Saturday, June 23, 2012, Orland Park, IL -- I have been going 90 miles an hour lately. Last week I drove out to Vermont with my elderly parents for my cousin's wedding at a mountain camp ground. We ran out of gas in Pennsylvania on the way out. Once at the wedding site, we spent two nights in a rustic cabin. I didn't sleep well at the camp ground which was in complete wilderness, I couldn't get any bars on my cell phone. Late on the first night while sitting around a camp fire with my cousin's friends, someone (I think another cousin) came out of nowhere dressed up in a Winnie the Pooh costume with a ninja mask and stamped on the fire, dumped some logs and ran off into the woods. So all night, I'm thinking there's some crazy axe murderer in a Winnie the Pooh costume running around the camp ground. The next night, my mom got up in the middle of the night and freaked out because she was cold. There was no heat in the cabin though plenty of wool blankets. It was cold but I used four blankets and was fine.
It was a 17-hour ride out from Chicago to Vermont and a 17-hour ride back. Then I went to work. At night after work, I hustled to get cards priced and ready for the Orland Park Civic Center show. I was up early on Saturday, priced a few more cards, loaded up the car and made it to Orland around 7:45 a.m. Once I loaded my gear into the room, I was greeted by Dave, who went through all the new stuff I had for the show and ended pulling a nice pile of 1956, '57, and '58 Topps baseball.
While I was setting up and Dave was going through my cards, I noticed a few empty tables. There were also some new dealers, as usual at this show. Up front there were a couple guys from Louisiana. I hope they didn't drive all the way to Chicago just for the Orland show. I don't think they sold a whole lot. The crowd was definitely down today. Also, there was no food today. I think the kind lady who sells hot dogs has retired. After the show, I asked my wife if she'd like to be the new hot dog lady. She laughed. My buddy Will, who makes some mean chili is considering setting up and selling bowls of chili. I hope he does it, I was starving all day.
Early on, sales were slow. I usually have a nice crowd early on but I just had a small trickle of customers most of the day. Though I did sell some cards. A regular customer purchased some 1973 Topps baseball. Larry picked up my 1964 Topps Stand-up Sandy Koufax. Aaron purchased my 1960 Topps Yogi Berra, 1963 Topps Casey Stengel and some 1956 commons. A dealer came by and bought some 1976-77 hockey. A regular picked up some 1962 Topps. Another regular purchased some 1971 Topps. Then another regular bought a smattering of 1960's football. I sold a bunch of commons from the 1970s to another regular. I really appreciate my regulars, they make what looks like a disaster into a really nice show.
A bunch more regular customers bought cards. I sold a 1976-77 Topps Dr. J and George Gervin to one regular, another bought my 1970 Topps Willie Mays and then I sold some 78s to another. A new customer purchased some 1955 Bowman baseball. Then Dennis showed up. Every few months Dennis starts a new set with me and cleans out a binder. Today he was starting the 1962 Topps baseball set and emptied the binder and most of the stars and high numbers I had in my display case. Thanks Dennis! As usual, Will capped things off with some 66s, 64s and 67s. I packed up early because I was so hungry. Will, Joe and I went to Wendy's up the street.
Though before I left, I purchased quite a few cards. Jim fed me a steady stream of cards all day, including some high grade cards from the mid-50s and a large pile of 1960 Topps. I picked up a small box of cards from Chris in a trade. I also turned down some cards from a guy who was way overpriced. He had about 15 cards from the 1950s with minor stars like Hoyt Wilhelm. He told me the cards booked at $600. Based on my observation, the cards booked at $200 tops but weren't worth anything near $200 because they were creased and written on. He wanted $125. I offered $50. He took the cards and walked away. I have a feeling he'll come back next show and take my 50 because it was a generous offer for 15 creased cards. All and all, I ended up having a decent show.
A few hours after the show, I drove up to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to meet a friend to buy more cards. I picked up some great stuff including some 1938 Our National Game, 1948 Leaf boxing, and a signed 1989 Brewers team ball with Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and Gary Sheffield autos.
