Renata Galasso

[deweyinthehall]

I've searched this forum and while there is some scattered information on her, there doesn't seem to be a thread devoted to someone who really helped me, and a lot of others, discover that you didn't need to go to the store to get cards.

When I was trying to complete my 1978 set (my first ever) my dad came back from a Yankee game with their current scorebook/magazine, and I found an add for a complete set for $14.95. It took me a while to convince my parents that it made more economical sense to invest the 15 bucks and finish the set, than to keep buying packs looking for straggler cards (which I kept doing anyway). I found it odd then and still do that the card image they used to illustrate the 78 set was Dave Roberts - a pretty poor paint job of a guy who didn't resonate with kids in 1978.

Anyway, it took forever to come. When it finally did, they sent the 1979 Topps Set which had just been issued. I was furious! My mom pulled the first card, the 1978 batting leaders, and said, "are your sure it isn't the right set? This says 1978". I had to explain it to here.

Anyway we got it straightened out, and by the time I got it I only needed a single card - Gary Ross.

I remember that when she advertised the new Topps set each year, well into the 1980s I think, she used an old, poor image of 1975 cards to illustrate the offer for vending boxes. I actually used to not get those because I was 'worried' I might get 500 mint 1975 cards instead of the 1985 cards I was really looking for...if only!

Anyway, I was wondering whether anyone out there has any information on her - how she got into the business, where she went, that sort of thing.

Thanks!

[Dewey]

No info from me. I hope someone chimes in.

But Deweys are taking over Net54. We got to get Dewey2007 in this thread.

[Kurri17]

Beyond the Wikipedia, I know I saw an article about her that included pics of one of her stores. I'm thinking it might have been on Sportscollectorsdaily.com, but I will look around and see if I can find it.

[MattyC]

Some of my fondest memories from childhood are going to the Renata Galasso storefront a few blocks from my house in Brooklyn. I got so many of my cards there as a kid.

[moeson]

I recall that Renata was a "front" for her husband, Bill Hongach, who was a one time Yankee bat boy and autograph dealer.

[deweyinthehall]

"This is fascinating. I had no idea Renata Galasso was a woman that dealt cards in the 1970s. I only know the name as the brand that produced replica prewar sets in the early-'80s. I've got some sweet '83 T206 sheets that they put into Baseball Card Hobby Report magazine. I know they made a bunch of other sets, too.

Hopefully someone comes along that knows more about her.

Arthur"

Quote above was posted in the post-1980 card section where I accidentally first placed this thread - would love to delete the thread from that location but don't know how.

Anyway, I remember her hobby card news magazines as well, and I also had the T206 cards. Yes - she was a real woman.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by moeson

I recall that Renata was a "front" for her husband, Bill Hongach, who was a one time Yankee bat boy and autograph dealer.

That is correct in terms of Bill Hongach being instrumental in the business. It made for great pub to have the business in her name.

Her whole family did work in the business and one of my work friends at the time said whenever he ordered from them he spoke to her father.

Rich

[BERTO]

Renata is alive and lives in Brooklyn with her Aunt, "Anna" who is pictured further down in this thread.
I had dinner a few years ago with Renata.
She has been divorced from Bill since 1990 or so.
The divorce is what destroyed their business.
The company was most likely the biggest in the industry for most of its existence.
This was due to they having a super close relationship with Phil Carter who ran Topps for awhile and also their very close longtime relationship with Richard Gelman / Joe Pasternack / Don Lepore of Card Collectors Co.
I can't make you grasp the magnitude of what RGI actually had.
I CAN'T imagine anyone outside of Card Collectors Co. had anything remotely close.
RGI bought truckloads of 1950s, 60s and 70s cards from them.
You have to remember that Topps was based out of the Park Slope area in Brooklyn, about 1.5 miles away from RGI.
Richard Gelmans father, Woody founded Topps with Sy Berger in the late 1940s.
Soooo, somehow massive quantities of cards found their way to Card Collectors Co.
Then subsequently they would find their final resting place at RGI (Bill).
The sheer ridiculousness of the quantity and quality of what they had at any given time is unfathomable except I saw it and was surrounded by it for 5 years (1984-89).
When you think about it like this it makes more sense.
In 1985, 1955 cards were only 30 years old, thats the same as 1993 today.
That's the only way you can rationalize it.
There were thousands of metal index card file card drawers stacked to the ceiling on a few floors in 3 different buildings on the same block (10th Avenue).
ALL their cards were straight out of Vending boxes and cut card cases.
ALL NR MT - MINT.
I remember in 1982, I "almost" bought all of their 1975 Brett rookies.
They had (900) of them, ALL touched one time.
GORGEOUS STUFF.
They wanted ($7.00) each, so ($6,300)
I passed...as I didn't have that kinda money at 16, and either wanted them all or none.
Lololol...
That happened before I started to work their.
Draw full of Mint 1971 Garvey rookies...ALL BLACK BORDERS !!!!
Draw full of Mint 1975 Yount rookies...PERFECT looking
Draw full of 1968 Topps Mantle, Mays and Killebrew combo card...ALL MINT and like ($2) a card in 1985...lolol
So many stories, memories and visuals of ungodly amounts of legendary cards.
I'm glad to have actually seen it all.

[deweyinthehall]

Thanks for this update!

I regularly purchased and received her catalogs from the late 70s through the mid-80s, but I don't recall ever seeing her advertising for cards earlier than 1976 or 1977 in any of the big 4 sports. It sounds like her inventory, though, was far more comprehensive - did she have different mechanisms or venues for selling the older stuff?

Those were the days...imagine not buying "1,000 Mint 1980 Baseball cards in Never Before Opened Boxes" for $9.99 because you were afraid you'd get the 1975s as shown in the ad...that was me!