So why expose him?

Semaj Nigaef is James Feagin backwards.

LOL no one ever accused me of being the brightest light on the tree. :D:D Good one, James!

Top 10 collectors...JimVB
 

Dear JIMVB,

My ex-wife has no interest in baseball cards. Whilst we sold some cards
as part of our divorce settlement, we went our own separate ways.

Furthermore, unlike you, she holds a graduate degree does not shoot animals
for sport, spit tobacco, nor does she have so much time on her hands
that she would waste it writing laughable posts.

Whilst we are unaware of your social activities, might we suggest a visit to Chicago- attend the Jerry Springer show. It appears that the women participants, albeit a bit smarter than you- would be your perfect match.

By the way, Jim VB, you will soon be appearing on the top of our list- the ten most foolish Board Members of All Time

Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List

Tom,

Bill Haber worked for Topps. He worked there for years, as he worked his way up he eventually reached what I think was a job with the title of Sports Director. He worked on getting at least one card, one image, of everyone who played in the majors. Back in the 60's he had a collection that was on par with, and in some ways better than those of Egan, Barker, and Carter. He had all of the PCL Bowmans. When I communicated with him it was a tug of war, I'd try to pry from him information about the white border tobacco cards, and the players depicted; he was always wanting to know about Colgans Chips, which ones I had, or had seen, which team variations existed. Sometimes we'd answer the other's questions as a way of steering the conversation back to what we wanted to know about. I sent him a few Colgans, at one time he was pushing out on those known, or those that were attributed on the various lists. He was a soft spoken, gentle fellow, had worked in banking at one time. And he was big on getting the birth and death dates, and the locations correct in the old Baseball Encyclopedia. I would think he's still acknowledged in that publication, if he isn't he should be. I know Mr. Lipset acknowledges him in the 2nd Encyclopedia on Early Gum and Candy Cards; I don't recall if he's mentioned in the other two. I'd think his collection in the 60's would have been in the top 10, his knowledge of baseball cards top 10, his cataloging and record keeping top notch. At Topps he was able to determine who got a card and who didn't (subject to the contract crossfire). I deem him one of the more important collectors to our hobby.

As for Sir EW Tigar, if this was about all card collecting then I think he leaps to the top of the list. But since I deem this to be about baseball card collecting, I allow for Mr. Burdick to barely nudge him out.

I recently found some old 1950s hobby magazines (I didn't see anything baseball related in them) and every one of them has a classified ad from Charles Bray seeking tobacco and candy cards...there were also ads from Goodwin Goldfaden seeking sports related publications. Just imagine the stuff they must have gotten from those ads.

I was also recently looking through an early 1950s issue of Popular Science magazine and saw a Charles Bray classified ad in that too...he really covered the bases.

+1

Thanks for the clarification. You were unclear in your earlier post.

So she doesn't collect baseball cards, just your pictures of dead Presidents? (You know. Like Samuel Chase.)

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Thanks for that info. It's amazing to me the think about how dedicated these men were in a time were you had to be part detective, record keeper, filing clerk, letter writer, advertisement author, etc. to even understand what was out there. They also had be a clearing house, I'm sure, accepting all kinds of material in to build their sets, make trades, and sell the unwanted items. It's so different from what we do today as collectors is hard to imagine all of the duties they had to undertake. Each must have spent most of their lives locked alone in a room.

weres mr mint on this list?

Mr Mint was not a collector

Al Rosen is a revolving door for cards. A rather pushy one at that who doesn't belong on a list like this. IMO. :rolleyes:

Mr Mint was a character, flashy, he churned lots of money and lots of cards. He didn't really do anything that I perceive as important for the hobby. A presence in the hobby, yes. Important in the history of the hobby, no.

This thread has all the earmarks of the typical downward spiral expected for a self serving thread. Nothing new here and the act gets quite old. At first they were entertaining but like any comic if they don't come up with new material eventually the audience stops showing up. Sad really.

Mr. Lipset lists Mr. Haber in his credits in vol 3 of his Encyclopedia, (I just came across one while digging for an old Baseball Encyclopedia, which I didn't find).

And here's a link about Red Morgan. It mentions Mr. Haber's efforts in the article, and this was typical of what he did... he quietly went about filling in the blanks, the missing information, in what we now look at and take for granted. He gave us a lot.

http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?...d=9977&bid=417


And Joe, I really don't understand your post.

