Heading to Cooperstown - hopefully not OT!

[KingFisk]

Hey guys, hopefully this isn't too off-topic! Leon, if I'm in the wrong place I take my forty lashes! :) My wife and I are going to Cooperstown for a long weekend and was wondering if the board members had any recommendations for must-visit card/memorabilia shops up there...or if there are any other hidden baseball gems aside from the HOF up there (experiences, locations, etc).

But really interested in good dealers - guys with solid/unique inventory, honest brokers, etc.

Thanks guys!
Carl

[btcarfagno]

Hey guys, hopefully this isn't too off-topic! Leon, if I'm in the wrong place I take my forty lashes! :) My wife and I are going to Cooperstown for a long weekend and was wondering if the board members had any recommendations for must-visit card/memorabilia shops up there...or if there are any other hidden baseball gems aside from the HOF up there (experiences, locations, etc).

But really interested in good dealers - guys with solid/unique inventory, honest brokers, etc.

Thanks guys!
Carl

If you like beer then visiting Cooperstown Brewing Company and Ommegang Brewery are musts. Both just a few minutes outside Cooperstown and well worth the visit.

Tom C

[bigtrain]

My family has a summer home there so I am familiar with most of the shops in the area. To be honest, while there are lots of shops, you will not find any bargains in Cooperstown. All the shops have plenty of autographs since the HOFers do so many signings up there. However, there is not much in the way of vintage cards and what there is will usually have a "tourist" mark up. I will be up there this weekend opening my house and can let you know if any new shops have opened (as is often the case). There is a very good show at the VFW hall across from the Hall of Fame. Ted Z and several other good dealers are in town and I always pick up a few nice cards but it is around HOF weekend and it would be hard to find accommodations in the area for that weekend if you have not booked already.

[bigtrain]

If you like beer then visiting Cooperstown Brewing Company and Ommegang Brewery are musts. Both just a few minutes outside Cooperstown and well worth the visit.

Tom C


Agree with Tom. Ommegang has a new line of "Game of Thrones" beers. I tried the Red Ale last weekend. Very good. They also give a nice tour and have a cafe out back where you can have lunch.

[kailes2872]

I took the boys a couple of years ago. There were plenty of shops, but if I recall they dealt more in memorabilia than cards. There aren't a lot of deals or value to be found. I did buy a nice famed autographed photo of Wille Mays and Hank Aaron - Black & White framed from a mid-60's all star game. COA for both signatures. I probably over paid for it, but I got it $100 off list.

I really enjoyed the wax museum. We spent the Saturday evening going to the wax museum and all of the card shops and then spent 6 hours in the hall the next day. After that, we went back to some of the shops as I told the boys that they could have one souvenir (they got the Pirates yellow pillbox hats which they could get at PNC)

The highlight of the hall for me was the baseball card display. They have an area that has all of the holy grail cards - Wagner, Plank, 52 Mantle, 33 Ruth, Williams, Joe D, Willie, etc. They are all super high grade - I assume that they are on loan from various collectors, but not sure. They then have an area that is the history of baseball cards that has a representative sample from all of the major issues. I think I spent an hour just looking at all of those.


I am going to try to make a return trip memorial weekend. The boys want to go again but their mom isn't interested and the 25th is our anniversary - so I have to work around that.

It is heaven on earth - enjoy!

[KingFisk]

My family has a summer home there so I am familiar with most of the shops in the area. To be honest, while there are lots of shops, you will not find any bargains in Cooperstown. All the shops have plenty of autographs since the HOFers do so many signings up there. However, there is not much in the way of vintage cards and what there is will usually have a "tourist" mark up. I will be up there this weekend opening my house and can let you know if any new shops have opened (as is often the case). There is a very good show at the VFW hall across from the Hall of Fame. Ted Z and several other good dealers are in town and I always pick up a few nice cards but it is around HOF weekend and it would be hard to find accommodations in the area for that weekend if you have not booked already.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, fellas. The Ommegang brewery is definitely on our list...And Tom, we're actually heading up there this weekend (staying at a bed and breakfast), maybe we'll run in to you... By the way - do you run a cool little curiosity shop across from the comic book store in Scotch Plains?? I remember having a nice chat with the owners about Cooperstown..hmmm...

[btcarfagno]

My family has a summer home there so I am familiar with most of the shops in the area. To be honest, while there are lots of shops, you will not find any bargains in Cooperstown. All the shops have plenty of autographs since the HOFers do so many signings up there. However, there is not much in the way of vintage cards and what there is will usually have a "tourist" mark up. I will be up there this weekend opening my house and can let you know if any new shops have opened (as is often the case). There is a very good show at the VFW hall across from the Hall of Fame. Ted Z and several other good dealers are in town and I always pick up a few nice cards but it is around HOF weekend and it would be hard to find accommodations in the area for that weekend if you have not booked already.

Just had some of the Ommegang Hop House on tap this past weekend.

MMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMM.


MMMMMMMMM

Tom C

[Kawika]

This question comes up on the Board now and again. Definitely not off-topic in my opinion. Here's a thread from about five years ago that speaks to the subject: http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=116547 Some good ideas within. Hopefully others will weigh in and update things.

In 2007 when I was there the one place that stood out from all the other stores was The National Pastime. Unfortunately they closed up shop several years back. All I saw otherwise was a lot of "manufactured memorabilia". There may well be an honest card seller or two. Others may be able to speak to that.

