Whatever happened to these long-time dealers?

[akleinb611]

As I've noted in other postings, my closest hobby friend was Bob Bostoff of Empire State Collectibles. He advertised in SCD and was a HUGE presence in NY-area card shows. His table always featured a little bit of everything, from cards, yearbooks, autographs and whatever. He passed away about fifteen years ago, and anyone who ever did business with him misses him.

One old time dealer I'm curious about is Ted Elmo, an autograph dealer active back in the Sixties(!). He advertised in Baseball Digest and would sell common Hall of Famers on 3x5 index cards for fifty cents. You know, common HOF players like Frisch, Dean, Crawford and Cochrane. He seems to have disappeared by the mid Seventies and I can't find any information about him at all, except form some indirect references to "something" that may have clouded his reputation?

[Steve_NY]

Alan,

I had hundreds of deals with Bob Bostoff -- he bought from me and vice versa -- but like you said, we all miss him in New York. He and I once bought 110 1952's together at a La Guardia Airport show -- they were all high numbers and we split them up at his house, and we sold the Mantle quickly.

Have you seen Bob Ragoneese lately? He disappeared from the National a few years ago. He had similar displays to Bostoff and me. I hope he is okay.

See you at this year's National? Booth 800, 8 booths in the door.

Steve

[sb1]

Bob, was a great guy. Bought lots of cards from him back in the day. Collectors would certainly be perplexed walking up to his cases in this day and time, with all of his cards, stacked raw and string tied or rubber banded.

[akleinb611]

Bob and his rubber bands were passe even then, but he explained that he rubber-banded his stacks loosely, and he wasn't in the business of selling mint cards anyway. I was an occasional dealer at shows in the Eighties, and with Bob in attendance, along with Alan Rosen, I characterized Rosen as Mr. Mint (obviously), Bob as "Mr. vg to ex," and my humble inventory making me "Mr. fair to good."

[akleinb611]

Steve:

Bob Ragonese was slowly phasing his business out for years. I last saw him at the second Baltimore National, back in 2016. I wouldn't mind seeing him one more time.

[DHogan]

Is Dolloff Sports Cards in New Hampshire still around ? I called to request a catalog last fall and never received one.

[lumberjack]

When the Jim Chapman Deadball photography book was being put together, I made an attempt to contact Lew Lipset, who never responded.

Okay, I respect that.

My question being, Lew if you are out there, lemme know. You were in the middle of the action from the 1970s and own a ton of history. There are a lot of questions for which we don't have answers. Once us old guys are gone, some cool history goes with us.

Earth to Lew Lipset, Earth to Lew Lipset, contact Mike Mumby. It ain't too late.

[mannequin1]

Here's another name from the past... Donny Lepore, who at one time worked for the Card Collectors Co.

[GaryPassamonte]

Stan Martucci had a mail order business. I remember buying a 1955 Topps Koufax from him in the late 1960s for about $1.25. I put the money, all change, in an envelope and mailed it to him. About a week later the card arrived. Since Koufax was my childhood idol. This was a great moment in this kid's life.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Stan Martucci had a mail order business. I remember buying a 1955 Topps Koufax from him in the late 1960s for about $1.25. I put the money, all change, in an envelope and mailed it to him. About a week later the card arrived. Since Koufax was my childhood idol, this was a great moment in this kid's life.

Stan passed in 2008

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries...ry?id=48843615

Rich

[JollyElm]

This thread is really depressing. To paraphrase Mr. Donne, "Dem bells are tolling for thee."

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by mannequin1

Here's another name from the past... Donny Lepore, who at one time worked for the Card Collectors Co.

I last saw Don a few years ago at the NSCC. (Maybe 6-7 years ago). He had some health issues over the years but I don't want to go into too much detail here.

Also his 1st partner in the business, Herb Ross, is still around and active on FB and shows many of his really neat Brooklyn Dodgers collectible items.

[tibor1]

Lew sold me 100 count lots of T-206's in the early/mid 80's. Bought maybe 9 or 10.
Also some stars and semi stars. Always a pleasure to do business with.

[tibor1]

There was/is a dealer from St. Louis who was great to deal with. Helped me finish several
pre 1970 sets. Another dealer who dealt only in rings and press pins. Can't remember his
name. Had pro and collegiate items.

[mannequin1]

What about Greg Bussineau (Superior Sportscards)? I know he later went into auctions but haven't heard whether he's still active in years.

Philip Tremont was a well known Texas dealer of vintage cards in the 80's-90s. Whatever happened to him?

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by akleinb611

As I've noted in other postings, my closest hobby friend was Bob Bostoff of Empire State Collectibles. He advertised in SCD and was a HUGE presence in NY-area card shows. His table always featured a little bit of everything, from cards, yearbooks, autographs and whatever. He passed away about fifteen years ago, and anyone who ever did business with him misses him.