Anyone find the image of Bruce sitting in his apartment surrounded by his collection watching Jerry Springer as funny (or disturbing) as I do?

Joe, some of us understand your post and agree.

I knew what Joe meant when I saw that my buddy, Rob D had posted. I'd think Rob could have told you about Mr. Haber, too. And I didn't wax on about Mr. Haber until someone asked.

Frank, you're probably the only one on the board who previously knew about Bill Haber. Most of us know only about the numbers on slabs. Thank you for continually educating us newbies. By the way, who is this Sy Berger I hear about sometimes? Please help!

Just to clue you in, I don't think Joe -- and I know I wasn't -- referring to you in our previous posts. But keep fighting the good fight, buddy.

zing!!!

I know. I am caught in the middle. Crushed by the thought of Bruce's disdain and yet, anxious to know who the competition is!

Well then, Rob. I apologize. And to you, also, Joe. Truly.

Sometimes I read the acknowledgments and credits in the fronts of books and stuff. I just looked in the Standard Catalog to see if Mr. Haber was listed there, but he's not. Even though some of what's in there could be traced back to him.

I doubt that I'm the only one here who's heard of Mr. Haber. Minimally, Mr. Lipset looks here on occasion, I'm certain he knew Mr. Haber. And I'd think a few others here do.

As for Mr. Berger, I never met, nor corresponded with, nor talked on the phone with him. I've heard of him. Here's a link about old times that mentions him, and Mr. Haber.... http://www.oldbaseball.com/refs/lerner/irv_lerner.htm

And whenever I dig down to a Baseball Encyclopedia, I'll scan the credits to show Bill Haber's name, there's no way they've not credited him.

As for the top 10 list, I'd think bubbling under there is Scot Reader, Ted Z, and Mr. Masson. The three know a right smart about old cards, they're collectors, and they share their knowledge.

I remember when the Sports Collectors Store auctioned Bill Haber's collection via an insert in SCD. The two lots that come to mind are a complete T210 set and a virtually complete (missing a card or two) E107 set. Both were won by the same collector.

thanks for the info guys. As a newbie collector it is nice to learn about the history of the hobby!

One of my regrets in the hobby
 

Was not being able to meet Mr. Haber. I was visiting Topps for Beckett in 1995 (Sort of an ex-officio visit as I was visiting my dad and took a day to go to the city, etc). I got a great tour from Marty Appel and we passed by Bill Haber's office only to be told that he was sick or out of the office on that day. A scant four months later, Mr. Haber was gone.

I still remember that visit and my instinctive feeling of realizing when he was not in the office, I would never get to visit with him

Regards
Rich

Has anyone mentioned Woody Gelman yet....he contributed to the hobby a great deal both on the sports and non-sports front.

Joshua

Hard to limit it to ten!
 

These are simply great names and the list goes on and on and I'd include Woody Gelman and I'd say Charlie Brookes contributed a great deal in the 60's, and he was instrumental in getting my generation involved!
Well, this list has sparked great conversations and a list of names that are fantastic! Thank you Bruce for starting this great thread!

I was pleased to see the name Gar Miller mentioned earlier. When I first started collecting older cards, he was always very courteous and helpful, even though I was a neophyte. I remember how cool it felt to be corresponding and trading with an advanced collector, especially one who dealt fairly and honestly, and often gave bonus discounts because I was new. I have tried to follow his lead whenever I can to help newer collectors.

Ah, of course..........Gar Miller! How could I forget him, one of the all-time best. A true gentleman who still deals in cards...

Lovely Day...

When I first started back in the hobby in the late '80s, I used to send Gar checks for $20 and he would send back whatever he thought fair for the $20. When he found out I was collecting the '53 Bowman Black and White set, he sent me all the Tigers (tougher for some reason) and the Stengel for my little check. Gar is still a class act and still sells. A great hobby person.

Bill -- glad to see you are still with us -- continue to battle that Big C

And I heard at the National that Charlie is now in a nursing home.


Regards
Rich

For Exhibit collectors, Woody Scharf has to be mentioned. Woody Scharf wrote the seminal articles on Exhibit baseball cards in The Trader Speaks in December 1979-January 1980-February 1980. Many old collectors still use his set numbering nomenclature. Mr. Scharf was kind enough to correspond with me and share some of his notes back in the old VCBC days when I started advertising for info on the cards and writing articles on a few sets.

