Quote:
Originally Posted by barrysloate
I am really happy to see the outpouring of kind words on this thread. I posted it with a bit of trepidation this morning, knowing there were many who Bruce fought with on the board. But everyone is stepping up to the plate for him and I think that's great. He was a very bright person with a tremendous amount of hobby knowledge. He just didn't always seem to get along with everyone. What can you do.
Let me share a memory, hopefully others will have some too. Bruce was always very generous handing out tickets to baseball games, as he typically bought season tickets every year. In 1988 (I realize now I met him before 1990) he took me to one of the Mets-Dodgers playoff games at Shea Stadium. It was Game 4, a 12 inning contest that went well past four hours. And during nearly the whole game, it was pouring rain. So here were the two of us, in cold October weather, sitting under two umbrellas, still getting soaking wet for more than four hours, watching a playoff game, talking baseball, and having a great time. That is a day I won't easily forget.
I'll miss you Bruce.
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I first met Bruce back in the 70s, when we were both young men. We were both pursuing the George C. Miller set and battled to beat each other to any R300s at the Gallagher Bros. New York shows, which attracted dealers from throughout the Northeast back in the days before Nationals. We weren't exactly friendly rivals, but we learned to co-exist and actually made a few trades over the ensuing years. I didn't realize it at the time, but Bruce was ahead of his time. His aggressiveness and narrow focus on rarity and condition went against the emphasis on collegiality and completeness that had been the hobby norm. I always respected Bruce's passion for the hobby, however, and will miss receiving his annual World's Toughest Wantlist, which he mailed me every year. RIP, compadre!
Bob Richardson