Sad News Wayne Varner

[Rich Klein]

His long-time friend and business partner Bill Zimpleman just posted on FB that Wayne passed on earlier today. A nice man, may he rest in peace.

Rich

[Leon]

Very sad to hear this. Wayne was always super nice to me over the years. RIP Wayne....

[sb1]

Very sad to hear, I knew Wayne for well over 20 years, he was one of the hobby icons for many, many years.

[DerekMichael]

When I very first became fascinated with T206 about a decade ago one of the very first people my Dad and I got to speak with was Mr. Varner. He spent a good many hours with us on the phone and offered a lot of knowledge about the set. I am very sad to hear he is no longer with us. He was very kind to us. Time really goes by quickly. May you rest in peace Mr. Varner.

[trdcrdkid]

I bought cards from him in the mid-90s, and remember his ads in SCD. Never met him in person, but he seemed like a nice guy.

[griffon512]

Wayne was a knowledgeable guy with a great sense of humor. His "Shoebox Cards" were a fixture at shows I went to for many years. He and Bill were always great to clown around and spitball with. He will be greatly missed. Hopefully he's in a better place.

[pcoz]

Really sad news. Wayne was a hobby friend for many years. Super nice guy.


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[DeanH3]

I've bored Mr. Varner way too many times over the years with my blabbering and indecisiveness when considering a purchase. He AWLAYS had patience and kindness towards me. Sad news indeed. RIP Wayne.

[RedsFan1941]

a hobby icon and very nice man. he will be missed. wish the hobby had more Wayne Varners.

[Al C.risafulli]

Wayne had the booth across from me at the Philly Show for a few years when I was a regular there. He was a sweet man, always took an interest in what I was doing, particularly when LOTG was a brand new auction company. He went out of his way to tell me he was rooting for me.

So sorry to read this, and condolences to his friends and family.

-Al

[Marckus99]

A gentleman.

RIP.

[BeanTown]

Positive person in the hobby for decades. RIP Wayne

[Jay Wolt]

Sorry to hear this

[painthistorian]

I met Wayne in 1975 at the NYC hotel shows run by Paul & Bob Gallagher ....I always respected him as a kind, quality person, friendly to everyone and had great knowledge..I am so sad to hear about his death and may God make a special place for him in heaven.

[Tim Zwick]

Sad news. An honest and friendly man. Show warrior from the early days. A hobby Hall-of-Famer without a doubt. My condolences to his family and to Zimp.

[Hankphenom]

I hate to hear this, it's the passing of my generation from the hobby. I didn't really know him, but Kevin and I set up across from them at the Philly show--with Al, when he was a rookie in the auction game, right next door. Could we have asked for better neighbors? All really sweet people and they sure knew their stuff.

[Baseball Rarities]

So sorry to hear this. Have known him since I was a teenager. I always looked forward to seeing him at all of the shows.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

His long-time friend and business partner Bill Zimpleman just posted on FB that Wayne passed on earlier today. A nice man, may he rest in peace.

Rich

A true hobby icon, a wonderful person and one of my dear friends...he will be truly missed! God bless him and his family!

Joe T.

[bigfish]

Sad news. Fantastic guy! Will be missed.

[Kenny Cole]

A really good guy. RIP.

[clydepepper]

I didn't know Wayne, but had several successful transactions with him over the years...always positive. RIP

[oldjudge]

Great guy and an honest dealer. RIP Wayne.

[oaks1912]

Sorry to hear this. Have dealt with him since the Willow Grove days. Ironically was talking with Teddy Z a few weeks back about Wayne. RIP

[Chris Counts]

Wayne was one of the first guys I bought card from when I got back into the hobby about 20 years ago, and I was struck by what a good guy he was. Rest in peace ...

[Ted Abernathy]

Wayne was the guy who convinced me to GO PSA, God Bless him and his family.

[timn1]

Sold me my first Obaks c. 2000 at Fort Washington. Always a positive presence in the hobby.

Tim

[robkas68]

May Wayne rest in peace. In the early 1980s when I was in junior high school, I would spend some of my summers in western Pennsylvania with my grandparents. I would go to some early card shows with my uncle. Wayne would give me a few vintage cards which I of course could not afford since I was all of 12. The first card my wife ever got me as a present (a 1933 Goudey Joe Cronin) came from Wayne. My wife would simply call Wayne and rely on his recommendations.

When I saw Wayne at the National last year I had the opportunity to buy one last card from him and reminisce about my early purchases and how time flies as my son is the same age as when I started collecting and Wayne’s grandson is now running the business.

If there is ever a HOF for our hobby Wayne should be a part of the inaugural class.

