2024 Strongsville Sports Collectors Convention

theshowandme · #1 04-22-2024, 02:21 PM

Lots of great content coming out on YouTube regarding Strongsville

I am debating putting out my own video. I did not buy anything significant and my observations are already being stated by many fellow collectors with channels.

Some of the pickups being shown off are awesome.

To name a few:

1. 1949 Leaf and Bowman Jackie Robinson
2. T206 Red Ty Cobb's with a Polar Bear back
3. 1953 Topps Jackie
4. Harrington's Ice Cream Babe Ruth
5. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth

sammythunder · #2 04-22-2024, 02:27 PM

It was a blast. A big part of it was meeting up with some of the other Vintage YouTube community! I did make a card show vlog video in case anyone is interested. I made two personal collection pickups.

1. 1959 Bazooka Willie Mays
2. 1958 SF Call Bulletin Orlando Cepeda

Tony Gordon · #3 04-22-2024, 05:18 PM

Sales were excellent on Friday at my booth but slowed up Saturday and Sunday. Walk ups were not as good as in years past. I liked the larger space and the additional dealers. I saw some amazing stuff throughout the room. A ton of pre-War. More than I see at any other show outside of the National. I picked up autographed postcards of Burleigh Grimes and Al Lopez for my collection. I enjoy seeing all the old Cleveland Indians memorabilia that I don't normally see at my local shows in Chicago and Milwaukee. New this year was all the Youtubers. We don't normally get many at the Strongsville show. I'm seeing the back of my fat head on a lot of videos. Great time as always!

Zan · #4 04-23-2024, 09:04 AM

My thoughts about this show:

I have always heard about how great of a vintage show this has been. Being from NYC it is not the easiest show to get to - but my expectations were really high for this one. Many of the larger dealers are the same that I see in White Plains or Philly, and I generally know what kind of cards they have and how they'll be priced.

I was really looking forward to seeing some of the local dealers that I wouldn't otherwise see at either of those larger regional shows. Unfortunately at most of those tables prices were absolutely asinine.

A prime example:

Dealer had a 1971 Topps baseball complete set in G-VG shape. They wanted $2,800 for it. That's probably double retail. Later that day I saw on Facebook an EX-EX+ complete set being asked for.... $2,800.

All said, I did pick up some great cards and had an awesome time with friends. Next time my expectations will be tempered. Had wonderful interactions with JD Heckathorn, Stan Loch, Howard Chasser, Steve Wilk and Ashish Jain among others.

IndyDave · #5 04-23-2024, 12:22 PM

I attended Friday entering at Noon on the early bird ticket. I had only one day so the extra cost was worthwhile for me.

Entry with my pre-bought ticket was pretty easy - the line moved quickly. I loved all the extra space. It was really good to move around without having to constantly say "excuse me". Maybe the lack of strollers and card bros with their rolling suitcases was part of it too.

I'm sitting here starting to put away my purchases and I think I can definitely say Cleveland memorabilia > cards for me.

I picked up several Kahn's cards. Dealers said there were many requests for Kahn's and I saw more than I recall seeing at the Chicago Nationals. Prices and conditions were all over the board. Food issues and non-sports now interest me more than mainstream cards.

I picked up a handful of pre-war, all Indians players from the wide pen and fine pen Goudey, R316, R312 and R303A sets. I'm looking to complete team sets there.

Made a purchase of non-sports cards (Topps Scoops and Look N See), some 1960 and 1961 NuCard Baseball Hi-Lites and Scoops, some 1952 Wheaties and some 1930's Wheaties Boxes of cut Cleveland players.

Living in Indianapolis, the amount of Cleveland memorabilia at the show was great for me. I brought home 5 1930's and 1940's Indians programs, a Browns AAFC program and 1953, 1954 and 1955 programs and a Cleveland Barons program. Picked up some 1940's Indians ticket stubs and a 1958 pocket schedule.

There were several new to me dealers at the show and I spent the most money with them, though JD Heckathorn had enough to force me to Pay Pal cash to him as I was burning through my money.

Enjoyed talking to JD and Stacy, Pat Blandford from Kevin Savage Cards (poor Pat - Kevin abandoned him for the weekend), Scott Russell, Andrew Jenkins (first time I've dealt with Andrew), Dave Schroeder, Dennis Vanke, Craig and Holly Halbig and others I'm sure I've forgotten.

For the most part I just scrolled past the table with showcases full of graded cards. I'm still a collector - my card wants are getting specialized and I'm closing in on complete the post war Topps and Bowman runs. I'm not really chasing 1952 Topps high numbers and I didn't find many of my 1949 Bowman or 1964 stand-up wants that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I am not anti-slab and there are some cards I need that I will eventually buy graded - but I'm not looking for the high grade cards and not looking to pay those prices.

The concrete floor was hard - I don't know how the dealers made it through 3 days. I should have worn my new shoes. By the end of five hours my back hurt a lot. I went back to my hotel and hit it with the Theragun and I was fine on Saturday. But other than that no complaints about the venue.

I'm heading to Moeller on Sunday - that's a day trip for me. Interested to see what I find - I know I will see several dealers again and others (like Mark Smith) who didn't make it to Strongsville.

Then its the local shows in Indy until I'm back in Cleveland for the National.

JollyElm · #6 04-23-2024, 05:40 PM

Anyone got any pics to show of this vintage-fest??
(I mean, other than that chilly cold, stark, empty venue picture from earlier in the thread?? Brrr...)

jimtodd · #7 04-23-2024, 11:09 PM

I only went on Sunday, and for the most part I thought it was a great show.
The New venue allowed for much more space to maneuver as well as more dealers and collections to see. There did seem to be more of an energy than in years past, and I had some great conversations, saw some really beautiful collections and unique high-end stuff out of my price range.
I do somewhat agree with what has been said, though. Many of the sticker prices were significantly over comp, and in my experience the dealers didn't seem as willing to negotiate as much as the last couple years.
I did end up swinging a deal for a nice 1949 Bowman Paige, and while I'm happy with it I admittedly overpaid to get it done.
I kept asking around at different tables for 1917 Collins McCarthy or any T206 HOFers with EPDG, Cycle or American Beauty backs, but unfortunately had very little success.
All in all, it was great show with fun items you don't see at other shows, and some good people to talk to. I will go next year again.

theshowandme · #8 04-24-2024, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Anyone got any pics to show of this vintage-fest??
(I mean, other than that chilly cold, stark, empty venue picture from earlier in the thread?? Brrr...)

YouTube is loaded with videos from the show where people scan dealer cases

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