One old time dealer I'm curious about is Ted Elmo, an autograph dealer active back in the Sixties(!). He advertised in Baseball Digest and would sell common Hall of Famers on 3x5 index cards for fifty cents. You know, common HOF players like Frisch, Dean, Crawford and Cochrane. He seems to have disappeared by the mid Seventies and I can't find any information about him at all, except form some indirect references to "something" that may have clouded his reputation?

Ted Elmo was a great guy, mostly autographs. He advertised in SCD all of the time. He passed (I'm guessing) at least 15 years ago. I think he had an asthma condition. The cloud on his reputation came out of Ted being too trusting. When the autographed Black and White HOF plaque debacle hit the hobby about 30 years ago Ted bought in and got burned when it turned out they were forgeries. I don't think he ever recovered from that financial hit.
_________________________
Always BUYING Vintage autographs
jim@stinsonsports.com

[akleinb611]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Ted Elmo was a great guy, mostly autographs. He advertised in SCD all of the time. He passed (I'm guessing) at least 15 years ago. I think he had an asthma condition. The cloud on his reputation came out of Ted being too trusting. When the autographed Black and White HOF plaque debacle hit the hobby about 30 years ago Ted bought in and got burned when it turned out they were forgeries. I don't think he ever recovered from that financial hit.
_________________________
Always BUYING Vintage autographs
jim@stinsonsports.com

Thanks for the information, Jim. I'll never forget how patient Ted was with me - I must have been all of ten years old when I first corresponded with him. I remember that when I sent him fifty cents for a Frankie Frisch index card, I taped two quarters to a card and just dropped it into an envelope. Simpler times. At one point, he offered me a Babe Ruth signed bank deposit slip for forty dollars. Unfortunately, to a twelve year old in 1967, it may as well have been $40,000. I think about that a lot more often than I should...

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Don't feel so bad, Alan. We've all been there in one form or another, especially as young, poor collectors.

The best/worst story of this sort I ever heard was from a friend who may even be lurking and see this. He's told it to me before, and I believe he's already posted it here many years ago, so it's information that's already been shared. But it's a doozy.

When he was a kid, he used to buy T cards from Wirt Gammon, as so many longtime collectors did in that era. Wirt wrote him, offering a Wagner, saying something to the effect of, "This is something really rare that you should get if you can.". Price tag? $50. My friend couldn't really swing it. $50 was a lot of money to a young guy that long ago.

[Rich Klein]

I had mentioned I found Bruce on FB, checking his friends list (it's easy there are only 17) there was a Scott Oran as well who appears to be slightly more active than Bruce.

So. based on what I saw on Bruce's list, both Orans are still with us

Rich

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Don't feel so bad, Alan. We've all been there in one form or another, especially as young, poor collectors. The best/worst story of this sort I ever heard was from a friend who may even be lurking and see this. He's told it to me before, and I believe he's already posted it here many years ago, so it's information that's already been shared. But it's a doozy. When he was a kid, he used to buy T cards from Wirt Gammon, as so many longtime collectors did in that era. Wirt wrote him, offering a Wagner, saying something to the effect of, "This is something really rare that you should get if you can.". Price tag? $50. My friend couldn't really swing it. $50 was a lot of money to a young guy that long ago.

Mic drop! About what year would this have been?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Mic drop! About what year would this have been?

I actually recall the exact year: 1969. For anyone wondering, there's no way of knowing which copy this was, as the offer was made via mail.

Wirt is fondly remembered by customers as sending as many T206s as would fit inside in an old metal, flip top Band-Aid container for customer perusal. All done on the honor system! The buyer then took whatever cards they wanted, put their money and the other cards back in the little box and shipped back to Wirt. What a time! In the case of this particular Wagner, I don't believe that even the trusting Wirt sent it ahead of potential payment! I think it speaks volumes for Wirt that he offered it to a young man as opposed to any older buyers who would be more prone to come up with the $50.

Of interest is that I remember reading that Larry Fritsch bought his first Wagner in the early 1970's for $1200. Quite the price hike in less than 5 years!

[Al C.risafulli]

One of my favorite people that I have met on Net54 was Frank Ward. He was incredibly knowledgeable, and very willing to share his knowledge. He had a great website that always had awesome items in it. He was always very kind to me. Does anyone know what happened to him? I've always been curious.

-Al

[Leon]

A little off track but I remember when I was around 6-7 yrs old, someone cashed in a roll of mercury dimes at the 7-11 down the street, for face value. I think I had around 2.20, at the time, so I got 22 of them. Man, I wish I would have had more money. But, as you said, back in the late 60s, as kids, that was a lot of money.

Some cool stories in this thread.

Originally Posted by akleinb611

Thanks for the information, Jim. I'll never forget how patient Ted was with me - I must have been all of ten years old when I first corresponded with him. I remember that when I sent him fifty cents for a Frankie Frisch index card, I taped two quarters to a card and just dropped it into an envelope. Simpler times. At one point, he offered me a Babe Ruth signed bank deposit slip for forty dollars. Unfortunately, to a twelve year old in 1967, it may as well have been $40,000. I think about that a lot more often than I should...