Saturday, October 22, 2022, Sheraton Hotel, Madison, WI

I gotta wake up at 5 a.m. for this one because I have a two-hour drive. I hit the snooze once and eventually tumbled out of bed. 

So I have these neighbors who are really nice people. My only problem with them is that they are in my face whenever I leave my house. I could not believe that I had to see them when I was loading my car up at 5:30 a.m.

My garage faces the side of their house. These folks poop money and built a room on the side of their house solely for their dog. They also have the side of their house lit up like a Christmas tree. The lights are blinding and unpleasant in the morning.

The whole time I am loading up, the wife was standing outside staring at me while she let her dog out into the yard. The dog also barked at me. I could not wait to get on the road and get away! Ugh!

I decided to take I90 this month after taking I94 last month. Much more pleasant drive. I left my house around 6:15 a.m. and made it to Madison just before 8 a.m. I brought out display cases this time after bringing binders last month. I thought the display cases would increase sales after having a very nice show with them several months ago. No go this time. I did better last month with the binders. Many guys asked where were the binders.

I thought the show was well-attended but there were very few vintage collectors this month. I am probably going to take a little break from the Madison show. I just don't like waking up so early and the two-hour drive there and the two and half hour drive home is just no fun, especially when sales are slow.

On the plus side, Beau the promoter is awesome. Just a great guy. I love how he takes a video of every table in the show. He is definitely one of the best promoters around. There is always good attendance. So I will be back eventually but I think I need a break for now.

A big thank you to the handful of guys who purchased cards from me. I appreciate you! 

I can tell that you guys have been patiently waiting for my blogs. Sorry for the delay. I have been crazy busy at work plus I took a couple of days off for the Nashville show. More blogs coming soon!

Why don't you come visit me this Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Salvation Army, 8853 S. Howell, Oak Creek, WI, where we can discuss my blogs. This will be the Oak Creek Mega-Show with 115 dealers and 170 tables. I am extending the closing time to 4 p.m. so everyone has a chance to visit all of the dealers.

A lot of new dealers contacted me while I was on the road. I will respond to you all this week.

Thanks everybody!

​Below is a photo of my main man Mark at the Madison show.

Sunday, October 16, 2022, Civic Center, Orland Park, IL

I stopped at Woodman's on Saturday after the Woodstock show to get some gas. Woodman's gas is about 30 cents cheaper than any other gas station around so the line of cars was overwhelming and I ended up skipping it. 

I was late getting out of the house on Sunday morning. Mornings are just tough for me with my various ailments. My gas light came on around O'Hare and I got off the highway at 22nd Street in Oak Brook. I drove around a while before I found an extremely over-priced Shell station. After filling up, it took me a while to find a southbound entrance to 294.

I arrived at the Civic Center around 8:15 a.m. to find the parking lot full. Looked like there was some sort of fall baseball tournament. I had to park in the eastern-most lot which is a ways away from the Civic Center and a treacherous walk with my shaky cart of bins. Luckily, nothing tipped over and I made it in two trips. Though, I think I strained my neck. I was sore Sunday night.

Prior to the show, I was concerned that I did not bring enough stuff to fill my tables. Technically, I have one 8-footer and two 6-footers at this show but the folks that set up the tables sometimes give me three 8-footers.

I placed out three display cases, just about all of my baseball and football binders, some publications and some 50-cent and dollar boxes. I brought my hockey but did not have the space for it. I forgot my basketball binders at my office.

In the display cases, I brought out some oversized pre-war, Exhibits, and my display case doubles, as I am saving the good stuff for Nashville in a couple of weeks.

Show promoter Rich was out with some back issues. His helpers did an excellent job in his stead. I hope Rich heals up and is ready for the November show.

I love the Orland show. It is one of my favorites and consistently one of my best shows. I had folks lining up at my tables early on, digging through binders, the cheapy boxes and asking to see cards from my display cases.