My wife and I dream of returning to Cooperstown someday. We had a wonderful time there. I expect you will too.

The National Pastime storefront (RIP)
http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_o_ka_pakipika/sportscardsetc/baseballtravels/museumexhibits/websize/DSC05213.JPG

[GrayGhost]

there are some pretty good antique and such shops around Cooperstown. May be worth a quick stop. Sometimes, there is sports, and tho most is overpriced, u can find a diamond in the rough at times.

[brob28]

Try the Cooperstown Diner for breakfast, great hole-in-the-wall place a block or two from the Hall. Also, there are always (weather permitting) games at Doubleday field, it's great to take a rest and watch some of the games while in town.

[bigtrain]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, fellas. The Ommegang brewery is definitely on our list...And Tom, we're actually heading up there this weekend (staying at a bed and breakfast), maybe we'll run in to you... By the way - do you run a cool little curiosity shop across from the comic book store in Scotch Plains?? I remember having a nice chat with the owners about Cooperstown..hmmm...

My wife's shop but yes that's me.

[calvindog]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, fellas. The Ommegang brewery is definitely on our list...And Tom, we're actually heading up there this weekend (staying at a bed and breakfast), maybe we'll run in to you... By the way - do you run a cool little curiosity shop across from the comic book store in Scotch Plains?? I remember having a nice chat with the owners about Cooperstown..hmmm...

I'm originally from Clark -- is the baseball card store in Westfield still in existence? I haven't been there in decades but used to go a lot in high school and even during college.

[timzcardz]

I think you guys may have just firmed up some plans for me.

Picking my son up from college in Cortland (less than 2 hrs from Cooperstown) in a couple of weeks, and since we have HOF memberships already, was thinking of stopping in Cooperstown for a couple of nights on the way back.

Now I can hardly wait!

[bigtrain]

I'm originally from Clark -- is the baseball card store in Westfield still in existence? I haven't been there in decades but used to go a lot in high school and even during college.

There is a little shop just up from the South Avenue circle that I used to go to years ago. It is still there but I haven't been there in years, not sure who owns it now or what they carry. I grew up on Lake Avenue just over the bridge from Clark.

[KingFisk]

Bill, Kevin, David, Scott, Tom and Tom C (and anyone I've missed) - thanks a bunch. This is a really good start, and I appreciate the heads up on the card exhibit. I'm really looking forward to that. I haven't been up to the HoF since 2000 - I went with my parents for induction weekend the year Fisk got in (I think he is still giving his acceptance speech....that was, um, lengthy)...we booked too late and had to stay in a dumpy hotel in Cobleskill, NY. So have never really experienced that town and am really looking forward to it. Even if it won't be a major card acquisition trip. We'll see. ;)

Tom "Big Train" - believe it or not, when my wife and I came into your wife's store last September (I was looking for old Fisk and Phillies stuff - you sold me a 1993 Phillies team yearbook), and we talked about Cooperstown, it inspired us to make plans to go up there in the spring, which we're doing this weekend. So you are largely responsible for our trip....small world! My wife loves your store and wears the necklace she bought from your wife all of the time. :)

[calvindog]

There is a little shop just up from the South Avenue circle that I used to go to years ago. It is still there but I haven't been there in years, not sure who owns it now or what they carry. I grew up on Lake Avenue just over the bridge from Clark.

Less than a mile from where I grew up, just a few streets off of Lake Avenue, not far from that bridge.

[Butch7999]

We'll second the motion on the Cooperstown Diner. Also, if you (and/or Mrs KingFisk) are up for something non-baseball-related,
the Fenimore Art Museum [ http://www.fenimoreartmuseum.org/ ] on Rte 80, overlooking Otsego Lake, is definitely worth a visit.
We recommend lunch on the veranda and a stroll down to the lake.
Not too much further off, the Iroquois Indian Museum [ http://iroquoismuseum.org/ ] and Howe Caverns [ http://howecaverns.com/ ]
are also well worth your time.

[z28jd]

Check out the Fly Creek Cider Mill right outside of town. Nice place to kill time, good food, lots of stuff for sale. Definitely recommend it.

http://www.flycreekcidermill.com/

[Leon]

Certainly not off topic in my mind. I have never been to the Hall but some day hope to....

[irishdenny]

My family has a summer home there so I am familiar with most of the shops in the area.

You my Dear Friend... Have an Awesome Castle away from Your Kingdom!

[toppcat]

I've been a half dozen times or so, although not recently and would like to get back there soon. If you find yourself in Oneonta (half hour away) this place had enough Italian food to feed an army: http://sabatinislittleitaly.com/users/awp.php?ln=714433

I recall the Short Stop was also quite good on Main St. Cooperstown. Hopefully it's still there and still tasty.

The lake is worth taking a drive around and there are other neat sights within the vicinity.

[KingFisk]

Just spent one of the nicer afternoons in recent memory at the Brewery Ommegang....drinking a Hennepin at two in the afternoon on idyllic farmland sure beats the normal Thursday afternoon big city stress. Tomorrow, on to the Hall. Thanks again for all the feedback, guys!

[slipk1068]

If you're lucky, their Temple Cup will be on display.

[btcarfagno]

I'm originally from Clark -- is the baseball card store in Westfield still in existence? I haven't been there in decades but used to go a lot in high school and even during college.

CJ's Extra Innings. Dude screwed me over with supposedly vending fresh 1971 Topps that actually had been black-marker-specialed. This was back 20+ years ago but still sticks in my craw.

Tom C