Posted By:
James Feagin Hello all. Burton's Coins and Cards is still alive and well in Frederick, MD and go there weekly to buy, trade, and talk baseball cards. Even though I stopped working there 4+ years ago, it is by far my favorite card shop, as they treat their customer's completely like family. Fair prices, amazing customer service, I have 2 shops within 5 miles of where I live but skip them to travel 45 miles to Frederick. That was my plug for Burton's.
I consider myself a good writer, but terrible story teller. I will always remember the awe when I was 9 years old and had a chance to buy a heavily creased t206 Red Ames in 1985 for $10. I remember thinking, "Where has this card been all these years? In an attic? Shoebox? Where?!" An the prospect of owning a piece of that history amazed me. At age 10, I would spend hours in the library reading baseball encylopedia's. I memorized who was in the HOF, every WS winner, 19th century baseball, it fascinated me to no end! I also loved modern baseball as well. I remember scrimping and saving for a box of 1986 Topps for 1 month. When I saved that $12 for a wax box and finally bought it, it was complete nirvana to me. Writing this reminds me of why I grew to love this hobby so much.
I especially remember saving my allowances for 6 months to go to the Columbia Maryland Hilton show. Once I save up $100 and was so excited I could not sleep the night before. I had been dreaming of that show and plotted 1,000 scenario's of how I could spend my money. Usually it resulted in tons of grab bags, a box of 1987 Topps. But it also resulted in a t206 Chesbro, Bresnahan, and LaJoie (which I sold when I was 17 to spend money on dating and girls, a sin I hope one day to atone for).
Now I'm still at a grand total of 30 t206 cards (all of which I bought back after my monumental blunder) and 1 Old Judge card. That's all my wife or budget will permit. But I hope to one day improve this and re-live what was an awesome part of my childhood.
James