Another good day at Orland. I sold a ton of stuff. The cheapy boxes got a heavy work out. Every time I looked over there, I had two or three guys digging through the boxes. I even sold a publication. I sold my one wrestling exhibit after Rick made fun of it. What is wrong with wrestling Exhibits? I have noticed that there are more people collecting wrestling stuff than ever before.

Will was the big winner today purchasing my 1974 Topps lot along with some 1955 Topps stars. Thank Will!

Will also attempted to bring me breakfast but Micky D's screwed up the order, which happens to me all the time. Most importantly, he did get me a cup of coffee which was dreadfully needed.

On the buying front, I picked up a 1957 Topps Ted Williams. Nothing else was offered. Paul gave me another stack of cards. Thanks Paul! Paul also brought us some kick-ass doughnuts. 

Pretty good day. I was busy up until noon or so when the place cleared out. Will, Joe and I capped off the day at the sub shop.

Next up for me is another double bill weekend with the Madison show on Saturday and the WSCA show at the Roma Lodge in Racine on Sunday. I think I'm bringing display cases out this weekend. If you want to see any binders, please let me know ahead of time. I am still working on my 1977 Topps baseball binder... it is slow goin'.

Next Oak Creek show is on November 5 and I may have as many as 170 tables since I am opening up the Chapel. I still have some space available. New dealers have to bring their own tables. If interested in setting up at the November 5th Oak Creek show, drop me a line at abrandongordon@hotmail.com.

​See you in Wisconsin this weekend!!

Pictured below are Chris and Paul, two of my favorites, at the last Orland show. 

Saturday, October 15, 2022, St. John's Lutheran Church, Woodstock, IL

Beware of Lakemoor, Illinois! I got a speeding ticket in Lakemoor on my way to the Woodstock show. Sucks!

Needless to say, I have been driving much slower since Saturday morning. It is so hard to drive the speed limit when everyone and their mother rides right up on your bumper. I almost feel like I gotta speed sometimes to avoid getting run over.

Anyway, the show was much more pleasant than my drive in. I brought out all of my baseball and football binders. I thought we had a nice crowd considering there were two other competing shows today.

The Woodstock show is a great little event, kinda old school. There are only about 20 tables. All the vendors and customers are as nice as can be. It is always a pleasant day at the Woodstock show. Curtis, the promoter, is the best! Unfortunately, the church that hosts the show is not so great. The new pastor is throwing us out, kicking us to the curb, evicted, ejected, tossed, expelled, given the boot!

Over the summer, a new pastor took over the St. John's Lutheran Church here among the cornfields in Woodstock. Curtis said he learned that as soon as the new pastor took over, a couple of old biddies from the congregation cornered Friar Tuck with a list of complaints. I'm picturing Aunt Bee and Clara from the Andy Griffith Show because Woodstock is about as close as you will ever get to Mayberry. So Aunt Bee told the pastor that we leave the room dirty... a criminal act if there ever was one. Yet neither Aunt Bee nor Clara presented any evidence of the crime. The new pastor did not bother to investigate. He did not ask Curtis for his side of the story. He simply could have asked Curtis to make sure there was no dirt on the floors after the show. Instead, the new pastor threw Curtis out on his ear, discarded, dumped, dropped.

Based on my observations, the old biddies told the pastor a lie. I have watched Curtis at the end of every show working hard to clean the place up. He leaves the room cleaner than it was when he arrived. What a shame. This show is the only one in McHenry County, Illinois. Most of those who attend live nearby and are not willing to travel to other shows. There is a definite need for a show in McHenry County and I hope Curtis can find a new venue.

Curtis has one last show lined up for the St. John's Lutheran Church on Saturday, November 26, 2022. Show runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free admission. Come for the cards, stay for the good people.

Everyone is welcome, except Aunt Bee and Clara!

