How is a vintage sports card addict supposed to get a fix during a pandemic? Seems like everyone is shouting at me to stay home. Where am I going to go, just about everything is closed plus there is the real possibility I can contract a deadly disease. You don't have to tell me twice!

I have really ignored eBay these past several years. The problems I have with eBay are too numerous to mention here. But, since I can't go to a card show, eBay is just about the only way to purchase cards. I am having problems with my scanner so I have not been able to post cards for sale on eBay. Hopefully, I can figure it out sooner rather than later.

I recently reloaded my 1954 Bowman baseball binder which gave me an opportunity to get reacquainted with this great set. After loading the binder, I realized I was 15 cards or so short of a complete set which got me thinking that I should build a 1954 Bowman baseball set for my personal collection. I think it is an underrated set and features some really cool paintings of some of the greatest players in history like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Bob Feller and Roy Campanella. Of course there is the difficult Ted Williams card, pulled after he signed an exclusive contract with Topps for the 1954 season.

The Bowman 1954 set was issued during a competition with Topps for sports card dominance. Both companies had exclusive agreements with certain players. As a result, the Bowman set has Mantle, Feller, and Campanella, while Topps does not. However, Topps has the amazing rookie cards of Kaline, Banks, and Aaron, while Bowman does not. In my opinion, sports card fans win because there are two amazing sets of cards from 1954 to collect.

I thought it would be fun to build the entire set completely from cards purchased on eBay. I am not going to pursue the Williams. I might want to include some autographed cards and a wrapper. Below is a diary of my attempt to build the 1954 Bowman baseball set on eBay:

April 7, 2020

First off, I am a passive bidder. There is no card that I must own, so I won't get into a bidding war and overpay for anything. My method  is simple, I just throw down my max bid. If I win, great. If I lose, no big deal. While these cards are 66 years old, they are not rare. If anything, eBay has shown us over the past 20 years or so that NOTHING is rare. There are more than 25,000 1954 Bowmans currently on eBay, so I won't ever run out of cards to bid on.

Day 1 of my attempt to build a 1954 Bowman baseball set exclusively on eBay. I punched "1954 Bowman" into the search box on eBay. Decided to look at auction only, cards ending soonest. I saw a lot of nice commons for reasonable prices. However, when I factored in the shipping costs ranging from $3.10 to $6, the price of the cards became a lot less reasonable.

I figured maybe if I purchase multiple cards from the sellers, I could get a break on shipping. To my dismay, none of the sellers on Day 1 offered shipping discounts. Most of them did not accept returns. My scam radar started to go off. I checked what other cards these guys were selling. Most seemed to sell mostly modern cards with a handful of vintage scattered in. I am always a little uncomfortable when I see one vintage card on a seller's eBay page along with 25 or more modern cards.

I have learned over the years that eBay is scam central. I have been burned a few times. So, in order to avoid getting scammed, I make sure I scrutinize a listing before placing a bid.

I saw a Mantle pictured in a thick screwdown for $350. The seller claimed the card was real, not a reprint. He claimed to have owned the card for 20 years. The other items he had for sale included mostly Dallas Cowboys memorabilia. It just seems odd that a guy with 50 modern Dallas Cowboys items has one vintage card, a 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle.

I have seen a lot of fakes and reprints over the years. The real 1954 Bowman backs have a light gray-white-ish base with red overprint. Seems like a lot of the fakes/reprints have fuzzy backs with yellowish dark shade, almost like a varnish look. The Mantle had the fuzzy back varnish. Fake, in my opinion. Too bad, I would have loved to have purchased an EX Mantle for $350. He had no bids. I am glad others saw that it was fake. Scammers suck!

Another seller had a really nice looking Gil Hodges. The description said miscut. There was no photo of the back. I am always hesitant to purchase a card that does not have a picture of the back. A closer look at the card showed an uneven cut on the top edge, like someone unskilled took a scissors to it. Pass!

Found another Mantle, it had corner and edge wear and what looked like a little tire track across the top. Still at $250, worth a bid. Upon a closer look, the card is perfectly centered. My scam radar always goes off when I see a perfectly centered vintage card. There was no quality control in 1954 and this was the era of liquid lunches. Those guys working the presses could care less whether the cards were centered.

I also observed that Mantle's teeth were bright white while the border was a dimmed white. The differences in the shade of white is another item on my scam radar. The back looks legit, nice and bright gray, no varnish. However, upon a closer look, the edges look handcut, pass!

I then came across an item featuring 170 different 1954 Bowman cards, including some stars. I recognize the seller as someone I have dealt with before so I am confident the cards are legit. The picture is bad, see below, so I can't get a good idea on the condition. I am not creating a Mint set, so I do not mind some wear but I do not want cards creased up.

The description states that 85 percent of the cards are in VG. I don't believe it. I have learned over the years that cards are always at least a grade or two lower than the seller claims. I threw down a bid of $280 and was immediately outbid. Cards went up to $290.

Decisions, decisions. Do I want to bid on a near set of 1954 Bowman cards in Good condition? There is a Rizzuto, Mathews, and a handful of other stars. I decided to bid $300. Immediately outbid. Lot sent up to $305. 

Being that we are in the middle of a pandemic, my income is down, so I have to be conservative. Also, I need to figure in sales tax, since eBay is now charging everyone sales tax. I am thankful there is no buyer's premium. Sales tax plus buyer's premium has priced me out of the big auction houses.

I still think the best deals are at card shows. I hate that I have to purchase cards on eBay, but there is no other choice in these trying times.

Okay, I'll throw down $400 but that is my final bid. Nice! I'm high bidder at $355. There is still six more hours to go on the auction. I doubt I will win the lot. I am going to hold off bidding on any other cards until I learn whether I won the lot.

That was an interesting start to my attempt to build a 1954 Bowman baseball set on eBay.

April 8, 2020

The eBay auction for the 170-card lot of 1954 Bowmans ended at about 9 p.m. I kept checking all evening and my bid at $355 held out and I won the cards. Initially, I was excited. Then when I went to pay for the cards I saw that I was being charged $11 shipping and $22.88 in sales tax, for a total of $388.88. My enthusiasm was dampened when I thought about dropping all that money on cards I did not inspect in person. What am I going to receive? What if the cards are all creased up? I much prefer purchasing cards at shows where I can actually hold, feel, and touch my purchase.

The seller's description does not mention creases which does not mean the cards do not have creases. I would feel much better if he specifically stated no creases. Well, 1954 Bowman commons book at $12 each. If the cards are not creased up, I got a really nice deal at $2.29 a card. If they are creased, I overpaid.

I spent a lot of time last night analyzing my purchase. I went over the seller's description umpteen times and found some anomalies. First off, the listing states 170 cards while the description states 180 cards. Then the seller listed all the cards in the lot. When I counted the cards listed, I came up with 194 cards. Well, what did I just purchase? 170? 180? 194 cards? I better receive at least 170 cards and all the stars stated in the description!

Based on the guy's description, these are the numbers of the cards I now need to complete the set: 10, 15, 23, 38, 45, 58, 62, 65, 74, 84, 89, 90, 92, 94, 97, 105, 113, 122, 132, 135, 138, 161 170, 177, 183, 195, 210, 211, 218 and 221.

There are 224 cards in the 1954 Bowman set, so whether I am receiving 170, 180 or 194 cards, I am receiving the bulk of the set minus the majority of the stars and semi-stars. So I will continue today trying to purchase more cards based on the list above.

Again, I typed in 1954 Bowman, auction only. I feel that I get the best deal with an auction. Buy It Nows seem to always be overpriced.

Same issues as yesterday. I see some cards I need but the shipping cost prices me out. I found a seller with a Carl Erskine, card number 10, which I think I need, though I am not 100 percent sure because the seller of the lot I won really screwed up the description. The Erskine looks nice, just a little off-center. Initial bid is $5, no one else has placed a bid and the card ends in 21 hours. 

A couple of problems. First, the seller only has 68 feedback. I am always a little suspicious of low feedback. Those with low feedback are usually the scammers, in my experience. Second, shipping cost is $4.05. So, if I win, the total would be 9.05 plus sales tax. Does eBay tax the shipping cost? I am going to assume they do, because I do not have a very high opinion of eBay and think they will pull that kind of crap. So tack on another 75 cents for sales tax and I would be paying $9.80, which is about the actual value of the card. As a dealer, I could not pay $9.80 because I would not be able to realize a profit. But, here, I'm building a set as a collector with no immediate plans to sell the set. As I result, I can do the $9.80.

However, the seller does not offer a shipping discount for multiple purchases and does not offer returns. These are problems in my book and I will pass.

I found an Ashburn, card number 15, a little off-center and soft corners. This card books at $80. The card has six bids and is only at $7.50. Shipping is $3.00 and seller offers shipping discount and accepts returns. He also has more than 4,000 positive feedback. Item description states no creases. I think I'll throw down $20. I'm high bidder at $9.50 with a day to go. Woot!

Same seller has a Minoso and it looks like a beaut. It has bids and is currently $8.88. The card books at $30. I think I'll throw down $15. I am now high bidder at $9.50 with a day to go.

Same seller has a Pee Wee Reese, card number 58, with corners that are slightly rounded. Nice centering. Does not appear to be creased. I am a little concerned that the description does not state anything about creasing. The seller specifically stated in the Ashburn description that there are no creases, here no mention. 

The card high books at $100 and it is currently at $13.50 with seven bids. I think I'll throw down $25. I'm high bidder at $14 with a day to go.

Next, I find a Junior Gilliam, card number 74. It looks nice. Different seller with just 168 feedback. This seller offers shipping discount for multiple purchases and accepts returns. Seller claims the card is VG and does not mention anything about creases. The card has two bids and is only at 1.04. I think I'll throw down $8. I'm high bidder at $1.51 with a day to go.

