[iowadoc77]

Originally Posted by billyb

Thank you Leon for your comments and placing this thread on the Vintage Pre-War site, and to all thank you for you kind comments.

Selling my cards at a small local venue amazes me how many people actually have cards or a collection at home. Many shoppers stop and talk about their cards, as we all have our cards in spoke stories as well as flipping for cards. I try not to put pressure on the shoppers, as I would rather gather a rapport with them. If they buy, they buy, but my best line is "let's talk baseball".

But the kids are the bonus. Just had a 14 year old in two days ago, and he had a speech impediment. I asked if he collects BB cards, and he said, no but I would like to. My heart melted with this kid, and I started with my sportflics, 5 or 6. Then a complete set of Donruss "84 Tigers, along with a couple more Tigers. May have been a few others, I don't remember, I got carried away with this kid. But thats OK, the reward was when I later seen him in the store showing his mother what he got.

Wow Bill. this whole story has made my day. I love hearing about this. I think you are absolutely right about the hobby needing a nudge in the right direction. At the National this year, my kids did quite well with dealers cutting them very good deals or giving them free stuff. It was awesome to see. And their friends are collecting now as well. Makes me so happy to see all this (and their noses aren't buried in their video games). You are an example of all that is right with this hobby and I commend you for that.