In the end, I spent much more than I made... but I had a great time!! This Orland show was the first of a double bill weekend. On Sunday, I did the show at the Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, IL. I'll have my Indian Lakes blog shortly. Thanks to everyone who bought and sold me cards today!! A special shout out goes to the good ole boy in Pennsylvania who sold us two gallons of gas for fifty bucks. If it wasn't for Jed, I'd still be in Erie, PA. Also, a big NO THANKS to the nut dressed up in the Winnie the Pooh ninja costume. It's good to be home!!
It was a 17-hour ride out from Chicago to Vermont and a 17-hour ride back. Then I went to work. At night after work, I hustled to get cards priced and ready for the Orland Park Civic Center show. I was up early on Saturday, priced a few more cards, loaded up the car and made it to Orland around 7:45 a.m. Once I loaded my gear into the room, I was greeted by Dave, who went through all the new stuff I had for the show and ended pulling a nice pile of 1956, '57, and '58 Topps baseball.
While I was setting up and Dave was going through my cards, I noticed a few empty tables. There were also some new dealers, as usual at this show. Up front there were a couple guys from Louisiana. I hope they didn't drive all the way to Chicago just for the Orland show. I don't think they sold a whole lot. The crowd was definitely down today. Also, there was no food today. I think the kind lady who sells hot dogs has retired. After the show, I asked my wife if she'd like to be the new hot dog lady. She laughed. My buddy Will, who makes some mean chili is considering setting up and selling bowls of chili. I hope he does it, I was starving all day.
Early on, sales were slow. I usually have a nice crowd early on but I just had a small trickle of customers most of the day. Though I did sell some cards. A regular customer purchased some 1973 Topps baseball. Larry picked up my 1964 Topps Stand-up Sandy Koufax. Aaron purchased my 1960 Topps Yogi Berra, 1963 Topps Casey Stengel and some 1956 commons. A dealer came by and bought some 1976-77 hockey. A regular picked up some 1962 Topps. Another regular purchased some 1971 Topps. Then another regular bought a smattering of 1960's football. I sold a bunch of commons from the 1970s to another regular. I really appreciate my regulars, they make what looks like a disaster into a really nice show.
A bunch more regular customers bought cards. I sold a 1976-77 Topps Dr. J and George Gervin to one regular, another bought my 1970 Topps Willie Mays and then I sold some 78s to another. A new customer purchased some 1955 Bowman baseball. Then Dennis showed up. Every few months Dennis starts a new set with me and cleans out a binder. Today he was starting the 1962 Topps baseball set and emptied the binder and most of the stars and high numbers I had in my display case. Thanks Dennis! As usual, Will capped things off with some 66s, 64s and 67s. I packed up early because I was so hungry. Will, Joe and I went to Wendy's up the street.
Though before I left, I purchased quite a few cards. Jim fed me a steady stream of cards all day, including some high grade cards from the mid-50s and a large pile of 1960 Topps. I picked up a small box of cards from Chris in a trade. I also turned down some cards from a guy who was way overpriced. He had about 15 cards from the 1950s with minor stars like Hoyt Wilhelm. He told me the cards booked at $600. Based on my observation, the cards booked at $200 tops but weren't worth anything near $200 because they were creased and written on. He wanted $125. I offered $50. He took the cards and walked away. I have a feeling he'll come back next show and take my 50 because it was a generous offer for 15 creased cards. All and all, I ended up having a decent show.
A few hours after the show, I drove up to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to meet a friend to buy more cards. I picked up some great stuff including some 1938 Our National Game, 1948 Leaf boxing, and a signed 1989 Brewers team ball with Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and Gary Sheffield autos.
In the end, I spent much more than I made... but I had a great time!! This Orland show was the first of a double bill weekend. On Sunday, I did the show at the Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, IL. I'll have my Indian Lakes blog shortly. Thanks to everyone who bought and sold me cards today!! A special shout out goes to the good ole boy in Pennsylvania who sold us two gallons of gas for fifty bucks. If it wasn't for Jed, I'd still be in Erie, PA. Also, a big NO THANKS to the nut dressed up in the Winnie the Pooh ninja costume. It's good to be home!!
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