I have discussed this before: mid 1980s, my family made the trek to Cooperstown. Larry Fritsch must have been putting the finishing touches on the “museum”/card shop he had opened up. My dad and I walked in there and the place was empty. What happened next is something that I’m blown away with today. We saw all of his cards; I believe he had Wagner on display. After this personal tour, he brought my father and I in the back room - his office - and started showing us rare cards. I believe we handled a Joe Doyle. He was putting one on display and I think he offered to sell my father another one that he had. (Dad was collecting 1950s Dodgers and 1950s Browns). He had absolutely no interest in tobacco. Me? I was locked in.
The Doyle was lost on my father and I. Why would we want that? So we left the back room and came to a display case. It was a big case with barely any cards in it. He had: Evers, Chance, Mathewson and 2 Red Cobbs. I had brought all my paper route money: over $100. Evers ($50), Chance ($60), Mathewson ($70), Cobb paper loss ($225), Cobb intact ($250). I had the $100+ and at that point, dad said “what if we take all 4?” and there was some negotiations. Dad let me choose which Cobb and me, being the good son trying to save my dad $25, chose the lesser Cobb.
35+ years later, it still bothers me. Here is a link to pictures from my Twitter page:
https://twitter.com/kevinseanfeeney/...983782407?s=21
https://twitter.com/kevinseanfeeney/...983782407?s=21