Saturday, December 21, 2024, Machinists Hall, St. Louis, MO
I have a long history with St. Louis. Growing up in the early 1970's, my family took a road trip to St. Louis every summer to visit Six Flags Amusement Park, about a five-hour drive from my boyhood home in Northbrook, Illinois. We would do the whole town, Grant's Farm, the Zoo and more. I always looked forward to those trips which stopped when Great America Amusement Park opened in nearby Gurnee, Illinois.
I went to St. Louis once in the 1980's to go to a Cardinals game. I also went once in the 1990's to do some research on Harry Caray for an article I was writing for the old Barfly Newspaper. About 15 years ago or so, I started to go back regularly to set up at card shows.
My good friend Tony Schaefer introduced me to the shows at the Two Hearts Banquet Hall. I would set up next to Tony who knew everyone there and would send them over to me. I ended up having really good shows. I also enjoyed the concession stand at Two Hearts which was excellent. I got to know quite a few people in St. Louis.
Unfortunately, Two Hearts closed and the show moved to the Orlando Gardens which is actually a nicer venue but sales started to slide. I then tried the Machinists Hall shows. I had a few decent ones then a few bombs and I stopped setting up in St. Louis.
I am pretty sure that the last time I was set up in St. Louis, the Rams were still in town. I remember quite a few Rams jerseys at the shows. Now everyone is sporting Chiefs jerseys. I had been meaning to get back to St. Louis but could not find a date that worked until this past Saturday.
I hit the road Friday afternoon and was stuck in traffic in the Chicago area for a good two hours. Traffic did not clear up until well past Joliet. Man, that was a long drive to St. Louis!
I found a hotel near the Hall and slept terribly. For some reason, I could not stay asleep. Ugh! I got my groggy self together and hit a Bob Evans on my way to the Hall. I arrived at Bob Evans around 7 a.m. and nobody was there. Weird. I've eaten at Bob Evans all over the country and there is always a crowd in there. I was a little concerned but the meal turned out just fine.
At Machinists Hall, I was greeted by promoter Ron Estes, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and also a great vintage sports card dealer. Ron directed me to my tables, located in a part of the room that was not open during the other shows I did there back in the day. This part of the room was also poorly lit, which was a bummer.
I was set up by 8:30 a.m. and tired as hell. There was a pop machine out in the lobby and I started drinking Diet Mountain Dew to boost me up. I was a little concerned because there was not a whole lot of people in the room early. I was too tired to walk around and check out the other tables, which is what I usually do when things are slow. I figured I would take a walk later in the afternoon, after a few Mountain Dews.
Not much happening for me during the first hour. I started to think I would have another bomb but then older guys with lists started to line my tables. I was then swamped with set builders until 3 p.m.! I never did get a chance to walk around!!
Wow! My people!! You're here!!
Oddly, I did not know anyone in the room other than Ron. All those characters I used to know in St. Louis were not around. In their place was a steady stream of set builders which was okay with me. I sold a ton of cards! Some guys spent hours at my tables pulling stacks of cards from the binders. Well, that 1960 Topps baseball binder was full at the start of the show -- not so much after.
What a nice group of people! I enjoyed talking with all these set builders all day long!! Earlier that morning, I was thinking that I won't be coming back to St. Louis in quite some time. Well, that has changed. I'm coming back as soon as I can!!
I had a tremendous day!!
However, I did not buy anything. A few guys wanted to trade. As you know, I don't trade.
I was tired when the show ended but in a great mood. I had a much easier drive home.
St. Louis, I love you! I will be back soon!!!
Next up for me is the always solid Madison show on Saturday, December 28. Then Sunday, I am heading back to Joliet. Last time in Joliet, I brought out display cases and had a tremendous show but I am bringing out binders this time and am not confident I will do as well.
The next Oak Creek show is January 4, 2025. As usual, tables are sold out. I am way overbooked and need some guys to cancel! Looks like I am going to have to tell some of the new dealers they cannot set up this month -- I hate doing that!! Ugh!
Anyway, I am working on 1973-74 Topps basketball and hope to have it ready to go Saturday in Madison. See you then!
