Favorite National?

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Posted By: Aaron M.

I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas--I'm literally counting down the hours until next week's National. To get us in the mood (and to pass the time), anybody want to reminisce about their favorite National and/or favorite national experiences/purchases/sales?

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Posted By: DJ

Anaheim, I believe 1991. Nothing like getting to the event an hour before and seeing thousand's and thousand's of people already in line. What am I waiting in line for, Rush tickets? I actually paid this family up front $20 to pretend like I was part of their family. I saw fist fights over promotional cards (we were introduced to cattle lines waiting for card of Reggie Jackson getting struck out by a Disney character) and got a free autograph of Muhammad Ali as he was signing in an ignored corporate booth in another room.



DJ

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Posted By: jackgoodman

The Anaheim convention set the mark for attendance and promos. Luckily having a table allowed me to come in from the parking garage right into the middle of the floor. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have tried to fight the crowds for admission. I picked up one of those Reggie Disney cards accidently walking by just as they were giving them out. On my way back to my table, I happened to notice Reggie starting to sit down at a table to start signing. So I walked over to him and he signed the card for me. 10 minutes later someone offered me $50 seeing the card in my case. Like a fool, I didn't sell it.

But the most memorable one was the 1987 San Francisco convention. Cards were flying off our tables during set-up and we had to go home that evening to stock up on more cards to put up for sale (not a bad thing). Picked up a really great condition Dan Dee Mantle, a '41 Playball DiMaggio and a '39 Williams that still reside in my collection.

Also still have the original 1987 convention tee shirt (Bob Lee - ever the entrepreneur) never worn and the official convention pin.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

or desite being in Cleveland. The prior nationals were just straight buying sprees for me with very little else. Last year's show had a really nice social context too because of the N54 board. I cannot wait until this year; and my wife cannot wait to get me out of here at this point

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Posted By: Adam J. Moraine

I have NEVER been to a national. Where is next year's national going to be held?

Best Regards,

adam J. Moraine

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Posted By: Aaron M.

Next year's National will be held in Anaheim. Which means that I won't have to travel for the show (which I have mixed felings about).

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Posted By: dan mckee

Least favorite, Anaheim 1991 was not nice to the Mckee family! Neither was the committee at the time or the scum trash that ran it who is now passwed away.

Edited to hide my hateful, morbid thoughts.

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

to follow Danny.......

Mine is a double-edged sword.....1992 Atlanta.......my first national. Me and the ex-wife (wife at the time) struck out and went. Some fighting broke out and the trip was kinda ruined. Wasn't doing vintage at the time. Sure would have been better if I'd come home with a buttload of Old Judges.......

2001 Anaheim was pretty cool too. Went to the show and then drove to Yosemite and San Francisco for a week with a buddy and his family. Great trip........

but 1993-1997 have to be the best cause went with my dad. He's since stopped going as his interest has waned but those were the best.......

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Posted By: David Vargha

I've only been to the 2001 National in Anaheim. I'll go next year as well. Maybe by next year, I'll have sold my overpriced So Cal home, moved to Texas and have gobs of leftover equity cash to spend on cards then.

DavidVargha@hotmail.com

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Posted By: Judge Dred

The 1991 National was an absolute mess. It was disorganized and poorly ran. The security was so bad that a pair of dealers were ripped off to the tune of over $250,000 worth of material while the "security group" was supposedly watching over the premises while the hall was closed. The promoters did little to compensate the dealers for the loss. That was a bit off topic because that is what I would consider one of the worst Nationals.

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Posted By: leon

Was about 4-5 years ago. It was my best....long story but Doug Allen invited Scott B and myself to dinner....and we picked up Marshall Fogel on the way. I remember calling BCD from the dinner table ...about something. Doug was very kind and I met Kevin Struss there and many other folks I still stay in touch with.....It was a great experience all around...I met Dan and Dad that year too....Dad is still one of my favorite guys......regards

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Posted By: J Levine

The first National I attended was 1991 and was escorted in by a dealer friend of mine (local) an hour before hand. Spent lots of money and bought some stuff that will never leave my collection.

Worst part was my brother and I both looking at two '49 Bowman PCL cards and passing on them for $10 each. Went back next day and they were gone. Did the same thing with the only Lummis Peanut Butter card I had ever seen (or seen since).

Actually, similar bad experience at last Anaheim national when I passed on buying one of the Allegeheny cards. Did get to go through the deck (which was still mostly complete) and write down all the Phillies. I think Kit Yound helped me get my hands on that. Wish I had bought the card but spent money on a T-205 Cobb instead.

Can not wait for next year.

Joshua

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Posted By: DJ

I enjoyed the Anaheim National because it was a mess...it was like being in a Circus. It was definition of "chaos" because the whole National was all about freebies and how to handle the freebies. That made it easy to walk the aisles unlike many other years where there were people rubber necking over others looking at merchandise. I believe Chicago was the year before and it was all about...people buying from each other. Imagine that! A few years later, the complete opposite of the Anaheim show happened in Cleveland where nobody shows up to that thing and the big deal is the indoor Ferris Wheel.

