What Are Your Earliest Card Show Memories?
 

With all of the wonderful threads lately about the first card shows and the first National, I thought it might be fun to hear stories about the first card shows that people can remember going to or perhaps having a table at.

Those other threads make me wish I was born just a bit earlier. Alas, had I attended some of them, I likely would have been spitting up (or worse) on some of the goods!!

My first card show memory was in 1980. It was somewhere in Northern NJ at a hotel...not sure the town. Roy White was signing autographs. I was 9 years old and had a table set up (with a few other friends). Holy cow what fun that was!! I remember taking lots of my earnings and buying 1974 Topps football rack packs, that another dealer had for like $3 each. I still have the 1974 Topps Roy White that I had him sign.

Also in the early to mid 1980's I would attend the various Parsippany, NJ shows. They were at the Holiday Inn I believe. I would get there just as often as my dad was willing to drive me.

I also remember attending a show in New York City in early 1985. I thought I was so smart....thought I could stock up on this kid Gooden's 1985 card on the cheap before anyone else figured out how good he was. That didn't work out well, especially in NYC!! I also remember having a choice between a Pete Rose rookie or a beautiful 1962 Topps Yaz. I hated Rose and the Yaz was in better shape, so I bought the Yaz. Egad!!

Since not all of us were able to be there for those early hobby shows, I would love to hear about the first shows that you were able to attend.

Tom C

My first shows were in the early 1980's as well. I attended small shows at local halls to larger shows in Parsippany and Atlantic City. One of he first shows I set up at was in 1983 in Atlantic City at one of the casinos. I think Joe DiMaggio was there signing auto's. I remember a representative from Donruss was walking around and I purchased many singles of the Action All Star Set. At the time, these were a huge hit. I was selling commons at $1.75 each and people were just handing over money. I was offered $5.00 for each Rose, Schmidt and Carlton. I sold all I had. Other stars like Brett was getting me $3.00 or so. I used some of the money to buy some 1959 cello packs at $20.00 each. Got all commons but that was fun to rip. I just wish I kept those packs sealed.
Robert

Not the best experience, but I remember going to a card show in a local mall when I was around 10 years old (early 90s). I saw what I thought was a Nolan Ryan rookie card, and asked the dealer about it. It turned out it was one of those porcelain copies and he wanted $20.00 for it. I said no thank you (I didn't want a reprint), and, as I was walking away he called me cheap and mumbled something nasty under his breathe. Great first experience and one of the things that soured me from collecting for a while.

My dad took me to my first show in Los Angeles in 1980 when I was 9 years old. It was in a hotel, but I'm not sure where (kinda think near the airport, but not positive). I remember seeing some Ruth's on the table near the entrance. I also remember almost buying a T206 Cobb for around $50, but it would have been all my money so I passed it up. A kid I casually knew had a table set up, but for the life of me I can't remember his name. I've wondered if that was the National or just a regular weekend show. I'll have to ask my dad if he remembers what hotel it was.

I didn't attend many card shows as a kid. My earliest one was when I was around 12 or 13. It was a big show, held in the convention room at a local Holiday Inn in West Bloomfield, MI and Ernie Banks was the autograph guest. I didn't really understand how autograph guests worked at shows (I thought I could just walk up to the table, didn't understand about tickets) but did eventually get an autograph from Ernie (on an SSPC Hall of Fame card).

My main memory from the show is that my grandmother took me to the show. My brother & I were staying with her for the week. My grandmother took me to the show and sat outside on a bench waiting for me to be done. She told me "take as long as you want, I'll just wait out here and read" - and she meant it. She wanted me to have a good time and was more than happy to wait for me. I ended up being there for...3 hours? 4? And she was completely fine with it. But she was awesome like that.

My first "card show" was in the early 1980's. It was at the old Midway Drive-In in Kent, Washington. I remember it was crowded and everyone smelled like BO. I picked up a few football cards (less than a couple bucks worth), and a new appreciation for deodorant.

Around 1973, I'm 12. I subscribed to the Sport Hobbyist and they were always talking about shows in Detroit. Living just outside Boston, I was so jealous. Finally, there is a show in Springfield Mass. It's about a 2.5 hours ride. My Dad is off that Saturday, which is unusual as he worked shifts including a lot of weekends. I'm super physc'd, I've saved up all my money from snow shoveling and other misc. jobs. Visions of Goudeys (I had none at the time) and T206s (I had two) are dancing in my head. We get in the car and after about 20 minutes I realized today was August 19th, but the show was September 20th. I was so afraid to tell my Dad, thought he would kill me; but when I did he didn't yell at me, we stopped and had a bite to eat. When September rolled around, I was too embarrassed/afraid to bring it up.

Sometime in the early 80's I finally went to a show, didn't like it much, a lot of rude people and greed. Wasn't till the Shriner's shows in the early 90's that I got back into collecting and enjoyed a show.

I remember my dad taking me to shows in the mid 80s at the local holiday inn. I remember a dealer always set up at these shows that had some sort of dice game. For a certain amount of money you can win cards by throwing the dice. My dad was always excited to see all the old Yankee players cards and would tell me the story about how they flipped cards against a wall and put them in the spokes on their bikes. He also would always tell me that when he went into the navy his mom threw all the cards away. How many times have we all heard that story :)

I don't remember if it was95 or 96 but my first show was in Garfield NJ . It was held ( and still is ) at the boys and girls club . There was so much going on and I was a newbie . I would go and buy boxes and packs . I never wanted singles I felt that I wanted no needed to pull the cards myself . At the very least trade for my cards .