Growing up in suburban Chicago in the 1970's, I was a dedicated follower of all sports teams related to the Windy City -- Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Black Hawks, Sting, DePaul and Northwestern. This was my world. Nothing else really mattered.

These were pre-Internet days so the main source of info and news about my teams was the newspaper. We had the Chicago Tribune delivered to the house seven days a week. The Sun-Times came on Sundays. Often my dad would pick up the Daily News and bring it home after work.

It was a battle at my house between my dad and my two brothers for the sports section. If I did not get it right away, it was in sorry shape with milk, coffee, and various food stains by the time I got it. Regardless, I put a good hour or two each day into that Tribune sports section reading all of the articles and columns then studying box scores and stats.

I took great joy in the summer of 1976, at age 9, checking the stats daily to see if Bill Madlock was still leading the N.L. in batting average, and to see if Rick Monday was still in the top 10 for homers, and to see if Bruce Sutter could crack the top ten for saves.

I loved to watch Sutter pitch and to listen to commentary from Jack Brickhouse, Lou Boudreau and Vince Lloyd on TV and radio. This was the first time I had ever witnessed the split-finger fast ball. Sutter's splitter was amazing. It would just die and frustrate hitters.

The summer of 1977 was amazing for 10-year-old me. The Sox were in the pennant race while the Cubs were hot in the first half and Sutter mania took over.  The church by my house had the following on its marquee all summer: "Only God Saves More Than Sutter." I just knew if the Cubs were ahead in the late innings that Sutter would come in and make the opposing team's hitters look silly while flailing way at the splitter.

By the end of the decade, just about all of my heroes on all of the Chicago sports teams were gone. They either left in free agency or the teams traded them away. Hence, I lost a lot of interest in Chicago sports during the 1980's. To this day, I am in complete bewilderment when the Chicago teams don't sign their best players or trade them away. As a result, I can't be all in like I was as a kid because I know I will be let down when the teams don't keep my guys.

Bruce Sutter was one of my guys. I was devasted in 1980 when the Cubs traded Sutter to the Cardinals for Leon Durham. Sutter was the last of my heroes from 1976 to go, the Cubs had already dumped Madlock and Monday a few years earlier.

The Cubs did not need Leon Durham. They needed starting pitching. While they had a young Lee Smith, he was unproven. There was nobody in the league as deadly as Sutter. He was the best reliever in baseball. Why trade him? We all know how well Leon Durham worked out. 

In 1981, I did not want to watch Lee Smith. I wanted to watch Sutter. It was painful to see him with the hated Cardinals. Then the players went on strike in June of 1981. What a mess! Probably my worst year as a baseball fan because I had spent all of my free time up to that point in my life either playing baseball or watching baseball or listening to it on the radio. Even though both the Cubs and the White Sox stunk in 1981, I still wanted to watch them. I did not know what to do with myself that summer. 

As the 1980's progressed, I tried not to watch Sutter with the Cardinals then the Braves. It still hurt to see him playing elsewhere. Though, I was thrilled to see him win a World Series with the Cardinals in 1982 because I knew that would never happen with the Cubs. I was also thrilled when he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. To this day, I have not seen a pitcher throw a better splitter than Sutter. It was a thing of beauty, especially that summer of 1977 when Sutter-mania spread throughout the Chicago area. He was the best and he was our guy.

Sutter was still my guy when he died yesterday. I was crushed upon learning the news. In my mind, skinny, little 10-year-old me is throwing down his glove and kicking the infield dirt (picture Tanner from the Bad News Bears -- that was me). RIP Mr. Sutter. Thanks for all those thrilling moments. I can't say how much I enjoyed those five years you were in Chicago. The image of the bottom dropping out of that splitter in Wrigley Field is forever etched in my mind. Say hello to Jack Brickhouse, Lou Boudreau and Vince Lloyd for me. 

Sunday, October 9, 2022, Pop-Up Shop, Palatine, IL

Another slow Pop-Up Shop. We only had a handful of folks show up late in the day. Again, I had some great dealers set up in Dave McDonald and Kevin Farrell. Thanks guys!

