Larry Frisch Cards..what happened ??

[Den*nis O*Brien]

Originally Posted by drc

Didn't know they ever had a brick and mortar store. Not saying they didn't, just didn't know they did.

Larry and his son Jeff had a very nice retail store close to the banks of the Wisconsin River in the 1980's until Larry's passing. They had quite a few glass display cases with pre-war to modern cards displayed. The walls were filled with pennants, shelves of balls and other memorabilia. They maintained an area of hobby periodicals and referance books. This was a place to lean on the counter and talk cards with a very interesting person. There was an adjacent warehouse bldg. that housed the bulk of the inventory. In order to peruse a specific pre-war issue, a phone call 3 days (or so) in advance, was necessary so they could dig out and bring the material over to the retail store. Since the store was 2 1/2 hours south of me I only visited twice a year. On one occasion I asked to look over his Plowboys and 1910 Obaks. Upon arrival Larry threw the stack of Plowboys across and down the showcase like he was dealing cards in poker. Each of the cards was without a top loader and had thier prices afixed with post it notes. The obaks were in penny sleeves and in a cardboard box. Larry did not differentiate between 150 subjects and 175 subjects. Every card was the same price no matter the estimated grade. Regarding the reprint line....one of the frequent counter leaners was the Wausau Wi. area FBI special agent. Larry told him that some guy on the east coast was altering and selling his reprint 1947 Tip Top Bread cards as vintage. Agent Berg took this seriously and initiated an investigation that resulted in an arrest and conviction. I realize this post is very long winded but, Fritsch Cards posts occur here, and the old board, with some regularity. Larry could have been considered eccentric but he was honest and certainly "Old School". The store was great. Dennis

[hangman62]

I dont know who has higher prices on prewar low grade stuff - Frisch Cards or 707 Sportcards !

[CharleyBrown]

lol.. I'm not 100% familiar with Fritsch, but 707 has some ridiculously high prices.

[bh3443]

One of the best experiences in my 4 decades in the hobby was in Cooperstown during induction week in the 90's. I was with my pal, veteran card guy, Bob Thing of Maine. Bobby introduced me to Larry Fritsch who had just opened his museum. Larry begged Bob to be the curator of the museum on a nice Cooperstown night as the beer flowed and we talked cards into the early morning hours. What great guys: Larry & Bob!

Another great moment was at our GBSCC show in Wilmington, Mass when I met Dolloff cards who on a rare occassion had set up. He was perhaps the most organized dealer I've known. His merchandise was organized so well that it was almost overwhelming for a collector to seek out what they wanted! He knew his cards so well, I was actually impressed! His catalogs on every sport were impressive and he was a true gentleman of the highest order.

Call us old school or old-timers, but I was honored to be with these giants of our industry.

I wish Jeff Fritsch well in running Fritsch cards and I hope Dolloff is doing well. I know my pal Bob Thing is down to a few shows a year. Bob goes back to the late 40's in our hobby and is one was the most like-able guys you could hope to meet. I've ben blessed with his friendship since the 70's. He was at my wedding and count-less family functions as well as I travelled to 28 States with him for shows!

Thank you,

Bill Hedin

[benchod]

Bill,
Thanks for sharing your stories

[Vintagecatcher]

I bought many cards over the years from Larry Fritsch Cards. Granted it was always an unusual buying experience. They were truly "old school." If you had an interest in a card, there was no scan or photo available to be emailed. The kind folks would, however, mail me a photo copy of the cards.

They always had an awesome selection. Their pricing was always very reasonable. Grading usually was a bit subjective. I truly miss buying from them.

Living in Maine, I am also crossed paths with Doloff. He had a tiny storefront in Portsmouth, N.H. in a strip mall on Route 1.

I stopped in several times to inquire about cards, however, Doloff could not be bothered to show me any cards. I inquired about seeing cards for the seven MLB catchers I collected. He told me he had cards of all the players, but he couldn't be bothered to show me any cards. Great way to run a business.

So my experience with these two dealers is that they were polar opposites.
Larry Fritsch Cards couldn't have been more helpful and Doloff couldn't be bothered.


Patrick

[wrapperguy]

Just contacted Dolloff a couple weeks ago. No website but offered to send me a catalog. Catalog arrives a few days later and there are 4 cards that interested me. Since I am trying to get a master set of 35 Goudeys, I needed to know the back number and letter. The person who answered the phone said they would pull the cards and send me photocopies of the 4 cards via snail mail. Good God! Nice people but VERY old school!