Like most I still have a crap load of cards from then . The good the bad and the ugly ! But would not change it for the world .

The show always had some of the best dealers . But of course I ran in to scammers . I once pulled a Dan Marino donruss elite numbered . At the time this was a big deal . I traded it for a bunch of really cool looking cards . They were not in the Beckett . So I then went around trying to sell or trade those cards . A dealer stopped me and said that they were only dollar cards . So I went back to the guy and said hey you ripped me off ! And that I wanted my card back . He gave me some line like a trade is a trade . I said that he told me that they were worth more . So he pretended to look for the card and then acted like it was gone . I'll never forget that and I still see the guy . I wonder if he remembers ripping me of .

My first show was 1988 or 1989 in the Dallas area. Unfortunately I did not yet collect cards, so was just hanging out with a friend and missed a great opportunity. I almost bought a Ted Williams card, but ended up passing.

My first show was at a hotel near LAX in my early teens. I hopped a ride in the bed of my friends Toyota pick-up. The drive was 30 miles. The show itself was overwhelming, what I remember most was a dealer selling fake Rose rookies for $50. On the way home I dropped a couple hard plastic sliders with Ripken rookies, they slid out the back of the bed of the truck and onto the freeway. I think I cried.

My first "show" was in 1973. Around our enlarged dining room table in small town central Wisconsin, Dick Miller, George Husby, Jack Urban, Ron Greenwood and I shared stories, and traded many cards.

Local Boston area shows starting in the early 90s when I got back into collecting. Mostly guys with new wax going on about how it was drying up fast and I really needed to buy it and the first waves of shiny stuff; a few vintage guys here and there such as my good friend Pete Lalos.

1987 show at the Expo Center in Monroeville, PA. I was 12. For some reason, the two things I remember most are a complete 1938 Goudey Heads-Up set and an unopened 1980 Topps basketball pack with the Bird/Magic rookie showing through the back. I left with a '61 Clemente which I still own.

Another LAX first timer
 

Like Jeff1970Red and Midmo my first show was also at a hotel near LAX. Later I wondered if I had attended the first National, but the year I went was 1981, not 1980, so I guess it was just a local card show (evidently a popular one).

Anyhow, after seeing an ad in the newspaper, and my folks needing to go down that way from the San Fernando Valley, my vintage fate struck. I think I brought all of perhaps $12 to $15 (on a 50 cent per week allowance, a dollar if I had mowed the yard that week, so practically a fortune) to the show. The first dealer inside the door on the right, the first card show table I had ever seen, had a few vintage cards for sale, and I couldn't pass them up. I instantly spent most of my wad ($11.00, an amount I will never forget) for the following cards:

T206 Christy Mathewson black cap
T206 Walter Johnson pitching
E98 Cy Young
T205 Roger Bresnahan mouth closed
T205 Zach Wheat - Broadleaf

They were all in Fair to F-G condition, and you could say they eventually and inevitably made me a Net54 member. They have definitely helped foster a love of Pre-War cards, and a fondness for lower condition cards. It was still way too early for people to pay any attention to a rare back llike the one on the Wheat. Still have them too. If I were ever to sell all my cards I would still keep the Matty...that card fired up my collecting imagination, and still does. No scans, maybe some day.

Brian

My First Card Show
 

In 1976 my older brother took a bunch of us to a card show in the northern suburbs of Chicago driving his late 60s Mustang. It was a Friday and we hit a big traffic jam. I remember my brother using his CB radio to get alternate directions from a truck driver.

We got to the show about two hours later and it was quite unlike shows of today. There were some 1976 cards , but most tables just had old cards in stacks. Missing were the fancy displays, storage devices and the likes.

I had $35 from my paper route and I bought lots of cards for $0.10 to $0.50. There were a bunch of T206s, many with the price lightly written on the back in pencil - I saw that a lot in those days but only on the really old cards. My splurge was a T206 Mathewson for $2.00.

Great memories...
 

Late 70's/Early 80's at the Nashville Flea Market at the old Nashville Fairgrounds (Nashville Speedway). I looked forward to every 4th weekend of the month, to go hunt for cards, memorabilia, etc. - Dealers were set up and scattered about the fairgrounds in pavilions as well as outside. You had your regulars, but there was always some new dealers each month and material was fresh. I remember purchasing a crisp Ryan rookie for $40, Carlton rookie for $22, 60' Mantle in stellar condition for $20 and so on... The memories are vivid, and I wish I could go back in time to experience again. That's where collecting "vintage" started for me as a kid. Spent many years at the Ole Nashville Flea Market (It was a large scale event with thousands of various vendors...) - I would save my money each month and go buy 50's, 60's, and 70's cards for years. Just a lot of fun, and especially sharing those hunt's with many friends and family.

Good times...

i don't remember exactly where or when my 1st card show was but i'd guess early 80's. I remember Tom Seaver rookies at $7...aaron rookies at $25...babe ruth goudey $100 nmt...all way over my budget!

I purchased my 1st t206 a beat up matty white cap for $2...and a fake mayo lave cross!

