Reflections on 30 years of the Philly Show

[tedzan]

Since 1981, I have continuously done the Philly Show. And, this past weekend at Valley Forge, I have set up at my last show there.

It all started for me when I did the famous Willow Grove show in March and September of 1981. I have an endless amount of stories
I can share with everyone on this forum of my tremendous experiences at the George Washington Convention Center in Willow Grove,
Pennsylvania from 1981 to December of 1992.

Bob Schmierer (promoter) re-located the Philly Show to the Ft. Washington Expo Center, in March of 1993. This was a significant im-
provement over the Willow Grove facility. After 14 years, the Expo Center closed down, and the Philly show relocated to Reading, PA
for 5 shows Dec. 2007 - Sept. 2008.

March 2009, Hunt Auctons took over the Philly show. Relocated it to the Valley Forge Convention Center, where it's been for 6 shows.

It's been a great run for me these past 30 years, wheeling & dealing Sportscards at this show. But, most important of all are the great
people I have met at this show....that have become life-long friendships.


I'll leave you with one of my stories......

Circa 1986....four of us were in my room at the Motor Lodge, prior to the show on Friday afternoon. Bill Mastro was shopping around a
"sharp" (the operative adjective) T206 Wagner. If I recall, Bill wanted $25,000 for it. We all took a close look at it then told Bill "too ex-
pensive". That same card is now the PSA 8 (so-called) Gretzky Wagner.

Anyhow, I thought it would be more interesting to have you guys chime in with your past Philly Show stories. I am sure you have many.

Incidently, the Valley Forge show this weekend went very well for me.....several "walk-ins". I sold quite an eclectic bunch of cards (in-
cluding approx. 100 - T206's). Furthermore, quite a few Net54 guys were at my booth, including some that I have not seen in a while.
Also, Mike Peich and I engaged in a very interesting trade/cash deal.


TED Z

[oldjudge]

Ted--It's always sad when an institution like yourself stops setting up at a show. Why the decision to stop?

[bh3443]

I first attended and set up at this legendary show in 1981 with my friend and veteran hobbyist Bob Thing. I loved the Friday night auctions and I always won a ton of items to bring back to my store in Framingham, Mass.
Bob and Ted were great hosts for this event. I even liked staying at the run-down George Washington Motor Lodge! the best dealers in the country were set up offering great material everytime. What a great time it was to be a hobbyist in those early Willow Grove days.
The day a guy was trying to peddle all those fake Pete Rose Rookies sticks out in my mind because he wanted to trade a bunch of them to me for a 1933 Goudey Lajoie card I had on consignment.
I remember the deal made by MVP plastic sheets of Ohio to sell massive amounts of sheets to my pal Bob.
Some of the best memories I have in the hobby center around the Willow Grove shows.
In my opinion it was the people that made this show so much fun. Everyone from the organizers, dealers to the collectors helped put this event on the map. It was an amazing show in so many ways.
I went to the other locations, but for me, the magic was gone.
I miss those days and in particular those shows.

[barrysloate]

Ted- you haven't told us why you are no longer setting up. If you had a good show, with several walk-ins, I would think that would be the incentive to keep doing it.

[tedzan]

Barry and Jay

1st....the Valley Forge show has become an autograph extravaganza. This show really does not need any BB card dealers.

Why I did better this weekend ? There were considerably less vintage card dealers, therefore less competition. There are
more Auction Houses set-up than vintage card dealers.
Also, for unexplainable reasons, quite a few Net54 members showed up; and, I gave them some nice deals.

2nd....the cost of an 8-foot table booth is twice the cost of the shows when Bob Schmierer ran the Philly show.


I will continue to set-up at the National's (East of the Mississippi) with Mark Macrae.

And, I will continue to set-up at the Cooperstown Show every Summer during HOF weekend.


Best regards guys

TED Z

[judsonhamlin]

Wow - I'm sorry to see that you're done with the show. You've been its biggest booster on this forum and I, for one, have always enjoyed talking to you when I go.
I agree that the show bears little resemblance to the Willow Grove or Ft. Washington years, when it was worth the annual EPSCC membership fee to get in an hour early on Friday and not have to stand in the long lines that snaked out the doors.
The show will likely stumble on with fewer vintage dealers each show - but, I suspect, without many of us on this forum watching it atrophy.

[sox1903wschamp]

I will continue to set-up at the National's (East of the Mississippi) with Mark Macrae.


TED Z


So you will be in Chicago next year for the National? If so, great!

[barrysloate]

Ted- I certainly understand, and as I often say, nothing lasts forvever. The shows have changed drastically over the years, and I think for many a lot of the fun is gone.

[vintagecpa]

I'm still trying to get past the $25,000 Gretzky Wagner. Makes me feel a little better about selling a Gretzky rookie for $10 before the price took off.

[curch]

I went to the show for the first time ever this year. As stated in another thread, I though 90% of the dealers wouldn't give me the time of day. And I would say most of the cards can be purchased cheaper on ebay. But it was a fun time and would go back again if I were in the area.

Joe

[Clark7781]

Ted, it was a pleasure to meet you a few weeks ago at my store. I tried to get to the Philly show, but I am moving into my new home this Friday and, well, I'm sure you can understand that the immediate weekend prior to a move is very hectic.

I'm sure our paths will cross again!

Your friend,

Paul

[tedzan]

I was looking forward to seeing you and your 3 children.

I drop in to see you some day in Flemington.


Best regards,

TED Z

[tedzan]

Responding to your......
"I first attended and set up at this legendary show in 1981 with my friend and veteran hobbyist Bob Thing."


Bill

That's when I met Bob, at my first Willow Grove show. Bob and I hit it right off the bat, since I lived in Maine
for 4 years (and go up there every summer), so we had a lot to talk about.

I see Bob every summer at the show in Cooperstown on HOF weekend. A really great guy and a great guy to
talk Baseball with.

Thanks for reminiscing about those early Willow Grove days.

Best Wishes,

TED Z

[WillowGrove]

Grew up being driven down to the WillowGrove show from Brooklyn by my parents when I was about 12-13 in 1977/78. They would usually walk around with me for a bit then give me 20 bucks and they'd go off antiquing.

I distinctly remember buying 1934 Goudey Luke Appling for three dollars and fifty cents and being pretty darn happy. I also still have the Bob Gibson rookie that cost me two quarters and the 62 koufax that was $3.00.

I was just a kid but my memories were of seeing all this amazing old stuff at what seemed like table after table. MY eyes would bug out of my head. I remember staring at an Allen & Ginter Cap Anson for like 5 minutes straight until the dealer offered to let me hold it. It was in a plastic sheet that was cut down to size.

Bought a lot of cards, went to the show about 10 times. So special to me I made it my name on our forum.

Ted I didn't know I was buying from you at the national until I met up with some fellow Net54ers and they told me. Thanks for a fair price on a couple common t206's. Hope to see you east of the mississippi sometime.

peter

[Leon]

Thanks for sharing the memories, guys.