Same seller has a Larry Doby, card number 84, with soft corners. He says it is VG. Card is at $2.80 with two bids. I think I'll throw down $8 again. I'm high bidder at $4.25 with a day to go.

Next, I see another Gilliam but since I just threw down a bid on one, I don't want to bid another just yet. Pass.

I then see a Whitey Ford, card 177. It looks battered and the seller says it is VG. No way. Pass.

April 9, 2020

Day 3. Today is an important day because an entire set is ending today, listed card by card. I have to work at my real job then try and find time to bid.

I received tracking on the lot I purchased. Says I should receive it tomorrow. I  appreciate that the seller shipped it so quickly. 

A quick review of my current bids. I am high bidder on the Ashburn at $9.50. I've been outbid on the Minoso, it is now at $15.50. Too high for this card. I am not going to increase my bid. I'm high bidder on the Reese at $20.50. I'm high bidder on the Gilliam at $2.25. I am also high bidder on the Doby at $5.50.

The guy breaking up the set has 25K in feedback. He charges $3.50 for shipping and does not offer a shipping discount. He also does not accept returns. So any card I bid on, I have to factor in $3.50 plus tax. I am not too high on the lack of shipping discount and the refusal to accept returns. However, I just can't pass up the opportunity to place bids on all the cards I need from one seller in one day!

First up is an Erskine, nice shape but terribly off center. It is currently at $6 with 6 bidders. After factoring in the shipping and tax, I cannot place a bid. The price would be too high.

Next up is a Harvey Kuenn, card number 23. Nice looking card with one soft corner. Seller says EX. I'm thinking VG. Currently one bid at $1.99. I'm going to throw down 7. I'm high bidder at $3.25 with seven hours to go.

There is a Minoso with soft corners and bad centering. One bid at $1.99. I'm going to throw down $8. I'm high bidder at $2.75.

Next up is a nice looking Kiner, card number 45, at $9.50 with three bids. Some slight corner and edge wear. I am going to throw down $15. Looks like I matched another bid and am losing at $15. I'll up it to $20. I'm high bidder at $15.50.

I see an Enos Slaughter, card 62. Seller says EX but the card has corner wear and some wax stains on the back. Card is at $12.50 with seven bids. I am going to throw down $20. I'm high bidder at $13.50.

The Mantle, card 65, is listed in Good but clearly has creases and stains. I appreciate the fact that the seller does mention in the description that the card is creased. It is up to $125 with 13 bids. I am going to throw down $150. I'm high bidder at $132.

The Mays, card 89, is listed as EX or better. I say GOOD would be more appropriate. I don't see any creases and the seller does not describe any. The corners are soft. Surface wear is evident as well as edge wear. There is also what appears to be a pen mark on the lower left edge. Card is currently at $67 with 11 bids. I am going to bid $75. I'm outbid at $76. With that pen mark, I'm not going to up my bid. Pass.

The Campanella, card 90, is listed as EX or better. I can see some corner wear. The back has some scuff marks. It almost looks like a corner crease but tough to tell for sure. The description does not mention a crease. I am a little skeptical. Current bid is $26.40 with 11 bids. I will throw down $35. I would probably bid higher but there does seem to be either a crease or bend on the back. Outbid at $36. I will not up my bid because I think this card may have issues that the seller is keeping quiet about.

The goofy description from the lot I won, shows I need common Ken Raffensberger, card number 92. The one from this set break, looks pretty good. A ding on one corner and a little bit of a centering issue. Card has no bids and starts at $1.99. I am going to bid $4.

I also need another common, Solly Hemus, card number 94. The one from this set break looks pretty good. I see some corner wear. It is at $1.99 for an opening bid. Again, I'll place $4.

Next up is a Gil McDougald, card 97. Description says EX. No way, the seller is on crack! There is clearly creasing visible near the upper left corner. Currently no bidders with an opening of $1.99. I'll throw down $7. Without the crease I would have been willing to go $15 to $20.

I need a Sal the Barber, card number 105. This one looks pretty good with some corner wear. Definitely not EX, as the seller claims. It is at $1.99 for an opening bid. I decide to throw down $5.

Next on my list is Allie Reynolds, card number 113. The one from the set break has some minor corner dings and centering issues. It is also at $1.99 for an opening bid. I am going to throw down $7.

I need Carl Furillo, card 122, an underrated player from those great Brooklyn Dodgers teams from the 1950's. Description states EX or better. Again the seller was hitting the crack pipe too hard. The corners are soft. A lot of scuffing on the back. Looks like there may be a small crease. The card is currently at $2.25 with two bids. I will throw down $7. I can't do much more with a potential crease. I am high bidder at $4.23.

I need a Bob Feller, card number 132. I think the seller is asleep at the wheel. The description states EX or better. From the back scan, I can clearly see a crease. The corners are also soft and the card has centering issues. It is currently at $13.50 with four bids. Without that crease, I would be willing to bid $40 to $50. The crease drops me to $20. I'm high bidder at $16.05.

Up next is a Johnny Pesky, card 135. Maybe the seller started to feel the effects of Corona Virus because this card is clearly in POOR Condition and he is stating that it is EX or better. Heavy corner wear. Scuff marks on the front. The back shows multiple creases. The card is at $4.45 with three bids. Pass.

I need a Gil Hodges, card number 138. The one here looks okay. Though, I am starting to grow a little concerned with this seller. The Pesky listing at EX is troubling. The Hodges is at $14.50 with seven bids. I am going to throw down $25. I am high bidder at $22.53.

The Berra, card 161, is scuffed and the corners are soft -- not EX as the seller states. I cannot be certain whether there are any creases. Seller does not mention creases in the description but I have seen enough of this guy's listings to lose trust. The card is at $41. I will bid $45. I would bid higher but I no longer trust the seller's description. I'm high bidder at $42.

I need Duke Snider, card 170. The seller lists this card as VG, the first card lower than EX, I have seen in a while. He also lists that the card is creased. From the scan, I cannot tell where the creases are located. I don't see any creases -- which is why it is so imperative for sellers to be honest and state whether a card is creased. This seller does not always state whether a card is creased. Looks like a little scuffing on the back. Some corner wear. In my opinion, a card cannot achieve the rate of VG if it is creased. I know a lot of sellers disagree but I NEVER grade a card VG if it is creased.

The Snider is at $13.50 with six bids. I will throw down $18, but that's as far as I will go. I am high bidder at $15.50.

The Whitey Ford is listed as EX or better -- NOT! The corners are rounded and there are scuff marks. While I cannot detect any creases from the scans, it does not mean the card is crease free. Actually, I would not be surprised if the card is creased because of the rounded corners. The card is at $24.50 with five bids. I will go as high as $35. I am high bidder at $29.

I need another common, Matt Batts, card number 183. Description states VG with creases. Pass.

Next up is a common Bob Cain, card number 195. Description states EX. Corner wear and scuff marks evident. Back shows some odd lines that may be creases. I'll take a chance at $1.99.

This set contains two Jimmy Piersall cards. I think card number 210 is the original Piersall. The lower number Piersall was used to replaced the Williams. I need card 210. Corner wear, scuff marks. Card is at $3.55 with 3 bids. I'll throw down $7. Outbid at $7.50. I'll pass because I also noticed what may be a pen mark on the back.

I need Jim Robertson, card 211. Corner wear, some wax stains on the back. One bid at $1.99. I'll bid $4. I'm high bidder at $2.25.

I need Preacher Roe, card 218. The one pictured here is what I believe a "Loop" variation. Some of the cards in this set have a small black loop at the top. Some sellers charge more for a card with the loop. While this one is listed at VG+, it is clearly beat up. Heavy corner wear. The description states that it is creased. It is currently at $1.99 with two bids. I'll go $4. I'm high bidder at $2.82.

Lastly, I need Frank Baumholtz, card 221. I see corner wear. There does not appear to be any creases and the description is silent as to creasing. Opening bid of $1.99. I'll go $4.

Well, that was kind of time consuming. I scrutinized the scans. I think I am done for today. I am going to let the chips fall as they may. Hopefully, I win some of the cards and the seller does not jam me with an extra $3.50 in shipping per card.

April 10, 2020

Day 4. Much to report today. I lost more auctions than I won. I really had a problem with the set break seller's descriptions that were clearly off. I might have upped my bids had the seller provided honest detailed descriptions -- which is one of the many reasons I normally avoid eBay.

Anyway, here's the stuff I lost:

Before I started bidding on the set break, I found a Minoso from another seller and bid $15. I lost at $15.50. I also placed a bid on a Doby from another seller. My max bid was $8. I lost at $14.50.

Now comes my bids with the set break. I started with a Kuenn and placed a $7 bid. Lost at $7.50; I bid $20 on a Kiner and lost at $20.50. I also put down $20 on a Slaughter and lost at $20.50. I put down $150 on a Mantle in absolutely crap shape. I lost at $227.50.

I placed a bid of $75 on a Mays that had a lot of condition problems and lost at $104.62. I placed a bid of $35 and a Campanella that was also problematic and lost at $49.60. I put $7 on an Allie Reynolds and lost at $7.50. I bid $20 on a creased up Feller and lost at $29.99.

I put $25 on a Hodge and lost at $29. I put $45 on a Berra and lost at $52. I put $18 on a creased up Snider and lost at $26.65. I put $35 on a problematic Ford and lost at $36. I put $4 on common Jim Robertson and lost at $4.25. I put $4 on a creased up Preacher Roe and lost at $4.25.

Obviously, I was sniped at the end on most of these cards which is fine because the condition did not warrant higher bids on my part. I just won't overpay. 