My first card show was in early 1980, when I was 14 years old, even though I had been going to card shops since 1976, soon after I started collecting. This was in the Chicago area, and I'm not sure exactly where that first show I attended was, except that I'm pretty sure it was in the northern suburbs somewhere. I mainly remember how big and overwhelming (in a good way) it seemed. There was a rumor going around the show that somebody had ripped an unopened pack of 1952 Topps high numbers and gotten a Mantle, which was just starting to become the hot card it became. I didn't have much money to spend, and the only thing I specifically remember buying at that show was a Saran-wrapped lot of 1956 Topps with Koufax showing on the top -- and then it turned out there was another Koufax inside. I'm not sure what I paid for that lot, but it can't have been more than $20. Eleven years later, I traded that second 1956 Koufax to a dealer for some other 1950s cards.

On October 11, 1980, my family was out on a Saturday afternoon and we stopped at a little card show being held at a mall, where I remember seeing a bunch of 1938 Goudeys at one table and wishing I could afford them. I remember the date because it was the same day as game 4 of the 1980 National League Championship Series between the Phillies and the Astros, a crazy game that I missed part of because we were out at this show.

In 1981 and 1982 (and maybe in 1980 and/or 1983) I went to several card shows at the Hillside Holiday Inn (a suburb of Chicago about halfway between Glen Ellyn, where I grew up, and downtown Chicago). It was at one of those shows in 1981 that I paid $10 for my first Old Judge, which I still have. The Hillside Holiday Inn is just off the Kennedy Expressway, the easiest way to get between the western suburbs and downtown Chicago, and whenever I go past there I think of those card shows from the early 80s.

So, I've never been to a card show, but I'm considering going to the Long Beach Expo in June. What are the prices like at these shows? Are the dealers willing to haggle on pricing? Should I just consider going on Sunday and look to make the best deals at the end of the day?

1st Card Show Experience - Not so good!
 

I remember my first card show experience very well, and it wasn't the greatest experience. It was just after I graduated college in the late 80's. I was walking from table to table when I came upon one table that had a lot of modern basketball. Michael Jordan in particular. A young man came up with a pile of vintage baseball, the good stuff, 50s and 60s Mantle, Mays, Aaron and the like. The boy in my best guess was probably 10 years old. He plopped the cards up on the table and told the dealer, "I would like to trade these for some basketball, especially Michael Jordan." I understood the value of the cards, even back then and I don't think the young man did! The dealer proceeded to tell the boy that that stuff was pretty old and he would have tough time moving them so he picked out the good ones and told him he would trade about ten star basketball for them, worth a couple of hundred bucks. I said, "Whoa, this is not right, his cards are worth thousands." I asked the young man if his Dad was around. The dealer proceeded to tell me, "Move on or I will call security!" I very quickly snapped back and said. "Go for it, we will see where this ends up! This is wrong!" I told the boy that he needs to find his Dad and he pointed him out to me. I promptly got the Dad and made him aware of the situation and told him he should be with his son when trading those cards and that they were worth thousands of dollars. The Dad told me the cards were given to the boy by his grandfather to trade for what he wanted. The father was very appreciative and the boy by the end of the day had some really cool stuff, but the event kind of left a bitter taste in my mouth. All's well that ends well, thank God!!

About 1978 in Dearborn, Mi. Jim Hawkins, Free Press sports writer and avid collector, used to hold huge card shows a few times a year, at least half the size of the National if you can believe it.

Bugged my Dad to take me because I wanted a Mickey Mantle card. Spend a whole $5 on 1969 Topps. Met the legendary Al Rosen, who was actually very friendly to me - of course I was only 12. I didn't realize what a hotbed Detroit was for card shows in the 70's. Alas, they have all but disappeared around here.

Crocodile Dad-Dee?
 

My Dad took me to a show in 1981 at a local hotel banquet room. I was studying the latest cardboard of Rickey Henderson, George Brett, etc, when my Dad, says to me, "Those arent baseball cards. These are baseball cards..." As he pointed to a sheet of beautiful 1953 Topps cards. I've been hooked on vintage ever since. And yes, crocodlile dundee stole the line from my Dad! "That's not a knife....

In my mid-20s in the early 90s
 

Was living in Lincoln at the time, and there were shows at a small mall two or three times a year. I had just been bitten by the vintage bug and there was never any vintage there. Was excited to hear there was to be a fairly large show at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, so put our newborn in the car seat and went to check it out.

Two dealers. Total. Apparently some sort of management snafu, something. Was told by the two guys there (were I did buy two cards) that everyone else had snatched up space at the mall in Lincoln, so with son still in the carrier, headed back home to a mall that was completely full of vendors.

Alan Hager was the only name I recognized at the time. He had several EpdG cards, a couple of Hindu backs, and tons of commons. All out of my price range. Looking back, wish I had paid more attention to the names of vendors to see who was there, and where they are now.

So guess this counts as my first, and second, card show experience.

A long time ago in the early 90s when I was about 10 or 11 I passed on a crispy mint 1966 Topps Mantle at a card show in my hometown's mall. Instead I bought a lesser condition one because I figured I could buy two cards instead of just one.

Wish I had that Mantle.