Not sure if I will be able to lure in any more dealers after two Pop-Ups with low turnout. I am going to keep scheduling them though. Even without making much money I do enjoy them. I have this space that I am not using on weekends, so I figure might as well put it to use.

I enjoyed sitting around and chatting with Kevin, Dave and the few customers who did attend. A big thank you to Derek for the purchases and great conversation.

Next Pop-Up is slated for Sunday, November 6, 2022. Come on out and peruse some vintage cards!!!

Next Oak Creek show is slated for Saturday, November 5, 2022. With three weeks to go, I am up to 102 dealers and 150 tables. I have room for at least 20 more tables. Contact me at abrandongordon@hotmail.com if you are interested in setting up. All new dealers must bring their own tables.

Once again, I have a double-bill weekend coming up with the show at the St. John's Lutheran Church, 401 St. John's Road, Woodstock, IL, on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Then I am back in Orland on Sunday.

​Hope to see you next weekend!

Saturday, October 8, 2022, Bridgeview Community Center, Bridgeview, IL

Normally I set up in Rockford on the second Saturday of every month but John and Mike did not schedule an October Rock Church show. Instead, they teamed up with Beau from Madison to create a two-day show in Loves Park, just outside of Rockford, on the following weekend. As a result, I had October 8th open. 

I'm old school and still rely on Beckett to find shows. I saw on Beckett's online show calendar that Nicholas Parsons was operating a show on October 8th in Bridgeview, IL. I think Nick has been running this show for a couple of years and I have always had conflicts. Nick's show is a two-day show as well. I contacted him to see if I could do just the one day on Saturday because I had scheduled a Pop-Up shop on Sunday, October 9.

Nick agreed to allow me to set up on October 8 and forego the 9th. Next item, I had to decide what to bring. Luckily, Will made that decision for me when he asked that I bring binders. I loaded my car with the binders and had a real easy drive down to Bridgeview. I think I got there in 30 to 40 minutes.

I saw Bob Lucas when I pulled up and he directed me to the entrance. It is always great to see Bob, one of the good guys in the hobby. Once inside, I took note of the sign showing a kitchen nearby. Inside the main room, I saw Nick, who directed me to my spot.

I had two eight footers and was not sure I brought enough binders to cover them both. Turned out I had exactly the right number of binders. After setting up, I found the kitchen and ordered a nice hot cup of coffee. 

I returned to my tables, drank my coffee and chilled out for a while before my first customer arrived. My first customer was a regular I recognized from my Oak Creek show. He had a pile of lists he was working on. Perfect! He spent a good hour at my table pulling cards. He kind of beat me up a bit on price but I appreciated the sale. Going into the show, I was not sure I would have any sales outside of Will. 

Will and Joe arrived while I was negotiating with my first customer. It was pretty cool to see those guys outside of Orland. Will started working on some 1966 Topps football. Then Mike arrived. Always great to see Mike as well. I learned that Mike is a fellow Class of 1985 high school graduate. Mike and his son love hockey cards. I informed Mike that I recently reloaded 1975-76 Topps hockey. Mike proceeded to drain the '75-76 Topps hockey. Thanks Mike!

My main man Paul Ponce arrived next. He grabbed my 1976 Topps baseball binder and also gave me a packet of 1974 Topps baseball. Thanks Paul! Now Paul is unique in that he freakin' knows everybody! He and Mike started up a conversation. After learning where Mike grew up, turns out they both knew all of the same people from a little burg southwest of Chicago.

Then Mike and I got to talking and I learned that his family settled in the same part of Chicago as mine after emigrating from Eastern Europe. I think it was Mike's grandfather who graduated from Tuley High School in Chicago in 1930. My grandmother was a 1925 graduate of Tuley.