+1

Haber and Woody Scharf
 

Gentlemen:

I had the privilege of knowing both Bill Haber and Elwood Scharf. I visited Bill's home in Brooklyn and Staten Island numerous times.

I would always see Woody and his wife who I called "Auntie" at the early 70's shows and visited his home a few times as well. I still have many of his handwritten checklists. I remember his happiness when he "discovered" the Averill card in the Salutations set. He had never seen one before, so you know how tough it must be.

Bill's main job at Topps was writing the backs of the cards. In fact Bill desperately wanted to move out of NYC and decided to move to WI. Bill hoped it would help his asthma and I think he also really wanted to be near Larry F.

When he was moving he offered his job to me. I visited Topps and was interviewed by Sy Berger. At the time I was living in "bucolic" NJ working for Bill Mastro's father. I was not a fan of the location of Topps offices in Brooklyn, and when Bill told me he had two batteries stolen out of his car when he parked it at work, I knew the job was not for me. As it turned out Bill kept his job and wrote the cards from WI. but his wife got home sick and didn't like cows she said, so they moved back and settled in Staten Island.

A memory just returned to me recently when I saw the Current All Stars of Roberts Konstanty and Stanky in the recent Legendary Auction. Those cards originated with Bill.

He was known to go hot and heavy for the set he was collecting at the time. Talk about tunnel vision! I recall his quest for Seattle Popcorn cards most vividly. But usually once he completed a set like that he would sell it and start on the next project. I digress.

He started working on a T200 set and I had about 12 nice ones. At the time I didn't collect T cards as much as Topps. I LOVED oddball Topps, test sets, etc. I could never get his 3 1960 Topps cards of Hadley, F. Thronberry, and Cimoli with the different team logos that were changed once they were traded.

But when I turned up the T200's he asked me what I wanted. I told him the 3 Currents I lacked for my set. He said he didn't have them. I told him he know where he could get them. Meaning the Topps files. I had seen them while doing research for Woody Gelman and Rich Egan for what was to be a new Standard Catalog that never came to fruition.

For those of you who don't know, Topps kept two of each card they printed and GLUED them onto plain paper, front and back, side by side.

In a week or two I got a call from Bill saying to come on over he had the Current All Stars for me. He "liberated" them form the files I guess. Bill Mastro and I drove over to Staten Island and Bill H. showed me Roberts, Konstanty and Stanky with glue on the front. He offered them to me for the T200's. I told him I wanted the ones with glue on the back. He said, sorry he promised them to Larry F. For what, I had no idea. After hours of haggling I told Bill Mastro, "lets go" and we headed down the stairs. All the way down Mastro is whispering to me " are you crazy!! You can't walk away from those cards!!" I said, just wait.......

As we hit the bottom step Haber said "OK Fred you win come back up". That's how I got the three cards that were in the recent auction. I took the Stanky with glue on the front because it was in better shape than the other.

They later ended up with Halper when he bought my collection in 1975 (UGH!! a few years too early!!). I recall him telling me he traded them for some Yankee W.S. rings. What happened to them from there I don't know. But they were always my favorite cards even after I completed T206 and lots of other sets. Who won them from the Legendary auction? Anyone here??

AH, memories........ Sorry to bore you all

Fred-What a great story. I'm sure no one here was bored with that. On the contrary, most of us love to hear hobby history.

Thanks and keep the stories coming---Jay

Fred,

Great, great stuff! It's so enjoyable to read first-person accounts like yours.

Hardly boring, I love hearing these old stories.

Fred,

That's what these threads are all about. Thanks for the story. Perfect timin as we just watched those babies sell at great prices.

Do you ever regret not taking that job at Topps?

Thanks,

Tom

I concur, what a fascinating first person account. Thanks for sharing it with the board.

Jeff

Thank you, Fred.

My recollection is that Mr. Haber completed all of the Seattle Popcorn cards. He was driven by getting an image of every player on a card. Thanks for posting.

Wow! Joshua took me back to my favorite years of collecting. I would mail Gar Miller a check for whatever I could afford at the time, usually $20-35 and my updated want lists of T205s and T206s. I about 10-14 days back a package would come with cards.

We did that for years and later moved on to complete 1948-55 Bowman football sets. That would have been 1984-89 I think.