Now for my winnings.  I placed a bid of $8 on the Gilliam pictured above and won at $8! I put down $25 on a Pee Wee Reese, pictured below, and won at $22.50. I put down a max bid of $20 on an Ashburn and won at $11.50. I placed a bid of $8 on a Minoso and won at $6.01 which shows how unpredictable eBay can be because earlier I had placed a bid on a different Minoso from a different seller at $15 and lost at $15.50. This one I only bid $8 and won at $6.01. There is no rhyme or reason!

I put $7 on a Furillo and won at $6.01. I put $4 on a Raffensberger and won at $1.99. I put $4 on Solly Hemus and won at $2.49. I put $7 on Gil McDougald and won at $3. I put $5 on Sal Maglie and won at $3.25. I put $4 on Bob Cain and won at $1.99. Lastly, I put $4 on Frank Baumholts and won at $2.50.

Successful day in my book. I was able to knock off 11 cards from my list. I need just 19 more cards to complete the set or so I think... I haven't received that lot yet and I don't know exactly what is in there.

Let's get back to bidding on cards. Ugly stuff up today on eBay. Most everything is creased. There is a Mantle with paste and scrapbook residue on the back. Starting bid $250. No takers. There is another Mantle missing a huge chunk of the upper right side. Starting bid $75. No takers.

I finally find something bidworthy -- a Kiner. Corner are soft. I don't really see any other flaws. Starting bid $19.99 with $4.49 in shipping. I'll bid the minimum. Card ends tomorrow.

Saw another Mantle. A whole bunch of creasing visible on the back. It's at $243. I'll pass. I see a Slaughter. A little scuffing on the back otherwise nice. Currently at $2.59 with two days to go. $3.95 shipping. Reputable seller. I'll throw down $25. I'm high bidder at $6.89.

I think that is all for today. I don't like bidding on auctions that end in more than 24 hours. I'll report back soon.

The older I get, the more I realize I had a pretty unusual childhood. This was the 1970's. Suburbia at its finest. The kids I knew had boring, stale lives. They all seemed to live like the "Waltons." I could almost hear them each night, "Good night Mary Ellen. Good night John Boy."

At my house it was more like, "shut the hell up and go to bed!" 

The neighborhood kids knew what was going to happen each and every day. They knew their moms were going to cook bacon and eggs for breakfast, their fathers were out of the house by 8 a.m. to work and would be back for dinner, and the kids would spend the day at school, camp, or on the weekend take a short jaunt to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I, on the other hand, had to eat this crappy cereal every morning called "Puffed Rice" that my sister liked and I'd only get to eat if I woke up early enough before I was shipped off or shipped out somewhere. However, often I was shipped out on an awesome adventure.

See, my folks were unlike the white-washed sterile neighbors of 1970's suburbia. My mother did not spend all day in the kitchen or do laundry like the other women in the neighborhood. Hell, I don't even know what she did all day because she wasn't home and I did not know where she went. I just knew that her friends smoked a lot of cigarettes. 

My dad wasn't like the other dads. He didn't work 9 to 5. He didn't coach my little league team or take me out for ice cream. Instead, he was out somewhere hustling. He cut his chops on Chicago's Maxwell Street in the 1950s. Maxwell Street was a flea market, unlike any other flea market in the world because the vendors weren't there to sell you a pair of socks. No, they were there to convince you that the poorly made pairs of socks on their tables were made from the finest materials the world had to offer and for a quarter, your feet could be covered like those of pharaohs, kings, knights of the round table.

Maxwell Street was where the art of the "hustle" was born. My pop studied under the Maxwell Street elite. He knew that the vendors bought the socks from old Marty who lived on Blue Island Avenue and his wife made the socks in the basement of their two flat from Marty's old underwear. For a quarter, you got to cover your feet in old Marty's shit stain.

It has always been about the hustle for my pop. So while my friends were picked up summer mornings by these glowing yellow buses covered with all sorts of Indian logos and staffed by college coeds then taken to day camps where they did crafts, went swimming, played sports... I got picked up summer mornings in a Sanford & Son junker with old Harry Heller at the wheel.

I'm pretty sure Pop knew Harry from Maxwell Street. Harry was larger than life. A big personality. He went to college on a basketball scholarship. Afterwards, he bounced around the Indians and the Cubs minor leagues until he was drafted into World War II.

Harry was a hustler. He'd be glad to see me and in some weird way, I'd be glad to see him. But he'd always hurry me along. We had lots of other kids to pick up in the northern suburbs and across the North Side of Chicago. I didn't know any of those kids. I just learned to go along with the day's adventure.

Once we picked up all the kids, I knew we would end up somewhere hot. Often it was a 100 year-old beaten down school on the North Side of Chicago that had a cavernous gym with no air conditioning, just hot, wet air. There would be a dozen basketballs on the floor. Harry would disappear. Us kids were left in the gym to do whatever.

Often, I would try to toss a basketball to the ceiling of the gym. Those old gyms had these sky-high ceilings. I could never hit it. If I had a baseball, probably. But I couldn't jack a basketball that high. So I would end up shooting baskets until I got too hot. It always got too hot. Then I'd just sit around and wait to get back into the junker, drop off all the city kids, then go suburb to suburb and drop off all the other kids and eventually get home.

One summer morning, while expecting to be dropped off at an old time gym, I observed that the old junker ended up parked on Waveland Avenue, just outside the left field bleachers of Wrigley Field. This was the mid-1970's. The Cubs were out of town and the park was empty. We were led into Wrigley Field through an old metal door that I think has long been sealed over.

We were ordered to get in line, two by two, and were marched into left field down toward the Cubs dugout. Then we went past home plate and up right field, past the visitor's dugout. They parked us on the right field grass. We sat, and sat, then sat some more. It was one of those hot Chicago summer days. I was initially thrilled to be walking around Wrigley but sitting on that right field grass in the hot sun, with nothing to drink, dampened my enthusiasm.

Eventually, a familiar face -- Ernie Banks showed up and popped us kids out of our heat haze and we all stood up. I wondered how ole Harry hustled this up. I thought of my friends making freakin' lanyards at their Indian summer camps while I stood on the right field grass of Wrigley Field looking up at Ernie Banks. 

Ernie was a ball of energy. He told us that he was our tour guide for the day and we followed him along the outfield wall. I was a little light headed from sitting in the heat but damn if I wasn't going to get right on the heals of Ernie Banks. I listened intently as he plucked a leaf off the outfield ivy and explained how it was planted in 1937 by Bill Veeck, who I knew as the owner of the White Sox at the time. Ernie explained that if a ball got lost in the ivy, the umps rule it an automatic double.

Man, that ended up being a great day but not unusual for me. As a kid, I never knew what was going to happen, especially in summer. When I needed a baseball mitt, we went to see Pop's old friend from Maxwell Street, Morrie Mages. Old Morrie went from selling sports equipment on Maxwell Street to owning the largest sporting gear store in the world, at one time. If I needed a suit, we'd go find an old tailor on Roosevelt Road, near the old Maxwell Street, even though we lived all the way in the northern suburbs. Pops had to get a deal. There were no deals at the suburban malls. We only shopped at places where Pops could negotiate a price. 

All the furniture in my house came from the old Twin flea market in Wheeling, because pop could get a deal. When I wanted a fishing pole, I was only allowed to get a "pocket fisherman" because Pop went to high school with Ron Popeil. You remember that guy? He was a hustler too. All his stuff never worked but he was on TV all the time hawking stuff like the Mr. Microphone -- Hey Good Looking, Be Back To Pick You Up Later!

There was Pop's friend who had a car collection that would make Jay Leno blush. I got to ride in one of the original Batmobiles from the 1960's TV show. Pop's friend drove it on over. The Batmobile was in my driveway!

Pops was into politics too. We would have these lavish fundraisers at our house for all sorts of local political candidates. As a kid, I was invisible to these people. I would weed my way through the hoards in my living room to find the bowl of cocktail franks. Steal the bowl, hustle it up to my bedroom and chow down with my brother.

The best part of growing up was that Pop loved sports. The highlight was going to the All Star games in 1981, 1982, and 1983. We hung out at the hotels where the players were staying and I got tons of autographs. I hopped on an elevator in Cleveland in 1981 and found my self staring at Warren Spahn and Yogi Berra. I still have the autographs. Don Drysdale was on our flight back to Chicago, as he was the White Sox announcer back then. He signed my ticket stub. I still have it. My brother and I ran after Mike Schmidt outside Olympic Stadium in Montreal in 1982. In 1983, Pops got us tickets to the All Star game banquet, the night before the game in Chicago. I sat at a huge table with eight or nine all stars and ate dinner with them.

I think it was 1982 and Pops got me and my brother into the Cubs dugout before a game. I remember sitting with Larry Bowa in the dugout. Later that night we went to some sort of fundraiser dinner with the Cubs. I sat next to Steve Henderson. He was awfully nice.

Pop's became friends with all sorts of old-time baseball players. It was not unusual for Jimmy Piersall or Randy Hundley to call my house. I was always too scared to really say anything to those guys. I usually just took a message. I really wanted to ask Jimmy Piersall why he was riding Wayne Nordhagen. Piersall was a White Sox announcer for a long time.

It was a crazy way to grow up but when I think back on it, it was pretty cool. I really loved meeting Ernie Banks in the mid-1970's and feeling the gravel of the warning track in the outfield of Wrigley Field under my feet. I've got so many crazy stories from my childhood. Like the building on Division Street in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago that my grandmother owned with her brother. The building housed a boxing gym and Pop's would take me there with him to collect rent from the boxers. When I got my drivers license, I was sent all over the city and suburbs to collect rent or remove the change from the laundry machines in apartment buildings.

Pops is still around at age 82. He comes out to the card shows occasionally. I know he's hustled some of you guys. Sorry! That is the way he was made. He comes from a different time and like I said, I had a very different upbringing but I wouldn't change a thing!!

