There is a "first" for everything, they always say. I awoke awfully early on Sunday, February 20, 2016, made it to Gonzaga Hall by 7 a.m. and was set up before the doors opened at 9 a.m. -- a first for me! I don't know, I am just awfully slow at setting up and closing down, so I am usually the last person to complete set up and the last person to leave a show. I do strive for consistency.
The WSCA famous baker is still under the weather, so we had to settle for doughnuts instead of fresh, delicious cake. Get better soon Candy! I dined on a chocolate doughnut and some coffee for breakfast. Being set up early, I actually walked around the room. I'm still working on that 1970 Topps baseball set. I did not see anybody with '70 Topps in any kind of volume or in any type of organization, so I did not pick up any cards for my set. I'm down to the high numbers now. I also did not see any deals flying in my face, so I did not buy any cards from the dealers.
Customers trickled to my table early in the show. Noticeably absent were Mark and Jim. Hope to see you guys at my Clarion show on March 5. Jason was an early visitor and found some cards out of my pre-War display case. Joe found some tough 1963 and 1962 high number Braves for his sets. Bruce and one of his grandsons were also early morning customers. They found some T205s. Thanks for the coffee Bruce! I'm actually sucking down some coffee as I write this blog. I live on coffee! I have a little time to kill before I have to head to court in Waukegan, Illinois, on a DUI case this morning. My recommendation: don't drink and drive! One would think that the likelihood of death or the death of another is enough of a deterrent, but not so, because Illinois courts are filled with DUI cases. Another deterrent may be that these cases are slow and costly but folks don't learn until they are in the system.
Anyway, back at the show, the room started to fill up by mid-morning. The auction was especially crowded, see picture above. Quite a few regulars hit my table to pull cards for their sets. Seems like most guys are working on sets from 1958 to 1968. I'm currently reloading my binders from the 1970s, so I am not much of a help until I get back to reloading the 1950s. However, my 1970s binders, with the exception of 1979, are pretty well depleted, so I need to keep working on the reloads. I finished 1975 just before the Gonzaga show and sold a few cards out of it.
All in all, sales were down from January. I had quite a few sales but they were mostly of the $5 and under variety which do not add up. Hopefully, I can rebound for the March show.
On the buying front, I made a real nice haul which always helps when sales are slow because those purchases will result in future sales. I picked up: a smattering of 1956 Topps baseball, some 1964 Topps baseball; a 1,000 or so 1970 Topps baseball -- no high numbers; about 600 1972 Topps baseball with a smattering of high numbers; about 300 1971 Topps baseball in really nice shape; and 600 or so 1969 Topps baseball. I left the show with no money in my pockets, I spent it all on these cards -- which is always fun.
Though, I need to stop buying cards from the 1970s, I am absolutely overrun with the low numbers. I can always use the high numbers. My inventory for 1972 Topps low numbers is getting out of hand. I must have 8,000 to 10,000 of the 1972s along with 6,000 to 7,000 of the 1970 Topps low numbers. I might start putting together some starter lots from these years and bring them out to the shows. When the price is right on these cards, I can't help myself and keep adding to the trove.
The auction ended early, around 11:15 a.m., and the room cleared out. I almost started to pack up, many dealers actually did pack up and leave by noon. There were a few guys in the room that I knew were going to hit my table, so I stuck around. I was on the road by 2 p.m., which is still early for me at the Gonzaga show. Paul Hornung is scheduled to sign autographs at the March show, so that should be an excellent show.
Up next for me is the Highland, Indiana, show at the Lincoln Center. I really like the Highland show which is quarterly and tough for me to fit into my schedule. The show is part of a large indoor flea market, so it is always lively with some cool stuff and tasty food. Mark Smith is setting up in Highland as well. I am really looking forward to the show. Then on Sunday, I'm bringing my wares back to Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, Illinois. I just finished 1965 Topps football. I don't think I'm going to bring the football binders to Highland because I only have two tables. I'll have them out in Bloomingdale where I should have more tables. If anyone would like to see football in Highland, let me know and I'll bring them out. I am also working on 1975 Topps Minis. I'm not sure if I'll have the binder done by Saturday. I am creating the binder from scratch. I believe I sold the last one to Dave at the show in Crown Point, Indiana, last fall. Anyway, it should be another great weekend of shows and I hope to see everyone out in Highland and Bloomingdale!!