Joining the Twin Cities Sports Collectors Club in the late 1970's and going to the monthly shows. If I remember correctly, they were at the Apache Plaza Shopping Center. Also going to all of the Thunderbird Motel shows and the State Fairgrounds shows in the early to mid 1980's. Those were incredible shows to be a part of. Purchased and sold many awesome items at these shows.

I attended my first show in 1978 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas hosted by John England at a Ramada Inn. I was recently married and we traveled up and spent the night.

I went to the Friday evening preview and came back to the room a little surprised. I told my wife that while John seemed really nice it was a little odd to see him wearing some sort of rings in every finger. The next day I realized they were all World Series and All-Star rings!

Set up at the first National held in NJ, Parsippany in 1984 with my dad as I was only 15 and not of legal age to enter into a dealer contract. Had lots of funning dealing with the Boggs, Mattingly, Strawberry, etc. rookie cards that were being hoarded by the smart collectors.........

I remember attending a show maybe 1987 (I was 11 at the time) either in Austin or San Antonio and only wanting baseball cards like 1987 Fleer and 1987 Topps and I bought rack packs with my allowance and was so excited, and I passed (since I didn't collect this sport at the time) on a complete set of 1986 Fleer Basketball set for sale at or around $10. This guy had a stack of them in those large snap case holders. If I only knew then what I know now. But hey, I am sure I still have those 1987 cards that I opened somewhere at my parent's house since I thought those were the greatest sets ever.

I was planning to go to the first National in Los Angeles with my brother. But he came down with mono and I was too young to drive, so I missed it. We went to a show a few months later in Commerce, CA, just outside Los Angeles. I wish I could remember all the things that I bought. The one that stands out is my 1940 Play Ball Jimmie Foxx, which I still have.

A couple of years later, I was old enough to drive and drove up to another show in LA with a friend. I don't remember a thing about the show itself, but the drive was memorable. A giant bird (probably a seagull) flew into my windshield while I was driving on the freeway, splattering blood across the entire windshield. I had to pull over and drove to the nearest gas station where my friend helped me clean up the mess. I still remember him taking a stick to remove some organ from my windshield wiper. We both decided it was a lung. Such good memories.

My best memories of " card " shows were when they were "card" shows with card dealers and card collectors. When the "coin" dealers arrived everything changed, grading companies arrived etc. I think some of the fun was lost.

It seems everyone here has atleast one scammer story . So don't blame eBay guys . Also I think it made me better . I didn't want to get scammed again and it forced me to learn more .

As a newb I haven`t heard much about coin dealers taking the fun out of the hobby. I find this interesting.
Does anybody care to explain how and when coin dealers started to show their influence on the hobby of baseball cards?

Went to a card show in the late 80's and met Max Lanier of the Cardinals signing autographs in Las Vegas. Before that, I had collected cards but not been to a show.

I went to a few card shows while in High School back in the late '70s but the show I really remember was in 1984 while I was stationed at Sheppard AFB and in Tech School. They had a local mall show and since I now had money I bought the set I always wanted... the 1975 Topps set. I paid $100.00 for it and still have it..

I remember when I lived in Indiana, there was a coin dealer who also did baseball cards. I was in his shop looking at Topps Cubs cards and somebody came in with a collection of 67 topps. He was waiting on me and since this guy was apparently a buddy, he immediately went to talk to his friend vs finishing with me and also went on to talk coins with another customer. It was like all of the sudden I did not exist. While he was talking with the second customer with a coin deal, I struck up a conversation with the guy that brought in the 67 topps and found one of his cards I wanted. Ended up buying the card from the guy with the binder and bypassed the shop. Shop owner wasn't too happy but if you treat customers like dirt, then you lose out in my opinion. This was in the late 80's and with his business practices, doubt if his shop survived.

just
 

going with my mom and dad stacks of cards on tables. very few showcases. i am thankful i am still going to shows with my dad 35+ years later. my mom still sometimes tags along. Great thread. i remember traveling all over eastern pa for shows. made some life long friends through the journeys.

Around 1971, my dad drove all day to take me to the 2nd annual Midwest Collectors Convention in a Detroit Holliday Inn. I suppose I was 12. There weren't as many cards for sale as I'd hoped, but I was able to add to my t206, Goudey, and 56 Topps collections. People would come up and ask which cards I had with me, and we would look through each others stacks to see if we could make a trade. I met Frank Nagy, who told me that he had a Wagner
t206 and that earlier that day someone offered to give him a station wagon for it. He laughed at that.

Was this in Terre Haute by chance?

No, was in Munster indiana on 45th avenue. Just looked it up John Hodgson Coins and collectibles and still open for business.

I started attending all the St. Louis shows in the early 80's, even manning a table once in a while. The instant auctions were just unbelievable. There were so many walk-in items that the auctions seemed to be non-stop. But my favorite memories were from autograph guests. Curt Flood was ushered to a seat at a signing table, but before he started signing, he found a microphone, tapped on it for attention, and proceeded to thank the crowd for supporting him during his playing days. When it was my turn to get his autograph, I noticed he was wearing a WS ring. I asked if it was from '64 or '67 and he took it off and handed it to me to get a better look. What a class act. By the way, it was his '67 ring. He told me his '64 was stolen.