I might have told some of these stories in some earlier blogs. Forgive me for repeating them, if I did. Just feeling a little nostalgic and it is always fun to tell these stories.

I have been sick the past couple of weeks, so I apologize for not responding to calls. I don't think I had Corona Virus but I do not know for certain because I was unable to get tested. I called my doctor's office, they told me to stay away and go to the hospital. I went on the website for my local hospital and it instructed to stay away unless you can't breath. I was able to breath, though I did have some sort respiratory thing and have been coughing for weeks. I contacted my county health department, no help either.

I think Corona Virus tests are only available for White House staff, members of Congress and the NBA.

So I just did what I normally do when I have the flu: DayQuil, NiteQuil, and tea. In addition to the cough, I was woozy, nauseous, and had zero energy for about 10 days. Seems like all I did was sleep and the days flew by. Twelve days later, I still have that cough and my energy is not quite fully back but I feel sooo much better than I did just a few days ago. 

So here are my thoughts on Corona Virus. Those that think this is some sort of hoax or a plot to take down Trump are completely off their rockers. So are those that are comparing statistics between Corona Virus and the regular flu and misstating that this is
not as bad as the regular flu. Here's the problem with the comparison, the Corona Virus stats are going up exponentially, so there cannot be any comparison because we have not seen the bottom of the pandemic and we have no previous years on which to base such a comparison. In addition, the numbers are skewered because tests are not available for the mass population, as I found out first hand. This is NOT the regular flu and we do not actually know how many people are infected! With so few tests available, I gather that we do not know how many people are dying as a result of the Corona Virus. I am not going to play the blame game but from my observation, our ability as a country to deal with the pandemic appears extremely inept.

Also, we don't really know what happened in China since it is a military state and any statistics coming out of that country are not to be trusted. Was I the only one who observed the news story where a hotel in China was converted into a hospital for Corona Virus patients only to collapse once filled with people? What in the world happened there? I can only imagine what is really going on in China.

I have lived through many different strains of the flu and there seems to always have been a vaccine available. So I have been wondering for the past six weeks or so when I first learned about Corona Virus is why is there no vaccine? I also think this pandemic is only going to get worse until there is a vaccine. Since testing is only available to the rich and powerful, I am not going to hold out hope that a vaccine will arrive for us common folks anytime soon.

Therefore, my friends, I think we need to hunker down and stay home for the immediate future to avoid the spread of this horrible disease. As a result, my card show at the Salvation Army is postponed until June 6, 2020. There will be no shows in April and May at the Salvation Army. Not only is it now illegal to gather in the State of Wisconsin it is irresponsible to gather in groups during a pandemic.

I know so many wonderful people as a result of the card shows and I want everyone to stay healthy until we can safely get together again!

That being said, the March Gonzaga and Orland Park shows, where I am a regular dealer were cancelled this month and I am suffering serious card show withdrawal symptoms. I don't expect those shows to open in April either. What is a card show junkie to do? I have been sorting and pricing cards, so if we are ever able to have a card show again anywhere, I will be prepared!

I may start to post some cards on eBay if I can find some time. I have not done much on eBay for the past three or four years largely because the majority of my time has been spent at my day job, with family and my regular battles with diabetes.

I am actually at work now, my first time back since March 12. While I am not seeing clients and all of my co-workers are at home, I still have a lot of work to do. I am oh so thankful that the courts are closed, so I am going to use this time to catch up.

Again the April and May Salvation Army shows are cancelled while the June 6 show is a go for now. Please, stay home and stay healthy!

Saturday, March 7, 2020, Salvation Army Community Center, Oak Creek, WI

Unbelievable! Did you attend the show? Did you see that crowd? Oh my!! We must have had over 500 people attend the show!! I don't understand how we keep topping our attendance? Where is everybody coming from?

Prior to the show I had an inkling that this was going to be a monster show. My phone was ringing off the hook along with a mass amount of texts, emails and Facebook messages.

Dealer tables for the March show actually sold out in February but I kept getting request after request for tables even after posting here and on Facebook that they were sold out. So I started calling dealers to confirm to see if they were coming and a few dropped out and I was able to add a few guys from the waiting list. Unfortunately on the day of the show, I had four no-shows which just pisses me off. If you reserve a table you MUST attend unless you're ill or have a family emergency. I could have let four more guys into the show from the waiting list. That's also $100 I lost. I still have to pay for the room, advertising and wax for my giveaway. It is really selfish thing to do to skip out on a show when you have reserved a table. 

There was a time where I would let dealers slide if they did not show up. Now that I consistently sell out and have a waiting list, these no-show guys are banned from ever setting up again. So in the future, anyone who commits to setting up better be there or they will be banned. It just isn't fair to the guys sitting on my waiting list and it is not fair to me when I have so many expenses and to top it off that is such an irresponsible jerk-off thing to do.

If you attended the show, you probably did not notice the no shows. After I finished setting up my tables, I took a quick walk around to see if there were any no shows and advised the dealers next to them to spread out, so we did end up with 67 tables full of stuff, the most tables to date.

As I stated before, I am slowly donating tables to the Salvation Army. They are up to 68 tables but I obviously need many more to satisfy all the dealers that want to set up. I am thinking of adding another row of tables, once we get six or seven more. Though if we keep getting 500-plus in attendance, it may crowd the room if I add another row of tables.

I am considering renting the back room or placing dealers in the hallway but of course, I just don't have the tables to expand right now. I may have to rent a truck, purchase a dozen tables and bring them up on a non-show day. This would be a great expense to me so I have to think that option over.

Anyway, a bunch of dealers showed up at 7 a.m. I would appreciate it if the dealers would show up at 8 a.m. I can't get into the building until 7 a.m. and I need time to layout the room.

I also have customers showing up at 8 a.m. when the show does not officially open until 9 a.m. I am not a big stickler on customers showing up early but I would prefer if they showed up at 9 a.m. and gave the dealers a chance to load in and set up.

So this show has become a monster. It is a full-time job when I already have a full-time job. If you read my last blog, you saw that I requested some help. I also put out a call for help in my monthly email blast.

Young Jason Tworek responded and was hired on the spot. Jason is a super nice kid and was an amazing help at the show. He oversaw my free pack giveaway which is a job in itself. I probably spent a good $500 on wax Saturday for the giveaway, including some 2020 Topps. Did anybody pull anything good?

Jason also watched my tables so I could take bathroom breaks and eat a couple of Sloppy Joes. Then he watched my tables for an hour or so when I had to go around the room and collect table fee from the dealers. I can't thank Jason enough for his help!

But I think the enormity of the show is making me a little flustered. I had a really hard time setting up. I brought out my really old stuff to place in my display cases. I brought out four display cases and then realized mid-set up that I only brought out enough stuff for three. So after I laid out all the cards I had to take them out and redo it in an effort to stretch the cards to four display cases.

Then I flat out forgot/overlooked an entire bin of binders. The bin stayed under my table the whole show and I never put them out even though I had plenty of space to do so. Maybe it is just old age but I can't believe how forgetful I've become.

Anyway, with 500-plus people in attendance, I was busy. Mark bought a bunch of 1964 Topps football out of my newly reloaded binder. Jim bought a bunch of Goudeys. Eric purchased a 1941 Double Play with Stan Hack. Joel, who drove up all the way from the south suburbs of Chicago, purchased my 1952 Topps Minnie Minoso rookie. Thanks guys!

In fact, a bunch of guys drove up from the Chicago area like Tim, Paul, and Willie. Thanks guys, I know it is a long drive for you and I really appreciate the effort!!

Robin purchased some 1970 Topps baseball. A bunch of regulars dinked through the binders. My guy from Green Bay who is working on the 1959 Topps football set found a bunch more cards. Terry Hatch made an appearance and found some '71-72 Topps basketball at my table.

Quite a few guys told me this was their first time at the show and they were impressed. I also had a bunch of guys compliment me on this blog. I really appreciate the compliments. I write it while I'm sitting at work when I really should be working on other things but this is much more fun to do. My co-workers probably think I'm nuts. My desk is covered in show fliers and dealer lists and table layouts.

So my sales were pretty good. Not quite as strong at last month but I can't complain. On the buying front, I picked up a stack of 1952 Topps commons, a box of early 1970's (I know, I know, but this is a good customer and he sold them cheap). I also bought some more 1915 Cracker Jacks and a couple of T206s from Tim.

I had a lady contact me before the show who is trying to sell her brother's collection. The collection is from 1958 to 1966. Mostly commons and no high numbers. There are some stars in there but they are off grade. I made an offer that I thought was really strong but she did not take it. The problem may be is that she has seen the high book value for the cards but doesn't seem to understand that her cards are nowhere near the high book value. The cards are beat and I just can't offer any more money unless I want to pay more than I can earn selling the cards, which I won't do. So, I was a little disappointed, I would have liked to have gone home with the cards. 

I had a bunch of new dealers at the show again. A lot of folks mentioned that this is
one of the things they like about the show is that I get a regular rotation of new dealers. It seemed like all the new dealers had modern cards. I think this may have been my first show where modern dealers outnumbered vintage. There was an incredible inventory of modern cards at this show. In talking with the dealers, it seemed like NBA rookie Zion Williamson was the hottest card in the room. The three wax dealers were all happy with their sales. I am really happy that this show can support three wax dealers.

Pretty much all the dealers seemed happy with their sales. I had one new dealer who was selling mini-helmets with Packers and Badgers logos. He said he made the helmets but did not sell one. I was disappointed because I like to see all the dealers make good sales. I think his problem was the price. It looked to me that the helmets were overpriced. I also thought he might have sold some if he had additional teams. I hope he gives it another try some time in the future.

I have already signed up a bunch of new dealers for the April 4th show. I have to sit down this week and figure out my dealer line up for that show. I am a little worried that I oversold it already. Worst comes to worst I'll give away my tables.

