Sunday, April 27, 2025, Civic Center, Orland Park, IL
If you are a regular follower of this blog, you have probably read the name Andy from Orlando. Andy is an absolute superstar! I've known Andy for years now and always look forward to seeing him.
Back when I used to set up the Oak Creek show by myself, Andy would volunteer and help out when he was in town. I saw him at the Madison show on Saturday, April 26, 2025, and mentioned that my dad was setting up the next day at a political button show held on the opposite end of the Orland Park Civic Center from the card show. He volunteered to help my dad set up!
Without Andy's help, I don't think I would have been able to set up for the Orland card show because my dad brings soooo much stuff with him. Dad had four tables and then he always sticks stuff in every nook and cranny he can find. He was set up along the back wall of the room and literally took all of the back wall.
I normally arrive at the Orland show for set up around 8 a.m. This morning I arrived at 7 a.m. to help the dad. Andy was there too! Woot! Andy took over helping dad set up while I set up my stuff in the card show room.
I brought out the same stuff I took to Madison but added one more display case since I have a little more room at the Orland show. I had 11 display cases and it took a while to fill them up with cards.
After completing my set up, I went to check on dad and Andy. They had all his stuff unloaded and were still setting up. Andy was enjoying the dad's stories and was happy to continue to help him set up, so I returned to the card show where I had an absolute monster of a show. I sold a ton of stuff! Woot!
There really is no other monthly show in the area as strong for vintage as the Orland show and it has always been this way. I keep expecting to have an off day and it just never happens. My hockey was wiped out as seems to be the case whenever I bring it out. I sold all sorts of great stuff like my 1957 Topps Ted Williams and Pee Wee Reese to a father and son team. I can't even remember everything I sold -- cards were selling fast and furious. My pal Will had to help out because so many people wanted to check out cards in my display cases. Thanks Will!
On the buying front, I picked up some cards from Jim. Not much else came to my tables. If I have anything to complain about in Orland it is that buying is not as good as it used to be. There used to be a lot more walk-ins which does not seem to happen anymore. Nevertheless, I sold so much stuff that I have cash to spend on cards at other shows.
On a somber note, I thought it was real nice that Orland show promoter Rich Troy came out and said some kind words about Dell Heyn and another Orland regular, Jim Butler, who recently died as well.
I have been in communication with Dell's sisters and learned that they scheduled a Celebration of Life for Dell at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at the Cornerstone Church, 2 Shermer Road, Glenview, IL.
Dell has been setting up in Orland for as long as I have. It was strange not see him in his regular spot.
It is amazing the number of dealers we have lost in Orland over the years. There are a few dealers that have been setting up longer than I have like Casey and Carl. I overheard them talking about the changes to the show since the 1980's. If you have never been to the Orland show and collect modern cards, I recommend checking out Casey, Carl, and Tom, all veteran modern card dealers who set up across from me every month in Orland. You would be hard pressed finding more knowledgeable and nicer guys than them at any card show anywhere. So lucky to know them.
While I had a great day selling cards, there was a definite pall in the air due to the losses of Dell and Jim.
The show slowed down dramatically in the afternoon. I had all my stuff packed and loaded into my car by 2 p.m. I skipped the sub shop with Will and Joe to help dad pack up.
I checked in on him a few times during the show and he seemed busy every time I popped in. He was still with customers after the card show. Most of the other button dealers had packed up and gone.
There were a couple of guys that stuck around talking to dad for a while. Like Andy, they kept requesting stories. Dad has a million of 'em. I, on the other hand, wished they would leave so we could pack up.
The lady that runs the button show tried to encourage dad to pack up. One of the workers at the venue started to take down the tables. Dad has his own specific way he likes things packed up so I had to wait for his instructions. It was a long and painful process, as it always is. It took us more than two hours to pack up and load his car.
Once his car was fully loaded, I wondered how he would empty it without my help. He said very slowly. It is now weeks later and I will be seeing him for Mother's Day. I expect to see his car still filled to the hilt with buttons.
Anyway, it was a really long day. I was awfully tired and almost pulled over to nap on the way home. Made it home, though. My umpteenth Orland show in the books. Man, I do love the Orland show. It is simply the best show for me.
Next Orland show is on May 25, 2025. I hope to have some binders reloaded and ready to go for that one.
In the meantime, I am setting up at the Kane County Fairgrounds in beautiful St. Charles, Illinois, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. I plan on bringing display cases once again because I am just not making enough headway on the binders. I will have some different stuff in the cases, this time, though. So if you saw my display cases in Strongsville, Madison, Orland or the MegaShow, they will be filled with completely different items in Kane County.
Next Oak Creek show is set for June 7. Once again I am overbooked and hoping some dealers drop out. Guys keep requesting to get on my waiting list which is just absolutely silly right now.