[Brian Van Horn]

Condolences to Wayne's family. I've known he, Bill and Mike Wheat for 38 years since their store was on Banksville Road in Pittsburgh. Rest in Peace.

[Republicaninmass]

One of the most friendly, happiest dealers I've had the pleasure of meeting over...dare I say 25 years? I always kind of smiled when I saw his table, even in his declining health he seemed so friggin happy to be there at a card show. RIP t206 wishes and CJ dreams....

[Moonlight Graham]

RIP Wayne-great dealer and an even nicer person!

Joe K

[kailes2872]

Wayne lived about 5 miles away from me. I am in Cranberry Township and he is in Zelienople.

My oldest son is friends with his grandson, Keegan. Wayne would always be at the (then) Robert Morris show and he and Bill were a joy to talk to. I would run into them at Strongsville and I would see them at the National in Cleveland. He would put his grandkids to work in the booth. I remember speaking to Patrick.

Conner bought a T206 Fred Clarke from him and Wayne would always encourage me to collect pre-war and put them in them away and allow them to appreciate. I remember at the '14 National he had the 52-55 Red Man sets and encouraged me to start collecting those - telling me to get away from the mainstream of 50's and 60's topps.

When he got sick a few years ago and lost so much weight, I worried about him then, but I am jealous of the fact that he was able to spend his adult life doing what he loved and immersed in the hobby. My best to Bill and his family. He certainly was a wonderful guy!

[Brian]

Very sad news. I bought many a card and had many pleasant interactions with Wayne over the years. In fact, one of my favorite cards in my collection was acquired from him at a National. Will remember those times always...

[leaflover]

When I didn't see him in Chicago this year I was afraid his time was near.
Always a gentleman and a fine human being. My condolences to his family.

As Ben Franklin once wrote; "...…….. we are soon to follow".

[tedzan]

I've known Wayne since the early 1980's. I met him at the Willow Grove Show in Pennsylvania. Wayne, Mike Wheat, and Bill Zimpleman were Pittsburgh Sports Collectibles back then.
I've bought a lot of cards from them throughout the years, and have sold a lot of cards to them.....they are really great guys.

In recent years, Wayne and Bill were set up at the Philly Show next to my booth. During lull periods at this Show we would reminisce about the good ole days. We had lots of laughs.

GOD Bless Wayne's soul....and, comfort his family.


TED Z
.

[topcat61]

Wayne was one of the first dealers I did business with when I was a teenager, and he'd always be at the Shriner's Show sharing his stories as a collector himself and why he got into the hobby. He was pretty influential in helping me build a quality vintage collection, and as it looks, helped a lot of people too. Many thanks to Wayne and his staff over at Shoebox, RIP buddy. He certainly wont be forgotten.

[Rickyy]

My condolences to his friends and family... I too bought cards from him also back to the pre internet days... classy person was and will always be.

Ricky Y

[rjackson44]

God bless

[vic]

RIP my friend


Vic Stanley

[Bpm0014]

Condolences to Wayne's family. I've known he, Bill and Mike Wheat for 38 years since their store was on Banksville Road in Pittsburgh. Rest in Peace.


That’s crazy. I grew up in Banksville about 1 minute from that shop. Used to go there all the time. Although I don’t remember or know him, RIP man.

[marzoumanian]

I worked mostly with Bill Z. over the years, buying vintage cards from the mailed catalog. Over the years I would see Bill and Wayne at many a National (and Chicago Sun-Times shows here in Chicago). Great guys, always helpful. Wayne was a kind man. A true hobby legend and, as others have said in this thread, most knowledgeable. At the National in Cleveland (2018) I saw that his health was going downhill and am glad I was able to thank him then for all his industry service. God bless you, Wayne.

Mark

[Andy Sandler]

A great guy. I will miss him.

[jbsports33]

God Bless him and his family!

[spec]

In 60-plus years in this hobby, I've never seen anyone make a better transition from collector to dealer than Wayne Varner. He was a class act as a trading partner and a class act as a dealer. My condolences to his family and to Bill, whose integrity is unsurpassed.
B0b Ri.ch@ard$0n

[Vintagecatcher]

Like many others, Wayne was one of the first dealers I bought from when I entered the hobby many years ago.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Patrick

[Yoda]

There were never cards that glittered in Wayne's cases.

[bigfanNY]

Our Hobby lost a Great Collector and dealer.. I have delt wirh Mr. Varner ( I was 14 when met him in 1975 so always called him Mr. Varner) a number of times and he was always friendly. I think last time I saw him was Philly show where I saw him many times over the years. My prayors go out to his friends and family.