[Bobsbats]

My grandparents live in Willow Grove, so it is a safe bet to say that I didn't miss a show at the GW Motor Lodge. One of my earliest memories going to that show with my dad and seeing the Fire Marshall standing outside the front door ( that had a plywood ramp over the step ) with his "counter" letting him know how many people he has let in so far. The aisles were so narrow that you couldn't squeeze by some of them. The lighting was so poor at some tables, I remember taking cards to Levi Bleem's table to see condition because he had every light this side of the Mississippi on. That being said, the material that you saw at that particular show was unbelieveable....every show I saw a Wagner, N173 Cabinets...you name it, it was there. It's funny, when I take my son to the "new" Willow Grove show ( Valley Forge ) I have dealers that say to me and my father, that they remember me, when I was his age at the George Washington Motor Lodge.

[Baseball Rarities]

The show was really something else when it was at the George Washington Motor Lodge. The amount of deals that were done in the rooms prior to the show was really something else.

Weather seemed to always be an issue of some sort. I remember during one show when it was raining several dealers having to have small trash cans on top of their showcases to catch the water that was leaking through the roof.

[Michael Peich]

Hi, Ted,

I am so sorry to learn that you have attended your last Valley Forge show. For the relatively short time I've been going to shows (ten years), I've always enjoyed making deals with you. In fact, two of my three most memorable purchases/trades involve you.

#1 was February, 2003 when I was just starting my T3 set and I bought 26 cards from you (averaging VG) for the princely sum of $950. You were incredibly generous because you knew how serious I was about the set. That purchase, which included three HOFers, got me to the goal line of completing the set, including variations.

#2 was this past Saturday when I traded you a Cy portrait (Sovereign back), a card I originally bought from you, for another Cy portrait and a few other cards. What made the trade so special was the fact that my Cy was the final card you needed to complete your Sovereign 206 subset.

#3 is Ron Barrett who pointed me in the right direction when I started collecting 206s, and gave me some generous discounts on cards in order to help me get started. I would always bring Ron and Sheila freshly baked cookies prepared by my wife, Dianne.

So, I'll miss you, Ted, and will look forward to seeing you each year at the National.

Cheers, Mike

[tedzan]

I think one of the first deals I made with you was selling you a bunch of Buchner Gold Coin (N284) cards.
I don't recall how many cards there were, but there were quite a number of them.

Those were the days !

Regards,

TED Z

[tedzan]

Gee, I remember that T3 deal as if it we did it just yesterday. That was at Ft Washington and I think it was the first time we met.

I have always tried to give a first-time customer a good deal.

Best regards,

TED Z

[tedzan]

Hey guys, my daughter Zoe recently sent me this photo that she took of me in the Summer of 1981.
Here is what I looked like when I first started "wheeling & dealing" at the Willow Grove show in 1981.

Check-out my Golden Glove award (to the right of my left shoulder).


<img src="http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/tedzsummer1981.jpg" alt="[linked image]">


TED Z

[Jewish-collector]

Ted,

I'm sorry to hear that. I really enjoyed seeing & conversing with you on the Friday evenings at the Ft. Washington Expo Center.

I have been going to this show on a regular basis since the mid 1990's and have even attended a few shows back when it was in the old motor lodge in the 1980's. Many times, I used to stay overnight from Friday thru Saturday. But, over the the last 5 or 6 years, I drove up & back on the Friday only. I haven't been to the new location as of yet.

Outside of the National, this had been known as the very best show around. The fact that it moved initially to Reading before its new location probably didn't help keep it strong. It is clear that the show promoter has decided that the autograph signings are more important, so therefore a lot of the national vintage dealers have stopped setting up because a lot of collectors of vintage cards are not attending. If they truly want it like the old days, they would have to put much less emphasis on the autograph signings to try to get the vintage dealers back.

Alan

[ethicsprof]

great stories and great reminiscings.
ted,my friend, you always have the capability to distill the best of the past for us when
you put on your reflective,philosophical cap.
bill h., ole friend, your reflections hold that same depth.
many thanks to you both.
ted,i must add that your hair in the picture puts ole shag shaugnessy to shame. The t206 shag---not the later pic of him where he looks like a coach.
i didn't realize you had a bit of the ole hippie in you, ted---or perhaps,part of that coal black hair is a shadow!!!
warmest regards,
barry

[tedzan]

From one "night owl" to another....your observations are correct on both accounts.
In the above photo, the darkness to the right of my head is a shadow, not a shag.

But, in this 1976 photo with my younger daughter Zoe, I am sporting a "shag".


<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/zoeanndaddyted1976.jpg" alt="[linked image]">


Barry....me-thinks you are a very astute professor.

Best regards ole buddy,

T-Rex TED

[Rich Klein]

To some of you a "dead horse" but Hunt Auctions is part of the Upper Deck trading card company and UD has a lot of experience with modern players but not as much (actually very little) with the type of dealers we'd like to see set up at Willow Grove, Ft Washington, Reading, Valley Forge, etc.

Thus, the show will cotinue to evolve and my guess is that it will end up looking like the Chicago Sun Times show when all is said and done

Rich

[cfc1909]

I must say -i feel lucky to have been a part of that with you Ted

I do have many stories also-a large portion of my collection have come form that show. I bought 2 american Beauty Gandils in ex condition from Tony and his wife for $125. Also my Lajoie bat with Pied factory 42 came from him.

I also remember buying a stack (probably 20 cards)of rare backs all ex from Ted Z. at 50 bucks each and still have them.
here is just one of them


2877628777

[cfc1909]

one more card-the Philly show was loaded with fantastic cards at fantastic prices

thanks Ted

2877828779

[tedzan]

I remember those two cards. I think I sold them to you in one of our early encounters at the Ft Washington show.

That Matty Mac graded out pretty nice.

The BROAD LEAF 350 McGinley was one of my first BL 350's, that I acquired back in the 1980's.

Thanks for the kind words.

Regards,

TED Z

[kcohen]

Yes Ted, I've pretty much given up on the Philly Show. If you're ever looking for another show to do, Ron B. and I have done the last two Robert Morris U. shows in Pittsburgh and found it to be real enjoyable. The focus is on vintage and it's not overrun with autographs. The last one had members of the 1960 Pirates and Yankees as autograph guests to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1960 series. It added to the vintage vibe.

I'm sure we'll cross paths somewhere. Regards, Ken

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6oHxq77_MI

[cfc1909]

yes Ft Washington in the late 90s when BL 350 was no different than cycle 350 and not much different than Piedmont 350.

that stack had bl 350,cycles,old mill,sovereign,epdg and hindu brown-some are still raw but the few I got graded were either 4 or 5-all at 50 each-you can't beat it.

I was gathering tough backs when no one cared about them. Dealers were just starting to put a primium on them. I think instead of 25 bucks for ex cards the different ads were 50 in ex.

There was so much to choose from you could never bring enough money. I remember coming to a show with 3k and left with may cards and no money. I think on my last transaction of the day I wrote you a check.