I called him about 6 or 7 years ago and he could not have been nicer. I wish I had renewed the tradition then!

Hi Tom:

It was a combination of me not liking Brooklyn and not wanting to commute from Jersey. Once Bill was able to keep his job and move to WI. it worked out the best for all. But I have to admit ever once in awhile I wonder what if.......

Good point. I can certainly think of at least one or two that have superb collections ... but it's not my place to say.

A superb collection, by itself, does not make an important collector... a collector's contributions to the hobby is the primary factor. Being a collector is a qualification, but not the end all of the matter. Maybe they contribute information to others, or use an assumed name... that would get them there. But a great collection alone isn't enough.

I agree. I would rank someone with no collection, but who is willing to impart hobby knowledge to others, over someone with a fabulous collection who is not.

as stated before
 

As stated before, there really are 2 different questions posted. The first one being about "whos is biggest/best?" and the second one being "who has helped the hobby the most?" One is not necessarily dependant on the other. I could also include a past and present tense of both questions. I would like to think many on this board help the hobby in many ways today. And I am sure that there are some of the best collections by members, or lurkers, too.

top 10 hard to do
 

I think there are many of us who have very nice collections who remain quiet about it. It is not that we do not want to discuss it, but we do not get pleasure from seeing our sets on registries or care about grading companies' awards. I would guess many quality private collectors are completely unknown on boards. Of course those who have the best wagners or the grade 10 52 mantles are known. I first joined this board recenty but have been collecting high quality pre-war, mostly 19th century for years. I enjoy the board but do not care if PSA knows me.

I do not denigrate the lists here or say those mentioned are publicity seekers but point out that many of us are not in it to top other collectors or get recognition.

Delray,

Absolutley a great point. A somewhat related saying "Those who say the least are usually those you should listen most to".

Completely understandable that it's not a contest, but not sharing with the comnmunity seems a bit selfish. 99.9% of board members here (IMO) would love to see stuff they have never seen before. If collectors can't enjoy other's cards, mem., etc. then really what is the point? Why do you think there is a monthly pick up thread? It's so others of the same ilk can see the great items in the hobby. Secretive and cloistered collections only serve their masters and that's just self serving. If you are worried about theft or other concerns, just don't list your name or address. Too many lurkers/takers and not enough givers (info, scans or opinions for that matter). As an example, I asked a question about Old Judges awhile back and got no responses. I think they were reasonable questions but as I have heard, the big collectors don't like to impart info or even show their rarities. Why is that? Seems a tad childish doesn't it? Take it for what it's worth, just my opinion.

My visit with George Moll....a true Sportscard Hobby pioneer
 

DITTO....to what Frank W said in post #125.


TED Z

Of course you're entitled to your view, but I have to respectfully disagree.

I collect for my personal enjoyment. Yes, if in the process I can share my knowledge with others, all the better. But I don't think that is a prerequisite to a person being passionate about collecting, or to there being a "point" to the collection. I know a number of people with substantial collections. Most of them collect under the radar. They do that not to be secretive. Without exception, all of them I think would go out of their way to offer assistance if anybody should come to them with a question. But they are modest people who would regard constantly showing what they have to be a form of bragging. Maybe others would not see it as such, but they would. In addition, to some of them it's not so easy to post scans. To those of us who grew up in a different technological era, taking and displaying quality digital photographs is not a common-place activity. For me personally, I do not even own a digital camera. All my images are on transparencies, which many scanners cannot scan.

So while I have no issue with encouraging people to impart knowledge for the good of the hobby, I don't think it appropriate that the passionate private collector who collects neither for investment nor ego, but simply for pure unbridled enthusiasm for what he/she collects, should be denigrated.

I kinda agree with Corey, but I see a different distinction...

A collector with a great collection who keeps to himself, that is fine with me. I actually well understand that. But that collector is not as important to the hobby as one who is knowledgeable and who shares his depth of knowledge and experience with other collectors, even if he has a more modest collection himself. The former's collection may be more important, but the latter collector is more important to the hobby.

agreed
 

Nicely put. However, I don't think having a great collection would exclude someone from helping the hobby either (not that you were saying that, Frank). Merely posting some views and info on chatboards is giving back a little bit, in it's own right.
Type-collecting does allow me to be part of many conversations, which is fun. I am a glory hog :).