Looks like I will start having some retired baseball players come in to sign autographs. I have never handled this on my own before, opting to allow others to bring in the signers. So this will be a learning experience. I need to put some money up front for the players and also purchase photos and blank baseballs. Do I need to buy 8x10 toploaders for the signed photos? I am also thinking that I won't be able to set up on the days I have autograph guests. I hope everybody is okay with that. I will have Jason handle the pack giveaway.

The show is continuing to grow and morph. I appreciate all the kind comments on the show. I really work my tail off on this thing. When I first started the show in 2014, I had no idea that it would ever turn into the show it is today. In some ways, I kind of miss those 12-dealers, 20-table shows at the Clarion. They were so simple to manage compared to this megalith.

I always think about the June 2015 show which was my low point when I had only five dealers and maybe five customers show up. I was ready to throw in the towel after that one but I had a contract with the hotel through December and would still have had to pay for the room seven more times.

So I took some time to contemplate the situation. I realized that dealers would not come if I could not bring in customers. I started to look at the show from the persepective of a customer. What could I do to make this show different, to make this show stand out, and to encourage customers to attend.

I recalled the many morning legislative meetings in Springfield, Illinois, when I worked as assistant general counsel to the Illinois Secretary of State. The head of the Department of Business Services would go out before the meetings and purchase a few boxes of doughnuts from a local bakery. The doughnuts were delicious and there was always a little discussion about them before the meeting. A lot of the management folks seemed much more excited about the doughnuts than the legislative agenda.

Doughnuts, I thought, would save the show. Doughnuts, I observed, saved the show! Prior to that July 2015 show, I advertised that free doughnuts would be available at the show. That morning of July 2015, I saw a much larger crowd than June, and the guys went right through the doughnuts. Again in August, I advertised free doughnuts and the crowd grew once again.

Then I used something I learned when I was publisher of the Chicago Barfly Newspaper, prior to attending law school. The Barfly was a free paper I created and distributed to more than 700 bars and restaurants in Chicago every month from 1994 to 2001. As a free paper, I relied on advertising to pay the bills. I learned that if I could promote certain bars with articles, they would pay for regular advertising. One of my best tools at promoting bars was anniversary parties. The bars would schedule an anniversary party, I would write an article and compliment it with photos, and I am proud to say that we were able to pack those bars for those anniversary parties. The bar owners made a lot of money and were very happy with me.

Thus, in September of 2015, I promoted my show anniversary party, along with free doughnuts and free pizza and low and behold I had a large crowd attend the show. Based on the previous months shows I figured three pizzas would be enough. I was not prepared for the crowd and the pizzas were gone within five minutes. Each subsequent anniversary party I purchased more and more pizzas until the Clarion was purchased by the Marriot Corp. who put a stop to my food promotions. But the food worked and the word got out and more and more dealers wanted to set up. Then more and more customers attended the show. For the past five years, this show has done nothing but grow. 

Everyone seems to like what I am doing which motivates me to do more. Thank you all for your continued support. It has been quite a ride since that first show in September of 2014. I honestly can't take all the credit for the success of this show. The credit goes to all the dealers and customers who come out month after month and spread good cheer. As much of a headache that it can be to run this thing, it is still so much fun and I have a great time. The day goes by so quickly because I am so engaged and have such a terrific time.

One oddball thing I noticed Saturday is that a lot of guys would not shake my hand because of the Corona Virus. So I won't be extending my hand any more and will try to put out some hand sanitizer at the April show.

Also, it is much easier for me to respond to emails than to phone calls. I have a pretty busy work schedule and have a tough time answering my phone. Please contact me through abrandongordon@hotmail.com. Also, if you have a question about cards, go to my Facebook page and post the question. That way the regulars can answer the question and save me some time. Like I said, it is pretty much just me running this thing, no staff, so I can't answer the large amount of questions that come in. The best time to talk to me is at the show.

As I have mentioned before, I have a really good relationship with the Salvation Army. I could not have found a better partner for the show. So I am trying to help out as much as I can. I donate tables and we had a real nice fundraiser for their youth soccer league. Next up, I am trying to help them raise funds to replace the matts in the gym. If you look on the stage you can see that the matts are tattered and worn. We decided to hold a silent auction to raise funds for new matts. I am looking for sports memorabilia to be donated for the silent auction. One incredibly nice lady read about my planned silent auction and gave me $20 at the show. Thank you so much!! We have such great people who come to this show. I turned over that $20 to the Sal and we are on our way.

Again, the next show is Saturday, April 4, 2020. The dealer tables will probably sell out shortly, so contact me for dealer tables as soon as you can. If you commit to setting up, you gotta be there!

The next show where I am setting up as a dealer is this Sunday, March 15, 2020, at Gonzaga Hall, 92nd/Greenfield in West Allis, WI. I won't be at the Sun-Times show but I will have all sorts of new stuff out at the Gonzaga show. Come on out!

Did I mention that you guys are awesome! Thanks again for all your support!! Below are some photos from the show this past Saturday.

Look at that crowd at 9:29 a.m.!!

Pictured here is me and my pal Bill Stocks. Thanks again everybody! See you soon!!

Sunday, February 16, 2020, Orland Park Civic Center, Illinois

Crazy busy week of work so not much time to prep for the show. It seems like I have been working on reloading my 1968 Topps baseball binder forever. Hopefully I'll have it done by the Sal show on March 7.

That alarm at 6 a.m. Sunday morning stung like a bee. The only relief available was snooze. Needless to say, I was slow getting out of the gate on this morning. I noticed that the sun was out earlier than usual. I had been driving to shows in darkness the past several months. It was really nice to see the sun out early again and no weather to speak of.

I had an easy drive down to Orland. The parking lot was packed when I arrived at 8:20 a.m. Load in was tough because guys were sitting down on chairs in front of the dealer tables already. The room was packed while I was setting up. I tried to hustle but stopped to buy some cards from Junior. I finished setting up around 9:20 a.m. and the room was hopping! This was easily the largest Orland crowd in months. 

I was surprised at the early crowd because it is usually a late arriving crowd in Orland. There was a little lull around 11 a.m.. but then it picked right back up again. There were people in the room looking at cards at my tables up until 2 p.m. or so. 

I was very busy all day but it seemed like all the sales were for small dollar amounts and my final numbers were not as high as they should have been with that kind of crowd. So, I was a little disappointed.

​Buying on the other hand was....

In addition to buying a bunch of cards from Junior, Jeff T. hit me up while I was setting up and I ended up buying three 5,000 count boxes of early 1970's. I know, I know! But they were so cheap, I couldn't resist. I did reject the mid and late 1970's boxes.

Then I had a deal in place prior to the show with Joe who brought me 1966 Topps high numbers and 1964 Topps Coins. Thanks Joe! I bought some cards from Larry including a 1956 Topps Jackie Robinson. Then I bought a bunch of stuff from Larry's buddy, whose name escapes me. He had some Diamond Stars which turned out to be the buy of the day. I bought a few cards from Jim then ended the day with a big purchase from Walt. I was short 40 bucks, thankfully Paul lent me the dough. Thanks Paul!

I don't know how many thousands of cards I purchased today but it was a huge haul! Good thing I drove my wife's SUV to the show because I would not have been able to fit the cards in my Camry.

The highlight of the day was hanging out with Will's grandson Charlie. What a great kid. I think he is eight or nine years old and absolutely loves cards. It was fun watching him hop from table to table with unbridled enthusiasm. He loves new cards. He told me he doesn't like the "old-time" cards on my tables. He said they are "torture!" I had a good laugh.

Then there was a little political discussion at my table. I tried to stamp it out but guys are so passionate about their politics and once they get going it is tough for them to stop. I would prefer if we didn't talk politics. Card shows are my escape from the real world. When I'm at a card show I just want to talk about cards and sports. I am much more passionate about sports than I am politics and enjoy talking sports and food, for that matter. So let's make an effort to talk cards, sports and food at the card shows -- not politics. Thank you!

Speaking of food, I was disappointed that the concession stand did not have chili dogs today. Where were the chili dogs? I had two hot dogs with just mustard. I need more than mustard on my dog. If they are not going to bring out chili, they should at least have some onions and tomatoes to top out the dogs.

Though, complaining about today's show is difficult. It was a really good show. The room was packed so I can't ask for much else. Promoter Rich Troy does an excellent job with this show. I can't say enough about Rich. He is a tremendous promoter.

No shows for me next weekend. I am looking forward to the break after three straight weekends of shows. I am sleeping in next weekend! Woot!

A real nice guy came by my tables promoting a new show in Dolton, Illinois. We chatted for a while. I think it is great he is promoting a new show but I won't be there. I have too much on my plate and need some free weekends here and there. People ask me all the time to set up at this show or that show or they are contemplating on creating a show. Don't count me in because I won't be there. I've got my show, Gonzaga and Orland each and every month -- that's all I can do. Like I said, I can't wait to sleep in next weekend! I NEED to sleep in next weekend!!

After the break, I will be back at it on March 7 for my show at the Sal. I am pretty much all out of dealer space. The Sal show has exploded. I should be well rested and ready on March 7th. See you then!

Sunday, February 9, 2020, Gonzaga Hall, Milwaukee, WI

The year 2020 has not been kind to the Gonzaga show. Mother Nature has hit the show with weather events during the January and February shows. Neither weather event was bad enough to keep me from the shows but customers felt otherwise as evidenced by the crickets in the room during both shows.

There was some bad weather on the night before the January show but the day of the show, the weather was not bad at all and the roads were clear. I was told that folks living further north had to battle some ice. There were quite a few empty dealer tables during the January show.

Oddly, during the February show when the weather was much worse than January, I did not observe any empty dealer tables... just lots of empty space in front of the dealer tables where customers are normally located.