[bobw]

I too stopped doing the show this year after setting up since 1983. I trekked to Reading in hopes that the show would return closer to Philly but then Bob sold the show and Hunts took over and almost doubled the price of the tables. I did the first 2 at Valley Forge but I lost the enthusiasm to continue. With MAB bringing more and more guests, the show will end up like their shows in NY and NJ which have few dealers and become just another autograph show.

Things I remember from Willow Grove

- The first table I had was in one of the dead end aisles near the snack bar.

- Everyone waiting to see who would get the free table for the next show.

- The show auction

- The first time I set up, I stayed at the super modern "George Washington Motor Lodge" :) which was probably built when George was alive. I had a room on the second level and could hear the dealer in the room under mine snoring all night.

- There was a uniform collector named Jay I believe who would show me his flannel uniform collection which he had hanging in the coat room near Ernie Montella's tables.

-After the first show I asked Bob for a different table and he put me in the middle of a row between Ted Lanting and Dick Sikes and 707 Levi and Jim were behind me. Because there was no room behind the tables, the only way to get out was to crawl under your table.

-One show had a terrible rain storm and the dealers near the back door got soaked.

- The clean bathrooms:)

-The walk in material was amazing.

Things I will miss:

- My neighbors. I was between John Ross and Mike Gordon for the entire run in Ft Washington and Reading.

- Seeing the faces of familiar customers and just BSing with them even if they didn't buy something.

Hopefully, CSA's show next April in the Philly Expo Center will be start of a good show in the Philly area.

[barrysloate]

Bob- I used to sleep over one night at the George Washington Motor Lodge, and two memories I have about the accomodations are:

1) On one very rainy night the ceiling was leaking.

2) On another visit there were more than a few ants crawling in my room.

Ah, the memories...

[ethicsprof]

ted,
many thanks for the kind words, ted!!
i love being called astute!!

and that photo of the true Zanidakean hippie shag looks great.
i wonder if ole sloate ever had any hippie hair while riding around with
abbie hoffman.

jim r, i had wondered how you acquired all your fabulous cards---now i know why, at least in part!!! I was thinking maybe you were one of those rich fellows who owned much of the Emirates!!!!

warmest regards,

barry

[tedzan]

I knew you would get a "hoot"....out of me calling you "astute".

I didn't know Barry S. in the '70s, but I've seen pictures of him, and he was a "cool dude" back then.

Ask Barry about me persuading him to set-up at the Willow Grove show in the mid-1980's ?
I'm sure he will chime in about his experience.


TED Z

[barrysloate]

Ted- I set up twice at Willow Grove and didn't really love it. Sales were slower in person than they were in my mail order business, and I was always antsy behind the table. I must have walked around the floor a hundred times a day. It wasn't for me. I preferred to go there and buy, and then when I felt I had done every deal I could, just head back home.

[reisshead]

It was nice to finally meet you at this last show, Ted. My first Philly show was as a teen in the early 80's when my father sold his shoebox of 51 Bowman dupes. I think he had 3 Mantles and 2 Mays in that box. Paid for the family vacation, and got me hooked. Had some great memories at the GW. It's been a long time since I can remember a show where you could hardly move in the aisles.....

Best of luck.

Bob

[JeremyW]

I really appreciate hearing about the "old time" shows & the stories behind them, they're great. Share some more, please.

[ncinin]

I am posting this information for Marco Rol, who will promote a card show at the GREATER PHILADELPHIA EXPO CENTER, Oaks, PA on April 15-16-17, 2011.

If you have any questions, contact Marco at CSASHOWS@AOL.COM or call at 540.456.6877. Updates can be found at www.csashows.com

"I'm getting very excited about the show, and word seems already to be spreading, judging from the dealers calling for booth information.

This Show will only have about a third the number of autograph guests as Chantilly, but a third more dealers. I'd like it to be more of a card show than the others CSA promotes. It won't be a Willow Grove; but then nothing ever will. However it will at least be a move in that direction, with more attention paid to the card dealers, both Vintage and shiny. So I certainly hope some of the net54 crowd will give it a try. I believe they'll agree it's a move in the right direction.

Also, though I haven't yet announced it on our website, Levi Bleam has consented to be our Host Dealer for the event, which means he'll be my liaison with the dealers I'm not as well acquainted with; he'll be responsible for relaying their suggestions and criticisms to me; basically I want him to be my guarantee that the Show at Oaks is what the Vintage dealers and collectors want. Levi, as you know, is not afraid to speak his mind. And I'm going to listen to him.

I would also like to extend an invitation to Ted Z to come out of retirement, especially if he would be so kind as to accept the offer of a free booth at Oaks.

Best regards, Marco Rol, CSASHOWS.com"

[bh3443]

I was thinking of all the great dealers that set-up at the early Willow Grove shows and thought I'd list them:
Bob Thing and I were against the long wall near the door with Enor Plastics, Halls Nostalgia and a few other guys.
Lew lipset was on the back wall a year or two and that was the year I bought some Talk of the Diamonds from Kevin Strauss.
The middle rows featured levi Bleam, Dick Sikes and Charlie Sachelli, Phil Spector, Bob Ochs (traded a 51 B Mantle to him straight up for a 51 Mays which started over 15 years of trades), Steve Freedman, Bill Goodwin, Art Taferro, Don Lepore and Richard Gelman, Ted Z, Joe Duggan (the first guy to bring memorabilia in quantity), Bill Gradzewicz and Jeff Miller, Wayne Miller, Ron Oser, Bill Mastro had a table but was always walking around, Barry Sloate was there a few times, Vince Rossi, Terry Knouse, and many more!

Famous guys that walked around but I don't think set up were:
Loe Avon and Joe Pasternack (in 1988 they had over 100 cases of the new Score BB), Gene Ryder (a Boston Police Det that was a big buyer, Rob Lifson was usually there on Sundays, and many more.

Back then, I was known to bring Tobacco cards from the N's and T's plus whatever E's, D's, etc.., I could find. I had a tremendous following of T collectors. I remember a guy and his wife who both made a 206 set and I heard eventually both bought a Wagner! I sold a Mayo Russie variation to Rob Lifson one year.

My goal was to sell as much as possible and re-invest most of it in Boston cards from every year to take back to my store in Framingham, Mass.

I also remember the big dinners we went to on Saturday along with the slew of "Gentlemens Clubs" we frequented,lol, I was 20 and single so it was fun time for me!

Just a little story here to spark some interest in the dealers that made the show great!

Marc Lewis and Warren Karp were always there represented CPU, the early price boks! What a great time we always had!

I'd love to hear more stories of those days!

Regards,
Bill Hedin

PS: Other "National Circuit shows included: Strongesville and Sharonville Ohio, Plymouth, Michigan, St. Louis holidome, Chicagoland by Bruce and Bonita Payntor, White Plains by A. Gloria Rothstien, and who could forget those Montclaire, NJ shows! My first auto shows were in NYC. A small monthly show I think Dan Dishley ran in the city plus a dentist had Mays and Mantle at the Armenian Church on 1rst Ave, plus those Meadowlands Hilton Events and of course CPU's Willie, Mickey and the Duke at the Statler Hotel across from the Garden was a classic.

