Wow, it was awfully warm for December in the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor this past weekend. I initially threw on my heavy winter coat when I went out in the early morning to load up my car for the December 14, 2014, Gonzaga show. I had to race back inside the house to get a lighter coat. The warm weather made for a foggy drive. I made it to Gonzaga around 7:15 a.m. I immediately noticed Mike Rodell's table with a nice memorial display. I don't think I will ever grow accustomed to Mike's absence in the room. He was such a fixture at the Gonzaga show. He lost a brave battle with cancer recently. I guess "lost" is an inappropriate word. I watched ESPN's Stuart Scott accept the Jim Valvano Award last week. Stuart said you don't lose in a battle against cancer as long as you fight. Mike Rodell put up a good fight. Mike is winner and someone who had a real impact.
The guys who run the auction stopped the activity in the room in the early morning and said a few things about Mike. It was heartfelt and emotional. We all took a moment of silence in Mike's honor. He is somebody I appreciated. He was always the first one to greet me as I entered the Gonzaga show. He looked out for me and always found me customers. On many occasions he would bring me a list and a phone number from a collector half-way across the country. I would pull the cards on the list and call the collector. One topic of discussion was always just how much we appreciated Mike Rodell. I won't forget Mike. I feel lucky to have known him.
I don't think there is a better way to honor Mike than to have a lively card show. Sunday's show was lively early on. I had a few customers at my table almost immediately. I was crazy busy for a few hours then everyone went home to watch the Packers-Bills game... I bet they all wished they had stayed at the show! It is not often that Aaron Rodgers gets outplayed by Kyle Orton. That was a strange game with Jordy Nelson dropping a few perfect passes along with some freak interceptions. Why can't the Packers ever have a game like this against the Bears? Though, every team has steamrolled the Bears this season.
Back at the show, I had an absolutely terrific day! Mark purchased a bunch of 1965 and 1972 Topps football cards. Jeff picked up my 1962 Topps football Ernie Davis. I sold a 1959 Topps and a 1966 Philadelphia Bart Starr to a new customer. Bruce picked up a bunch of T206s as Xmas gifts for his grandsons. Kevin cleaned out my 1933 Tattoo Orbits. Jason picked up some 1971 Topps baseball. Another customer upgraded some of his 1970 Topps. Bill picked up a whole bunch of 1953 Topps baseball. I was mobbed early on and can't remember all my sales. There were many, many more. Just a great day! Thanks guys!!!
When the frenzy at my tables ended, I had a chance to walk around the room. Mark showed me some 1965 Topps hockey he picked up at another table. I went looking for some of that hockey. I did not find any but was able to purchase a handful of 1952 Bowman small football and a nice little stack of 1960 Fleer football.
Miraculously, I was out the door by 1 p.m. -- a first for me at the Gonzaga show. Traffic on the way home was much lighter than usual. I was home by 2:15 p.m.
As good as Sunday's Gonzaga show was, Saturday's Elgin show was as bad. I did not make table fee. I can't remember the last time I did not make table fee. A big thank you to the few guys who purchased cards from me on Saturday. I was surprised the Elgin show did not attract more customers. That show fits into my schedule just perfectly. We need to get more customers in the door! There is some good stuff in that room. I made some nice purchases including an old St. Louis Browns decal which will find its way onto eBay shortly. Though, I just hate having my tables up against the wall. I am going to set up in Elgin in January and February. Hopefully, sales improve and I can get tables in the middle of the room or I may just cut that show out and try and find an out-of-town Saturday show.
Next up is the fourth Smith & Gordon show this coming Saturday, December 20, 2014, at the Clarion Airport Hotel, 5311 S. Howell, in Milwaukee. We are in the large Mitchell Room for this one and it should be a terrific show. A bunch of new dealers are setting up. I am working on my 1972 Topps baseball binder and should have it ready to go by Saturday. I am really looking forward to this show. It is always a fun time promoting this show with my buddy Mark Smith.
