Whatever happened to these long-time dealers?

[Steve_NY]

Alan,

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

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

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

Steve

[sb1]

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

[akleinb611]

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

[akleinb611]

Steve:

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

[jayshum]

Bill Henderson was another dealer I bought many Topps cards from at The Philly Shows in the 90s. Has he retired or is he still the King of Commons?

[Rich Klein]

From what I heard, he is basically retired and living in Florida

[mikemb]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Bill Henderson was another dealer I bought many Topps cards from at The Philly Shows in the 90s. Has he retired or is he still the King of Commons?

I bought many cards from Bill Henderson. Helped me finish up many sets.

Mike

[mannequin1]

What ever happened to Tommy Catal, who had one of the biggest Mickey Mantle collections in the 80s and 90s? He even had his driver's license.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by mannequin1

What ever happened to Tommy Catal, who had one of the biggest Mickey Mantle collections in the 80s and 90s? He even had his driver's license.

As of last year there was a Washington Post article (it is behind a paywall) which name checked Tom and Mickey's Place in Cooperstown

Here is the website so you can reach out and see if Tom is still there

https://www.mickeysplace.com/about-mickeys-place/

[Peter_Spaeth]

If not mentioned yet -- Doloff.

[DHogan]

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

[lumberjack]

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

Okay, I respect that.

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

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

[mannequin1]

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

[GaryPassamonte]

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

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by mannequin1

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

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

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

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

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

Stan passed in 2008

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

Rich

[JollyElm]

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

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

I believe TJ passed away in 2022. Might have even been mentioned on here at one point.

For the confirmation on TJ's passing. And I was not aware of that previously. FYI, IIRC he event spent a year or two in the WWF as a wrestler named Dr. Doom. He was for them what one could call a Jobber.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008196392712

Regards
Rich

[judsonhamlin]

I was about to ask about Wade Carsel - more non-sports than baseball, but who used to show up at the Philly shows with T206s at good prices. But then found his obit from last year. Apparently got fairly cranky in his later years.

[sb1]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

I was about to ask about Wade Carsel - more non-sports than baseball, but who used to show up at the Philly shows with T206s at good prices. But then found his obit from last year. Apparently got fairly cranky in his later years.

Wade was always cranky...

[Tere1071]

Forgive my bias in mentioning this dealer as I worked for him for many years is Mark Christensen of Sports Nostalgia Shop/Sports Fan-Attic. Mark was almost 7 feet tall with strawberry blonde hair, so he sttod out in a crowd. You'll see his ads in the very early Beckett Price Guide books, plus his ads also ran in other publications through the late-1980s. At first, Mark focused on his mail order business and he would fly to different conventions with his price list purchasing cards.

In 1979, he opened his first card store in La Habra, CA. In 1981, he began to sell sports apparel and with that came a name change -Sports-Fan Attic. Mark opened several other locations and he did well for about a decade. Unfortunately, he opened a location in a mall in south Orange County which did terribly and he shut the business down, but it was fun while it lasted!

This next dealer would be familiar only to collectors in Southern California, but he took me under his wing as a 14-year-old collector and taught me the hobby. His name was Wes Schleiger and he mostly worked the local monthly shows and conventions in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. He, too, opened his own store, Wes's Hall of Fame, first in Bellflower and later in the Temecula area. His wife, Dixie, was a constant presence in his second location. Wes passed in 2016, three weeks after the passing of his wife.

Looking back, it was a blessing to have worked under both of these gentlemen.

Phil aka Tere1071

Complete sets: 1953 Bowman Color and Topps Baseball 1970-1975

Working to complete lower grade 1968 and 1969 Topps Baseball sets

[judsonhamlin]

Originally Posted by sb1

Wade was always cranky...

Fair point. Even more cranky.

[mannequin1]

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

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

[quinnsryche]

Originally Posted by Tony Gordon

I see Pat Quinn every month at the card show at the Civic Center in Orland Park, IL. He is usually one of the first guys through the door. He still sets up occasionally. I have been buying cards from him since I was 12. I'm now 57. One of the nicest guys you will ever meet and incredibly knowledgeable. His history in the hobby is unmatched.

Thanks for the kind words, he's my dad. He'll be 84 in September and still as active as ever (although he's skipping the National this year as he just doesn't have it in him to travel much anymore). Most of the items you buy from me are directly from him. He's forgotten more than I'll ever know!
Tony

[FrankWakefield]

Some nostalgic reading, here... I have big boxes of little boxes in the basement and attic. Most of the little boxes have labels from Shoebox Cards, Mike Wheat Cards, and The Old Judge - Lew Lipset. I don't recall ever having any concern about a discrepancy between how a card was described and how it looked when I got it. Mr. Lipset was a great fellow to talk with on the phone. He knew a right smart about old cards. Good days, good memories.