I then met a new customer covered in White Sox garb. I learned he lives near me in Lake County, Illinois. New guy purchased a nice pile of 1957 Topps baseball. I was cooking! I sold a ton of cards! How have I missed this show? I need to add this one to my regular rotation. Unfortunately, I learned that Nick doesn't have another Bridgeview show until January 8 -- I am definitely setting up on January 8th!

I had a few more sales and ended up having a really nice day. Nobody offered to sell me anything. I was too busy to check out the other tables. I think several other dealers had vintage. The guys set up on my left had like six tables. One of them stopped over and told me they came in from Michigan and they want to set up in Oak Creek. He wasn't happy when I told him I have a two-table maximum for dealers at my Oak Creek show. It is hard for most dealers to understand that I have a waiting list and am overrun with dealers. The only way to allow more guys to set up in Oak Creek is to limit each dealer to two tables. Hell, I can easily fill six tables with stuff, but I am limited to two tables as well... and I run the show!

As usual, I booked the Bridgeview show without asking about table fee. I was relieved when Nick only charged me $95 for the tables. I think I have PTSD from that Merrillville show where I was charged $200 for two tables for one day.

I should have also asked the hours of the show. I assumed the show began at 9 a.m. but most dealers did not arrive until 9 a.m. Maybe this show starts at 10 a.m. I also packed up and left around 2 p.m. and it seemed like the majority of the dealers were still set up and open for business when I departed. Does this show go to 3 p.m.?

Anyway, Will, Joe and I planned to go to the Patio for lunch and I was starving. I ate a hot dog from the kitchen earlier but it did not kill my appetite. When Will mentioned the Patio prior to the show, I had BBQ on my mind all day. I love the Patio, a small chain located in the south suburbs of Chicago. Their BBQ ribs are sooooo good!

Patio did not disappoint. Man, that was good stuff!! 

What a great day! A huge thank you to Nick for putting on such a great show. A huge thank you to Will, Mike, Paul and everyone else who purchased cards! 

I had my Pop-up Shop on Sunday. Pop-up Shop blog coming soon.

Next up for me is the Woodstock show on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at the St. John's Lutheran Church, 401 St. John's Road, Woodstock, IL. I have not set up in Woodstock in months so I am really looking forward to the show. As usual, I am not sure what to bring out. I remember I brought out binders last time. I am leaning towards display cases to shake things up. Of course, I take special requests. Let me know what you would like to see Saturday in Woodstock.

Have a great week everybody!

Sunday, October 2, 2022, Woodfield Hyatt, Schaumburg, IL

I was tired Sunday morning!! It was difficult to get out of bed. To my credit, I only hit the snooze button once. I was out of bed around 6:15 a.m. I had to unload my car from yesterday to switch out the binders for display cases. I then had to drive over to my office to pick up the display cases. I still made it to the Woodfield Hyatt by 8 a.m.

We were located downstairs on Sunday. I prefer the upstairs because I just hate waiting for the elevator to take my stuff downstairs. I was in my usual spot near the end on the right wall. I was set up next to big Brad on one side and a dealer that I did not know on the other side. 

I overheard new guy tell the dealer across the way that he was hurting this morning after attending a block party the previous night. He told the other dealer that he really wanted to stay in bed but believes he has a responsibility to show up after he booked the tables. Right on!!!

I wish more guys followed this guy's lead. I had a bunch of no shows yesterday in Oak Creek. I observed Joe had a bunch of no shows on this day in Schaumburg. Guys who book the show and don't bother to show up just suck ass.

For some reason I thought this show had 8-foot tables so I brought out eight display cases which always fit on two 8-footers. When I placed out my display cases, only six fit, dang these are 6-foot tables. I was able to spread the two tables apart and fit in a seventh display case. I filled five cases with baseball from 1948 through 1973, then two cases with football from 1948 through 1973.

Last time I brought out display cases to this show I did really well. Today, not so much. Take note Terry! I had a much better show in September when I brought out the binders! Really light crowd on this day which I chalk up to NFL football. As I have said in the past, it is always tough to get people to come out during football season.