The WSCA famous baker is still under the weather, so we had to settle for doughnuts instead of fresh, delicious cake. Get better soon Candy! I dined on a chocolate doughnut and some coffee for breakfast. Being set up early, I actually walked around the room. I'm still working on that 1970 Topps baseball set. I did not see anybody with '70 Topps in any kind of volume or in any type of organization, so I did not pick up any cards for my set. I'm down to the high numbers now. I also did not see any deals flying in my face, so I did not buy any cards from the dealers.
Customers trickled to my table early in the show. Noticeably absent were Mark and Jim. Hope to see you guys at my Clarion show on March 5. Jason was an early visitor and found some cards out of my pre-War display case. Joe found some tough 1963 and 1962 high number Braves for his sets. Bruce and one of his grandsons were also early morning customers. They found some T205s. Thanks for the coffee Bruce! I'm actually sucking down some coffee as I write this blog. I live on coffee! I have a little time to kill before I have to head to court in Waukegan, Illinois, on a DUI case this morning. My recommendation: don't drink and drive! One would think that the likelihood of death or the death of another is enough of a deterrent, but not so, because Illinois courts are filled with DUI cases. Another deterrent may be that these cases are slow and costly but folks don't learn until they are in the system.
Anyway, back at the show, the room started to fill up by mid-morning. The auction was especially crowded, see picture above. Quite a few regulars hit my table to pull cards for their sets. Seems like most guys are working on sets from 1958 to 1968. I'm currently reloading my binders from the 1970s, so I am not much of a help until I get back to reloading the 1950s. However, my 1970s binders, with the exception of 1979, are pretty well depleted, so I need to keep working on the reloads. I finished 1975 just before the Gonzaga show and sold a few cards out of it.
All in all, sales were down from January. I had quite a few sales but they were mostly of the $5 and under variety which do not add up. Hopefully, I can rebound for the March show.
On the buying front, I made a real nice haul which always helps when sales are slow because those purchases will result in future sales. I picked up: a smattering of 1956 Topps baseball, some 1964 Topps baseball; a 1,000 or so 1970 Topps baseball -- no high numbers; about 600 1972 Topps baseball with a smattering of high numbers; about 300 1971 Topps baseball in really nice shape; and 600 or so 1969 Topps baseball. I left the show with no money in my pockets, I spent it all on these cards -- which is always fun.
Though, I need to stop buying cards from the 1970s, I am absolutely overrun with the low numbers. I can always use the high numbers. My inventory for 1972 Topps low numbers is getting out of hand. I must have 8,000 to 10,000 of the 1972s along with 6,000 to 7,000 of the 1970 Topps low numbers. I might start putting together some starter lots from these years and bring them out to the shows. When the price is right on these cards, I can't help myself and keep adding to the trove.
The auction ended early, around 11:15 a.m., and the room cleared out. I almost started to pack up, many dealers actually did pack up and leave by noon. There were a few guys in the room that I knew were going to hit my table, so I stuck around. I was on the road by 2 p.m., which is still early for me at the Gonzaga show. Paul Hornung is scheduled to sign autographs at the March show, so that should be an excellent show.
Up next for me is the Highland, Indiana, show at the Lincoln Center. I really like the Highland show which is quarterly and tough for me to fit into my schedule. The show is part of a large indoor flea market, so it is always lively with some cool stuff and tasty food. Mark Smith is setting up in Highland as well. I am really looking forward to the show. Then on Sunday, I'm bringing my wares back to Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, Illinois. I just finished 1965 Topps football. I don't think I'm going to bring the football binders to Highland because I only have two tables. I'll have them out in Bloomingdale where I should have more tables. If anyone would like to see football in Highland, let me know and I'll bring them out. I am also working on 1975 Topps Minis. I'm not sure if I'll have the binder done by Saturday. I am creating the binder from scratch. I believe I sold the last one to Dave at the show in Crown Point, Indiana, last fall. Anyway, it should be another great weekend of shows and I hope to see everyone out in Highland and Bloomingdale!!
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