I loaded up my car about 6:45 a.m. Sunday and some light flurries started around the time I finished up. The snow never came down very hard during my drive up, so I was really surprised at the light attendance. 

Needless to say, sales were flat. If it wasn't for George purchasing my 1957 Topps Hank Aaron and my 1953 Johnston Cookies Warren Spahn, I would not have made table fee. Thanks George! Purchases were flat as well. I bought a little stack of cards from Scotty P. Thanks Scotty!

Of the folks that did attend the show, I received quite a few compliments for my show last week at the Sal. Thanks guys.

I had a new customer from Green Bay who had some interesting stories about growing up in the late 1950's and early 1960's in the shadow of Lambeau Field. He said all the players lived in his neighborhood and that Vince Lombardi attended his church. He said all the kids collected football cards but none collected baseball cards. He never asked any of the players for autographs but many of his friends carried footballs door to door to get signed. At the Gonzaga show, he was working on completing his childhood football sets.

I noticed that dealer Larry Larsen was not at the show. Hope all is well with Larry who is one of my favorites and definitely one of the funniest guys I know.

Not much else to report. I started packing up at noon. The snow picked up as I was loading out and the drive home was a bit dicey. Man, I hope that we get a break for the March show! I was lucky with my show last week. Next week, I'm heading to Orland Park and hope the weather holds out for that one. Have a great week, see you in Orland!

Saturday, February 1, 2020, Salvation Army Show, Oak Creek, WI

I should have known something was up prior to the show because I was overrun with emails, texts, Facebook messages and calls. Folks, I am just one person, with a full-time job and a family, I just don't have the time to answer all of these messages. I think I might insert a "frequently asked questions" section to this website. Let's tackle some of these questions now: 

(1) CAN I BRING IN CARDS TO SELL TO THE DEALERS?

YES! Please bring your cards in to sell to the dealers, just about all of the dealers are buying. I specifically only purchase vintage cards from the 1960's and older. Here is an important tip when selling your cards to dealers: research the "sold" price on eBay, NOT the current listing prices. There are many cards listed on eBay for $150 that will never sell for $150. If you look at the "Sold" listings, you will see that these same cards actually sell for $50, not $150.  

(2) WHAT IS THE VALUE OF MY KOBE BRYANT ROOKIE?

As a vintage dealer, I just don't know the value of any cards newer than 1979. I am not the person to ask about modern cards. Again, the best way to determine the value of both modern and vintage cards is to check the "sold" listings on eBay. Also, there are many modern dealers at the Salvation Army show who would be happy to talk about your Kobe Bryant rookies or any other modern card.

(3) WHAT IS THE COST OF A TABLE AT THE SHOW?

Six-foot dealer tables are $25. 

(4) DO YOU HAVE TABLES AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT SHOW?

Usually, we seem to be at capacity right now so contact me sooner rather than later. You can send me an email at abrandongordon@hotmail.com or call or text at 773-616-3705. 

(5) CAN I SELL MEMORABILIA, NASCAR, NON-SPORTS CARDS, AUTOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE?

 YES! If you purchase a table, sell whatever you want on it.

(6) IS THE SHOW GOING ON AS SCHEDULED?

YES! I NEVER cancel this show!! Though, I have to say, I almost overslept on Saturday which got me wondering what would happen if I overslept and did not arrive until noon or so. I really think everyone would figure it out and set up without my input.

(7) WHERE IS THE SHOW LOCATED?

The show is held on the First Saturday of every month at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, in Oak Creek, WI.

(8) WHAT ARE THE HOURS?

The show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(9) WHEN ARE YOU GETTING ANOTHER AUTOGRAPH SIGNER?

I'm working on it and hope to have someone lined up soon.

(10) IS THERE AN AUCTION?

No, and that is by design. I think auctions distract from the show. I enjoy the ability to talk with customers without being drowned out by an auctioneer. 

(11) DO YOU CHARGE AN ADMISSION FEE?

No, admission is FREE.

(12) CAN I HAVE FREE PACKS FOR MY WIFE WHO IS OUT IN THE CAR?

No! Come on, really?

(13) WHY DON'T YOU DO A RAFFLE?

Good idea. I may in the future.

(14) CAN DEALERS BRING IN EXTRA CARD TABLES?

Yes, as long as you don't pinch space from dealers around you and as long as you do not block the aisles.

The above questions are the ones asked most often. I also get calls from people all over the country who see my phone number in Beckett or SCD and just want to talk. As I said, I work 50 to 60 hours a week at my real job then have a wife and two kids who need my attention. I just don't have the time to chat. However, if you come out to the show, I would love to talk with you then. I enjoy chatting at the show but prior, it is really hard for me to find the time.

Along those lines, I received a call last week from a guy located in some small town in Pennsylvania. He had some sort of weird accent. I am from Chicago and I know I have a weird accent. The problem is, I can't understand other people's weird accents. I honestly did not know what this guy was saying to me and we must have been on the phone for 30 minutes or so. It might be better to send me an email rather than call if you just want to chat, especially if you are not from the Midwest. I might have to find an interpreter for that Pennsylvania accent.

Needless to say, I was especially busy prior to the February Sal show with all these messages. I also spend a TON of time trying to get the word out about the show. I was especially successful this past Saturday. Wow! Where did everybody come from?

So, I was a little late getting to the show because I over slept. I was only about ten minutes late. I like to get there at 7 a.m. when the building opens so I can organize the tables and place nameplates on each table with a dealer's name. I try to have the dealers show up at 8 a.m. so I can get my nameplates out. But when I arrived at 7:10 a.m. this Saturday, there must have been a dozen dealers already there and loaded in! 

I was literally running around the room at 7:15 a.m. trying to get all the nameplates out before the rest of the dealers arrived. I made a couple of minor mistakes. I forgot to give Josh the third table he requested. Then I mistakenly placed each of Bob's two tables in two different aisles. Luckily, I had a few cancellations, so it was easy to move things around. Speaking of cancellations, I do not mind if you cancel after you have reserved a table as long as you give me a call, text, or email. That way, I can replace you and have the room laid out properly on the morning of the show. I had one dealer fail to show up and call. If you are a "no show," and have failed to let me know prior, I will not let you set up in the future. I shouldn't even have to mention it because if you are a responsible adult, you know better and you will call and let me know when you can't make it.  

In the week leading up to the show, I had three responsible dealers call me to let me know they could not make it. I had four new dealers call that week and because of these cancellations, I was able to provide tables to the new dealers. I had one guy show up at 9 a.m. on the morning of the show and ask for a table. I am out of tables on the morning of the show, we use every table in the Sal's possession. As I said in previous blogs, I am slowly donating more tables but we do not have enough tables right now to accommodate everyone who wants to set up. Luckily, the guy had his own tables so I found a spot for him to place his tables. Then he wanted me to help him carry in his tables when I had a crowd at my tables and I'm trying to do my pack giveaway. I can only do so much.

As you can see, the show is getting a little overwhelming for me. I never imagined it would grow to its current size and there does not seem to be an end in sight. I need help! So, I am offering $50 and all the Sloppy Joe you can eat for an assistant during the show. All I ask is that you arrive at the show at 7 a.m. and stay until I've loaded out. Your job will be to help me figure out where to place each dealer and to put the nameplates on the tables, give away the packs and answer all the questions from customers and dealers during the show. You will also have to watch my tables when I go around to collect table fee. You will also make our food runs to the concession stand so we can chow down on Sloppy Joe during the show. You will have time to walk around the show and shop, if you like. Send me an email at abrandongordon@hotmail.com, if you are interested.

Back to my show report, I think I finished setting up around 8:30 a.m. I brought out one display case with graded cards and all of my binders. New binders for the show were 1978 Topps baseball, 1977-78 Topps Hockey, and my binder of scorecards and programs. There were only a few customers in the room at 8:30 and I started to get nervous. George was the first customer, he beat me to the show. George hasn't been around in a long time. He was always the first customer when the show was at the Clarion/Four Points Sheraton. Then came usual suspects Mark, Jerome and Tim. I thought we would have had more people, even though the show doesn't officially open until 9 a.m.

With no customers to help, I opted to hit the bathroom. When I came out, the place was filled! Then they kept coming and coming, all day long. It was a mob scene!! This was easiest our best attended show in the five-plus years I have been running it.

Wow, just wow. I was worried about nothing. I know it is silly but I am always worried that no one will show up even though we seem to grow our crowd each and every show. I am so grateful to every one who came to the show. We had 31 wonderful dealers then an enormous crowd. Most every dealer reported great sales. Some were a bit shocked at the enormity of their sales. As the promoter, I want ALL the dealers to have great sales. I firmly believe that we are getting record attendance because of these great dealers. I want everybody to keep coming back, both dealers and customers.

I am curious as to how everybody learned about the show. Did you see one of my flyers? Did you learn about the show from Facebook? Did you find it in Beckett or SCD? Please let me know so I can make sure I continue to properly advertise the show.

A large number of guys mentioned this blog. It is fun when guys throw out verbatim something I wrote here. It seemed like someone mentioned this blog every few minutes at the show. Thank you so much for following my blog!

Let's get back to the dealers. I have been regularly offering tips to increase dealer sales and would like to continue doing so. Here is some advice for new dealers... check out the show before you set up for the first time. Take note what the other dealers have on their tables. Take note as to which dealers are busy and closely observe the items that are selling. I recommend you then stock your tables when you do set up with the items you observed selling at the other dealer's tables.

It seems to me that most of the customers that attend the show are collecting cards. There are a great many vintage set builders. There are others that collect hall of famers and rookie cards. There are many modern collectors who seem to gravitate toward autograph cards. I highly recommend that you place these types of cards on your tables.