On Sunday, I am setting up at baseball card shop called Chicagoland Sports Cards in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Most everyone who reads my blog probably knows the owner Les, as he sets up at the Gonzaga, Orland and Rolling Meadows shows. I am going to bring out my display cases only for this show. Apparently, the dealers cover up the store showcases and present their wares atop the showcases. This should be interesting. If anyone is looking for anything special this weekend, let me know. See you this weekend!!
Pictured below are two of my good friends Jim and Mark at the past Sunday's Gonzaga show.
The guys who run the auction stopped the activity in the room in the early morning and said a few things about Mike. It was heartfelt and emotional. We all took a moment of silence in Mike's honor. He is somebody I appreciated. He was always the first one to greet me as I entered the Gonzaga show. He looked out for me and always found me customers. On many occasions he would bring me a list and a phone number from a collector half-way across the country. I would pull the cards on the list and call the collector. One topic of discussion was always just how much we appreciated Mike Rodell. I won't forget Mike. I feel lucky to have known him.
I don't think there is a better way to honor Mike than to have a lively card show. Sunday's show was lively early on. I had a few customers at my table almost immediately. I was crazy busy for a few hours then everyone went home to watch the Packers-Bills game... I bet they all wished they had stayed at the show! It is not often that Aaron Rodgers gets outplayed by Kyle Orton. That was a strange game with Jordy Nelson dropping a few perfect passes along with some freak interceptions. Why can't the Packers ever have a game like this against the Bears? Though, every team has steamrolled the Bears this season.
Back at the show, I had an absolutely terrific day! Mark purchased a bunch of 1965 and 1972 Topps football cards. Jeff picked up my 1962 Topps football Ernie Davis. I sold a 1959 Topps and a 1966 Philadelphia Bart Starr to a new customer. Bruce picked up a bunch of T206s as Xmas gifts for his grandsons. Kevin cleaned out my 1933 Tattoo Orbits. Jason picked up some 1971 Topps baseball. Another customer upgraded some of his 1970 Topps. Bill picked up a whole bunch of 1953 Topps baseball. I was mobbed early on and can't remember all my sales. There were many, many more. Just a great day! Thanks guys!!!
When the frenzy at my tables ended, I had a chance to walk around the room. Mark showed me some 1965 Topps hockey he picked up at another table. I went looking for some of that hockey. I did not find any but was able to purchase a handful of 1952 Bowman small football and a nice little stack of 1960 Fleer football.
Miraculously, I was out the door by 1 p.m. -- a first for me at the Gonzaga show. Traffic on the way home was much lighter than usual. I was home by 2:15 p.m.
As good as Sunday's Gonzaga show was, Saturday's Elgin show was as bad. I did not make table fee. I can't remember the last time I did not make table fee. A big thank you to the few guys who purchased cards from me on Saturday. I was surprised the Elgin show did not attract more customers. That show fits into my schedule just perfectly. We need to get more customers in the door! There is some good stuff in that room. I made some nice purchases including an old St. Louis Browns decal which will find its way onto eBay shortly. Though, I just hate having my tables up against the wall. I am going to set up in Elgin in January and February. Hopefully, sales improve and I can get tables in the middle of the room or I may just cut that show out and try and find an out-of-town Saturday show.
Next up is the fourth Smith & Gordon show this coming Saturday, December 20, 2014, at the Clarion Airport Hotel, 5311 S. Howell, in Milwaukee. We are in the large Mitchell Room for this one and it should be a terrific show. A bunch of new dealers are setting up. I am working on my 1972 Topps baseball binder and should have it ready to go by Saturday. I am really looking forward to this show. It is always a fun time promoting this show with my buddy Mark Smith.
On Sunday, I am setting up at baseball card shop called Chicagoland Sports Cards in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Most everyone who reads my blog probably knows the owner Les, as he sets up at the Gonzaga, Orland and Rolling Meadows shows. I am going to bring out my display cases only for this show. Apparently, the dealers cover up the store showcases and present their wares atop the showcases. This should be interesting. If anyone is looking for anything special this weekend, let me know. See you this weekend!!
Pictured below are two of my good friends Jim and Mark at the past Sunday's Gonzaga show.
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