Gonzaga Hall, Milwaukee, WI, Sunday May 6, 2012 -- There were some ugly clouds overhead when I entered Wisconsin around 7:30 a.m. Load in went well. Though shortly after set up, I could see that customers were coming in soaking wet from rain. I also observed out the windows of the hall that the sky was real dark and sparking up from lightening. I think the storm spooked both customers and dealers alike because customer turn-out was down and it seemed that most dealers were gone by noon. Those of us that waited out the storm had a real nice time and got to leave the show dry, with the sun peaking out behind the clouds.
With the low turn-out, my tables were free of customers early on. By 10 a.m., I was worried that I wouldn't make enough money to cover my table fee. But then, lo and behold, I got busy and it continued all afternoon. I think a lot of customers appreciated the fact that I didn't shut down and leave at noon like many other dealers. I ended up having a real nice day.
A regular customer got things going with some '75s. Another regular purchased some '75 minis. A regular picked up some '60 Topps, including Eddie Mathews. Jeff picked up a big pile of 1960 Topps and 1957 Topps baseball along with some 1973 Topps football. A customer wearing a Cleveland Indians sweatshirt picked up some '77 Topps baseball. Jason picked up my 1941 Double Play Ben Chapman, along with some commons from the 1970s. A regular picked up some '74s. A new customer purchased some '77 Topps football. My buddy Mike picked up some '69 Topps football and some '69-70 Topps basketball, including a Bill Bradley rookie that is MINT!! Mike is just starting that '69-70 set and he got some good ones today.
A new customer purchased some '58s and '74s. Tim, in from Madison, picked up some '52 Bowman baseball, some '53 Bowman Color, some '54 Topps and some '60s Topps. Thanks Tim!! A new customer purchased a pile of cards out of my 50-cent box. Another new customer picked up my '65 Topps Gaylord Perry. A dealer bought a bunch of cards out of my 50-cent box. A regular picked up some '78 Topps baseball. Another regular picked up some '69-70 Topps basketball. A new customer, wearing a Northwestern University hat, bought some '59 Topps football. My regular guy who picks up Italian ball players, found a bunch in my 1956 Topps binder. A regular purchased a bunch of 1960 Topps. One of my autograph hounds picked up a nice pile of cards from the 1970s. Though, unlike my other autograph hounds, this guy gets all the cards signed in person. Lastly, a pair of brothers, that may be twins, picked up some cards out my 50-cent box and some 1956 Topps baseball.
On the buying front, I picked up a pile of '63 and '68 high numbers. A dealer offered me some '53 Bowmans but I had just reloaded my binder and don't need them for a while. Another dealer sold me a small group of cards as I was leaving, including two '78 Eddie Murray rookies, a '65 Yaz, and a '75 Hostess Pete Rose. He had the Rose priced at $80. I paid $20 for the group and checked out the high book price of the Rose when I got home -- it was just $8, NOT $80!!
I had a real nice time today, as is usually the case at Gonzaga. I always like chatting with the other dealers set up near me, like Dave and Rolf. Dave sold a real cool Hank Aaron Braves jersey in the live auction. Rolf had some signed cards on his table but I got too busy to check them out. PJ seemed to have some good sales today. It was also good to see Ken back today. There is another dealer that sets up behind me, an older guy who has some vintage. He and Rolf got to talking about card shows in the early 1970s. I enjoyed listening to that conversation. I also enjoyed talking with the great group of guys buying cards from me today, like Tim and Jim.
Next week, I'm back at Orland Park on Saturday. I've been at Orland a lot lately. However, after this show, I won't be back at Orland until the end of June, due to the cancelling of the second May show and the fact that the first June show is scheduled the same day as Gonzaga. I don't skip Gonzaga, if I can help it, and will be setting up there in June. I started working on loading some binders for this week's Orland show. I just completed a nice grouping of 1961 Fleer football. I have a smattering of '53 Bowman black and whites that are up next. I'm probably also going to reload '72-73 Topps basketball. I will have my usual, new pile of star cards for my display cases as well. I'm looking forward to seeing my regular Orland crew on Saturday. If anybody is looking for anything special, let me know and I'll bring it along. See you Saturday, rain or shine!!
