Just realized I have a hobby record!

[frankbmd]

I have attended in two millennia. Can anyone top that?

[Sean]

I think your record is safe Frank. And the rest of you have made me feel better about not being able to attend this year.

[Butch7999]

The admission charge alone would drain our annual collectibles budget.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I have attended in two millennia. Can anyone top that?

I have attended in 4 different decades.

[hangman62]

OK, how about 1 timers ?

me - once

[bobbyw8469]

Never been to one here.

[GoCubsGo32]

Zero. for me...

[Klrdds]

I have only attended 2 Nationals and both were in Atlanta in the 1990s. While it would be great to see faces of people I communicate with and collect with I always figured the money spent on all the things involving going to The National I could spend on adding things to my collection.
After the bad experiences people had with the last National in Atlanta ( Atlanta hosted 2 within a 3or 4 year period ) I wonder if a southern city , whether Atlanta or not , will ever host another National.

[pawpawdiv9]

Originally Posted by Klrdds

I have only attended 2 Nationals and both were in Atlanta in the 1990s. While it would be great to see faces of people I communicate with and collect with I always figured the money spent on all the things involving going to The National I could spend on adding things to my collection.
After the bad experiences people had with the last National in Atlanta ( Atlanta hosted 2 within a 3or 4 year period ) I wonder if a southern city , whether Atlanta or not , will ever host another National.

Never been to one..but good to know there has been some down here, despite what seems to be bad show.

[frohme]

Originally Posted by hangman62

OK, how about 1 timers ?

me - once

Same - 1990, Arlington

[Thecafewha]

Originally Posted by hangman62

OK, how about 1 timers ?



me - once

Once- 1988 Atlantic City, NJ


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mikemb]

Originally Posted by Thecafewha

Once- 1988 Atlantic City, NJ


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Exact same thing for me.

Mike

[Section103]

Originally Posted by hangman62

OK, how about 1 timers ?

me - once

Once. Chicago several years back. Would love to go again, but it's also hard to justify the trip from CO. I could plow that money into cards instead.

[brian1961]

I think it's a premier event. You see all kinds of GREAT stuff, amidst all kinds of kitsch and common. If you're a frequent message board participant, you're bound to run in to fellow collectors you've enjoyed reading through the years. You would get a chance to match a face with their moniker, and have a real live conversation. When collectors have shared their memories of the National, meeting and enjoying their fellow collectors was often a highlight.

For the languid loner, or the anti-social type, you'd be very uncomfortable.

As some of us age, a good idea would be some sort of a bus tour trip, starting from a decent-sized city, for a one-day deal. On further thought, that's probably very impractical.

One time I went, and the PSA booth had the $2.8 million dollar T-206 Honus Wagner on display. Wow, I will always remember that occasion.

Another time, I took my most cherished card to get it graded at the Chicago National. Sadly, PSA was not grading over-sized cards at the Nat, so I could submit it, and it would have to go bye-bye to Newport Beach. As tough as that was, it HAD to be done. Boy, was I ever glad I didn't change my mind. It came back more than just fine, and I am not ashamed to say I cried like a kid when I opened the package and unwrapped their verdict. There's something about "MINT 9" that can do that to a man.

So you refuse to go to the hobby's main event? What then have you really accomplished by not going? I do not infer you've failed as a collector. No way. However, to deprive yourself of all that potential joy seems deflating. You might be extremely advanced, and pride yourself for that, and believe you won't find anyone on your planet to converse with. I believe you'd be surprised at whom you might meet. Though, if you truly are anti-social, then you've made the right life choices on this one.

----Brian Powell

[bbcard1]

I attended Atlantic City, Houston and Baltimore. I am sure I'll get to another one, but it's a pretty clique-y event in many ways. I have trouble getting dealer's attention and it just goes on and on. I can sometimes get good buys, but it seems harder than just cruising eBay and BST.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

I attended Atlantic City, Houston and Baltimore. I am sure I'll get to another one, but it's a pretty clique-y event in many ways. I have trouble getting dealer's attention and it just goes on and on. I can sometimes get good buys, but it seems harder than just cruising eBay and BST.

I hear what you're saying LOUD and CLEAR, bro. A very right-on observation. At the end of the day, today, eBay is the way to go for many of us. Keep cruisin', mate! I hope you're able to bag a good one this weekend, as it is indeed genuine consolation. Take care. ---Brian Powell

[steve B]

Originally Posted by brian1961

So you refuse to go to the hobby's main event? What then have you really accomplished by not going? I do not infer you've failed as a collector. No way. However, to deprive yourself of all that potential joy seems deflating. You might be extremely advanced, and pride yourself for that, and believe you won't find anyone on your planet to converse with. I believe you'd be surprised at whom you might meet. Though, if you truly are anti-social, then you've made the right life choices on this one.

----Brian Powell

It's not that I refuse to go, I would actually like to go!

I just haven't. Either I haven't had the ability to take the time off, or couldn't afford to go AND buy stuff. And really, what's the point of going to that sort of show and not buying anything.

I haven't been to many big shows for my other hobbies either, although I did go to a big bicycle collecting event (and big for them will fit in a high school gym) And the international stamp show in DC back in 2006. I only got to that by having family in the area so I wouldn't have the cost of a hotel. Other than that, stuff on the level of the Wilmington show is about as big a thing as I've gone to.

Steve B

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by steve B

It's not that I refuse to go, I would actually like to go!