I only had two sales from two regular customers. One purchased my 1961 Topps Stan Musial and a 1951 Bowman Enos Slaughter. The other purchased a pile of cards including my 1961 Post Mickey Mantle. Thanks guys!

A couple of other guys wanted to trade. As you know, I hate trading because it never benefits me in any way. One guy came by my table three times before he offered me a beat up 1955 Topps All American for my 1963 Topps Ray Nitchke Rookie and Willie Davis rookie. Um, no thank you.

Next guy wanted my 1969 Topps Mickey Mantle White Name Variation. He had some half-way decent stuff but none of it compared to the '69 Mantle variation. I hate trading and I just won't trade my good stuff for lesser cards. Did I say, I hate trading. This guy was perplexed. I don't know what was so confusing. The cards you offered were not nearly as cool and as difficult to obtain as my Mantle variation. Sorry pal.

I did buy a few cards from Junior including a 1964 Topps Willie Mays. My Willie Mays stock is really low right now as his cards have soared in popularity these past few years. Only problem with the purchase is that the Mays came in a screw down which always hides the flaws. Junior said he would take it back if the card is creased. I still haven't cracked it out yet.

The Schaumburg show is a tough nut for me to crack. I think I was the only vintage dealer today as Tom was out in Vegas. A couple of my vintage regulars, like Randy, did not show up. I really need to think about whether I want to set up next month. On the plus side, it is really close to home and easy to get to. I also regularly purchase cards from Junior at this show. Joe, the promoter is awesome. The negative is lack of sales. I can't keep showing up for just two sales. I'd rather stay in bed then watch football like everyone else.

Anyway, my next Oak Creek show is on November 5, 2022. I will be expanding into the Chapel and will grow to 170 tables!!!

Next show where I am setting up as a dealer is this Saturday, October 8, 2022, at the Bridgeview Community Center, 7900 S. Oketo in Bridgeview, IL. This is a two-day show but I am just setting up on Saturday. I am not sure what I am going to bring out since I have never set up at this show before. If you plan on attending. please let me know what you would like me to bring out.

Then on Sunday, October 9, 2022, I am having another Vintage Pop-Up Shop at my office, 201 E. Dundee Road, Suite 2, Palatine, IL. Joining me on Sunday are vintage dealers Dave McDonald and Kevin Farrell. Dave will have some high-grade raw vintage cards while Kevin will have a variety of pre- and post- War vintage. He always has some unique and interesting items.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Saturday, October 1, 2022, Salvation Army Community Center, Oak Creek, WI

Much better day this month -- no thefts! We were hit hard by thieves last month... so hard that I hired an off-duty police officer to patrol the show. The police officer has agreed to patrol all of our future shows. The officer introduced himself to the dealers and offered advice on how to protect themselves from theft.

We had 465 people through the door on this sunny fall day. Thank you so much for attending the show! I find this a remarkable number considering the nice weather and college football. All the other shows I attend have seen large reduction in attendance the past month or so while we are still rocking it in Oak Creek.

Prior to the show, I overbooked it by accident by 10 tables. Luckily, the week before the show I had six or seven guys drop out. Normally, I would be aggravated at the guys cancelling on short notice but I was thankful this time around. I would not have been able to fit in 140 tables. End count was between 125 to 130 tables as I had several no shows as well. One dealer no showed me for a second time -- he's out. Dealers, if you book the show, you have a responsibility to show up or pay me for your table, otherwise you are out. I still have a huge waiting list, so I have the luxury of kicking guys out.

Actually, I hope to clear off my waiting list next month as I purchased the Chapel and think I can fit an additional 40 tables in there. I have a lot of work ahead of me contacting dealers on the waiting list. 

