this Saturday. One customer, observing the lack of dealers in the room, told me that if I stop coming to the show, he's not going to go anymore. I think a lot of regular customers are wondering why there are so many empty tables. I'm not the promoter. I'm not sure what I can do as a dealer to get other dealers to show up. Rest assured, my faithful followers, I will be set up buying and selling cards somewhere each weekend. If I'm not at Orland, you can still come and see me somewhere else in the area. In the meantime, I will be set up at the October 27th Orland show, so come on out and support the show!!

I actually saw a few Orland customers up in Milwaukee on Sunday. The Gonzaga show was absolutely terrific. We had a large crowd from the get-go. I was busy all day. While I was setting up, I helped the guy who runs the Mears booth complete his 1966 Topps set with a Bob Uecker. Bill purchased a ton of '58s. Thanks Bill! Mark was back after a long absence. Thanks for the purchases Mark! Another long-time customer was back after a few months off and purchased a large pile of 1955 Bowman football. I sold a 1958 Topps Ted Williams and a 1959 Topps Sandy Koufax to a father and son team. Thanks guys! Jeff and Jason pulled their usual large piles of cards. Thank you!! Tim was in from Madison and we did our usual cash and trade deal. Thanks Tim!! A bunch of other guys bought cards and the sales added up. A great day! Thank you everybody!!!

Early on, Dave H. informed me that there was no cake. I was a little worried until I had one of the greatest doughnuts that I have ever eaten. Man that was a good doughnut! As much as I love the cake, I could deal with those doughnuts every month.

I picked up a few things this weekend. I bought a large group of 1970 Topps baseball. Unfortunately, they all have water damage. I will be selling those cheap! I also picked up a couple of large groupings of lower grade cards from the 1950's and 1960's. Those cards will make it into my cheapy boxes shortly.

I started working on 1974-75 Topps hockey. I'll have those done by the Serb Hall show on Sunday (Oct 20, 2013). Jason requested that I work on some 1962 Post baseball -- I should have those ready to go by Sunday as well. After the Post, I plan on working on 1968 Topps baseball. I should have those ready by the October 27th Orland show.

In sum, Orland down, Gonzaga up, cards are fun and I've got to go to my real job tomorrow :( I can't wait until next weekend!! See you guys at Serb Hall!!!!!

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I Was Lucky Enough To Know Kyle Cominek

10/9/2013

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If you're reading this blog, you most likely have a passion for sports, for history, for sports history and for collecting wonderful littlie pieces of cardboard. We are kindred spirits. Each and every weekend we meet at VFW posts, school gyms, churches, hotels, or convention centers and talk, view, trade, buy and sell sports trading cards. I have observed over the years that my kindred spirits come in all shapes and sizes. I have kindred spirits who can't speak, yet we communicate perfectly. There are others who don't see too well, or don't get around too good, or have a myriad of disabilities, yet we are much the same.

Everybody's pal Kyle Cominek was a kindred spirit. He loved sports, sports history, and little pieces of cardboard. He lightened up the atmosphere each and every Sunday at the Fred Copp sports card shows in suburban Chicago. I've known Kyle for years. He has been coming out with his dad Randy to the shows for what seems like forever. Kyle liked Thurman Munson, Ron Santo, William Perry and Brian Piccolo. He had many questions about these players and I was always happy to answer them. He usually had a sandwich bag of change and would purchase a Brian Urlacher or a William Perry for a quarter. Occasionally, this old miser would give him some cards because I knew he was a kindred spirit.

When I didn't see Kyle much this summer, I wondered where he was. I was informed recently that he had a series of surgeries. I last saw Kyle at the September 22, 2013, card show at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale. His energy was down. That tremendous spark he gives the room was dampened. He had many opportunities to razz Beanie Don, his favorite target, yet didn't do so once. It was a quiet day for Kyle and in turn a quiet day for the show.

Kyle had great wit and I thoroughly enjoyed when he would chide Beanie Don over some fictitious crime. It was funny. It made everybody laugh. He was always happy. He possessed an innocence and enthusiasm I wish I could have bottled and sold.

I was in Orland for a show over the last weekend of September. Kyle and Randy live in the Western Suburbs, they never make the long drive southeast to Orland. This past weekend, Sunday, October 7, I was set up at the Schaumburg show, a usual stop for Kyle and Randy. Midway through the day, Ted, one of the dealers, wondered out loud where Kyle was. I wondered too. This morning on the Fred Copp Baseball Card Shows Facebook page, Ted posted the news that Kyle had died. Kyle had another surgery on Sunday and didn't make it through. Visitation was today.

I went to the funeral home after work. While there is usually nothing pleasurable about a wake, when I walked into the room filled with baseball cards, photos of Kyle, dozens of sports jerseys draped over chairs, and seeing the members of Kyle's family all clad in White Sox, Bears or Blackhawks jerseys, I was pleased. What an incredibly neat way to honor and celebrate Kyle.

The Fred Copp shows won't be the same without Kyle. None the old codgers that sit behind the dealer tables have much energy, myself included. Most customers are buried in binders or boxes of cards trying to find that gem. No spark there. Man, I'm going to miss that guy! Thanks Kyle for being you!!

I bet Kyle's chatting it up with Thurman Munson just about now. He's probably telling Thurman a joke about Beanie Don. I wish I could hear it and laugh too. I appreciate all my kindred spirits. I appreciated Kyle.

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Sold My Entire Binder of 1967 Topps Baseball Cards Today!!!!

Orland Down, Gonzaga Up, Cards Are Fun, Buy A Card Today!!

I Was Lucky Enough To Know Kyle Cominek

Tony Gordon

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