I have a long history with St. Louis. Growing up in the early 1970's, my family took a road trip to St. Louis every summer to visit Six Flags Amusement Park, about a five-hour drive from my boyhood home in Northbrook, Illinois. We would do the whole town, Grant's Farm, the Zoo and more. I always looked forward to those trips which stopped when Great America Amusement Park opened in nearby Gurnee, Illinois.
I went to St. Louis once in the 1980's to go to a Cardinals game. I also went once in the 1990's to do some research on Harry Caray for an article I was writing for the old Barfly Newspaper. About 15 years ago or so, I started to go back regularly to set up at card shows.
My good friend Tony Schaefer introduced me to the shows at the Two Hearts Banquet Hall. I would set up next to Tony who knew everyone there and would send them over to me. I ended up having really good shows. I also enjoyed the concession stand at Two Hearts which was excellent. I got to know quite a few people in St. Louis.
Unfortunately, Two Hearts closed and the show moved to the Orlando Gardens which is actually a nicer venue but sales started to slide. I then tried the Machinists Hall shows. I had a few decent ones then a few bombs and I stopped setting up in St. Louis.
I am pretty sure that the last time I was set up in St. Louis, the Rams were still in town. I remember quite a few Rams jerseys at the shows. Now everyone is sporting Chiefs jerseys. I had been meaning to get back to St. Louis but could not find a date that worked until this past Saturday.
I hit the road Friday afternoon and was stuck in traffic in the Chicago area for a good two hours. Traffic did not clear up until well past Joliet. Man, that was a long drive to St. Louis!
I found a hotel near the Hall and slept terribly. For some reason, I could not stay asleep. Ugh! I got my groggy self together and hit a Bob Evans on my way to the Hall. I arrived at Bob Evans around 7 a.m. and nobody was there. Weird. I've eaten at Bob Evans all over the country and there is always a crowd in there. I was a little concerned but the meal turned out just fine.
At Machinists Hall, I was greeted by promoter Ron Estes, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and also a great vintage sports card dealer. Ron directed me to my tables, located in a part of the room that was not open during the other shows I did there back in the day. This part of the room was also poorly lit, which was a bummer.
I was set up by 8:30 a.m. and tired as hell. There was a pop machine out in the lobby and I started drinking Diet Mountain Dew to boost me up. I was a little concerned because there was not a whole lot of people in the room early. I was too tired to walk around and check out the other tables, which is what I usually do when things are slow. I figured I would take a walk later in the afternoon, after a few Mountain Dews.
Not much happening for me during the first hour. I started to think I would have another bomb but then older guys with lists started to line my tables. I was then swamped with set builders until 3 p.m.! I never did get a chance to walk around!!
Wow! My people!! You're here!!
Oddly, I did not know anyone in the room other than Ron. All those characters I used to know in St. Louis were not around. In their place was a steady stream of set builders which was okay with me. I sold a ton of cards! Some guys spent hours at my tables pulling stacks of cards from the binders. Well, that 1960 Topps baseball binder was full at the start of the show -- not so much after.
What a nice group of people! I enjoyed talking with all these set builders all day long!! Earlier that morning, I was thinking that I won't be coming back to St. Louis in quite some time. Well, that has changed. I'm coming back as soon as I can!!
I had a tremendous day!!
However, I did not buy anything. A few guys wanted to trade. As you know, I don't trade.
I was tired when the show ended but in a great mood. I had a much easier drive home.
St. Louis, I love you! I will be back soon!!!
Next up for me is the always solid Madison show on Saturday, December 28. Then Sunday, I am heading back to Joliet. Last time in Joliet, I brought out display cases and had a tremendous show but I am bringing out binders this time and am not confident I will do as well.
The next Oak Creek show is January 4, 2025. As usual, tables are sold out. I am way overbooked and need some guys to cancel! Looks like I am going to have to tell some of the new dealers they cannot set up this month -- I hate doing that!! Ugh!
Anyway, I am working on 1973-74 Topps basketball and hope to have it ready to go Saturday in Madison. See you then!
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