I had done a few Creation Comic Shows in NYC in that time too!

[tedzan]

Great stories, thanks for sharing them with us. I will post a diagram later of the table layout at the old George Washington
Convetion Center, so that readers can get an appreciation of your description.

Pictured here is the BB card show program. Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, Jim Bunning, Bob Feller, and Lary Doby were the
only HOFer's that I recall signing back then There were many Phillies and stars that were also autograph guests. One guest
that I have to tell you about is Jimmy Piersall....I'll save this for a later post here.

And, get this guys....autograph costs for these ballplayers were either free or less than $5.



<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/willowgrovesept1983.jpg" alt="[linked image]">



TED Z

[tedzan]

Here's a diagram of the layout at the Willow Grove Show. Note that there was not much space in the aisles between
the tables. And, there was even less space between the dealers behind the their tables. Remember the "bump" music
back then (e.g., Stevie Wonder's...."In the City"), well we were doing the "bump" quite often back then.

Here are some of the more known dealer locations at the show throughout the 1980's......

Dealer..................Table #

Tom Reid &
Don Flanagan..........1-3
Joe Dugan..............5
Frank &
Vivian Barning..........6-7
Barry Sloate...........14 (two shows)
Bob Thing &
Bill Hedin..............132-134
Ron Oser..............137-139
Bill Huggins...........143-144
Irv Lerner.............145-146
Lew Lipset............141
Tony Carrafiell.......142
Bill White..............127-128
Hall's Nostalgia.......122-124
Alan Rosen.............22
Wayne Miller...........27-28
John Broggi............36-37
Bill Henderson.........71-73
Rick Starks.............67-68
Bob Steinberg.........63
Phil Spector............61
Mark Lewis.............78-80
Dan Paley &
Ted Zanidakis.........38-39


<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/willowgrovediagram.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

TED Z

[barrysloate]

Ted- I'm amazed that you have that information.

For the record I did one show by myself (I had a table directly across from that wonderful snack bar), and the second time I shared a table with Bruce Perry (hi Bruce if you're reading this) in a different location.

[bh3443]

Hi Ted,
Thank you for the diagram! It was so nice to see everyone on the list.
God, how I miss those days.
BTW, remember the years that they ran a summer show in Ocean City?
It was like a "vacation show", and I never set up there, did you?
Regards,
Bill

[tedzan]

Bill

I set-up at the Philly Seashore show until it ended in the Summer of '92. It was a fun show to do. The show was in The Music Pier auditorium.
And shall I say....it was a "breezy" atmosphere. Also, usually on that weekend was the Classic Car event on Ocean City's spacious boardwalk.
There was always large crowds attending both events.



........................Ocean City, NJ (1981-1992)............................................. ...............Ft. Washington, PA (1993-2007)

<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/oceancityftwashington.jpg" alt="[linked image]">


Hey guys, let's keep these old Philly Show stories continuing.


Best wishes, Bill

TED Z

[Baseball Rarities]

I first started going to the Willow Grove shows in the late 1980's. Lots of good memories.

This program was well before my time. Anybody attend this show?

[bh3443]

Kevin,
I was 13 that year and did not attend. however, Ted Taylor told me Don Lepore was set up there and selling 1966 gem mint Topps sets for 65.00 or 2/100. I bought 2 sets from him via the mail!
I started at the Grove in 1981.

[tedzan]

Kevin

As you know, Spring Garden was the very 1st Philly Show. Bob Schmerier and Ted Taylor created a neat 49-card set of 1948 Bowman-like cards
that were available at the following year's show. I'll show some of these cards in a future post.

The featured guest at this show (or the 1976 show) was hobby pioneer George Moll.....who was the major force behind all the Bowman Gum Co-
mpany sports & non-sports cards (Play Ball's, Bowman BaseBall & Football, and non-sports sets like the famous 1939 Horrors of War cards).

This show is a monumental tribute to this hobby's early beginnings.


TED Z

[Leon]

This 1976 Trading News had a bit about the Phili Show so thought I would post it. It's about 3 yrs after I quit collecting (as a youngster). Pardon the scan size. I did the best I could. regards

[mets41]

I remember these shows well. The 1st card show I ever attended was the last one at Spring Garden College (9/77) before moving to Willow Grove. When I started setting up there, my friend Ted and I wound setup next to each other. The Willow Grove and Ft. Washington locations were good for me--15 minutes from home.

[cfc1909]

wow phat dealer list with the Barnings,Lipset,Lerner and Halls Nostalgia-thanks for sharing that list-in 81 I was 16 and only knew about Topps...:eek:

[tedzan]

"Wow, what dealer list with the Barnings, Lipset, Lerner and Halls Nostalgia...."

It certainly sounds like a "Who's Who" list in the hobby, back in the 1970's and 1980's.

The hobby was very new in 1981, and if I were to detail all the various "walk-ins" that we saw (and acquired), it would take 100's
of posts on this thread.
Dan, I am sure you'll recall this one. A guy comes in with a brown bag full of sports cards (1950 - 1959). I looked at them, there
were several 100's of Bowman and Topps BB & FB cards. I gave him and offer and told him to walk around and get the "best offer"
for them. Four hours later, he returned to our table and I bought them.

I kept the BB cards and Dan took the FB cards. Back then FB cards were not selling at equivalent prices with BB cards. Danny
stashed away the FB cards for several years; and, when FB cards began to increase in value, Dan started selling these FB cards.
He did better than I did with the BB cards. He still gloats about this, when he feels in the mood to "rub it in" to me.


TED Z

[tedzan]

I just read your offer in your post #38......
"I would also like to extend an invitation to Ted Z to come out of retirement, especially if he would be so kind as to accept the offer
of a free booth at Oaks."

I have already signed up for your April 1911 show in Oaks, PA. Levi B. has my contract. I signed up for an "L" shaped (corner) booth.

Please email me directly regarding your offer at........
tedzan11@comcast.net


And please, no PM's.

Thanks much,

TED Z

[oaks1912]

Ted....I know its hard to end a tradition, but as you & I have discussed many times , there have been many changes since we met at Willow Grove in the early 80's, and not all of them are positive...... As you recall I stopped coming East after the first Fort Washington show in the early 90's, when the first round of changes were happening..... I know that it wasn't the facility (GW Lodge), as I could write a book on my experiences with the facility , but something about the cramped conditions gave the place a sense of excitement, unless of course you were located on the aisle with Rich Altman & Lou Avon on either side of you... The Chilean miners are about the only ones who could relate to you in that case..... The roof of the place had 'old swiss cheese' shingles, and if you didn't have a leak over your table, the smell of musty, heavily trafficked carpet competed with the greasy, St Patrick's Day style (Green) hot dogs that stayed on the grill until they sold, or disintegrated, whichever came first..... Of course, if I could go to a show like those great ones ('82-'86) and pick up what I did buy in the day, the smell of moldy carpet, the teacup saucer mattresses, the mystery meat covered with lumpy gray gravy served at Martha's Restaurant (until the health department shut it down), the irregular hot water, or running water at all, nor the non insulated rooms without heat for the December and March show.... none of these.... would stand in my way from going back there again, although this time I'd be better prepared with a fully insulated haz-mat suit, and a box of granola bars to cover me for a few days..... Great to hear that you're doing the 'new' show, and don't be surprised if you see someone from 3000 miles away pop in...:)

[barrysloate]

I think Ted means April 2011, not 1911.;)

[HRBAKER]

This is a great thread!
Thanks for the stories guys!