My second favorite autograph experience was at a show with Johnny Mize and Rickey Henderson. I happened to be standing near them before the show started. This was early in Rickey's career, but he was already pretty brazen. Mize was talking to someone about hitting, and Henderson was hanging on every word. No interruptions, no self promotion, just listening intently. That impressed me.

Great stories guys!! I only started back as an adult in the mid 1990s. I wish I had gone to shows in the 70s and 80s......

Maybe I saw "Collectorsince62" at the first St. Louis show I attended. The first show I ever went to was the National held in St. Louis in 1982. I just remember how totally overwhelming the number of dealers was. I lived in the middle of Missouri at the time, so there weren't any baseball card shops, and the internet didn't exist, so it was all mail order or trade with friends. I remember nothing about what I bought that first trip. Probably just worked on getting singles I needed for some of the early 1970's set. I just remember being so happy to have the opportunity to buy something directly and be able to visually inspect it before purchasing it!

Best show memory, after only attending local shows for several years, was the National in Atlanta in 1992--I'll never forget how very, very VAST it was, and the outstanding array of cards and other sports related items. Fast forward to the 2009 National in Cleveland, when it appeared the National had shrunk to about one third of its former size--when I spoke to Bill Goodwin about it, his response was simply that most of the business was being done on the internet.

Now to last year's National in Chicago--IT WAS JUST AS BIG AND VIBRATING WITH VIRTUALLY THE SAME ENERGY AS THE '92 NATIONAL HAD BEEN! What an uplifting feeling re the future of the hobby!

In a somewhat related vein, just bought another coin book for study, reflecting on one international banker/coin collector's assembling a type coin collection, which was eventually sold in 2007, and the profits he made. As I recall, he purchased a 1793 half cent in mid-grade, very fine condition, Ms. Liberty facing left variation, for something in the $4,000 range, then sold it approximately five years later for over $10K. Obviously, there are a lot of type coin collectors, and thus significant demand, but one would think that this coin would have to be at least fairly rare, right? Well, the two major coin grading services had graded a total of 500 such coins! Big, big demand, relatively scarce supply = substantial value. As we watch prices go up in our own hobby, I think this is the direction we will continue to head in.

All the best,

Larry

My dad lived in Hicksville, NY while I was in Florida. My parents were divorced. Every summer I got to visit him for a few months and we'd stock up on official baseballs from Modells and hit up the Hofstra Univ. Shows where they always had tons of great HOF guests. Back then I was just into new stuff and autographs. Huge show, great fun. Wont ever forget it. RIP Artie.

The first I remember would have been around 1980. I would have been 13. I think it was in a hotel in Collinsville or Edwardsville, IL. My mom took me and we were working on the 1972 set. I remember we bought the complete second series. Didn't know it at the time but it was from vending. The cards were curved and in perfect condition! I thought it was so cool. Still have those cards today as part of my set.

There was a kid on my little league team that also collected cards. His mom was also helping him. I remember they were working on a Hank Aaron run. His mom bought the '54 RC that day. He didn't even go to the show! I remember it was extremely low grade. I don't know what she paid but I'm sure it wasn't much. I remember thinking I wouldn't even want that card but I sure wish I had it now. Pretty lucky kid to have his mom buy a card like that when he didn't even want to go. BTW, he ended up in prison!

Lots of great stories here. I will share a couple of mine....I think my first show may have been a small room in a holiday inn in south bend, age 11, around 1979...sponsored by johnny's collectibles of indianapolis. I think i bought a 69 carlton for some unknown reason. Always went with my Dad, who was not a collector, just liked to help me. I was always working on finishing and upgrading a 72 set that I had bought from a kid in the neighborhood who was going to throw it out for $5. Still have all those cards and they are rough!

Also recall going to my one and only national in 1983 in Chicago, buying a boatload of minty fresh 71 commons from bill henderson, the "commons king". still have all those too.

Finally, cherish all the times i went to shows with my 5th grade teacher, mr. grenert - he was instrumental in shaping my life path - don't ever understimate the effect a teacher can have on a youngster!

I remember going to my first card show in Joplin, MO in 1989. I had been buying some 89 Upper Deck boxes, and needed a Jerome Walton card to finish the high numbers. That was all I bought that day, but just from observation of the dealers I thought to myself that these guys are not doing their best in terms of being courteous and fair in their treatment of customers. I was setting up at shows within six months and have been doing so ever since. Looking forward to the Atlantic City National which will be my 11th National.

My first show would have been around 1987 at the Indianapolis convention center. I remember my dad took me and I ended up getting the 86 and 87 Topps sets. I also remember getting that particular month's Beckett which had Darryl Strawberry on it.

I got such a kick of walking around with my dad, looking at the cards from the 50s and 60s, and listening to my dad talk about the exploits of the older players on those cards. I'm thrilled that I rediscovered the hobby a few years ago after a bit of a hiatus.

Cheers,
Mark

Sitting on Hank Aaron's lap for a picture. I was like 5. I had my little kid glove with me and he tossed the ball back and forth with me for awhile too. Growing up in the hobby was great.

Once I got my license in the summer of '85, a buddy and I hit as many local Bay Area shows as we could. I remember buying many 60's Mantles and any other 50's-60's HOFer's I could find.

