Here are my thoughts on Strongsville. Excellent vintage show with just about anything you are looking for.
It was packed. They waited too long to expand locations, and they may need to expand again. Lots of cards moving, and set builders out in full force. Good variety of high end, mid end, and low end stuff.
This take may not be popular, but I have a feeling some might complain about a bit more modern sneaking in this year. Heck, there was even a Pokemon table. But I thought it was the perfect amount of modern. Here's why. I've been coming to Strongsville for years. I have never seen so many kids. And not just kids drug there by their parents, but kids engaged in the vintage hobby. A lot of vintage dealers brought a modern value box or two to rifle through. And kids would look through those boxes, then begin looking at the vintage. I heard them asking questions. I saw fathers educating sons on players and cards of the past. The hobby was being passed down to the next generation in a way I haven't seen at other shows. I loved it. My wife noticed it and pointed it out. She saw a little boy digging in a vintage box who found a card he liked. He asked the dealer if it was a dollar. He was told it was $10. He didn't have the money. My wife overheard and bought it for him. This hobby is so great.
My main pickup wasn't super expensive, but a rare one I've been looking for. It is especially hard to find in decent shape.
1967 Venezuela Dave Concepcion
He was just a teenager in the Venezuelan Winter League, 4 years before his major league rookie card. Davey was my mom's favorite player, so this is a special card for my collection. This copy is really clean, and unlike many Venezuelans, it has no paper loss on the back at all.
