Joe Pelaez
I met Joe in 1984 at the Willow Grove Show. He was at my table buying 1948 Bowman FB & 1949 BB cards.
I helped him complete those two sets. But, he was more than just a collector of Sportscards. He had this
incessant curiosity to dig into the nitty-gritty of how and why certain cards or sets were tough to find. In
this respect, we became instant friends. He had read my numerous Bowman BB and FB articles in SCD and
Krause's Base Ball Cards Magazine in the early 1980's; and, he would spend what seemed like hours at my
table "Talkin' BB cards" (of all stripes).
When the Philly Show moved to Ft Washington, I saw Joe occasionally. But, we met up again at Sotheby's
(the weekend Gretzky bought the Wagner) and we had a great time in the hospitality room getting caught
up on the "good ole days".
I last saw Joe in 1999 at the Philly Show and at that time he was collecting T209's. I had a bunch of them,
Joe bought them all. I must of given him a price on these cards that he couldn't refuse. We talked for quite
a while, and then I lost contact with him. Until....
I started posting on Net54 in 2005, Joe responded to one of my T206 threads. And, we were in touch again.
At times quite at odds with each other, and other times not so. I can say this for Joe, in person or over the
phone, Joe was a mellow guy. We would have some long and very interesting conversations, that lasted for
hours.
Anyhow, he will certainly be missed....Joe had a way with words that made you think.
GOD Bless you Joe....and may GOD comfort your family.
TED Z
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