Sunday, February 2, 2025, Bridgeview Community Center, Bridgeview, IL
A couple of months ago, vintage sports card dealer and good friend Mark Smith, who resides and mostly sets up in Michigan, sent me an email asking about some Chicago-area shows. We hatched a plan to set up together at the February 2nd Bridgeview show.
Back in the day, Mark regularly drove in to Chicago and Milwaukee for shows. Mark is a tremendous dealer and a great guy. I've really missed him since he stopped coming our way. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to hanging out with Mark.
Bridgeview show promoter Nick Parsons was really kind and accommodated us. Mark had three tables, I had two -- five pretty great tables of vintage. I drooled at the three Paul Hornung rookies in Mark's display case.
It was like old times, hanging out with Mark. A few guys came out to see him which was much appreciated. The only drawback was that the guys set up behind Mark took a lot more space behind their tables than they should. There was a little barrier Mark and I had to dance around to talk to each other. If you are taking up more than half the space between your table and the dealer behind you, you are a jerk. The guys behind Mark were jerks.
Jerks aside, the show had a nice crowd along with some autograph guests including former White Sox players Neal Cotts and Geoff Blum and former Bears quarterback Bobby Douglas. My pals Will and Joe showed up early. Joe got autographs from Cotts and Blum. Will found a bunch of cards for his sets at Mark's tables.
I had a few guys stop by like Mike, Andy, and Chris. Thanks guys! Then there was the guy with the really old Phillies jacket who bought a bunch of cards. I sold some cards to another guy who said he ran a local ministry. The big winner was Nick, who purchased a pile of 1971 Topps high numbers for his set. Thanks Nick!
On the buying front, I purchased a whole set of 1956 Topps Daniel Boone. I love vintage non-sports. It has been a while since I had some Daniel Boone cards.
Mark seemed to do well and was happy. He said it was like old times. Yes! Come back soon. We really need to get Mark up to Milwaukee!!
Anyway, a fun day in Bridgeview. Not sure when I can make it back there. This is a tough show to fit into my schedule but I hope to set up in Bridgeview again soon!
After Bridgeview, I took the next weekend off to go see my son at Michigan State. We drove down to check out Ann Arbor, where neither of us had ever been before. I was surprised that the University of Michigan campus was so urban. I prefer Michigan State's campus in East Lansing with its old buildings and large open spaces. Though, overall, I really liked the town of Ann Arbor and enjoyed walking around.
Up next is Woodstock North High School, 3000 Raffel Road, Woodstock, IL, on Saturday, February 15, 2025. I am a little concerned about the weather as snow is in the forecast. I am going to do my best to wade through the snow and set up on Saturday. I just reloaded my 1973 Topps baseball high number binder along with 1961 Topps football. I plan on bringing my basketball binders as well.
Then on Sunday, February 16, 2025, I am setting up at the Orland Park Civic Center where I will have out all of my binders and two display cases of cards.
Farewell Skip
Well, that great card show in the sky took in another dealer on February 10 -- my pal George "Skip" Carroll, age 78, of Huntly, IL. I've known Skip a good 25 years or so. We met at Fred Copp's old show at the Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, IL. In those days, Skip carried a large amount of vintage sports cards but was always opening up the newest series of cards and building sets.
I remember one show at Indian Lakes where some a-hole stole a bunch of Skip's vintage cards. At some point, we all get ripped off, it is part of the territory but it still sucks nonetheless.
I enjoyed hanging out with Skip over the years. He was a huge White Sox fan and always had a thing or two to say about the Sox. I liked hearing his tales about operating a deli in Arizona with his wife. He also had great Chicago mob stories. A really neat guy and always a joy to be around. I also bought a lot of cards from Skip over the years.
After a while, I kind of thought Skip was invincible after he beat cancer twice. Man, that sucked when he got sick and I was so happy when he recovered. I am so sorry to see him go. Man, they are having a great card show up in the sky. RIP Skip. I will always appreciate your friendship.
