When It Was A Hobby
 

Posted By: <b>bruce Dorskind</b><p>When It Was A Hobby<br /><br />The first card show we ever attended was back in the Fall<br />of 1976. It was in the basement of a school in Greenwich<br />Village. Although crowded and a bit damp, the 25 or<br />so dealers that were there that day had more treasures<br />on their tables than those of the 300+ dealers who frequent<br />the National every year/<br /><br />When it was a hobby, young men and their dads were<br />fascinated to hear stories about their grandfather’s heroes.<br /><br />And while there were thousands of T 206’s spread across<br />a plethora of tables, one could pick up a complete<br />near mint set of Allen and Ginters for $300 or as many<br />many Triple folders as one wanted for $4.00 a piece.<br /><br />There were no auctions in those days, but lots of finds.<br /><br />The dealers we met that day encouraged our interest in ultra<br />rare type cards and suggested that we attend the<br />Philadelphia show.<br /><br />And two months later we did. Where we met a bright,<br />smiling and very aggressive 15 year old lad. For the<br />then record price of $2000 he sold us a near mint Just So,<br />a near mint Four Base Hit and NY Kalamazoo Bat card.<br /><br />He advised us to focus on the best cards that we could<br />afford. He said that the cards we bought would be a<br />great investment. <br /><br />That young man was Rob Lifson. We still have the<br />Four Base Hits and the Just So in our collection.<br /><br />We have not been to a show “worth going to” in more<br />than 5 years. Albeit, we did attend the Reading show <br />this past weekend.<br /><br />While we failed to find any items on “America’s Toughest <br />Want list, it was great to catch up with long time connections<br />likeDan Mckee, Terry Knause, Bill Mastro, Levi Bleam, <br />and Wayne Varner and talk about the good old day When it <br />was a hobby….where you could actually find a meaningful<br /> addition to your collection at a card show. How different<br />life was before E Bay and the auction circuit. <br /><br /><br />Bruce Dorskind<br />America's Toughest Want List<br />

When It Was A Hobby
 

Posted By: <b>Peter_Spaeth</b><p>On the other hand, Bruce, isn't it more LIKELY you can find what you are looking for in the efficient internet-driven market? Perhaps the issue is not the form of the marketplace but the fact that supply just isn't what it used to be?

When It Was A Hobby
 

Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p>Occasionally, we hear of others that found some real bargain rarities on eBay just a few short years ago... These <i>are</i> the good 'ol days.

When It Was A Hobby
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Nothing stays the same, and the world is changing very rapidly. My first show was at the Armenian Church in NYC in 1982, and it certainly was a lot of fun. I haven't been to a show in ten years, and probably won't be attending another one.

When It Was A Hobby
 

Posted By: <b>jay wolt</b><p>It's still a hobby - just that the prices have gone up.<br /><br />I'm sure if hobby veterans like Barker, Nagy or Carter<br />attended that 1976 basement show they would shake their<br />heads in anquish and talk about the good old days 20 years <br />earlier when they traded & conducted business.<br /><br />As Barry stated this hobby always changes and I for one<br />like the current evolution. Due to eBay, internet sights<br />and auction houses and boards like this we can come across <br />multitudes of cards we need.<br />And if we want to sell a card or a collection, there are<br />many who can view the goods.<br />Granted few have the America's toughest wantlist to contend with.

When It Was A Hobby
 

Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>For those of us who live in flyover country where there never were any real card shows these are the "good ol' days". Without ebay I wouldn't have a quarter of my collection and I collect items that have a local interest for the most part.

When It Was A Hobby
 

Posted By: <b>Josh Adams</b><p>Jay Wolt beat me to the punch.<br /><br />It's still a hobby for me as well, just expensive. Beats golf. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br><br>Go Go White Sox<br />2005 World Series Champions!

When It Was A Hobby
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>I agree with Jay.<br /><br />While the card alteration aspect of the hobby troubles me it is still better than the alternative. It is much easier to get the psa 8 cards I need via internet and ebay. I don't have time anyway to go to card shows so the shrinkage of these is also something I welcome.

When It Was A Hobby
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p><br /><br /><a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/thread/1188013953/" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652/thread/1188013953/</a><br /><br /><br />bruce Dorskind <br />(Login Yankeefan51) Profiles In Courage August 24 2007, 5:43 PM <br /><br />The world is cut throat...it is kill or be killed...in politics, in war, on Wall Street<br />and in collecting rare baseball cards.<br /><br />If one does not have the courage to take the heat, then go off quietly into the sunset.<br /><br />Bruce Dorskind<br />America's Toughest Want List<br />