Fellow Hobbyists:
I would first like to wish you all a Happy New Year.
I would also like to thank Leon Luckey and my fellow Net54baseball members for your support all these years. We have been in this together for a very long time, many of you way before we used computers, and you are all very special to me. This is despite our moods, the tension of the hunt, or the bitter pill of competition. We all have something very special that we share: The Hobby.
After all these years I still love all this. When I was recovering from my illnesses, it surprised me that it was the first thing I wanted to do again was this. It was something basar, like breathing or loving your mother. That was a scary but important comfirmation that I already knew. Was I crazy (probably) but it is better to know what it is that drives you, makes you who you are, so you might as well just go with it.
I longed, and still long, for the "good old days" of my local flea market of Englishtown (NJ) where collector extraordinaire Richard Merkin once told me "you could fill your car for a hundred bucks." Well I didn't drive and didn't have a hundred bucks but I did my best on a dollar allowance and very understanding antique dealer parents. I remember the winter of 1969 at Englishtown (ironically the locals called it "The Auction") looking for old baseball cards in the cold, dark, middle of the night with a flashlight, wearing two pairs of socks and an oversized Charlie Brown coat.
In the 1970s, it was Brimfield, the greatest outdoor antique market of all, where T206's were a dollar except for Ty Cobb, as were B18 blankets where "Jackson" was a common because no one knew it was Shoeless Joe.
In the 1980s things heated up as the competition had names like Rosen who once came after me with a baseball bat (he missed), Mastro who if he heard of a big deal would call every single soul in the hobby until he found out who it was (and he would find out), and Lifson who actually left the house. We all played for keeps. But as we figuratively spilled blood to be first in line, card and memorabilia which we referred to as "The Stuff," flowed like water. What seemed expensive at the time, sometimes ridiculously so, was pretty much FREE compared to today. Sadly, pretty much all of us were spoiled by earlier times.
The 90s ushered in modern selling techniques and whiz bang marketing, the era of the big dealer and the first auctions (me). As the towers fell, the 21st century brought in the corporate era, the eventual death (and then resurrection) of the big dealer, the birth of grading and authenticators, and the auctions ruled the kingdom. At the tail end, eBay came a knocking.
Today, we are even more corporate but sadly, somewhat soulless. eBay rules the low end, the auctions control the high end. The authenticators allow just about anybody to become a seller despite their knowledge, and technology allows anyone to be an auctioneer, some good, some bad, some great. The gunslingers are either dead, gone, or are wearing suits, analogous or actual. And all are seemingly in check, with Big Brother always watching, the FBI.
But as much as things have changed, they have also stayed the same. The basic thrill is still there, there are always "bargains" large or small, "great finds" truly great or overblown, and painful deals we "just missed" are around the corner. But that adrenalin rush never tempers.
For just these reasons, on a highly indulgent personal note, I am not going anywhere. In the past few years I have beaten cancer twice, lost my gall bladder (no bigee), had a bone marrow transplant (the worst), Hepatitis B (no that was worse) and survived it all. Actually, I am constantly told I look better than I ever have which is a sad testament to how I used to look.
A couple of months ago I lost my kidneys. That's probably why I am writing this. I am on dialysis three times a week while i wait for a kidney. However, I am happer than I have ever been, nicer than I have ever been (perhaps not saying much), I still go to shows if they're good ones, and I deal with many of you personally like nothing has changed. One thing has changed. I appreciate everything I have, the food tastes better, and I love the stuff more than ever. And I am fine. I simply deal with it. Weakness has made me stronger.
I know that makes some of you quite happy with all this because you've told me so, including some of my toughest competitors which makes me quite happy. We should all realize that we make each other stronger and better. Like War Admiral had Seabiscuit, like Frazier did for Ali, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees, and hopefully like I did for some of you, and vice versa.
In the end, I wish you all the best for 2015. To the characters that make net54 the confounding, frustrating, fascinating and worthy place that it is. Where else could you meet one of a kind personalities like a Dan McKee, a Jeff Lichtman, Leon himself, or even the late Bruce Dorskind? They can all be a bit out of control, but I truly believe have their hearts in the right place and care about the long term preservation and conservation of this thing we call "The Hobby."
And that word "hobby" is key. Years ago people wanted to change that word to "industry" or something similar to gain some level of respectability, to be taken seriously. Shit, this all started with shut-ins and hoarders collecting baseball cards and memorabilia. Unconsciously, we rejected that new label, even fought it. Although money is an indelible part of what we do it should not be the most important part. To forget, ignore or not accept that it is very important is impossible and irresponsible. But to make it all-important is a mistake.
Número Uno should always be the stuff itself.
The stuff is an innocent. It cannot cry out and tell us whether it is real or fake, trimmed or not, or whether it is being vastly overrated. We need to protect it. We can be wrong but it is how we deal with those mistakes on how we should be judged. I am not preaching to you as I make those mistakes every day. Sometimes we are simply not sure. But together we can come closest to the truth. Not one authenticator with the impossible task of sitting in a dark lonely room asking to play judge, jury and executioner in decision making that will have massive ramifications.
The truth should ultimately be decided by a "Consensus of Opinion." This is how we did it in years ago. It is not perfect but nothing is. This takes into account the failings of us humans. Therein lies the answer although sometimes that answer is grey. In those cases we all need the strength to say no. But therein lies the rub, that's a difficult thing for all of us, including myself. But we do our best hopefully, and together we can find strength.
But the key to this "Consensus" lies in communication. And in this forum itself lies a fabulous vehicle for such talk. Just "be excellent" to each other as Bill and Ted would say, listen while others talk, and most of all be patient with us crazy humans.
Sincerely,
Joshua Leland Evans
Chairman
Lelands.com
The Original Sports Auction House
Since 1969
P.S. I would be remiss if I did not tell you I am offering you all a free catalogue to my current auction which is up and running. Just email me at
jevans@optonline.net with you name and address and I will be happy to send you one gratis. If you have read all of this you deserve two but I am sure one will do. It's an "Excellent" auction if I say so myself.
Consignments are being accepted now for our next auction. If you have anything you would like to have evaluated please email me
jevans@optonline.net. Generous cash advances are available. I will be in the New England area January 7-11, 2015. We will be set up at the "Papermania Plus" Antique Paper Show in Hartford, Connecticut on January 10-11 doing free appraisals, accepting consignments with generous cash advances and also buying outright paying cash on the spot. Call now for an appointment 516-409-9700 or email me jevans@optonline.