A couple of months ago, vintage sports card dealer and good friend Mark Smith, who resides and mostly sets up in Michigan, sent me an email asking about some Chicago-area shows. We hatched a plan to set up together at the February 2nd Bridgeview show.
Back in the day, Mark regularly drove in to Chicago and Milwaukee for shows. Mark is a tremendous dealer and a great guy. I've really missed him since he stopped coming our way. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to hanging out with Mark.
Bridgeview show promoter Nick Parsons was really kind and accommodated us. Mark had three tables, I had two -- five pretty great tables of vintage. I drooled at the three Paul Hornung rookies in Mark's display case.
It was like old times, hanging out with Mark. A few guys came out to see him which was much appreciated. The only drawback was that the guys set up behind Mark took a lot more space behind their tables than they should. There was a little barrier Mark and I had to dance around to talk to each other. If you are taking up more than half the space between your table and the dealer behind you, you are a jerk. The guys behind Mark were jerks.
Jerks aside, the show had a nice crowd along with some autograph guests including former White Sox players Neal Cotts and Geoff Blum and former Bears quarterback Bobby Douglas. My pals Will and Joe showed up early. Joe got autographs from Cotts and Blum. Will found a bunch of cards for his sets at Mark's tables.
I had a few guys stop by like Mike, Andy, and Chris. Thanks guys! Then there was the guy with the really old Phillies jacket who bought a bunch of cards. I sold some cards to another guy who said he ran a local ministry. The big winner was Nick, who purchased a pile of 1971 Topps high numbers for his set. Thanks Nick!
On the buying front, I purchased a whole set of 1956 Topps Daniel Boone. I love vintage non-sports. It has been a while since I had some Daniel Boone cards.
Mark seemed to do well and was happy. He said it was like old times. Yes! Come back soon. We really need to get Mark up to Milwaukee!!
Anyway, a fun day in Bridgeview. Not sure when I can make it back there. This is a tough show to fit into my schedule but I hope to set up in Bridgeview again soon!
After Bridgeview, I took the next weekend off to go see my son at Michigan State. We drove down to check out Ann Arbor, where neither of us had ever been before. I was surprised that the University of Michigan campus was so urban. I prefer Michigan State's campus in East Lansing with its old buildings and large open spaces. Though, overall, I really liked the town of Ann Arbor and enjoyed walking around.
Up next is Woodstock North High School, 3000 Raffel Road, Woodstock, IL, on Saturday, February 15, 2025. I am a little concerned about the weather as snow is in the forecast. I am going to do my best to wade through the snow and set up on Saturday. I just reloaded my 1973 Topps baseball high number binder along with 1961 Topps football. I plan on bringing my basketball binders as well.
Then on Sunday, February 16, 2025, I am setting up at the Orland Park Civic Center where I will have out all of my binders and two display cases of cards.
Farewell Skip
Well, that great card show in the sky took in another dealer on February 10 -- my pal George "Skip" Carroll, age 78, of Huntly, IL. I've known Skip a good 25 years or so. We met at Fred Copp's old show at the Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, IL. In those days, Skip carried a large amount of vintage sports cards but was always opening up the newest series of cards and building sets.
I remember one show at Indian Lakes where some a-hole stole a bunch of Skip's vintage cards. At some point, we all get ripped off, it is part of the territory but it still sucks nonetheless.
I enjoyed hanging out with Skip over the years. He was a huge White Sox fan and always had a thing or two to say about the Sox. I liked hearing his tales about operating a deli in Arizona with his wife. He also had great Chicago mob stories. A really neat guy and always a joy to be around. I also bought a lot of cards from Skip over the years.
After a while, I kind of thought Skip was invincible after he beat cancer twice. Man, that sucked when he got sick and I was so happy when he recovered. I am so sorry to see him go. Man, they are having a great card show up in the sky. RIP Skip. I will always appreciate your friendship.
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