Jeff

[tedzan]

"April 1911"......
was that a slip of my finger on the keyboard, or was it a Freudian slip ?

You didn't know that built in my mind is a "Time Machine". Consider this....if we could go back to the Spring of 1911,
and know what we know now....we would be opening up LENOX and UZIT cigarette packs and cornering the market
on the last run of T206 cards.

Just think how many Cobb (bat off shoulder) cards you would find ? Or, Lajoie (batting) cards you could hoard away ?


<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/batoffshouldercobb.jpg" alt="[linked image]"><img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/uzitschaefer.jpg" alt="[linked image]">



No, that wasn't a "typo", Barry.....I was dreaming away.


Best regards ole friend,

TED Z

[Rich Klein]

The "Boston Sea Party" which was just down the road from the GW. An all you can eat seafood buffet -- Leon, you would have LOVED that place, and they even had one in Houston -- so you might have been in one before you ventured up to the DFW area

Rich

[Rich Klein]

One of my favorite memories was going to dinner with Frank Barning, the late Rich Hawksley, and a few other hobby heavyweights. We went to a diner-like element for dinner with an 20 page menu so I figured out what I wanted and gave a specific order -- Rich H was so tired from the show's hours, etc that all he told the waitress was -- whatever he (me) just ordered -- was fine for his order as well

[tedzan]

Thanks for the memories........

Hey guys, I have to elaborate on what Rich just brought up......The Boston Sea Party restaurant. It was just a short walk away up the hill
from the Willow Grove Show. It was a fabulous seafood buffet-style place. Many of the dealers would get together there on Saturday nite.

For those unfamiliar with this seafood restaurant, it was franchised across the country during the mid-1970's. The quality of its seafood was
consistently good. I have eaten at the Boston Sea Party in Denver, Carol Stream (south of Chicago), Cherry Hill (NJ), and Willow Grove, PA.
It was an adventure to dine there. The set up was 3 long buffet "Piers" full of delicious goodies to select from. Pier 1 contained the seafood
appetizers, Pier 2 was stocked with the main entrees, and Pier 3 had a huge selection of desserts.

In the 1970's, for about $20, you could eat all you wanted till you dropped. By the mid-'80s the price went up to $25 (still a bargain). Then,
by the early 1990's this chain of restaurants abruptly closed down. Never understood why.

Oh well, if you were a seafood lover, the Boston Sea Party was a really great place to eat.....while it lasted.


TED Z

[Leon]

Oh well, if you were a seafood lover, the Boston Sea Party was a really great place to eat.....while it lasted.


TED Z

My favorite seafood restaurant of all time was The Boston Sea Party. They had 1-2 in Houston and I remember stuffing myself at that place several times. Too bad they went away. It was awesome......

[bh3443]

Living outside of Boston means we have the greatest seafood.
My wife and I love Legal Seafood which is 1/2 mile from us. Theres nothing like eating a lobster caught several hours earlier!

Back to the Grove eating places: I loved it when we all went to the Seaparty, and there was a great deli up that hill where you could find guys like Josh Evans and myself getting those great sandwiches.

As for the "Gentlemans Clubs", I think one was called Cheata's and can't recall the other one! We closed them up many a Saturday night back then!

[Robert_Lifson]

I just saw this thread and enjoyed reading the posts about the “good old days” at the great old Willow Grove show. I was very lucky that I happened to live just a few minutes from Willow Grove and as a kid this really helped me a lot. I couldn’t have lived in a better place. In the early days, even when I wasn’t old enough to drive, it was so close that it was still no problem to get to the show. I never missed it. For me it was as if everyone in the country had packed up all their old cards and agreed to come to my hometown just to make deals with me! When it was over, I counted the days until the next one. They were very exciting times and I think anyone who was there can remember the magic of those early shows. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who looks back and says “Wow, THAT was amazing.”

I thought some collectors would appreciate seeing this link to an old REA lot that includes scans of the program for the first “Willow Grove” show (which was actually held at Spring Garden College in Chestnut Hill, PA). It’s not obvious it’s there - you have to go to the very bottom of the auction page, clicking on each page image scrolling to the right to see all the pages. I made sure to scan and post this when it was sold just in case anyone wanted to see it in the future.

http://bid.robertedwardauctions.com/bidplace.aspx?itemid=11429

I’m feeling really old now!

Sincerely,

Robert Lifson

[oaks1912]

Rob.....One of the interesting facts is that there were "only" 28 tables at that first show, but you could probably remember where everyone's table was located and the dimensions of the room......... On the West Coast we had quarterly shows in Northern California, the Labor Day (& later Memorial Day) show in Southern California during the 1970's, and the annual Seattle show (which is still running and is the longest running annual show in the hobby). Although part of the hobby's "history" these are fondly remembered by those who attended them, and are the fodder of many stories considered 'urban myth' or 'hobby legend' to the generations that follow...It's amazing that the sign survived... I know of a few people who collect ephemera from the pre-1985 shows, but that has to be one of the coolest survivors...

[bh3443]

Hi Marc,
I enjoyed your post. Was it Bob Lee that ran the Labor Day show?
I got friendly with Randy Thyberg (was he related to Bob Lee?) in the 80's, as we were both young promoters with much in common.
My conversations with these fine gentlemen were always pleasant.
Randy promoted a nice event in Valley Forge at the Sheraton's Expo center with hundreds and hundreds of tables. I was in the front row and saw EVERYONE and EVERYTHING! The line-up of autograph signers was perhaps the greatest in the hobbys history. It was a huge show run 4-5 days around the 4th of July.
My best memory of the event was Sunday morning when Randy charged the media big money to cover the show. The place erupted in applause as Pete Rose walked in with Michael Bertolini!
I later went to my room and Whitey Ford was in the elevator with us.
It's hard to believe that Randy has been gone so long. He was always a class act and we shared some very good stories about life as young promoters.
Thanks for the posts, Marc.

[tedzan]

Great stuff Rob......thanks much for sharing the Spring Garden show sign and program with us.

Mark Macrae was a regular visitor to the Willow Grove show during the 1980's. We met at my table in March 1983. I was selling a 1949 Bowman
set, and Mark was a buyer. I recall, we agreed to me keeping the Phillies and Yankees cards; and, the rookie cards of Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige,
Preacher Roe, and Duke Snider (autographed). So, Mark purchased 200 (of the 240) cards in this set. Subsequently, I sold him 5 more 1949 sets.