[FrankWakefield]

Who was that couple that had sales that ended on Thursday nights? A man, and a woman who helped him. Capputo might have been the name of one of them. I enjoyed buying cards from them, too.

[sb1]

James Maxwell and Virginia Capputo...

[sammythunder]

Originally Posted by quinnsryche

Thanks for the kind words, he's my dad. He'll be 84 in September and still as active as ever (although he's skipping the National this year as he just doesn't have it in him to travel much anymore). Most of the items you buy from me are directly from him. He's forgotten more than I'll ever know!
Tony

Hi Tony, I recently read something about Pat Quinn and have been wanting to reach out to him. Would you happen to know how I could reach him?

Thanks!
Sammy

[GaryPassamonte]

Did anyone mention Barry Sloate?

[Rich Klein]

Barry Posts on rare occasions nowadays and from what I'm gathering is enjoying retirement.

And good news on Don Lepore.

A FB message about adding him as a friend popped up on my page and he has poasted on FB within the last week. Good to see him sill going strong. The rest of his bio and his mutual friends fit in as well.

https://www.facebook.com/friends/sug...00000591499761

Rich

[Leon]

I would really have liked to be at that dinner.

I bought a low grade Goudey Ruth 144 about 22 yrs ago, from Gar.....

Originally Posted by whiteymet

I had dinner with Pat Quinn, John Rumeriez and Eric Lange at last years National in Chicago. We go back to the early "conventions" as they were called in the early 70's. Pat still runs a mail order auction and his son posts things for sale here in the BST threads.

Tom Rid was a character! As noted he always had the oddball stuff.

Wayne Varner passed away a few years ago I believe. His good friend "Zimp" Bill Zimpleman who was always at this table is a member here.

Another old time dealer Gar Miller from NJ still sells stuff.

[whiteymet]

Originally Posted by Leon

I would have really like to be at that dinner.

I bought a low grade Goudey Ruth 144 about 22 yrs ago, from Gar.....

Leon:

We may be able to get together again in Cleveland, although I think I heard Pat wasn't making the National this year. I'm sure Dan McKee could join us too if you are planning to attend the National and if so you are invited to join us. You can sit at the "kids" table!!.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by whiteymet

Leon:

We may be able to get together again in Cleveland, although I think I heard Pat wasn't making the National this year. I'm sure Dan McKee could join us too if you are planning to attend the National and if so you are invited to join us. You can sit at the "kids" table!!.

I will be there on Thursday, Friday, Saturday coming back to Big D on Sunday... Would love to catch up. John and I, Danny and I, (and you and I) all have a great rapport.
.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by mikemb

I bought many cards from Bill Henderson. Helped me finish up many sets.

Mike

"The King of the Commons."

[quinnsryche]

Originally Posted by whiteymet

Leon:

We may be able to get together again in Cleveland, although I think I heard Pat wasn't making the National this year. I'm sure Dan McKee could join us too if you are planning to attend the National and if so you are invited to join us. You can sit at the "kids" table!!.

No, my dad is not going this year. My mom has cancer and he's staying close to home until she beats it.
Tony

[GaryPassamonte]

Originally Posted by Leon

I will be there on Thursday, Friday, Saturday coming back to Big D on Sunday... Would love to catch up. John and I, Danny and I, (and you and I) all have a great rapport.
.

Is there a dinner this year, Leon?

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by quinnsryche

No, my dad is not going this year. My mom has cancer and he's staying close to home until she beats it.
Tony

Thoughts and prayers going out to your Mom!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Is there a dinner this year, Leon?

No, not this year. Maybe next year in Chitown again, not sure.



Tony, likewise, well wishes to your mom in her battle.
.

[akleinb611]

Okay, here are a couple of early dealers, both of whom I know are long gone from the hobby. I'm curious about their current whereabouts.

Bruce Yeko - any collector over the age of fifty (okay, sixty!) will be familiar with his name. He ran an outfit called Wholesale Cards, located in Connecticut. Yeko was THE dealer of the Sixties and Seventies. He took over the inventory of dealer Marshall Oreck (who was a member of the family behind the vacuum cleaner empire!) and published the best card dealer catalog of that era. A very good argument can be made that Yeko, rather than Woody Gelman or Larry Fritsch, was the most important dealer of that generation. Not only did he have complete runs of all Topps and Bowman sets available, but many of the rare 1950's and 1960's regional issues all came from his holdings. If you own a mint 1960 Lake to Lake Dairy Milwaukee Braves card, it came from Wholesale Cards. Yeko faded out of the hobby in the early Eighties and took up a second career, recording original cast albums of Broadway musicals whose runs were too short for an "official" album release. As of ten or fifteen years ago, he was still involved with this. Anyone have an update for him?