Anyway, Happy Mother's Day! Hope to see you soon!
If you are a regular follower of this blog, you have probably read the name Andy from Orlando. Andy is an absolute superstar! I've known Andy for years now and always look forward to seeing him.
Back when I used to set up the Oak Creek show by myself, Andy would volunteer and help out when he was in town. I saw him at the Madison show on Saturday, April 26, 2025, and mentioned that my dad was setting up the next day at a political button show held on the opposite end of the Orland Park Civic Center from the card show. He volunteered to help my dad set up!
Without Andy's help, I don't think I would have been able to set up for the Orland card show because my dad brings soooo much stuff with him. Dad had four tables and then he always sticks stuff in every nook and cranny he can find. He was set up along the back wall of the room and literally took all of the back wall.
I normally arrive at the Orland show for set up around 8 a.m. This morning I arrived at 7 a.m. to help the dad. Andy was there too! Woot! Andy took over helping dad set up while I set up my stuff in the card show room.
I brought out the same stuff I took to Madison but added one more display case since I have a little more room at the Orland show. I had 11 display cases and it took a while to fill them up with cards.
After completing my set up, I went to check on dad and Andy. They had all his stuff unloaded and were still setting up. Andy was enjoying the dad's stories and was happy to continue to help him set up, so I returned to the card show where I had an absolute monster of a show. I sold a ton of stuff! Woot!
There really is no other monthly show in the area as strong for vintage as the Orland show and it has always been this way. I keep expecting to have an off day and it just never happens. My hockey was wiped out as seems to be the case whenever I bring it out. I sold all sorts of great stuff like my 1957 Topps Ted Williams and Pee Wee Reese to a father and son team. I can't even remember everything I sold -- cards were selling fast and furious. My pal Will had to help out because so many people wanted to check out cards in my display cases. Thanks Will!
On the buying front, I picked up some cards from Jim. Not much else came to my tables. If I have anything to complain about in Orland it is that buying is not as good as it used to be. There used to be a lot more walk-ins which does not seem to happen anymore. Nevertheless, I sold so much stuff that I have cash to spend on cards at other shows.
On a somber note, I thought it was real nice that Orland show promoter Rich Troy came out and said some kind words about Dell Heyn and another Orland regular, Jim Butler, who recently died as well.
I have been in communication with Dell's sisters and learned that they scheduled a Celebration of Life for Dell at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at the Cornerstone Church, 2 Shermer Road, Glenview, IL.
Dell has been setting up in Orland for as long as I have. It was strange not see him in his regular spot.
It is amazing the number of dealers we have lost in Orland over the years. There are a few dealers that have been setting up longer than I have like Casey and Carl. I overheard them talking about the changes to the show since the 1980's. If you have never been to the Orland show and collect modern cards, I recommend checking out Casey, Carl, and Tom, all veteran modern card dealers who set up across from me every month in Orland. You would be hard pressed finding more knowledgeable and nicer guys than them at any card show anywhere. So lucky to know them.
While I had a great day selling cards, there was a definite pall in the air due to the losses of Dell and Jim.
The show slowed down dramatically in the afternoon. I had all my stuff packed and loaded into my car by 2 p.m. I skipped the sub shop with Will and Joe to help dad pack up.
I checked in on him a few times during the show and he seemed busy every time I popped in. He was still with customers after the card show. Most of the other button dealers had packed up and gone.
There were a couple of guys that stuck around talking to dad for a while. Like Andy, they kept requesting stories. Dad has a million of 'em. I, on the other hand, wished they would leave so we could pack up.
The lady that runs the button show tried to encourage dad to pack up. One of the workers at the venue started to take down the tables. Dad has his own specific way he likes things packed up so I had to wait for his instructions. It was a long and painful process, as it always is. It took us more than two hours to pack up and load his car.
Once his car was fully loaded, I wondered how he would empty it without my help. He said very slowly. It is now weeks later and I will be seeing him for Mother's Day. I expect to see his car still filled to the hilt with buttons.
Anyway, it was a really long day. I was awfully tired and almost pulled over to nap on the way home. Made it home, though. My umpteenth Orland show in the books. Man, I do love the Orland show. It is simply the best show for me.
Next Orland show is on May 25, 2025. I hope to have some binders reloaded and ready to go for that one.
In the meantime, I am setting up at the Kane County Fairgrounds in beautiful St. Charles, Illinois, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. I plan on bringing display cases once again because I am just not making enough headway on the binders. I will have some different stuff in the cases, this time, though. So if you saw my display cases in Strongsville, Madison, Orland or the MegaShow, they will be filled with completely different items in Kane County.
Next Oak Creek show is set for June 7. Once again I am overbooked and hoping some dealers drop out. Guys keep requesting to get on my waiting list which is just absolutely silly right now.
Anyway, Happy Mother's Day! Hope to see you soon!
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