Anyway, I arrived at the Sal around 6 a.m. Thankfully, my wife Lisa agreed to accompany me and help out. She was shocked at what set up entails. I literally sprint into the building and run for an hour so rearranging tables and placing nameplates on all of the dealer tables. Lisa was a huge help moving tables and placing out chairs in the Game Room and Hallway where the dealers who bring their own tables are located. We finished setting up around 7:30 a.m. and I let all the dealers in. Thankfully no dealers entered the building early, like last month.

I placed myself in the front hallway and set up my booth while dealers stopped by to pay me. Earlier, I placed a newsletter on all the dealer tables requesting payment first thing. It is much too time consuming to stop at all of the dealer tables to collect table fee.

I had just finished setting up my table when the day's autograph guest Bill Sharp arrived. I think you have to be in your mid-fifties and older to remember Bill Sharp. He was an outfielder for the White Sox from 1973 to 1975, then traded to the Brewers for the 1976 season. He had a career-ending knee injury with the Brewers.

My first year collecting baseball cards was 1975 and I was a White Sox fan living in suburban Chicago. So I taped all of my 1975 Topps White Sox cards to my bedroom wall, including Bill Sharp. When Bill walked into the show around 9 a.m., I felt like a kid again with my baseball cards coming alive.

I set up Bill near the entrance to the Game Room. He gave me all of his cards as a gift. I was so thankful because I forgot to pull his cards from my archives prior to the show. He signed my favorite, the 1975 Topps card.

Bill Sharp is an absolute joy. He was so friendly and so happy to be at the show. I had planned prior to the show to ask about what it was like to play with Dick Allen, Robin Yount and Hank Aaron.

Despite his reputation, Bill said Dick Allen was a really nice guy and a great teammate. Bill said he was in awe of Allen's skill. He said Allen rarely took batting practice. Bill remembered one day where he and some of the other younger players where at the ballpark early taking batting practice. It was a hot day well before game time so Bill and the others were wearing shorts and T-shirts. Bill said they were all surprised when Allen came out in his full White Sox wool uniform and smoked ball after ball into the bleacher seats. Bill said Allen used a heavy bat and it was amazing to watch how he swung that bat like it was light as a feather and hit homer after homer. Bill said it was not fair that one guy could be so good and so much better than the others.

Bill was a four-year veteran when he met Yount, who was about 19 years old. Bill said Yount was real skinny but had amazing skills. Bill said Yount had endless energy and when he wasn't at the ball park, he was off riding motorcycles.

Bill said Hank Aaron had massive forearms and wrists. He said Aaron was so strong that pitchers could never handcuff him with an inside pitch. Aaron could just flick those powerful wrists and the ball would sail out of the park. Bill remarked that the one season he spent with Aaron was the home run king's last. He said Aaron was not nearly as aggressive that last season as he had been when he was younger.

Bill remembered one time they were out in Anaheim playing the Angels and pitcher Frank Tanana brushed Aaron back with an inside pitch. Aaron hit the dirt.

"Why would you do that?" Bill said of Tanana. "It was Hank's last hurrah."

Bill said Aaron got off the ground and was mad as hell at Tanana. Aaron took the next Tanana pitch out to the left field bleachers for a home run.

The story I liked the most had video accompaniment. Bill had me pull out my phone and search for August 1974 Nolan Ryan no hitter. I easily found the video, pressed play and heard the comforting voice of Harry Caray, who voiced the soundtrack for my baseball-loving youth. The video started in the bottom of the 9th inning where Ryan had a no hitter going against the White Sox at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Angels were up 1-0.

The video survived because White Sox organist Nancy Foust had called her family from the park to let them know Nolan Ryan was pitching a no hitter against the Sox. Foust's family popped in a video tape and recorded the bottom of the 9th.

Jorge Orta led off. He looked terrible against Ryan and struck out. Dick Allen was next, he never looked terrible. He started fouling off Ryan's pitches. Allen took a half swing and hit a slow ground ball to third. Angels third basement Rudy Meoli rushed the ball, fielded it cleanly but had trouble getting the ball out of his glove. That second or two hesitation enabled Allen to beat out the throw to break up the no hitter.