Second - Bruce and Scott Oran, two brothers who specialized in selling Topps and Bowman commons of the Fifties and Sixties. I filled in many a set buying from them. They operated during the golden age when Mantle, Mays or Musial might cost a bit extra, but anyone else was a common. Some of their ads can be found in the TCMA flyers of the Seventies, but again, I think they moved to Florida just around the time the hobby really took off in 1980. Anyone know anything about them?

[Kutcher55]

Trying to remember a couple of dealers from the Boston area that were regulars at the Rootin Tootin Newton show in the late 80s. One was named Ronnie last name I want to say Marconi. The other one’s name was Marv. He always had the nicest sharpest vintage stuff at high prices but it was high quality. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by akleinb611

Okay, here are a couple of early dealers, both of whom I know are long gone from the hobby. I'm curious about their current whereabouts.

Bruce Yeko - any collector over the age of fifty (okay, sixty!) will be familiar with his name. He ran an outfit called Wholesale Cards, located in Connecticut. Yeko was THE dealer of the Sixties and Seventies. He took over the inventory of dealer Marshall Oreck (who was a member of the family behind the vacuum cleaner empire!) and published the best card dealer catalog of that era. A very good argument can be made that Yeko, rather than Woody Gelman or Larry Fritsch, was the most important dealer of that generation. Not only did he have complete runs of all Topps and Bowman sets available, but many of the rare 1950's and 1960's regional issues all came from his holdings. If you own a mint 1960 Lake to Lake Dairy Milwaukee Braves card, it came from Wholesale Cards. Yeko faded out of the hobby in the early Eighties and took up a second career, recording original cast albums of Broadway musicals whose runs were too short for an "official" album release. As of ten or fifteen years ago, he was still involved with this. Anyone have an update for him?

Second - Bruce and Scott Oran, two brothers who specialized in selling Topps and Bowman commons of the Fifties and Sixties. I filled in many a set buying from them. They operated during the golden age when Mantle, Mays or Musial might cost a bit extra, but anyone else was a common. Some of their ads can be found in the TCMA flyers of the Seventies, but again, I think they moved to Florida just around the time the hobby really took off in 1980. Anyone know anything about them?

Good luck. I sincerely hope you find them. Most of these posts, asking about this one or that one, seem to go unanswered. A couple of years ago, in a thread far, far away, I asked about Harvey Brandwein and had the good fortune to get responses from folks who knew him. I have been in and out of this hobby 3 times, and being from Memphis and in the Navy during the hayday, these names are lost on me.

[ALBB]

There was ( is) Boston guy..Italian name....his brother was ( is ) red sox announcer... had a big store on highway for years.... Cagaligio ???

[mannequin1]

Originally Posted by akleinb611

Okay, here are a couple of early dealers, both of whom I know are long gone from the hobby. I'm curious about their current whereabouts.

Bruce Yeko - any collector over the age of fifty (okay, sixty!) will be familiar with his name. He ran an outfit called Wholesale Cards, located in Connecticut. Yeko was THE dealer of the Sixties and Seventies. He took over the inventory of dealer Marshall Oreck (who was a member of the family behind the vacuum cleaner empire!) and published the best card dealer catalog of that era. A very good argument can be made that Yeko, rather than Woody Gelman or Larry Fritsch, was the most important dealer of that generation. Not only did he have complete runs of all Topps and Bowman sets available, but many of the rare 1950's and 1960's regional issues all came from his holdings. If you own a mint 1960 Lake to Lake Dairy Milwaukee Braves card, it came from Wholesale Cards. Yeko faded out of the hobby in the early Eighties and took up a second career, recording original cast albums of Broadway musicals whose runs were too short for an "official" album release. As of ten or fifteen years ago, he was still involved with this. Anyone have an update for him?

Second - Bruce and Scott Oran, two brothers who specialized in selling Topps and Bowman commons of the Fifties and Sixties. I filled in many a set buying from them. They operated during the golden age when Mantle, Mays or Musial might cost a bit extra, but anyone else was a common. Some of their ads can be found in the TCMA flyers of the Seventies, but again, I think they moved to Florida just around the time the hobby really took off in 1980. Anyone know anything about them?

I bought a lot from Wholesale Card Co. They once had Red Heart Mantles at a card show in a stack, all mint for $1.00each!

The Oran's I vaguely remember. I think they were either from New York, if not Chiacago.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Kit is doing fine. His business is still going strong. His house in Hawaii burned down in the Maui fires but thankfully no one was hurt during that event. He did find a new place to stay in Hawaii this past winter.

He is reasonably active on facebook.

Rich

Wow I have not thought of Kit Young in years.

I remember seeing him at one of the very early National conventions in Chicago when I was probably 20 years old. I stopped to see if he had any interest is four early to mid-60's Topps complete sets I brought with me and told him I felt they were in VG + condition. He looked through the cards and said to a friend sitting next to him "this kid knows how to grade". I felt so honored to have a guy in the hobby like Kit Young pay me that compliment.