This story of Mark and I is best summed up by quoting Claude Raines famous words to Humphrey Bogart in the final scene of Casablanca......
"I think Ricky, this is the start of a beautiful friendship"

One more comment on Mark....that day in March 1983, the snow was falling in Willow Grove, yet Mark was in his Summer shorts. He always wore
his short pants to the show, regardless of the weather.
As they say......You can take Mark out of California....but, you can't take that California style out of Mark.


Best regards,
Mark and Rob,

TED Z

[tedzan]

Bob Schmerier and Ted Taylor created a 49-card set of 1948 Bowman-like cards that were available at the 1976 show at Spring Garden.
Shown here is part of a complete uncut sheet of this 49-card set . They were very professionally done with very informative bios on the
backs of them. This series of BB cards featured......

Connie Mack
Babe Ruth
Jimmy Foxx
Mel Ott
Musial
Ted Williams
Joe DiMaggio
Johnny Mize
Bob Feller
Jackie Robinson
Yogi Berra
Gil Hodges
Hal Newhouser


http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/large/1976EPSCCbowmansheet.jpg


At the 1977 show Bob and Ted issued a 2nd series of 64 cards that were very similar in design as the 1st series. They advertised these
cards as a 1947 series.



TED Z

[oaks1912]

Bill..... The 'original' West Coast Labor Day shows were held in Southern California (Jim Nowell,later Steve Brunner, Gavin Riley & Mike Berkus)... Bob Lee started promoting small 'hotel-style' shows here in Northern California around 1982. Within 3 years, he'd created a huge show circuit throughout the West and promoted a spectacular National in San Francisco in 1987. Following the National, Bob began running a San Francisco Labor Day weekend show in 1988. Around the same time, Bob's son-in-law (Randy Thyberg) started running a second show circuit in south-central California with Will Davis. The circuits promoted 12-14 shows per week in this region (Almost every day was a different city) .... No promoter today has the energy or drive that Bob Lee had during the 1980's (Two or 3 people like him in government would revive the economy in 3 months !!).... Ted, wearing shorts at Willow Grove in March & December was the only way to go.... It might be 28 degrees outside, but inside was more densely packed than the Calcutta street markets....:)

[tedzan]

Here are a couple of interesting BB player stories at the Willow Grove show.

Featured guest at Willow Grove (circa 1990) was Gus Zernial. I gave Gus his famous 1952 Topps card to sign. Gus asked me.......
" Do you really want me to sign this card, isn't it quite valuable ? "

I told him that I had 4 more of these cards back home. He smiled and autographed it. What impressed me about Gus was....at 67
years old, Gus looked like he could go to the ballpark and hit many more HR's.



<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/autoguszernialjimpiersall.jpg" alt="[linked image]">




Bill Hedin, you'll appreciate this story......

Jimmy Piersall was the guest at Willow Grove in the early 1990's. I was in line to meet him and get his autograph. The guy (dealer)
in front of me presented Jimmy an egg-crate type of box containing 24 balls for Jimmy to sign. Jimmy looks up at him, and asked....
"do I have to sign all of these ?" The dealer responded...."Why yes, I paid for all of them."
Obviously, Jimmy was not that happy about this. Piersall signs the first ball, and reaches over the table and places it in one of the
slots in this 24-slot grid. Then Jim signs the 2nd ball and tosses it into this crate...."swish"....it lands in a slot. Jim appeared quite
pleased with himself. So, as he signed the remaining 22 balls, Jim would toss them into the crate. All the rest of the balls bounced
off the crate, and were rolling all over the floor. Needless to say, the dealer was very "ticked-off".....while Jimmy was laughing.


TED Z

[tedzan]

Bob

Regarding your post......
" It was nice to finally meet you at this last show, Ted. My first Philly show was as a teen in the early 80's when my father
sold his shoebox of 51 Bowman dupes. I think he had 3 Mantles and 2 Mays in that box. Paid for the family vacation, and got
me hooked. Had some great memories at the GW. It's been a long time since I can remember a show where you could hardly
move in the aisles....."

I enjoyed our conversation last weekend, great meeting you. Back in the 1980's at Willow Grove, I bought a large collection
of 1951 Bowman's. Could they have been your Dad's ?

Best regards,

TED Z

[tedzan]

Hey guys, it looks like a lot of Ner54er's are reading this thread. Let's continue to reminisce over some more Philly Show experiences
before this thread vanishes off the page.

If I can find my scan, I'll chime in with my Richie Ashburn story.


TED Z

[tedzan]

At one Philly Seashore show, I had a nice conversation with Richie Ashburn. While he was signing this photo for me, I asked him if his 3.0 seconds to 1st
base was the fastest of any player in the Leagues ?

He said...."No, Mickey Mantle (batting lefty) and I were clocked by the sports media at the start of each season, and we were tied at 3.0 seconds, year
after year."

Then we talked BB trivia for about 20 minutes. Richie was one of the greatest guys to talk with.



<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/ashburnbunt.jpg" alt="[linked image]">



TED Z

[judsonhamlin]

Who won the piece of carpeting from the Motor Lodge after the last show? I'm not sure if black mold was included or not...

[whitehse]

Here are a couple of interesting BB player stories at the Willow Grove show.

Featured guest at Willow Grove (circa 1990) was Gus Zernial. I gave Gus his famous 1952 Topps card to sign. Gus asked me.......
" Do you really want me to sign this card, isn't it quite valuable ? "

I told him that I had 4 more of these cards back home. He smiled and autographed it. What impressed me about Gus was....at 67
years old, Gus looked like he could go to the ballpark and hit many more HR's.



<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/autoguszernialjimpiersall.jpg" alt="[linked image]">




Bill Hedin, you'll appreciate this story......

Jimmy Piersall was the guest at Willow Grove in the early 1990's. I was in line to meet him and get his autograph. The guy (dealer)
in front of me presented Jimmy an egg-crate type of box containing 24 balls for Jimmy to sign. Jimmy looks up at him, and asked....
"do I have to sign all of these ?" The dealer responded...."Why yes, I paid for all of them."
Obviously, Jimmy was not that happy about this. Piersall signs the first ball, and reaches over the table and places it in one of the
slots in this 24-slot grid. Then Jim signs the 2nd ball and tosses it into this crate...."swish"....it lands in a slot. Jim appeared quite
pleased with himself. So, as he signed the remaining 22 balls, Jim would toss them into the crate. All the rest of the balls bounced
off the crate, and were rolling all over the floor. Needless to say, the dealer was very "ticked-off".....while Jimmy was laughing.


TED Z

A quick note on Jimmy Piersall.

I promoted shows in suburban Chicago back in the 80's and 90's and since Piersall lived close by I had him signing at a card show one weekend. Piersall had everyone laughing as he was telling stories about his past and about some of the players that he knew and played with. A young girl, about 16 years old came up to him and said she loved playing baseball and softball and asked if he had any advice for her. Piersall looked directly into her eyes and said, "yeah I have advice...stay outta back seats." He signed her autograph, laughed hysterically as she walked away while the rest of us were just stunned that he would say something like that!! I still shake my head at that memory!