Just today I was going through a box of old family photos with my 6 year old daughter and ran across this. Made me chuckle and think of this thread. If I remember correctly, I picked up a really nice '56 Koufax and '56 Clemente. I had them graded by PSA a few years later and both graded an 8. I thought I hit the jackpot back then. :)

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...pshxsgol9h.jpg

I guess my two main memories ( we're talking about 1987-1989ish ) would be that you really didn't see much as far as 50's-60's football and hockey. I remember someone had bowman football cards and I was just in awe of them. The other thing was if you saw something it seemed like you should buy it immediately back then. Stuff would sell quick. Today, yes deals are done, but a table's inventory doesn't seem to change much throughout the day. Back then, dealers seemed to be in a perpetual pattern of selling and restocking on the fly as the day would go on.

In 1978, I was 12, subscribed to SCD and was a card-carrying member of the Chicagoland Sports Collectors Association (long defunct). At the time, the CSCA put on three shows a year at a Holiday Inn in Hillside, Illinois. There was always a free autograph guest like a Minnie Minoso or an Orlando Cepeda. As soon as we got there, I would split from my dad who would spend the day in the dime boxes purchasing piles of Gene Woodlings and Walt Dropos. I would look for a card to get signed and get an auto. I would then purchase a few 8 and 9 pocket sheets and try and fill them with HOFers and stars from the 40 bucks my dad would give me. The room was always packed and it was tough to get at the tables. Cards were CHEAP back then. I always went home with a few Clementes and Aarons. After the show, we would drive to Downtown Chicago where my dad worked. On the drive he would tell me about the players he purchased, having seen them all when he was a beer vendor at both Wrigley and Comiskey from 1952 to 1962. The only drawback was I would have to spend hours sitting in my dad's office after the show while he worked all afternoon.

That is correct. I remember people watching me make a purchase from a walk up, then approaching to see what I had put in my cases. Many times they would say: I'll take that one. They were like vultures circling a kill! Fun times.

My first card show related memory was posing for the program cover of the 1984 National with my cousin in my back yard. Don't remember if I was actually at the show or not. I was 6 years old.

That's me on the left:

http://img.beckett.com/news/news-con...6/NSCC1984.jpg

My first show was at a very small mall in my hometown.

I remember buying a Post Yogi Berra because my Dad told me about him. Wish I had kept that one.

I also remember buying packs of 1981 Fleer(!) They were all the rage. Good times.

I was 16 (in 1981-82 era) and I lived in the New Orleans suburbs. There was a card show announced and I was working at Wendy's and I had some money saved up. I was thrilled!!! I walked around the room (30 dealers?) and found a guy selling 50's cards. So, I started talking to him and asked to see some of the cards. He basically told me to pound sand and he didn't have time to waste with a teenager. I went to other dealers and eventually bought both 1954 Topps Ted Williams, a 1955 Ted Williams, 1960-1964 Yastrzemskis, and a few other star cards from the 50's and 60's. Overall, I had a great time, but the first card show dealer I ever spoke to was a jerk. Alas, he would not be the last.

As stated, but to elaborate a bit....I don't remember going to shows in the 1960s-1970s as a kid. When I went to a small, local show in about 1994-1995, in Dallas I was hooked. I saw beat up cards of players that were my boyhood idols for sale. I started collecting HOF rookies (and stopped unfortunately)....and progressed back to pre-war from there.

The shows in the Bay Area were among the best in the hobby in the early to mid 70’s. I attended my first around 1974, after meeting Jim Horne at a local flea market , where he told me about the first show in ’73 . Acalanes High School in Lafayette, St Alberts in Palo Alto, Bellarmine Prep in San Jose, the Veterans Hall in Santa Rosa and Sunset High School in Hayward were among the many locations. Usually 50-100 tables in size, most were on a Saturday and the advanced collectors of the day... Dick Dobbins, Jim Horne, John Spalding, Bill Weiss, Lou Chericoni, Don Hazelwood, Doug McWilliams, George Callahan, Don McPherson, and others were not only in attendance, they were very helpful to younger collectors. The first show I displayed at in 1976 cost $5 for the table. Plastic sheets were not popular (tough to find as well) and most people just put stacks of cards out on their tables. T-206’s and beat up Zeenuts were plentiful and under $1, Obaks and caramel cards (E-120/121) were a few bucks each, superstars of the 60’s were a dime to a quarter each (Mantle, Mays, Aaron) and flannel uniforms were $25-50 each. Still a lot of money for a teenager. Many long term friendships were forged during those years as well.

Just browsing around and saw an old thread....and saw Dick Dobbins' name mentioned so thought a card might be apropos.

http://luckeycards.com/dobbinspc.jpg

Fun thread...I'm sure there are lots of new members here (like myself) that haven't seen this older thread.

I don't have an overly exciting story, but my first card shows in my memory were during the bubble years in the mid to late 1980's.

I grew up in Salina, KS (fairly small town about a three hour drive away from KC) but occasionally there would be someone at a local show signing autographs. At my first show, it was Danny Tartabull. If you were a Royals fan in the 80's, you remember him. I think he went on to play with the Yankees too.

I still have my 1987 Topps card that was signed by him that day.

My second memorable experience that same year was my dad taking me to a live auction at the 4H hall in town. I remember having some money and bidding on a 1986 Donruss Rookies set. I was in a bidding war with some older guy across the room and the price got past my budget and I was ready to admit defeat...but my dad put in a few extra bids and we won the set (dad covered the amount over what I had). I remember being thrilled at the excitement of that live auction. Dad passed a few years ago, but that's a cherished memory.