Carlos May was up next. Bill remarked that May was an excellent hitter. May hit a sharp grounder to first. The first baseman muffed the ball, error, both runners safe. Sox Manager Chuck Tanner sent in a pinch runner for May. Next up was Ken Henderson, runners on first and second, one out. Ryan pitched from the stretch. Henderson fouled four of them off before singling up the middle. Allen scored. Game tied. Pinch runner made it from first to third. Henderson slid into second safe on a close one.

Big Bill Melton up next. He swung at the first pitch and popped it up to the catcher behind home plate. Up next, Bill Sharp. Sharp sees Meoli playing back at third. After taking the first pitch high for a ball. Sharp bunted down the third base line, foul. Next pitch, inside, ball. Sharp then swung at a slider right down the middle and drove the ball past a diving first baseman and into right field for a walk-off single as the pinch runner scored the game winning run. Mayhem. White Sox bench went nuts.

I absolutely loved hearing Bill's stories. Many folks stopped by to talk and Bill had a story or two for each of them. My most sincere thank you to Bill Sharp for a wonderful two hours at the show. 

I was absolutely starving at this point and raced to the concession stand to get a couple of sloppy Joes. Jason showed up at my tables around 11:30 or so and I was off to collect table fee from the remaining dealers that did not come over and pay me earlier. Thankfully, most dealers paid prior to Bill Sharp arriving, so it was quick work to collect table fee from the remaining stragglers.

I was back at my tables around 1:15 p.m. and completely exhausted. That morning set up takes a lot out of me. Plus, waking up at 4 a.m. is a killer.

A few dealers complained that I am adding more dealers in November. As I told one dealer, I have been regularly setting up since the late 1970's. My sales are often best at shows containing the largest number of dealers. As I learned years ago, customers are not coming to the show just to see me. They want to see a large variety of dealers. More dealers always lure in more customers.

Another dealer complained that I am moving the end of the show from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. My reasoning for extending the day is that we will now have 170 tables. I want to make sure that customers have time to see all 170. Also, I am not a stickler about dealers staying set up until 4 p.m. They can leave any time they want.

One thing I have noticed is the crowd flow into the gym is not so good. I'm thinking of giving Jeremy a wax box and having him hand out packs in the gym. So, go see Jeremy next month in the gym for a free pack of cards! Hopefully, Jeremy's monthly photos and the free packs will increase customer flow into the gym.

I was pretty happy after the October show. I thought we had nice attendance. I had a ball with Bill Sharp. My sales could have been better. Most importantly -- no thefts!

Next Oak Creek show is November 5th. New hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be 40 tables in the Chapel which is located to the right, when you walk into the show. Waiting list dealers will be contacted shortly.

Next up for me is the Bridgeview show on Saturday, October 8. I have never set up at this show and do not know what to expect. I am not really sure what to bring out. I think I will do a hybrid set up of one table with binders and one table display cases. The show is located at the Bridgeview Community Center, 7900 S. Oketo, Bridgeview, IL. Let me know if you want to see anything special. I will probably bring out my hockey binders as I just finished reloading 1975-76 Topps.

Then on Sunday, October 9, I am hosting another Vintage Pop-Up Shop at my office, 201 E. Dundee Road, Suite 2, Palatine, IL. New this month are dealers Dave McDonald and Kevin Farrell. We are going to have a tremendous amount of awesome vintage cards. Pop-Up Shop runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

​Thanks everybody. I really appreciate your support!!!! Have a great week!!!

​Below are a few more photos from the October 1st Oak Creek Show.

Me and Bill Sharp. Thanks to John Gehring for taking the photo. John also drew a really cool portrait of Bill Sharp. He gave me a print that I got signed.

Silly face from dealer Eric Unglaub.