Some dealers sell just vintage memorabilia and autographs, not cards. Sometimes these items sell very well and sometimes they do not move at all. If this is your inventory, be prepared to have some very good shows and some not very good shows.

I do NOT recommend placing modern collectibles on your tables, like things you can pick up at the stadium. You can also find this stuff at any grocery store or even a Walgreens or CVS. It is tough to make a buck with this stuff.

Every so often, I see NASCAR stuff on tables. This stuff does not move in Milwaukee. I have set up at shows in Indianapolis and NASCAR goes great there... but not Milwaukee.

Another age-old problem for some dealers is price. If your stuff is not moving, it is priced too high. Try lowering your prices and you should have better success. 

Like I said before, most dealers Saturday were in shock with their sales. We had a huge crowd and we had a lot of customers willing to spend some money. I had a great day! I sold a ton of stuff!!

I sold six or seven of my graded cards including a Bob Uecker Rookie and a Thurman Munson Rookie. Matt bought my 1948 Bowman Charlie Trippi. I sold some of my old scorecards. Then I had guys pulling piles and piles of cards out of my binders. Jim grabbed a bunch of 1960 Topps Braves. Robin grabbed a huge pile of 1970 Topps baseball. I ended up with a lot of money in my pockets. So I went on a buying spree. 

A regular customer offered me a Pete Maravich Rookie SGC 5 which I purchased. I picked up a pile of 1961 Topps football from Robin. I purchased a few 1915 Cracker Jack from Tim. I purchased a 1912 T202 Chief Bender from Mark. Then I purchased a bunch of old Sport and Sports Illustrated from new dealer John. I was pleased with my purchases.

While I was crazy busy all day, I did manage to snarf down two Sloppy Joes. Man, what a show! I don't know how we can top that one but let's give it a try!!

I would like to thank my pal Paul who drove up all the way from the far southwest suburbs of Chicago. This was Paul's first time at the show and he was impressed. Paul was a superstar and watched my tables for an hour or so allowing me to collect table fee from the dealers and to do a little shopping.

I try to make this show unique to other shows. One unique aspect to this show is that it is held at the Salvation Army, a charitable organization. I think we have a duty to go above and beyond and contribute to the great charitable work being done by the Salvation Army. I like to think of my card show as a partner with the Salvation Army. Along those lines I have been donating tables. You folks were kind enough to donate funds in November and December for the purchase of soccer uniforms for the youth teams that play at the Salvation Army. Thank you!

I was approached at the end of the show Saturday and told the Salvation Army needs funds to replace the padding along the stage in the gym. You can see when you attend the show that the stuffing is exposed and coming out of the padding. I was asked if we could conduct a silent auction at a future show and donate the funds for the purchase of new padding. I agreed. So friends, I am now looking for donations for this silent auction. I plan on donating some items myself. Get in contact with me for more information. We have the best dealers and customers in the country! Thank you for supporting my show and the Salvation Army!!

The next show at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, in Oak Creek, WI, will be on March 7th.

Next up for me is the Gonzaga show this Sunday, February 9. I plan on bringing out five or six display cases of football and basketball cards. I'm probably going to leave the football binders at home. My 1970's football binders took a beating at the Sal show.

See you this Sunday at Gonzaga!!

Please enjoy the photo progression below showing the Saturday crowd grow and grow.

Pictured above is dealer Gary George setting up at 8:43 a.m.

Here is the room at 9:14 a.m.

9:53 a.m.

Another shot at 9:53 a.m.

By 11 a.m. it was nuts! Look at all these people!! Thank you for making this an amazing show!!! Next Salvation Army Show is March 7th. See you there!!

January 19, 2020, Orland Park Civic Center

Back to back crazy weather weekends with rain, wind, snow prior to the Gonzaga show, then snow, snow, snow and crazy cold before the Orland show.

I saw the weather develop while at my real job on Friday. I work in beautiful Palatine, Illinois, in an office that has high ceilings and a lot of windows, so I always have one eye on the scene outside. Friday afternoon while I was sitting at my desk, the snow came heavy, blizzard-like conditions. The traffic on Dundee Road, just outside my main office window, was not moving. I decided to wait it out in the hopes the traffic would die out.

At about 7 p.m., I went out to clear off my car. There was easily four or five inches of snow on my car. Traffic had died down but the roads were a mess. I drove at 25 m.p.h.  the whole way home. I know I pissed off some SUV's stuck behind me but my Camry does not get good traction in the snow and I wanted to arrive home alive.

I am not sure what time the snow ended but Saturday was clear and the plows had removed much of the snow. I went into work Saturday afternoon and had no issues. By the time I got back from work, the temperature had dropped, it was butt cold.

I woke up around 6:15 a.m. on Sunday and loaded up my car. The temperature was 5 degrees. I know from living my whole life in the Chicago area that cold weather is no big deal as long as you layer up. I broke out the long Johns, donned three shirts and two coats. I was toasty.

The night before, another dealer called and asked if I was still going to Orland. He did not want to go because of the cold. I told him as long as my car starts and my doors aren't frozen shut, I'll be there. He didn't go. I had no issues other than some jack ass tailgating me at freakin' 7 a.m. on Sunday morning in 5-degree weather. I hate tailgaters. I am a very careful driver. I stop for animals in the road, I slow down for pedestrians and cyclists, so tailgating someone like me only increases the chance for accident and injury. I make a good living at my real job off dumbasses who tailgate.  

Once in Orland, I observed that the temperature had warmed up to a balmy 7 degrees. But once I exited my car, I was hit with wind. There wasn't any wind up north at my place. There is not much you can do with wind. It was brutal loading in.

Light crowd early on but I was not concerned because the Orland show has had a late-arriving crowd these past few years. By mid-morning the place was jammed. What else are you going to do on a cold January day? There is nothing better than a card show!!

It took me a while to set up. I brought out six display cases and all of my baseball binders along with the hockey, which Will requested. I kept most of the football and all of the basketball at home. With six display cases, I did not have any more room on my tables for more binders. I also didn't have any more room in my car.

Joe was the first customer at my table. He had emailed before the show and requested 1980 Topps. Joe has every year complete going back to 1952 Topps. I am not sure if he has the old Bowman sets. So he is starting on the 1980s because he enjoys set building but he is a stickler for condition. Before he completes his 1980 set he will go through tens of thousands of cards looking for perfect centering, edges, corners, surface. He will not place a card in his set if it has any defect of any kind.

Then Dan showed up. It was nice to see him, I have known him for years but have not seen him in awhile. Dan, is another collector, who like Joe, is working on 1980's sets but will only place perfect cards in his set. He offered me something like 30,000 1980 Topps that did not make the grade for his set, or sets, I should say. He put together three perfect sets of 1980 Topps. I declined the cards because I still have thousands of 1980 Topps that I purchased back in 1980! Also, except for the Rickey Henderson rookie, 1980 Topps are basically worthless. I will bring some out to shows but it is not worth my while to price out an entire set individually for set builders.

Back to Joe, he was disappointed in that he found only a handful of perfect 1980 Topps in my binder. On the other hand, he was pleased when he found some 1962 Post Yankees in my oddball binder and a few 1946-66 Exhibit team cards that I had brought for the customer from last month, who did not show up this time around. 

Another quick tidbit about Joe, I learned on Sunday that he is a season ticket holder for Notre Dame football and has been to every Notre Dame home game going back 50 years!

Back to the show, last month I brought out football stars for my display cases. This time around I placed in there baseball stars from 1954 through the 1970's. Rick found a nice stack of cards from all the cases. Thanks Rick! Larry picked up a bunch of 1955 Bowmans. Then my hockey binders got a work out, good thing Will requested them!

Chris found a bunch of cards for his sets. Later Chris's wife introduced herself to me and said Chris told her to contact me if anything was to happen to him. Funny, just prior to meeting Chris's wife, Dan told me he gave his wife my name and number with instructions to call me if anything was to happen to him!

First of all, you guys are not allowed to die on me, period. Secondly, if you do die, even though I do forbid it, I will help liquidate your collections but please leave your spouses a little more information. Maybe an inventory list and an amount of money they should receive for the collections. So who is going to volunteer to help my wife liquidate my collection should something happen to me?

Anyway, it was really great to meet Chris's wife. She is awfully sweet and I have been following the athletic prowess of their kids on Facebook. What a nice family! 

Speaking of families, I would like to give my best wishes to Paul P., whose mom has been ill these past few weeks. 

Another good friend named Paul made it out to the show and purchased a large number of 1958 Topps. Thanks Paul! Will purchased a bunch of 1975-76 Topps Hockey along with my 1968 Topps Gordie Howe. Thanks for the purchases and the coffee Will!

Joel found some 1952 Bowman White Sox for his team set. A bunch of other guys dinked around my binders and I ended up having a decent day, not quite as good as the December show, but good enough.

On the buying front, I went hog wild. Dave and I had a deal in place prior to the show. He stopped in around 11 a.m. with a Portillo's hot dog for me and two boxes of cards. Thanks Dave! Then I bought all sorts of stuff from Junior throughout the show including a 1959 Topps Mickey Mantle. I bought a stack of 1957's from Jim and another stack of stuff from Walt. Thanks guys!

The temperature warmed up to a balmy 19 degrees during load out at 2 p.m. Me, Will, and Joe capped the day at the sub shop. I went with the "Depth Charge" sub which contains ham, turkey and road beef. Will and Joe went with Gyros. Another excellent day well spent in Orland Park.

Next up is my show at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, in Oak Creek, WI, on Saturday, February 1, 2020. This will be my first show of the new year and should be a good one with 30 dealers already lined up with two weeks to go. I think I might cap it at 35 dealers, so if you are considering setting up, let me know sooner rather than later.

