Friday at the National
 

By now we've got it figured out. Depart the Air B&B 0830. 15 minutes later we pull right into the IX Center and choose our spot (highest consideration is exit strategy). Five minute walk and take the stairs down to the basement VIP Area. Relax at a table until the escalator up is turned on, and when the line is moving along jump in, and by 9:45 we are inside the show.

One slight change this AM we had to make a quick stop at the US Post Office. Spike sold one of his VIP promo items on eBay and wanting to maintain his premier seller status (lol) needed to get it in the mail. Item sold was this pack of cards with a Caitlin Clark RC (I guess) on the top of the pack. I always keep my promo items, but six months later look at them and ask myself "why didn't I sell them like Spike did"?

Spent all day just wandering around, saying hi to friends and buying cards. Day three and I'm finally getting a sense of direction once inside. The WiFi and phone service is spotty, which causes issues with communication as text messages just don't transmit. Oh well.

I did make two large purchases today (well for me) both from William Chappell. I didn't save all year to bring all this cash home right? Earlier in the show I made some progress on my 1964 Topps "Stand-Up" set, and started the conversation in my head that I probably could afford to purchase the Mantle card, and the one in Williams showcase was the victim.

The other card is pretty interesting IMO. I have a full set of the 1968 Milton Bradley cards back home. These include baseball cards, football cards, and non sport "hot rod" cards. I sent the Nolan Ryan Milton Bradley RC in to PSA, and it returned a PSA 3 (I think) a couple weeks ago. I'll include a picture of this "interesting card purchase" at the end of this post.

We meet up outside the main exit 1/2 hour before the show closes, and are back in the Air B&B before 6. Half hour later we drive into downtown Cleveland for an "Old-Time-Baseball-Rules-Game" at historic League Park, using rules from the 1860s. The Indians played there on and off until 1946. The event was sponsored by "Love Of The Game Auctions" (in part) thanks to Al C whose last name I still cannot pronounce lol. While the game was going on, the announcer would tell us some history of League Park, including the story of when Joe Jackson played there, he lived right down the street. His wife would leave the game during the "7th Inning Stretch" to walk home and prepare dinner for Shoeless Joe.

There was a hot dog cart there at the game, two dogs and a can of Sunkist Orange for $9, I was so hungry I went back later for another $9 meal. There is a museum and gift shop on site it was very interesting and well worth the trip. I'll post a picture or two, including a discovery they made during re-construction of the original concrete stairs that led from the visitors clubhouse to a tunnel accessing the visitors dugout.

We got back around 10 I think, and it took me an hour or more to update wantlists both paper (for the show) and on my computer. Tired but ready for another great day at the National.

13,200 steps and 6.0 miles
Cash spent today $2,033

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Great update
 

Great update! I love that Ryan / football card from MB it’s a 10 on the COOLNESS scale! We Net54 ers at home are expecting some awesome variety sports purchases from you for your excellent and fun $1 MB weekly auctions. No pressure LOL. 4 Hot Dogs …. trying to beat Babe Ruth’s record??? Guess with all those steps you need the fuel….. have a great day at the show!! Fellow NE Fla bud Rocky

In this day and age, that $9 meal deal at any sort of event is a steal. At least you managed to find one bargain price on this trip! :)

Larry - I'm sorry that I didn't see you Thursday or Friday at the show as I just wanted to say hello to you. :D

Larry, Jim Hoskins here. We've never met, but I feel I know you from your posting on this site. I really enjoy the content, honesty and the way you structure your posts. When I read articles, or posts, from someone that I've never met, I form an opinion of them pretty quickly - some people post things routinely that are just plain mean or nasty - some people are always negative and just want attention or try to make a mountain out of a mole hill issue - some people do that on this site and I steer away from commenting or doing a post.

However, yours are totally different. They're warm, interesting, and I'm guessing not easy to do after you have "worked" the national all day & I'm guessing pretty tired - but you do them any way for zero compensation.

Thank you for all you do! There's no greater compensation than appreciation and respect - you have both coming your way from me. Be safe and keep it coming.