Tony-Pick up a copy of the Old Judge book. I think you'll find that most of your Old Judge questions will be answered in there.

The Choice Is Yours
 

Whilst we were the individual who began this post, our intent was not to force those collectors who collect "under the radar" to reveal what they have. Everyone of the 30 individuals who we named appears in a table top book- ie. The Smithsonian Guide, Ken Burns book, National Pastime, and/or others or in long forgotten hobby publications.

From time to time we mention an item that we have acquired. We have shared less than 2% of the really rare and unique items in our collection. Whilst we comment frequently, everyone has a right to manage his/her own time and one's collection. A collector or a collection is no less important in stature if the only one who ever sees it is the collector himself.

We agree with Corey, that the collection gives extraordinary pleasure, and we much its company than that of the vast majority of talking heads who
paths have crossed ours.

As a final point, we are in regular correspondence with at least five collectors, only one of whom was mentioned among the 30 names we posted,
who possess $3M+ collections of extraordinary and super rare baseball cards.

In fact, we had a big laugh when a recent major auction noted that a certain item was the only one known, and another collector and ourself had a better example.

It was never our intent to ask anyone to share what he/she does not want to share. One of the joys of great financial success is that you can buy privacy. And we can not think of any thing as valuable as the right to come and go as one pleases, and the shut the world out whenever one wants to.

Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List
bdorskind@dorskindgroup.com

Even as one who doesn't have a collection of extraordinary and super rare baseball cards, at least once or maybe twice a year I'll read an auction house's description of an item (usually a piece of memorabilia) that's "the only one known," and there will be an example in my collection. Granted, the auction houses cover themselves by using the word known, but that phrase still gets thrown around more than it should.

As an example, I asked a question about Old Judges awhile back and got no responses. I think they were reasonable questions but as I have heard, the big collectors don't like to impart info or even show their rarities. Why is that? Seems a tad childish doesn't it? Take it for what it's worth, just my opinion.

Seems there was this book published not long ago....

I don't think that's at all true. Can you show the post where you asked an Old Judge question and it went unanswered?

would that be considered normal or slightly askew

We receive so much pleasure tooting our own horn that someday we may actually be the band.

One can only hope you make this choice to go and shut the world out soon. :p

Sorry guys. That was too easy to pass-up.

First of all, I must say I find this thread fascinating. While I have been collected cards off and on for over 30 years, and tried to read publications on the topic, I am still unfamiliar with a large number of the names in this thread. So I appreciate the history lesson I'm getting in exchange for my time reading this thread.

I must say that I find the personal attacks disappointing and distracting from the topic. FWIW, I do find Bruce's plural references to himself as more than a little odd but to each his own :)

Also, I'm seeing multiple references to a book on the Old Judge set. Can someone link me to that book? I did an Amazon search but came up empty - just a link to the Barry Halper collection book, the one on the fake Honus Wagner, and a bunch of auction books.

Kind regards,

Tabe

I saw this one currently listed on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Photographic-Bas...item4cf190d1b2

Tabe,

Net54 wouldn't be Net54 without the personal attacks. It's in the DNA! Plus, Bruce has brought some of that on himself. But to his credit he has mellowed-out a bit through the years and everybody says he is a nice guy in person..........I always look forward to his post(s).

Here are a few old threads referencing the Old Judge book and how to order one. Happy browsing.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...Richard+Masson

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...Richard+Masson

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...Richard+Masson

Lovely Day...

Bruce is a nice guy. He just gets a little nutty behind the computer. But lately he has been a model citizen.:)

Thank you for that. The book looks fantastic!

Tabe

Tabe,

Welcome to the board.

I suggest you not be so quick at siding with Bruce and against his "attackers." Bruce's use of first person plural is the least of his personality oddities. Hang around and you'll see. (Although, as Barry said, he's been on his best behavior lately. I haven't received an email wishing me death, in weeks!)

Buy the OJ book. It is the most comprehensive coverage of a single card set I have ever seen.

E mails to Jim VB
 

We would like to see a copy on a 2010 e-mail that specifically threatened us to arrange to kill you- at a specific time and venue

You enjoy attacking because you are far more proficient at bathroom humor
than you are at collecting or researching baseball memorabilia.

Perhaps, you could make better use of your time--like flipping burgers or tacos- minimum wage sounds appropriate for your skills and intelligence

As we have said for several years. each time you fire an arrow we will return the favor with a missile.