[hangman62]

I dont deny dealers like this were big dogs back in the day..( Nor am I knocking them... I know .it wasnt that long ago..1980's...that for the most part..you bought cards based on a very short discription in a catlg,or even less).... I guess what Im saying is now-a-days...it seems incredible for a dealer with a massive inventory..who decides he will be a internet only seller..not to do the legwork and set up a modern data base.. it could only help your buisness....why in the world would you do it the old way ??

[Matt]

Originally Posted by wrapperguy

Just contacted Dolloff a couple weeks ago. No website but offered to send me a catalog. Catalog arrives a few days later and there are 4 cards that interested me. Since I am trying to get a master set of 35 Goudeys, I needed to know the back number and letter. The person who answered the phone said they would pull the cards and send me photocopies of the 4 cards via snail mail. Good God! Nice people but VERY old school!

I had a similar experience with them about a year ago; I called the day the scans arrived in the mail to say I'd take the cards and they had already sold them to someone else.

[Cooptown]

Originally Posted by bh3443

One of the best experiences in my 4 decades in the hobby was in Cooperstown during induction week in the 90's. I was with my pal, veteran card guy, Bob Thing of Maine. Bobby introduced me to Larry Fritsch who had just opened his museum. Larry begged Bob to be the curator of the museum on a nice Cooperstown night as the beer flowed and we talked cards into the early morning hours. What great guys: Larry & Bob!

I have VERY fond memories of that museum. I believe it was only open a year or two? Took the tour, and got a pack of cards that had Larry's "Top 10 Finds" and how he aquired them, for how much, etc. Went to Cooperstown the next summer, walked up to the museum and rememembered my disappointment of how it was gone. I remember from every summer on, I would walk by in hopes it would re-open. Great building too; I believe it was completely new when he moved in. For whatever reason, that building has been more vacant than not since Fritsch left. I remember an ice cream shop being in there one summer.

You know the funny thing? I still go and walk by that empty building when I am in Cooperstown....that tells you how much I enjoyed that Museum.

[GoldenAge50s]

I don't even remeber the yr, but I was in Cooperstown and found the Museum location, expecting to go in & have a look-see. Lo & behold the building was vacant and looked like someone left in a hurry!

I tried the door & to my surprise it was open but nobody was around. I went in and started looking around---empty boxes on the floor, paper littered around, a couple of old showcases still there but empty (darn!). It literally looked like someone had just vacated.

I poked around, looked in the trash & some boxes--the only thing I found were some Fritsch paperwork and a wooden baseball bat pen w/ the Larry Fritsch Museum logo on it. I was in there about 20 mins & all that time not a soul around!

No Wagners, no Larry Doyle's, all gone!

[bh3443]

I was very pleased t read your post, Cooptown! Larry's place was a great one for sure. Too bad at that time a guy like Bob Thing or even myself was too tied down to re-locate and run the place. It would have been cool!
Larry told us that he loved to lock the museum doors and knock back a six pack as he went through his cards. He genuinely loved his cards, his family and our hobby!
Too bad that place is empty.
I met so many great guys at those Cooperstown shows. I set up at the first 3 and Don Flewelling and Frank Keetz were simply remarkable guys!
Thanks for the memories,
Bill Hedin

Originally Posted by Cooptown

I have VERY fond memories of that museum. I believe it was only open a year or two? Took the tour, and got a pack of cards that had Larry's "Top 10 Finds" and how he aquired them, for how much, etc. Went to Cooperstown the next summer, walked up to the museum and rememembered my disappointment of how it was gone. I remember from every summer on, I would walk by in hopes it would re-open. Great building too; I believe it was completely new when he moved in. For whatever reason, that building has been more vacant than not since Fritsch left. I remember an ice cream shop being in there one summer.

You know the funny thing? I still go and walk by that empty building when I am in Cooperstown....that tells you how much I enjoyed that Museum.

[Cooptown]

Originally Posted by bh3443

I was very pleased t read your post, Cooptown! Larry's place was a great one for sure. Too bad at that time a guy like Bob Thing or even myself was too tied down to re-locate and run the place. It would have been cool!
Larry told us that he loved to lock the museum doors and knock back a six pack as he went through his cards. He genuinely loved his cards, his family and our hobby!
Too bad that place is empty.
I met so many great guys at those Cooperstown shows. I set up at the first 3 and Don Flewelling and Frank Keetz were simply remarkable guys!
Thanks for the memories,
Bill Hedin

BH-Do you know the reason why Larry closed up shop in Cooperstown? Or do you have any recollection of the time frame that place was open? I was only about 14 or so if I can remember, so my "contacts" in the hobby at the time were pretty limited.