Whatever happened to your card dealer of the past?

[runbrett]

During the 1970s I had three great avenues for purchasing old cards in Chicago and through the mail.
1. A flea market at the drive-in near 74th and California. There was a guy who must have been at least 80 years old. He always had old cards including 1961 Topps in homemade cello packs. Almost every pack had Billy Williams or Wille Mays on top. He was there every week for years.

2. The famous Sports Collectors Store on Archer Avenue - also near California Ave. I remember when one of us asked for a 1963 Fleer Clemente, which we all ended up buying. They pulled out a box with at least 200 of them. Most of the guys involved in that store were seen regularly at shows throughout the years. They had everything and lots of it. I'd spend all of my money and walk/run home - seven miles.

3. Someone in the neighborhood got an address for a guy who used his typewriter to create a list of cards for sale. We regularly bought from Russell D. Walters from Michigan. I don't know why he used his middle initial. Getting those cards in the mail made for a great week. I have always wondered what happened to him.

[glynparson]

of my early collection came from a gentleman named Vince at Renninger's antique market in Adamstown PA. Vince unfortunately passed away when i was 16 or 17 years old. I still miss him even though that was 25+ years ago. One hell of a nice guy, great prices, and tremendous knowledge. His wife sold dolls she retired about 4-5 years ago not sure if she has passed on as well. Truly lovely people and i thank him for helping develop my passion for cards. PS I am friends with Solomon Cramer on Facebook he is currently in Europe on a hell of a nice trip.

[RTK]

I never really bought too many cards from shops when shops began to emerge but I did go to three stores; one had a decent selection of cards though not enough to fill the huge former furniture store it was housed in. Later, I found out it was a front for dealing drugs. Another shop is still open however it has turned to selling kids gaming cards more than baseball. The last shop is still open and thriving. The son has taken over from the father who passed away. They had a couple tables at the national show in Rosemont.

[K-Nole]

As a child, i ordered from "San Diego Sports Collectibles"

Anybody know anything about where they are now?

[ALR-bishop]

A salute to Tom and Eddie in Austin, or wherever they are now

[stlcardsfan]

Walter Abe of Foster City, CA. As a 9 year old I ordered a 1975 complete set from him (with Mom's help). Still have it. Bought a bunch of stuff after that as well.

[brian1961]

I first ordered cards through the mail with Wholesale Cards Co. of New York/New Jersey, run by Bruce Yeko. I think he eventually stopped in the 80s maybe; I read where a barn fire took all of his remaining inventory, which was probably a massive loss considering he dealt in sports and non-sports cards.

I also dealt with The Trading Card Co. of Farmington Hills, Michigan. They had excellent customer service. I well recall the time in the late 60s I ordered a group of about forty 1962 Topps baseball. Among the cards I selected was #200, Mickey Mantle. Somehow, I'd lost my original during a family move. I had even forgotten what the card looked like. They did indeed send me Mickey, for only eight cents. That's what they were charging for 62s then. Hate to say it; that shot of Mick is awful and forgettable, but it was nice to get the Mantle anyway. Funny how some things you just don't forget.

In the 80s I believe The Trading Card Co. sold out to a Chicago-area sports collecting store conglomerate, with Don Steinbach being one of the principal owners. ---Brian Powell

[Laxcat]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

A salute to Tom and Eddie in Austin, or wherever they are now

Al

Tom is my father. My collection is put together from his. Did you ever make your way to the SA store?

[ALR-bishop]

I lived in Austin from 85 to 90 and bought a bunch of stuff from that store. On what was then north side of town, right ? Austin Sports Collectibles ?

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by K-Nole

As a child, i ordered from "San Diego Sports Collectibles"

Anybody know anything about where they are now?

I also ordered from them in the 80s and I have often wondered what happened with SDSC too, I loved their ads
that appeared in hobby publications throughout the 80s. A couple decades later, through about
2005, I bought some great pre-70 lots on a regular basis from them. I only
stopped because I was saving for a new house and my first son was on
his way. For several years, about once a month, I would receive an email with a
list of a 1000+ cards and a price...a quick "thank you" and a payment followed.
SDSC was a huge factor in helping me complete my late 50s-60s sets.

About 8-9 years ago, after I had stopped buying these great lots, I
spoke with Jeff Kling, a long time ebay seller who passed away about a year ago, about SDSC. He mentioned that the original owner of SDSC was liquidating his inventory and leaving the business. As I had stopped buying these "liquidation lots", Jeff seemingly replaced me as SDSC's go to liquidation "buyer". I am not sure how long Jeff continued purchasing from SDSC.

I am hard pressed to remember the name of SDSC's original owner (Dave
perhaps?), as when I looked up the transaction details from my old
paypal payments to SDSC, there was not a name there, just SDSC.


More recently, there was another company with the same name, but they seem to sell more memorabilia than cards. The company name may have been sold by the original owner to this more recent company.