As far as autograph guests go, this National is amusing. Timmy from Lassie? Penny Marshall? Laffit Pincay? What happened to Koufax! Namath! Ali! Ripken Jr.! Geez.

As much as I would like to go, I can't make it this year because I'm the best man at a wedding so I will look forward to the adventures in text (and photos) on the VBC here.

DJ

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Posted By: Brian Koyama

I liked it just for the fact that I was able to purchase most of my Goudey and (really) beat up T205's, plus my 1974 and '75 Topps complete sets from Jack Petruzelli (I think he was the cop that was in the middle of the Pete Rose counterfit bust back in those days). I can't wait until next year's National. If I had a bigger house, I'd invite you guys to crash at my place, or at least talk shop about collectibles. You guys are better than living encyclopedias when it comes to vintage.

Brian

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Posted By: Stephen Mitchell

Having the good fortune (by virtue of a near-cross country move in late 1980) of living within driving distance of the first five Nationals, I recall vividly the enthusiasm felt for that first national. Quite literally, many dealers looked forward to the second National before pulling away from the first!

The second (Detroit area) was excellent as Lloyd and Carol Torpe went beyond their usual excellence which made the Midwest Show just about the nation's best in those days.

St. Louis (the third) is the show we remember best for literally selling out everything we brought by Sunday noon.

Chicago (the 4th) - now THAT'S "My Kind of Town": Best crowd, best sales and non-stop action for a week. (Remember, the USPS issued the Babe Ruth stamp a couple of days before showtime.)

Finally, Parsippany, NJ (National #5), although a bit of a letdown from Chicago, was still excellent.

The worst? Anaheim 1991. While we did not set up at Anaheim, we flew down only to spend nearly as much time in line as we did getting into and out of military service. Anaheim was so overwhelming we left a day early - and were glad to be gone!

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Posted By: Andrew

"Least favorite, Anaheim 1991 was not nice to the Mckee family! Neither was the committee at the time or the scum trash that ran it who is now dead and I am glad he is dead!"

Who was the show promoter, was it Randy T.?

“A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.” - English Proverb

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Posted By: jay behrens

My favorite National was the first one I set up at, 1987 in San Francisco. I picked up a nice collection of 48 Bowman basketball that included 2 Mikan cards. I didn't get any t-shirts or pins for setting up and I knew Bob Lee.

Worst was also the last one I set up at, 1991 Anaheim. I was there sharing table space with a friend. The promo nightmare was unreal. My highlight was Reggie Jackson buying one of his 1969 Topps cards from me.

Jay

My place is full of valuable, worthless junk.

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

was San Francisco. Got some really nice stuff, though was not into 19th century yet. I went with a couple, the man of which had his wallet stuffed with cash, and in five miniutes, he was writing checks...Mark Macrae got me invited up into some dealer's room, where people kept showering Goudeys upon me, and someone was waving a '53 Bowman set around, saying "what shall I do with this?" I traded my '75 minis and cash for my (present) bat off, and SAW my first T205s, lying unattneded on some dealer's table, their borders gleaaming gold. "Thoase are pretty," I thought, "but I never saw them before; better not buy them."

I think, on the whole, the eastern dealers were really let down by us (as in my non-experience with t205s) because so many of us were such Rubes. They'd expected a sophisticated card city--and SF wasn't. Hey, come back! We're older and wiser!

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Posted By: warshawlaw

Like night and day differences. I waited in line outside for 4+ hours on the 1st day I attended in 1991 (spent the time talking to a Marine I knew from a show the week before; he was just back from the Gulf War and had a ton of those Desert Shield cards plus a bunch of propaganda cartoons that were dropped during the air campaign--really interesting way to spend some time) then bypassed the 2nd line for the bag o crap and went right into the aisles. I remember talking to Dan and Dad about their loss on one of the days I was there. Thankfully, the 2nd day I went a dealer I was working on a Hollywood memorabilia sale with came and got me an hour early and took me in via the dealer's entrance, so I bypassed the line and all the BS. I was kinda cash-strapped at the show so I didn't do that well.

2001 was totally different. They planned for the massive attendance of 1991, it seemed, but got a hell of a lot less. I got in readily, had a plan and had cards and cash to work with. I added a bunch of nice stuff to my collection.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

I have to, in part, agree with Steve Mitchell's selections.

The 1st National I attended was the 1982 St. Louis show. And, as in
most things in life your first experience makes a deep impression on you.
It was a really great show.

The North Jersey Show in 1984 (Parsippany) was the 1st National
that I set-up in; and therefore, I have very fond memories of that one.

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Posted By: jackgoodman

Jay - If you knew Bob Lee then you know the t-shirt and pin weren't "given" to tableholders.

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Posted By: Rich Klein

Having attended every National since 1983, here are some quick highlights.

Set up on a 1/2 Table in 1983, took in a ton of $$ for such a small space -- in addition, that Friday of the National may have been my favorite dealer day as there was never a break all day long. And the day went from like 9 am to 9 PM. That night, in the bar, I sat in on the meeting that helped to draft the initial National Convention Rules. (That included the no contiguous states and 400 mile rule)

1984 -- Parsipanny. 1st National I had my own table(s) at. Only 20 minutes from home so drove home each night. Had a jacket in the car because of the Aspen's rule of wearing a jacket in some of their lounges.