I am looking forward to having next weekend off. I need the time to recharge and to price some cards. I just finished my 1978 Topps baseball binder and will start work on 1977-78 Topps Hockey. I am planning to just bring my binders and just one display case with graded cards for the Salvation Army show. Let me know if there are any raw star cards you are looking for. See you in two weeks!

I leave you with a photo of Paul, Yours Truly and Will, from the Jan. 19 Orland show.

January 12, 2020, Gonzaga Hall, West Allis, WI

All week long, prior to the show, the weather reports called for a major weather event with high winds, rain then up to eight inches of snow ending in the wee hours before the show. I was sort of spooked, thinking I would not be able to make the drive from Illinois to Wisconsin. I even thought of calling in and cancelling. But I knew better. I have yet to see an accurate weather report ever. Also, the temperature in my neck of the woods reached 50 degrees on Friday and I could not see how it would possibly snow on Saturday.

So Friday night the wind and the rain came. I walked my dog in my backyard and it was a swamp. Though, it still was not very cold out. The temperature did drop on Saturday and the winds continued but no snow until very late at night. I figured I could make it to the show without a hitch. 

When I woke up early Sunday morning, there was maybe an inch or two of snow. I heard the plows go by in the middle of the night. I loaded up my car and set out on a very clear road, just a little wet but not covered in snow or ice.

The big test is usually the main road outside of my neighborhood. All clear. I hopped on the I294 Tollway heading north, all clear, light traffic. Twenty minutes or so later, I passed the Wisconsin border, all clear, light traffic. In fact, the roads were clear the whole way, about an hour and 15-minute drive.

Great, I thought, we're going to have a nice crowd because the alleged terrible storm was not so terrible and the roads could not have been better. Also the Packers-Seahawks playoff game did not start until after 5 p.m. This was a recipe for a great card show!

Wrong! Unusually light attendance. Where was everybody? The folks that did show up were happy and surprised to see me. I told everyone the roads were great, no issues whatsoever. With the light road traffic and much of the road construction seemingly completed, I had a really pleasant drive.

Thankfully, the folks that did attend the show, were serious collectors and my sales were better than expected. Thank you for showing up and buying some cards!!! Mark purchased a bunch of football cards from 1961 to 1963. Tim purchased my T206 Frank Chance. Robin picked up a bunch of 1967s. 

George found some cards. A regular customer purchased my 1957 Topps Gil Hodges. Eric purchased a bunch of 1958's and said he is getting closer to completing his set. Another regular purchased my 1962 Post Roger Maris. A bunch more regulars dinked around my binders. Then old friend Jason made an appearance. Jason used to be a regular at the show with his son Bart but cut back once Bart and his sister entered college, needing to spend his money on tuition rather than cards. I may be heading the same way as my daughter enters college shortly. Anyway, I was happy to see Jason and he purchased a bunch of cards from 1959 and 1960. He warned me that Bart is in grad school now so it may be awhile before he returns to another show. It was nice to catch up. Thanks for the purchases Jason! It turned out to be a decent day when it could have been trouble. 

On the buying front, I purchased a pile of Bowman football, 1951 to 1953, from Jerry. No big stars but I have a real tough time finding 1952 and 1953 Bowmans, so I was happy with the purchase. Jerry reiterated that he is planning to retire from card shows but he will at least be around through June. I told him I now have five months to convince him to forego retirement.

I also purchased a box of 1970 Topps. I was offered a large collection of 1971 Topps but turned it down, I just have so much of it and do not need any more.

All in all, a pretty good day. I had a doughnut in the morning but did not make it back to the concession stand in time for a hot dog. The auction ended around 10 a.m. and by noon the show was cooked. While I was loading my car, Jim called because Mark told him I had brought him some Goudeys. He said he did not come to the show because his driveway was icy.  

The drive home was unusually easy. I made it in about an hour.

Next up for me is the Orland show on January 19th. I had '52 Bowman baseball and 1977 Topps baseball reloaded for Gonzaga. I'm working on '78 baseball and hope to have it done by Sunday. Joe has asked for 1980 Topps baseball. Let me know if there are any more requests. I'm probably going to leave the hockey at home and will bring out three or four display cases. See you in Orland!

Sunday, December 22, 2019, Civic Center, Orland Park, IL

Great, great day in Orland Park. One of my best of the year! 

My alarm went off at 6 a.m. I had a lot of trouble waking up. Once up, I could not find my box of Exhibits. Someone had requested the Exhibits last month. I was running late and did not have time to dig around the house. So I loaded the car with three display cases and most of my bins of binders. I left the basketball at home.

It was a pretty easy drive from the north suburbs to the south suburbs. I was on the road by 7:30 a.m. I normally like to leave by 7 a.m. I was a little worried about arriving late. Sometimes the room is crowded early on making load in a bit tricky. I arrived at the Civic Center around 8:15 a.m. 

Thankfully, load in was easy. Shortly after I set everything up, customers began to leaf through my binders. My 1967 Topps baseball binder received quite a work out. I am not sure when I will load that one up again. Will purchased a big stack and brought me some coffee. Thanks Will! 

Of course, the guy looking for Exhibits showed up. I'll try and get my act together for the January show and bring out Exhibits. Rick purchased a bunch of star cards and talked about some ailments. Since I talk about my health issues in this blog, a lot of guys discuss their ailments with me. Everybody needs to get their stuff checked out by a medical professional! I would not be here today if I did not see a doctor when I first started feeling ill from diabetes. Go see a doctor!

Back to happy stuff at the show. Rich, who promotes the show, hired an actor to play Santa Claus which I thought was pretty cool. Rich is a great guy and a tremendous promoter. We had a great crowd. I was concerned initially because I thought folks would be out Christmas shopping and skip the show. Apparently, everyone had finished their gift shopping because the show was packed!

I know I say this often but I am so thankful that Rich has a food vendor at the show. I never have time to eat before the show and I start to feel funky when I go without food. Man, that chilidog for breakfast was oh, so good!

Setting up next to me at this show was Andrew Weaver, who I mentioned in my last Salvation Army show blog. I enjoyed chatting with Andrew during the show. I hope everyone got to see his Ruth and Cobb autos.

A lot of guys noticed I was not at the December 8th Orland show. I just can't do two shows in a weekend any more. I do not have the stamina and try to do just one show in a weekend so I can rest one day before the workweek begins. The days where I do three shows each week are long gone!

I may skip some Orland and Gonzaga shows in 2020 on occasion to give my self a break. I need some days where I can watch closely what I eat, make sure I take my meds and keep track of my blood glucose levels. I noticed that Rich has two shows in March. I'll will skip the first one and set up at the second one.

I forgot to bring some paper so I could keep track of my sales. I had some really tremendous sales at this show. Chuck bought my Pete Maravich rookie. Thanks Chuck! I am so bad at remembering names, I had many guys purchase stacks of stuff out of the binders. Surprisingly, I did not sell any cards out of the hockey binders. I might leave those at home next month.

​I cannot remember the last time I was so busy that I could not leave my tables. As much as I enjoyed the sales, I really wanted to walk around the room and see what was out there but never got the opportunity. I was very busy from start to finish. I was really happy with my sales.

On the buying front, a few guys brought some cards to my table for purchase. I picked up a nice stack of cards including a 1958 Topps Willie Mays, a 1963 Topps Hank Aaron, a 1970 Topps Willie Mays and a 1962 Topps Bart Starr.

Then there was the guy walking around with a suitcase and asked me for a price on my 1962 Topps baseball binder and my oldest hockey binder. I started to add up then 1962 binder then quit, thinking there was no way this guy was going to shell out the money for the whole binder. I threw out some numbers at him and he just smiled and walked on. Most guys who ask for a price on the whole binder don't pull  the trigger. It is a real waste of my time to add up all the cards.

Lately, I have been thinking that I should not sell complete binders because of the work entailed in creating a new binder. It is always nice to get a chunk of change when a legitimate customer purchases a whole binder but it may not be worth it in the end when I factor in the work that goes into creating and updating the binders.

I am not a bulk dealer. Some guys are set up that way, not me. My bread and butter customers are the guys building vintage sets. My fantasy show is one where the only guys who show up at my tables are set builders. The guys (and gals) who buy my stuff for resale are a drag. I could do without the resellers. 

After the show, Will, Joe, Paul and I went over to the sub shop to cap a great day. Paul and Will are pictured above and below. One of the main reasons I set up at the Orland show is to hang out with Paul and Will. You would be hard pressed to find two better guys!

So that was my last show of the year and certainly one of my best Orland shows of 2019. When I look back on 2019, I had a pretty great year buying and selling cards. My show at the Salvation Army has exploded. The Orland shows were fairly consistent. Gonzaga was up and down sales-wise but I really enjoy myself at that show. The National was awesome. I enjoyed the Strongsville, Ohio, show, even though my sales are slow there. I am a glutton for punishment and have signed up for the Strongsville show in April of 2020. It was fun to be back in Cincinnati this past Thanksgiving. I had been considering the March Sun-Times show but observed that it is the same weekend as Gonzaga. I would rather set up at Gonzaga than the Sun-Times. I may consider the November Sun-Times show.

My inventory grew immensely in 2019. I need to reel my addiction because I am running out of room to store all these cards!! I hope to hit a flea market this summer with my 1980's and 1990's stuff. I really need to get rid of it and free up some space! I started to put a box of junk together, as Larry Larsen suggested, but ended up filling a 5,000-count box and slapping a $30 price tag on there. Larry's method of putting out a box and letting customers fill up a lunch bag for $10 is an intriguing idea but in the end I would rather just move boxes of this stuff. 

I am looking forward to another great year in 2020. I hope to add one more out of town date, maybe Pittsburgh. My first show of 2020 will be Gonzaga Hall on January 12. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, whichever holiday you celebrate, and I hope everyone has a happy new year! Thank you so much for regularly reading this blog and hanging out with me at the card shows. See you soon!