Thank you.

You're mistaken if you thought I was taking Bruce's side. My comment was a general one.

It's on the list. Definitely need to pick it up - and I'm not even a fan of the sets :)

Now if only somebody would do something similar for T-3...

Tabe

1. It was 2009, not 2010. I said you'd been good lately. But I have a long memory on such things.

2. I didn't say it was a death threat. I said it was a death wish. Wishing someone dead is far nicer than threatening them with death. Plus, it's not actionable.

3. I didn't "fire" anything at you, arrow or missile. I didn't attack you. I really try to avoid you. Although I clearly don't like the entire persona you try to create, I find you more pathetic than anything else.

The problem with doing it with T3 is that, as beautiful a set as it is, it does not have the wide range of variations that OJ's do.

The book released this year on T206 was a perfect example. It was OK, but didn't really tell you anything else you didn't know. In the OJ book, seemingly every page has you saying, "I've never seen that pose before!"

Brucii
 

I have never emailed or PM'd Bruce in my life until i responded this nice PM he sent me 2 days ago.

<< START PM >>

"Tom

Wonder if you know anything about the history of the hobby?

We're quite sure our hobby knowledge, education
and collection dwarfs yours.

Sounds to us like you have been breathing too much of that beautiful Jersey air. Perhaps it will shut you and your feeble mind for eternity.

Time for you to head back to work in the sewers."

<< END PM >>


It shows how little he knows about me. It shows even more about him.

Tom- I think that may have been a "missle" that "they" just fired at you :D
But not to worry, because "they" just closed 20 more deals of the most high grade vintage material known in existance ;)

Clayton

Every pathetic Tom DICK and HAIRY
 

Our so called expert forgot to publish his rather awful reply.

Of course, it reflects what a low life "Mr. Cherry Hill Puck" is.
If he wishes to make public comments and respond
publicly,we are happy to accommodate him.

He notes we would be scared to confront him in person.

We often step on roaches walking the streets of upper Manhattan
near Yankee Stadium. They are certainly a higher form
of life than he

If the "Cherry Hill Puck" want to make this into war,
we will spare nothing of course, as long it is legal.

However, it is not fair for the Board Members to watch Tom's sad attempt to
battle against us. Thus we will not ever respond to Tom's PMs again.
We hope that this e-mail is the last in a series of attempts to undermine the thread.

Looks like Old Papa Tom has taken one too many pucks to his tiny brain.

Hey Yankeefan, screw the Yankees, eh?

I'm definitely taking a mulligan on this hole.

Tabe,

Net54 wouldn't be Net54 without the personal attacks. It's in the DNA! Plus, Bruce has brought some of that on himself. But to his credit he has mellowed-out a bit through the years and everybody says he is a nice guy in person..........I always look forward to his post(s). His post sometimes are more offensive then a dead deer thread (not that there is anything wrong with a dead deer thread).


Here are a few old threads referencing the Old Judge book and how to order one. Happy browsing.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...Richard+Masson

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...Richard+Masson

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...Richard+Masson

Lovely Day...

Back to the list......
 

How about Charles Conlon? He was very dedicated to the hobby. I saw him at big shows, small shows, antique shows, flea markets and he was always in the hobby trade papers. What I saw in REA of his collection was very nice and impressive. He was always pleasant and willing to share his hobby knowledge.

I want to thank Bruce for starting this great thread.

Good for you
 

To refresh your memory I simply asked you to "calm down" in post #33 after you attacked a friend of mine, needlessly, in post #31. Your response was to endlessly go after me. So be it.

It's good to hear you won't be PM'ing me anymore. :) You should save your breathe because it's wasted on me.

This isn't a war Brucii. This is actually boring to myself and others. No matter what dribble you type it won't stop me from going on with my blessed life. I've spent this evening with my beautiful children and wife in our beautiful home just like I spend most evenings. I don't owe a dime to anyone in the world for anything, and I have a pretty darn nice collection despite you thinking otherwise. I just turned 42 so I think it's fair to say I'm not all that old either (my kids disagree).

I only wish everyone could be as lucky as I am, Brucii. Even you.

Bruce,I know you have taken some personal attacks in this thread but I can remember meeting you at some of the large East Coast Shows over the years and you were very helpful and a wealth of knowledge. You are an asset to this hobby and I look forward to your book.CN