[tedzan]

There is one thing you can bet on....that Jimmy Piersall's presence at a BB card show will be an interesting experience.

Regards,

TED Z

[tedzan]

There are many more Willow Grove stories to be told, here is one that I recall from the mid-1980's.

My table was next to John Broggi (who at that time operated two BB card shops and a monthly live auction in NJ). A guy came to
my table first with a "walk-in" of 100's of really sharp Goudey's & Play Ball cards. I went thru every card and gave him a fair market
value of his large collection.
It was a lot of $$$$, and I really didn't want to pass this collection off to someone else. So, I turned to John Broggi, and we came
to a joint agreement of an offer to this guy for his collection. The guy was happy with it. And, John and I spent the rest of the day
dividing up the cards. We haggled over the Ruth's, Gehrig's, Joe DiMaggio's, and Ted William's....but, after several hours, we arrived
at a mutually happy compromise.

Hey guys, if you have anymore fond memories of this fantastic show....please share them here with us ?


TED Z

[timzcardz]

I never went to the show, so I have no memories, but you guys are certainly painting a fine image here!

It seems like it was a lot of fun.

Thanks!

[Leon]

I never went to the show, so I have no memories, but you guys are certainly painting a fine image here!

It seems like it was a lot of fun.

Thanks!

I have been to exactly 1 Philly show. It was about 2-3 years ago and I stayed with Ted Z and his lovely wife. I had some great lasagna she made and they were the best hosts a guest could ask for. I even got to see a lot of Teddy's collection (thanks again, Ted). I also loved, absolutely loved, that little place we went to eat breakfast. You had to have a key to get into the restaurant, everyone knew everyone else and it was like one big family. The food was absolutely great too. No matter what you order you get a big 'ole side helping of real breakfast, country potatoes. Absolutely yummy!!

As for the show, I didn't set up at it, didn't find anything to buy, but did see a lot of folks I knew so that was a plus. I would have liked to have been to it when Bob S was running it. Now, I do have one external type memory. Several years ago I got a call from Bob Schmeirer (sp?), the promoter, and he quizzed me about someone selling a table on this board. Mum was the word as it was a good friend that just couldn't make it and he wanted me to help. I hear Bob was a real stickler for his tables. I also heard he would walk around the room and say hi to the dealers and collectors and see how things were going. Maybe the new regime has a different agenda as I certainly didn't see any of that at the one show I went to. I guess the old times are a passin'? In today's new society it seems like most of the "service" is left out of "customer service". :(

[mets41]

I also set up next to Ted Z (I live 15 mimutes from the GW Lodge in Willow Grove Lodge). In the 80's Chris Short of Wilmington, DE, and former Phillie pitcher in the 60's was a regular attendee of the show (he collected Phillies cards). At one of the shows he was talking of the GREAT PHILLIE FOLDUP IF 1964. Short's openion was the fold was entirely the fault of manager Gene Mauch (he pitched the staff's 2 aces Short and Jim Bunning so much during the last 2 weeks of the season that their arms were ready to fall off).

[ethicsprof]

Leon,
great story. i bet ole TRex had some cards that would make the rest of us
salivate!! Eating at the restaurant where you had your own key to let yourselves in and feast on home cooking makes me salivate even now!
Reminds me of when i took a trip through Mayberry,NC and had an amazing feast of those yummy fried potatoes, as you so accurately describe them.
Many thanks for sharing the Leon--Ted baseball card picnic!
and Merry Christmas to you and to Ted and Charlotte as well.

all the best, ole friends
barry

[Cy2009]

A quick note on Jimmy Piersall.

I promoted shows in suburban Chicago back in the 80's and 90's and since Piersall lived close by I had him signing at a card show one weekend. Piersall had everyone laughing as he was telling stories about his past and about some of the players that he knew and played with. A young girl, about 16 years old came up to him and said she loved playing baseball and softball and asked if he had any advice for her. Piersall looked directly into her eyes and said, "yeah I have advice...stay outta back seats." He signed her autograph, laughed hysterically as she walked away while the rest of us were just stunned that he would say something like that!! I still shake my head at that memory!

As you did Ted, I find this moment to be reprehensible. I have two teenage daughters. If he would have made that remark to one of my girls, I would have laid into him hard.

This action reminds me of two memories in my past. I went to Penn State and played a lot of pick-up basketball with some football players. When talk would turn to Joe Paterno, I remember one player telling me this. Joe told them that whenever a person stops to talk or ask you for an autograph, stop and be very cordial. To you it may not be a big deal. To them, it may be the biggest deal that he or she could ever want. Piersall should have heard this.

Also, I had the pleasure of talking with Kenny Stabler at the Chantilly show. He stopped, saw my name tag and addressed me by name and chatted with me for 10-15 minutes. The next time he came to Chantilly, I went up to him and told him the story and thanked him for being so nice. The Snake grabbed my arm and, in his southern drawl, said, "It isn't difficult to be nice." Jimmy Piersall should have done the same.

I am sad to hear the Piersall story because so many other people have been wonderful. Brooks Robinson, Stan Musial and others come to mind. These are the people that I will recall in my memories.

Cy

[tedzan]

Hey Leon

They still ask me at Fred's breakfast nook along the Delaware...."where is that friend of your's who orders Texas-size breakfasts ? "

Wishing you, your wife, and daughter a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.


Hey Barry

Trust me, you don't want to compete with Leon in an eating contest :)

Wishing you and Margaret a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.


TED Z

[Ohio_Collectibles]

Although I never made it to the show, I am absolutely in love with this thread. The stories and memories are great and bring back memories of Holiday Inn shows in and around Cleveland when I was a kid.

[Leon]

Hey Leon

They still ask me at Fred's breakfast nook along the Delaware...."where is that friend of your's who orders Texas-size breakfasts ? "

Wishing you, your wife, and daughter a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.


Hey Barry

Trust me, you don't want to compete with Leon in an eating contest :)

Wishing you and Margaret a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.


TED Z

Hey Ted
If I ever come back that way, and I guess I will in the future, we have to go there again. I think I am still full from that breakfast. I believe I had one of everything on the menu. The hospitality was as good, or better, than the food too!!! take care

[tedzan]

Leon

You are always welcome to stay at the Hotel Zanidakis. The hotel rates are very reasonable. Needless to say, we will breakfast at Fred's diner.


Many have chimed in here with some great stories. In 30 years of great experiences doing the Philly Show, I have only two regrets to tell you of.

1st....circa 1985 at Willow Grove, a customer of mine tells me to hurry over to table #154. The dealer there has six T206 cards with DRUM backs,
and is selling them for only $100 apiece. It was Friday nite, things were quite busy. So, I did not get over to table #154 until Saturday morning.
Sure enough, there were still 4 cards with DRUM backs. All 4 were Minor Lgrs. and the cards were VgEx. So, I offered the dealer $350 for all four.
He said "no go". I deliberated for a few moments, then I walked back to my table.
I remember rationalizing in my mind as I walked away...."no big deal, I already had a DRUM back".
......BIG, BIG MISTAKE......