I love this hobby.

1983? Pikesville Armory Show in Baltimore. I was 13 and couldn’t believe all the cards and dealers. My big purchase that day was a 1978 Topps baseball vending box. I remember I got the Murray and used this as a starter set to put together the 78 set. It was here that I met Dan McKee’s father. I was in awe of the cards he had and even though I wasn’t collecting pre war cards at the time he was willing to show me cards and talked to me about cards. I ended up buying a low grade 1935 Goudey 4 in 1 Jimmy Foxx from him because I knew Foxx was from Maryland. I would see him at other area shows and I always made it a point to stop and say hello.He was always nice to me and I always remember that. He was a credit to the hobby.

Spring of 1986 at a Holiday Inn in Metairie, LA. Bought a 1972 Kellogg's Ty Cobb, a 1986 Fleer Baseball's Best Will Clark, and a pack of 1986 Donruss. Didn't pull any stars from that pack, but it was exciting to more than quadruple the number of cards in my collection with that one purchase. Probably should have stopped buying new wax packs then and there, but that habit continued for longer than I'd care to admit.

A month after graduating from high school in 1972, I set up at the Midwest Sports Collectors Convention in Troy run by Lloyd and Carol Toerpe. What an experience! I talked to a ton of hobby "big names" that I had read about in The Sports Hobbyist like Frank Nagy, Don Steinbach and many others. We all carried our checklist books around since we were all collectors. We sold our doubles and cards we didn't want anymore in order to complete our sets. I had just started working on a 1952 Bowman set and Don Steinbach offered me 125 different in EX-MT condition for $75. I bought them... and them he came back with the '52 Bowman Mantle and Mays cards for $15 each. I thought about a half hour about it, then went back and bought them. On Saturday, Ernie Harwell made a visit and we put our covers on our tables while Ernie talked and then we did a Q&A. It was one of the greatest weekends of my life and helped launch a lifelong journey that goes on to this day!

The first card show I remember going to was the Greater Boston Show in probably 1991. At the time I was collecting football cards, no baseball, with my two sons. I had gone up to the Boston area with a curling team to compete in a local bonspiel. We had the afternoon off and one of the guys on the team, Ed Morley, who was a big Detroit (and Old Judge) collector and wanted to go to the show, so I tagged along. I remember that he dragged me over to a table that had a lot of Old Judges and told me I should consider buying some of them. My first reaction was, after my experience with all the colorful football cards, that they were really ugly. I did not buy any at the time. However, I guess that subliminally I was bitten and that show had a significant impact on my life thereafter.
I also remember a White Plains show where Ron Vitro sold me a group of ten Old Judge HOF cabinets. Ron at that time used to have great 19th century material. For those who don’t know Ron he is also one of the nicest guys anywhere.

I can’t remember the specific first show but my first venture into getting cards at a “show” was at the monthly Pershing Flea Market in Lincoln NE. (this would have been in the 1982-1985 range). This is where my hard earned lawn mowing money met its demise.

Most were guys that just were collectors and did stuff out of their homes and likely also set up at some shows as well. I remember one guy that had a bunch of complete sets (most were newer) he must have opened a ton of new product. I remember seeing 9 pocket pages full of Mantle cards from the 50’s and 60’s from another guy. He wanted to have Mantles. I was a Yaz collector in my lawn mowing days and I remember trading him a 66 Mantle for a 61,64,65,66 and 68 Yaz and thought that was a fantastic trade at the time. If memory serves me correct the high price guide value on the Mantle at the time was like $15 or $20.

Beckett Magazine first coming out, and being excited to be able to pick up Baseball Card News and Baseball Cards Magazine (which the only place I could find those at the time was at this flea market.) Perez Steele postcards being a big rage.

I remember one guy that was always set up on the middle of the West side – he hand binders full of T205’s , and T206’s , Mecca Double Folders, other older tobacco issues. I likely did not look at them too close because at the time, it was not important to me……I was too caught up in getting my Yaz collection completed and picking up cards of Mays and Aaron. If I only had spent more money on the older cards and not an 84 Fleer Set or those 83 Action All Stars!

First show
 

I believe my first show was 1986 in Schenectady at a hockey rink. I went for a Mantle autograph for $11. While we were waiting in line, they upped the price to $15. We were really p.o. ed. Actually happened again same year when DiMaggio came to town. But got him to shake hands!

My first show was in the early-mid eighties. My dad, who has zero interest in baseball, took me. It was less than less than an hour away at a hotel banguet/convention room. Just to see that many cards in one room blew me away. I had been collecting cards of the future HOFs, in my mind, for some time. Seaver, Reggie, Nolan, Stargell, Yaz, Bench, Rose, & even Garvey. To see Mantle, Mays, Aaron, etc. was amazing. There was a '53 Topps Mays that looked "mint" to me for sale. I can't remember how much it was, but it was way out of my league.

Jay, I'm amazed that you started collecting baseball cards in '91. I would have guessed much earlier.

Like most, I collected as a kid. The early-1990s was my second stint. It coincided with my kids being old enough to collect with me.