I just haven't. Either I haven't had the ability to take the time off, or couldn't afford to go AND buy stuff. And really, what's the point of going to that sort of show and not buying anything.

I haven't been to many big shows for my other hobbies either, although I did go to a big bicycle collecting event (and big for them will fit in a high school gym) And the international stamp show in DC back in 2006. I only got to that by having family in the area so I wouldn't have the cost of a hotel. Other than that, stuff on the level of the Wilmington show is about as big a thing as I've gone to.

Steve B

Steve, I'm sorry. We have a lot in common. My work precludes me from taking much time off. When I went to the big Willow Grove show in the fall of 1988, I was only able to go because my family and I were visiting friends in Indiana. I never could have done that, living as we were in South Dakota. Within one night, I spent all the money I had brought. I went the following day, looking around, seeing all kinds of cards and items I would want to buy. Speaking to a dealer about an item I wanted from him, when he ascertained I was broke, aside from the funds I needed to get back to Indiana, he quietly asked me, "WHAT are you doing here?" He wasn't trying to humiliate me, or shame me, but I soon walked out of the show.

Going to the National today, I would not have had enough to do any serious buying, and why go if the stuff you really enjoy is way out of your range? I guess at my age, I am accepting this fact of life. Perhaps I would enjoy browsing and admiring.

Perhaps.

Anyway, I sincerely apologize to you for my chiding, though I hope you know my tone was "Ah, come on, buddy, you can do this...." There really can be long periods when, "No buddy, I cannot do this."

At least we both have a collection we can still enjoy and admire.

Have a peaceful day, mate. ----Brian Powell

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by brian1961

I think it's a premier event. You see all kinds of GREAT stuff, amidst all kinds of kitsch and common. If you're a frequent message board participant, you're bound to run in to fellow collectors you've enjoyed reading through the years. You would get a chance to match a face with their moniker, and have a real live conversation. When collectors have shared their memories of the National, meeting and enjoying their fellow collectors was often a highlight.

For the languid loner, or the anti-social type, you'd be very uncomfortable.

As some of us age, a good idea would be some sort of a bus tour trip, starting from a decent-sized city, for a one-day deal. On further thought, that's probably very impractical.

One time I went, and the PSA booth had the $2.8 million dollar T-206 Honus Wagner on display. Wow, I will always remember that occasion.

Another time, I took my most cherished card to get it graded at the Chicago National. Sadly, PSA was not grading over-sized cards at the Nat, so I could submit it, and it would have to go bye-bye to Newport Beach. As tough as that was, it HAD to be done. Boy, was I ever glad I didn't change my mind. It came back more than just fine, and I am not ashamed to say I cried like a kid when I opened the package and unwrapped their verdict. There's something about "MINT 9" that can do that to a man.

So you refuse to go to the hobby's main event? What then have you really accomplished by not going? I do not infer you've failed as a collector. No way. However, to deprive yourself of all that potential joy seems deflating. You might be extremely advanced, and pride yourself for that, and believe you won't find anyone on your planet to converse with. I believe you'd be surprised at whom you might meet. Though, if you truly are anti-social, then you've made the right life choices on this one.

----Brian Powell

Hi Brian, Was this at the 2003 National in AC? I remember it was on display
there.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by Pat R

Hi Brian, Was this at the 2003 National in AC? I remember it was on display
there.

No Pat. The time I saw THE Wagner was at the 2002 National in Chicago. It was on display beside the PSA booth, in its own case. Thanks for asking.

Take care. ---Brian Powell

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by brian1961

I think it's a premier event. You see all kinds of GREAT stuff, amidst all kinds of kitsch and common. If you're a frequent message board participant, you're bound to run in to fellow collectors you've enjoyed reading through the years. You would get a chance to match a face with their moniker, and have a real live conversation. When collectors have shared their memories of the National, meeting and enjoying their fellow collectors was often a highlight.

For the languid loner, or the anti-social type, you'd be very uncomfortable.

As some of us age, a good idea would be some sort of a bus tour trip, starting from a decent-sized city, for a one-day deal. On further thought, that's probably very impractical.

One time I went, and the PSA booth had the $2.8 million dollar T-206 Honus Wagner on display. Wow, I will always remember that occasion.

Another time, I took my most cherished card to get it graded at the Chicago National. Sadly, PSA was not grading over-sized cards at the Nat, so I could submit it, and it would have to go bye-bye to Newport Beach. As tough as that was, it HAD to be done. Boy, was I ever glad I didn't change my mind. It came back more than just fine, and I am not ashamed to say I cried like a kid when I opened the package and unwrapped their verdict. There's something about "MINT 9" that can do that to a man.

So you refuse to go to the hobby's main event? What then have you really accomplished by not going? I do not infer you've failed as a collector. No way. However, to deprive yourself of all that potential joy seems deflating. You might be extremely advanced, and pride yourself for that, and believe you won't find anyone on your planet to converse with. I believe you'd be surprised at whom you might meet. Though, if you truly are anti-social, then you've made the right life choices on this one.

----Brian Powell

I agree with all the pluses you've pointed out, Brian. I've attended about two-thirds of them since my first in Atlanta in '92 (which I thought was absolutely terrific) and have enjoyed every one. More so with the Net54 dinner the last two years--kudos to Leon!

Regards,


Larry

[quinnsryche]

Originally Posted by rats60

I have attended in 4 different decades.

Me too