We agreed on a price and he grabbed his checks that were laying on the table (it wasnt a check book...it was like he grabbed the next stack of checks out of the box the bank sends you) and wrote me out the biggest check I had ever seen in my life. I shook his hand, said our goodbyes and saw my dad standing there with his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. And all he said was..."you took a check from that guy"? LOL

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by akleinb611

Okay, here are a couple of early dealers, both of whom I know are long gone from the hobby. I'm curious about their current whereabouts.

Bruce Yeko - any collector over the age of fifty (okay, sixty!) will be familiar with his name. He ran an outfit called Wholesale Cards, located in Connecticut. Yeko was THE dealer of the Sixties and Seventies. He took over the inventory of dealer Marshall Oreck (who was a member of the family behind the vacuum cleaner empire!) and published the best card dealer catalog of that era. A very good argument can be made that Yeko, rather than Woody Gelman or Larry Fritsch, was the most important dealer of that generation. Not only did he have complete runs of all Topps and Bowman sets available, but many of the rare 1950's and 1960's regional issues all came from his holdings. If you own a mint 1960 Lake to Lake Dairy Milwaukee Braves card, it came from Wholesale Cards. Yeko faded out of the hobby in the early Eighties and took up a second career, recording original cast albums of Broadway musicals whose runs were too short for an "official" album release. As of ten or fifteen years ago, he was still involved with this. Anyone have an update for him?

Second - Bruce and Scott Oran, two brothers who specialized in selling Topps and Bowman commons of the Fifties and Sixties. I filled in many a set buying from them. They operated during the golden age when Mantle, Mays or Musial might cost a bit extra, but anyone else was a common. Some of their ads can be found in the TCMA flyers of the Seventies, but again, I think they moved to Florida just around the time the hobby really took off in 1980. Anyone know anything about them?

Google Searches show that Bruce Yeko is still doing as of the searching his Broadway musical work.

I found a Bruce Oran profile on FB which is him and he's not very active but the mutual friend and what he called him on his Bday a couple of years ago convinces me that Bruce is findable. There are many more Scott Oran's on FB so he may not as findable.

[Donscards]

Originally Posted by Kutcher55

Trying to remember a couple of dealers from the Boston area that were regulars at the Rootin Tootin Newton show in the late 80s. One was named Ronnie last name I want to say Marconi. The other one’s name was Marv. He always had the nicest sharpest vintage stuff at high prices but it was high quality. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

I believe you are thinking of Marvin Kraut--he did have great vintage cards--I last saw him at Brimfield flea market maybe 15 years ago--he hasnt been on show circuit in like 20 plus years.

[mikemb]

Originally Posted by akleinb611

okay, here are a couple of early dealers, both of whom i know are long gone from the hobby. I'm curious about their current whereabouts.

Bruce yeko - any collector over the age of fifty (okay, sixty!) will be familiar with his name. He ran an outfit called wholesale cards, located in connecticut. Yeko was the dealer of the sixties and seventies. He took over the inventory of dealer marshall oreck (who was a member of the family behind the vacuum cleaner empire!) and published the best card dealer catalog of that era. A very good argument can be made that yeko, rather than woody gelman or larry fritsch, was the most important dealer of that generation. Not only did he have complete runs of all topps and bowman sets available, but many of the rare 1950's and 1960's regional issues all came from his holdings. If you own a mint 1960 lake to lake dairy milwaukee braves card, it came from wholesale cards. Yeko faded out of the hobby in the early eighties and took up a second career, recording original cast albums of broadway musicals whose runs were too short for an "official" album release. As of ten or fifteen years ago, he was still involved with this. Anyone have an update for him?

Second - bruce and scott oran, two brothers who specialized in selling topps and bowman commons of the fifties and sixties. I filled in many a set buying from them. They operated during the golden age when mantle, mays or musial might cost a bit extra, but anyone else was a common. Some of their ads can be found in the tcma flyers of the seventies, but again, i think they moved to florida just around the time the hobby really took off in 1980. Anyone know anything about them?

img20240513_12450342.jpg

[Kutcher55]

Originally Posted by Donscards

I believe you are thinking of Marvin Kraut--he did have great vintage cards--I last saw him at Brimfield flea market maybe 15 years ago--he hasnt been on show circuit in like 20 plus years.

That sounds correct. Thank you, Don.

[akleinb611]

http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...hmentid=621404

That's the catalogue! In the days before the Beckett books and other published sources, a catalogue like this would be the only way a collector could see cards from before his time!

[DHogan]

There was a shop in Arlington Mass. Hall's Nostalgia. They also did small shows at the Holiday Inn in Peabody Mass. Along with their small live auctions at the Knights of Columbus in Arlington Mass. Then there were the Rose brothers who promoted the shows at the Boston College High School in Sout Boston. That was always a great show.