My first card show was 1982 Oxon Hill Md. I don't remember what I bought, but I got Joe Dimaggio's autograph for $10 (he was the only signer at the show).

First show that I set up at was 1985 somewhere in Northern Virginia. I remember that I made just enough money to pay my table fee, and purchased a box of 1985 Donruss which had just come out and was super hot. My local card shop could not get their hands on any so I had to buy one at the show. It was selling for $25-30 a wax box, at a time when Topps and Fleer was like $10-15 a box.

My teenage Daughters got me back into this hobby in the late 1970's. My first two BB card shows were small ones in New Jersey.
In the Spring of 1981, my first major show was the Willow Grove Show in Pennsylvania (at the George Washington Motor Lodge).

The best way to describe this Show is....it was absolutely SURREAL !


http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...torLodgeVF.jpg


I acquired many cards that weekend to fill out my sets, and here are the two cards I remember the best....

My very 1st T206......

http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...aseblue50x.jpghttp://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...seblue50xb.jpg



A 1949 LEAF color variation of Stan Musial for my LEAF set...…

http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...sialLtBlue.jpg


TED Z

T206 Reference
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I don't have a whole lots of specific memories from my first show(s)...but my dad took me...it was definitely in the northern nj area.

I DO remember being offered a beat up t206 white cap matty by someone just walking around the show...which I DID buy and was my first t206...it was $2.50.

At another early show I was offered a mayo lave cross by another person just walking around the show for a few bucks. I ALSO bought that...which turned out to be fake!!!!! It didn't/doesn't have a black back...a novice error!!!!

I still have both.

Some show at a hotel in Chicago in 1980. Just got my dad interested in cards, before it turned into a business for him a couple years later. Remembered getting the price guide and always watching he 52 Topps and the price in the guides had been going down. Always had been like $1500 low $3500 high. Anyhow, we ran across one that was mid grade and it was $700. Really wish we had picked it up. From what I remember, there was a room with auctions. We did get boxes of 52 Topps with lots of high numbers. I don't remember buying anything at tables at the time, but I remember going thru those 52's when we got home.

The year was 1976 or 1977, and I was 14 or 15 years old. I was attending one of the semi-annual card shows at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan (New York City). It was late in the afternoon and I had developed a bad headache. I was sitting in the lobby, where they had plenty of plush chairs and sofas.

I probably had my face in my hands when I was approached by an older gentleman who inquired if I was okay. I told him that I had a bad headache. He asked if I was staying at the hotel. I explained that I had attended the card show and was waiting for my headache to subside before taking the subway home to Brooklyn. (I'm paraphrasing. I don't think I used the words "attended" or "subside" at age 15.) He asked if I had taken any aspirin, and I said that I had not. He then walked away, only to reappear within two minutes with aspirin and a paper cup of water. I took the aspirin and thanked him before he walked away.

A few months later, I attended a smaller card show. (I don't remember where.) I ran into the aforementioned gentleman there. Much to my surprise, he was signing autographs. His name was Cal Abrams - former Brooklyn Dodger.

1st show
 

great topic great storys

mine was an mid 70s.. the hot thing was the error cards.. collectors would go nuts for error cards. I had very little money and would buy the rough shape Mays Mantle Aaron cards..probably a couple bucks each back then

Back in 1970, my best friend's father bought and sold baseball cards. I told her that I still have all my cards from the mid 50's to early 60's (included many Mantle & Maris cards, since I was a big fan of them). There were over 1,000 cards. In addition, I had scorecards from Yankee & Met games, all their yearbooks, and many other publications.
She said that her father would like to come over and see my collection. Well, he came over and told me my whole collection was worth $250. Since his daughter was my best friend at the time, I trusted whatever he said. He offered to buy the whole collection on the spot and I said yes.
Shortly after this transaction, I heard that there was a card show at the local mall. Since, I never went to a card show before, I thought this would be cool to check out. There were about a dozen tables set up. Guess who had a table?
Yes, it was my friend's father who bought my collection. I went over to take a look and see what he was selling. The first thing I saw were all of my yearbooks. He had price tags on some of the yearbooks for as high as $250. I also saw many of my cards (recognized them due to tape and damage on some of them). He had high price tags on those also but I don't remember what the prices were.
I don't know whether he actually got any of those prices but I do know that he ripped me off big time.
That was my first card show and it certainly left a bad taste in my mouth. Almost 50 years later, I am still pissed off.

Some people just don't have a moral compass.

I'm wondering if you ever told your best friend about what her father did, and if so, what did she say/do?

1985 . In a Holiday Inn at kirksville Mo . I still have the papers photo of me at a table . There were just 3 to 5 dealers there, but they had over 20 tables . Most was older vintage cards in Baseball & football . I hadn't got back past my 1973 set , yet & was still working on my 1972 and 1971 near sets . I walked in with a 200 count box of all rookies {BASEBALL } , football had not taken off , yet , here . These would be rc's from 1977 to 1984 time span & had a few doubles of all the main players of that time & in all brands . I sold some & traded for a few Aaron"s, Mays and those types of players. I did vary well on both accounts .:D

My first show (around 1978) I was collecting 1948 Leaf's thru the mail but picked up an ex. condition Joe DiMaggio for $20.

I told he but she was clueless. She turned out to be a pathological liar. She kept making up all sorts of lies so that people would like her.