With the low turn-out, my tables were free of customers early on. By 10 a.m., I was worried that I wouldn't make enough money to cover my table fee. But then, lo and behold, I got busy and it continued all afternoon. I think a lot of customers appreciated the fact that I didn't shut down and leave at noon like many other dealers. I ended up having a real nice day.
A regular customer got things going with some '75s. Another regular purchased some '75 minis. A regular picked up some '60 Topps, including Eddie Mathews. Jeff picked up a big pile of 1960 Topps and 1957 Topps baseball along with some 1973 Topps football. A customer wearing a Cleveland Indians sweatshirt picked up some '77 Topps baseball. Jason picked up my 1941 Double Play Ben Chapman, along with some commons from the 1970s. A regular picked up some '74s. A new customer purchased some '77 Topps football. My buddy Mike picked up some '69 Topps football and some '69-70 Topps basketball, including a Bill Bradley rookie that is MINT!! Mike is just starting that '69-70 set and he got some good ones today.
A new customer purchased some '58s and '74s. Tim, in from Madison, picked up some '52 Bowman baseball, some '53 Bowman Color, some '54 Topps and some '60s Topps. Thanks Tim!! A new customer purchased a pile of cards out of my 50-cent box. Another new customer picked up my '65 Topps Gaylord Perry. A dealer bought a bunch of cards out of my 50-cent box. A regular picked up some '78 Topps baseball. Another regular picked up some '69-70 Topps basketball. A new customer, wearing a Northwestern University hat, bought some '59 Topps football. My regular guy who picks up Italian ball players, found a bunch in my 1956 Topps binder. A regular purchased a bunch of 1960 Topps. One of my autograph hounds picked up a nice pile of cards from the 1970s. Though, unlike my other autograph hounds, this guy gets all the cards signed in person. Lastly, a pair of brothers, that may be twins, picked up some cards out my 50-cent box and some 1956 Topps baseball.
On the buying front, I picked up a pile of '63 and '68 high numbers. A dealer offered me some '53 Bowmans but I had just reloaded my binder and don't need them for a while. Another dealer sold me a small group of cards as I was leaving, including two '78 Eddie Murray rookies, a '65 Yaz, and a '75 Hostess Pete Rose. He had the Rose priced at $80. I paid $20 for the group and checked out the high book price of the Rose when I got home -- it was just $8, NOT $80!!
I had a real nice time today, as is usually the case at Gonzaga. I always like chatting with the other dealers set up near me, like Dave and Rolf. Dave sold a real cool Hank Aaron Braves jersey in the live auction. Rolf had some signed cards on his table but I got too busy to check them out. PJ seemed to have some good sales today. It was also good to see Ken back today. There is another dealer that sets up behind me, an older guy who has some vintage. He and Rolf got to talking about card shows in the early 1970s. I enjoyed listening to that conversation. I also enjoyed talking with the great group of guys buying cards from me today, like Tim and Jim.
Next week, I'm back at Orland Park on Saturday. I've been at Orland a lot lately. However, after this show, I won't be back at Orland until the end of June, due to the cancelling of the second May show and the fact that the first June show is scheduled the same day as Gonzaga. I don't skip Gonzaga, if I can help it, and will be setting up there in June. I started working on loading some binders for this week's Orland show. I just completed a nice grouping of 1961 Fleer football. I have a smattering of '53 Bowman black and whites that are up next. I'm probably also going to reload '72-73 Topps basketball. I will have my usual, new pile of star cards for my display cases as well. I'm looking forward to seeing my regular Orland crew on Saturday. If anybody is looking for anything special, let me know and I'll bring it along. See you Saturday, rain or shine!!
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