1985 -- Anaheim. Found out while I was there, that the job I had when I left would no longer exist when I got back to Jersey.

1989-- Chicago. My lord, what an awesome show. Bruce and Bonita Paynter did a wonderful job doing local promotion. The hobby was hot. We were busy from the time we opened till we shut down the booth at 2 PM Sunday Afternoon.

1990 -- Arlington. After the National, the next day while totally drained, I interviewed at Beckett Publications for a price guide analyst position. Still here

1991 -- Anaheim. 1st National attended NOT as a dealer. Tuesday promo night was the ONLY time I have ever been afraid for my life at a show.

Those are some quick highlights. I'll be happy to discuss more memories later

Rich

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Posted By: dan mckee

Show promoter was Jack Petrocelli. I believe I have his 1st name correct. We were robbed thanks to his worthless cop buddies who were supposedly on guard 24 hours, pop never recovered from that. Also, a local family, very nice people, the Levins were robbed the same night. It was a nightmare! Pop lost about $250K in inventory. Piece of shiit Petrocelli should have been shot!

Judge dred, I just read your post. $250K only covered us, the levins lost almost as much, putting the total up higher. What did we recover? Not much, We sued 11 parties, security, the city, food services, you name it. The city felt sorry for us and threw $33K our way. The Levins received $11K, we received $11K, and the lawyers got the last $11K. What an absolute nightmare!

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Posted By: warshawlaw

You'd probably have done better; certainly couldn't have done worse. Of course, if your lawyers were lame-o's, you did what you had to do.

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Posted By: DJ

Wow Dan, I can see why that was your least favorite. I also really enjoyed Atlanta but not so much driving around every one way Peach Street in sight.

I think we can all agree that you can often hear crickets (sometimes they are set up) at the Cleveland events.

DJ

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Posted By: Ed McCollum

St. Louis.

My wife, toddler son and I drove in from my parents home in rural Missouri as a vacation. While wife and son shopped, I stood in line an hour and a half to get in, went to one dealer who I knew had the last "rare back" T206 I would ever be able to afford, stood another half hour in line to buy an $8 hamburger (pretty pricey then and now) and left.

Still worth it.

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Posted By: Greg B.

I went to the 1990 National in Arlington, saw a Ranger game where Pete Incaviglia hit 2 homers, and Nolan Ryan win #297 or 298 not sure, then went to Aneheim in 1991 where I saw Pete incaviglia hit a homer against the Angels. I was living in Philly at the time and went to a game in 1993 when Pete took somebody deep again! Three cities the only three games I saw Pete play in live...4 dings. I believe he struck out in all of those games as well. Atlanta 1992 was the best for me, I got wasted at a bar (even though I was only 18) with Franco Harris and some other ex-NFL guy but I didn't know who he was. He looked like a fat MC Hammer to me. Franco bought me a Jack&Coke and laughed when I complained that he would often tiptoe out of bounds instead of taking a hard hit from someone even though he could have picked up a couple more yards. The last thing I remember is sitting with him at a table critiqueing (sp?) the women in the place, Hilarious! I don't know if he was there for the show, but he just strolled into this place and I had had a few and I just went up to him. Cool!
Greg B.

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Posted By: dan mckee

Adam, my father and Joe Bosley ran the show on this one. If I had known you, it would have been a no brainer. The case was tried, we just got smoked. And they wonder why people get shot!

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Posted By: Richard Masson

A buyer's delight by the end of the show. So few people, they were giving away stuff at the ends to avoid having to carry it home. Completed a 1953 Topps set start to finish in three days, with a little help from the craps tables.

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Posted By: Scott Forrest

It was great - fantastic city, great food and music, etc. If I weren't leaving for a running camp Thursday, I would definitely be heading for Chicago. I picked up plenty of non-card vintage memorabilia last time at great prices - especially photos, but there were also great deals on vintage bats, gloves, uniforms.

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Posted By: Julie

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Posted By: Zach

easy the only one i've been to....cleveland last year. It seens from some comments that some didnt think it was that great....I loved it. Maybe it was because it was my first natl. who knows. I ended the show with picking up 23 hofers including a t206 matty in a PSA two....man was it a blast meeting everyone and learning so much. I can't wait for this years and i'll be catching my flight tommorow morning to Chicago. I have no doubts this years will be if not the same better than last years.....can't wait to see you guys there !

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Posted By: warshawlaw

but Cleveland, what can you say? Lousy food, lousy accommodations, a facility with a friggin' ferris wheen in the middle of it...At least it was cheap.

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Posted By: Scott Forrest

Many years ago I was an airline employee - we used to make a point of taking weekend trips to places we would otherwise never visit. So one Friday we headed to Cleveland, took in a game at the old Municipal stadium, stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown, hung out along the river (just after the refurbishment). It was a BLAST. I would definitely go back to Cleveland.

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Posted By: Julie

In "Tootsie," the cameraman asks the diretor if he can pull back a little, and how much ( Hoffman is really an UGLY woman!) and a lady says, "how about Cleveland?"