2nd....circa 1986 at Willow Grove, I always checked out Ron Oser's stuff. Ron would always show up with interesting and rare items. This time he
had two 1948 Bowman George Mikan cards in Ex to ExMt condition. Mikan was the last card I needed to complete my 1948 Basket Ball set of 72
cards. Ron had each card priced at $40. So, I bought one. Ron offered me the 2nd Mikan for $35. Foolishly, I said...."let me think about it, Ron".
The next day, I went back to Ron's table, but the 2nd Mikan was gone.
......VERY, VERY BIG MISTAKE......

Hey guys....what other investment in the past 25 years could you invest $40 in a colorful little piece of cardboard depicting a sports HOFer, that
would now be worth $4000 ?

Fortunately, those are my only two regrets at Philly. Unfortunately (in retrospect), in order to save $85 between these two deals, I lost big time.

Anyone out there have similar stories ? If so, tell us of your "regret moments" ? ?


TED Z

[mets41]

"Wow, what dealer list with the Barnings, Lipset, Lerner and Halls Nostalgia...."

It certainly sounds like a "Who's Who" list in the hobby, back in the 1970's and 1980's.

The hobby was very new in 1981, and if I were to detail all the various "walk-ins" that we saw (and acquired), it would take 100's
of posts on this thread.
Dan, I am sure you'll recall this one. A guy comes in with a brown bag full of sports cards (1950 - 1959). I looked at them, there
were several 100's of Bowman and Topps BB & FB cards. I gave him and offer and told him to walk around and get the "best offer"
for them. Four hours later, he returned to our table and I bought them.

I kept the BB cards and Dan took the FB cards. Back then FB cards were not selling at equivalent prices with BB cards. Danny
stashed away the FB cards for several years; and, when FB cards began to increase in value, Dan started selling these FB cards.
He did better than I did with the BB cards. He still gloats about this, when he feels in the mood to "rub it in" to me.


TED Z

I remember this well. By the way, Ted, thanks for those football cards (1958 & 60 sets--10 cards short of the 2 complete sets). You're ok!

[bbcard1]

I am sure most people will not consider the failed CSA venture a Philly show, but I went to two, sold a bunch of stuff, and made some big trades with Ted. Will probably always regret trading the AB Gandil to him, but I know it make it to a nice home and I am proud to have contributed a card to Teds collection as he contributed quite a few to mine.

[tedzan]

I am sure most people will not consider the failed CSA venture a Philly show, but I went to two, sold a bunch of stuff, and made some big trades with Ted. Will probably always regret trading the AB Gandil to him, but I know it make it to a nice home and I am proud to have contributed a card to Teds collection as he contributed quite a few to mine.

Hey TODD

We had a great time at those two Oaks (PA) shows....talkin' baseball, and doing two monster trades to help you complete your "Monster" set.
I recall there were about 150 - T206's that I traded you, including Dahlen (Brooklyn). I will certainly miss that show.

Incidently, that's a really neat site you have there regarding your 1941 Double Play cards.

Best wishes good buddy,

TED Z

[tedzan]

I remember this well. By the way, Ted, thanks for those football cards (1958 & 60 sets--10 cards short of the 2 complete sets). You're ok!

Great recollection, Dan.

Please email me.


TED Z

[tedzan]

Hey guys,

How many of you set-up or attended the Ocean City Philly shows back in the 1980's (or early 1990's) ?

Although it was a smaller show, it featured many of the quality dealers that set-up at the Willow Grove show.

Furthermore, we were treated to a great Classic Car show that weekend. Model "A" Ford's to 1970's "heavy metal"
machines paraded on Ocean City's huge boardwalk.

I would pack my goodies into my 1960 T-Bird and drive to Ocean City for this affair and for setting-up at the show.

Unfortunately, BB card shows are gradually vanishing into the sunset. But, it's always fun to reminisce. So, tell us
some more of your Philly show experiences.


http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh622/tedzan77/PhillyShowsTbird.jpg


TED Z

[glynparson]

I have the admittance tickets to the second and third Epscc shows at spring garden college and the 4th show which was the first at the old George Washington. :) I have them currently in hand just need to scan at work tomorrow. I was lucky enough to have set up at a couple of those ocean city shows as well as the last 2 shows at George Washington, I was 18-19 at the time. Loved it back then loved it at the fort and when it came to my hometown of Reading. I hate it at valley forge and am not to fond of the new owner.

[tedzan]

Hey guys,


http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh622/tedzan77/PhillyShowsTbird.jpg


TED Z



Furthermore, has anyone here noticed ? Those were the days when Autographs were FREE. I'm surprised this has not
been commented on.



Hey Glyn

I absolutely agree with you regarding the Willow Grove, Ocean City, Ft. Washington, and Reading Philly shows.


TED Z

[mets41]

Hello Theodore--

Do you remember when ex-fillie pitcher chris short would come to the EPSCC shows at the George Washington Lodge in Willow Grove as a collector? He told us the story of how he got back into card collecting as an adult. The house he lived in as a child in Wilmington, DE, was continuously family owned (his brother was living in the house). The brother called chris one day and said "I found our childhood card collection in the house. Do you want the cards or should I give them to the trashman?" Chris recovered the cards and resumed collecting. As an adult coming to card shows (by this time he was retired as a player) he was trying to collect all fillie cards (mostly from the 1950's) and we were able to help him reach his goal. One time chris had signed on to be an autograph guest at an EPSCC show on Saturday afternoon starting at 2 PM. He showed up first thing in the morning and the promoter thought there was a screw-up until chris said "I collect cards also and want to check out the inventory of your dealers before I'm scheduled to start signing the autographs."

[tedzan]

Hey guys,

I thought that reviving this 4 year old thread in which many of us reminisced over the good ole Philly Shows would be a nice tribute to Bob Schmierer.

And, for the newer Net54 collectors to gain an appreciation of one of the great BB card Shows ever in this hobby during the 1975 - 2008 era.

Do chime in with any of your stories regarding the Spring Garden, Willow Grove, Fort Washington, Reading, and the Ocean City Philly shows.


TED Z
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[tedzan]

The site of the Willow Grove BB card Show......the George Washington Motor Lodge and Conference Center.


http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan77/images/websize/GeoWashingtonMotorLodgeVF.jpg



TED Z
.

[1880nonsports]

1) missing Bob Bostoff for the laughs and a couple of friends I met there.
2) miss the assortment of good cards (pre-1920) and obscure baseball "stuff".

There are quite a few people from those days still involved in the hobby - some of whom are respected today ;).....

It was after not sleeping for 24 hours I drove myself to the show to consign an allen and ginter Indians banner (still one of the few items I haven't been able to replace) to Lifson. I carried another banner with me of Ginter's world decorations that I subsequently decided to give myself as a present instead of consigning. When I went outside I started to talk to someone and left the FRAMED banner on my trunk (quite a large sign). As I pulled out of the lot I heard a noise - turned around - didn't see anything and drove back to Brooklyn. No-one turned it in :-(