Notes from the National

[milkit1]

I pretty much came out empty handed thanks to a LOT of dealers who can't be bothered to put price tags on their cards or handle more then one customer at a time. Whats even better is when you ask a price and they spend 10 mins "looking it up" and then are annoyed that your turning down their overpriced cards. I thought putting prices on cards was something that was established years ago as basic protocol to get people to BUY your cards?

[brass_rat]

Holy smokes, if only I could figure out how to attach a photo from my (android) phone...Ken Kendrick has a bunch of his cards on display at the Memory Lane booth, including the T206 Plank (psa 8), Young portrait and Cobb bat off, both psa 9, and a psa 10 '52 Topps Mantle.

People seem very upbeat today...and since it's only Friday, the dealers don't smell that bad yet. Wait until Sunday.

Prices are show prices...not marked and the initial quote is really high to anchor people...frustrating to say the least.

Have a good one,
Steve

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by milkit1

I pretty much came out empty handed thanks to a LOT of dealers who can't be bothered to put price tags on their cards or handle more then one customer at a time. Whats even better is when you ask a price and they spend 10 mins "looking it up" and then are annoyed that your turning down their overpriced cards. I thought putting prices on cards was something that was established years ago as basic protocol to get people to BUY your cards?

Yep, most I've talked with are complete a-holes. I'm looking for high grade or high dollar cards, and they pretty much write me off or don't spend two seconds with me to barter because I'm just a kid

[Matthew H]

Does anyone have any photos of the Cambridge find? I'd love to see that.

[margoaepi]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

Yep, most I've talked with are complete a-holes. I'm looking for high grade or high dollar cards, and they pretty much write me off or don't spend two seconds with me to barter because I'm just a kid

Had the same experience last year. What was most shocking to me was that I spent a few grand with two different dealers, and neither one of them asked me for any contact information. Terrible business sense.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

Yep, most I've talked with are complete a-holes. I'm looking for high grade or high dollar cards, and they pretty much write me off or don't spend two seconds with me to barter because I'm just a kid

Brent, there are some good guys out there but you are right, many cannot be bothered with people. I was there yesterday and honestly I got so ticked off at some of the dealers that I let it ruin the experience for me. This is my 12th National and I think the dealers have gotten worse. My faith was restored when I when I visited a booth to add some nice '72's to my set and the deal (LJ Sands or JL Sands...cannot remember which) could not be nicer and gave me a great deal on the cards I pulled. It is because of him that I am going back tomorrow and spending more money with him alone. Don't let those a-hole dealers ruin the experience for you. There are good ones out there.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by whitehse

Brent, there are some good guys out there but you are right, many cannot be bothered with people. I was there yesterday and honestly I got so ticked off at some of the dealers that I let it ruin the experience for me. This is my 12th National and I think the dealers have gotten worse. My faith was restored when I when I visited a booth to add some nice '72's to my set and the deal (LJ Sands or JL Sands...cannot remember which) could not be nicer and gave me a great deal on the cards I pulled. It is because of him that I am going back tomorrow and spending more money with him alone. Don't let those a-hole dealers ruin the experience for you. There are good ones out there.

Well said, I have met more great dealers than bad and were very fun in speaking with.

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

Yep, most I've talked with are complete a-holes. I'm looking for high grade or high dollar cards, and they pretty much write me off or don't spend two seconds with me to barter because I'm just a kid

Next time they do this, tell them "it's too bad you treated me so poorly. I might just be a kid in your eyes, but little did you know I'm the lone benefactor of the Niederman oil fortune. When I turn 21, I stand to inherit $465 million. In the mean time, I have an allowance of $25,000 a month, and I was really looking forward to buying some rare baseball cards today. I guess I'll have to spend this $50,000 somewhere else."

[CW]

Great report, Andrew! Thanks for posting the pictures, too!

[Texxxx]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

Yep, most I've talked with are complete a-holes. I'm looking for high grade or high dollar cards, and they pretty much write me off or don't spend two seconds with me to barter because I'm just a kid

My son went to the National. He's 20 and he told me he had some of the same experiences the first day. He said he would try dressing up and see if that helped. He said it was like night and day. For some reason everyone started talking to him and dealing with him. Just not me since I didn't get to go.

[tbob]

Today was my last day and it ended with a bang. The news was sad early with the theft of the 2 1952 Mantles, 1 1951 Bowman Mantle and the binder of cards. I'll say it again: install surveillance cameras and get some security!!!! I hope they catch these cretins.
Oh we'll, the better news was I got to meet for the first time in person Bruce Babcock and David McDonald whom I have known through competitive bidding and from the 54 Board for many years. I also got to hang out with Jayson Miller and meet many other 54ers for the first time. The social side of the National, to me, is the greatest highlight.
Near the end of the day I stumbled across a red E94 Honus Wagner for my collection. Coupled with the dark green Moore E94 Zach Rice found for me, I am down to needing only 6 more E94s to complete the master set of 180 E94s. It's been a long journey but I'm getting close!
A couple of highlights from the last 24 hours included Josh Evan's speech about his adventures with Charlie Sheen and Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez at the bar in the Hilton where I am staying.
As my friend David McDonald would say 'Aloha' to the National and I hope to see everyone in Cleveland next year.

[tbob]

Last night dinner at Geno's East with Scott, Richard, Leon, Ed, Gary and me.

[wonkaticket]

Great pic Bob, some serious collectors/collections sitting at that little table.

I don't say this often but if there was an item that needed to be in a museum it's that Owens medal.

[drcy]

Piercing stares. I nearly dropped my Mr Pibb.

Just kidding. It's Rite Aid's generic Mr Pibb. 10% cheaper with the Rite Aid discount card.

I'm speaking metaphysically, of course. About the discount card I mean.

[brian1961]

I don't say this often but if there was an item that needed to be in a museum it's that Owens medal.[/QUOTE]

I'll second that.

My thanks to the gentleman who thoughtfully posted his photo of Jesse Owens's Olympic gold medal. That was very, very moving. --Brian

[mattsey9]

TL;DR

I got little crazy with the phone camera, and thought I'd share what I saw with those who couldn't make the show. Lots of high priced stuff, but most of the vintage sellers I spoke with said that there weren't a lot of sales going on. Excuse the lousy photography. I'd blame the camera, but that would be telling a lie

The Cards:

E102 Cobb



Goudey Ruths



Purple Joe Blanket



Green Joe Blanket



T200s ChiSox & Tigers



D304 Mathewson



A pair of tickets to Game 2 of the '38 Series at Wrigley. Dizzy Dean took the mound for the Cubs, but couldn't hold off the Yanks down the stretch.



Jimmy Foxx



T206 Stars



Orioles: Thrice champions!



Two of the four T206 Planks I saw. Never saw a Wagner or a Magie. (LOL at the spell checker telling me Magie is spelled wrong!)



Those are the cards I did not buy. I didn't come home empty handed though. I picked up two cards of the three I needed for my 1908 Cubs set. I'm trying to get one card from each member of the team, and scored a Vin Campbell and a Del Howard! Only guy left is Andy Coakley. Wish he was in something less costly than the T204 set!





And the haul, such as it is, in total:



You might wonder what I'd be doing with a box of 1990 Score FB and a 2013 sticker book. Those are the best buys I made all day. My five year old told me he wanted to "do baseball cards" with me after we got home and to pick him up some football cards since he didn't have many in his folder. So I get to open a box of football cards with my son Otis tomorrow morning and he gets some stickers to play with. It promises to be the highlight of my weekend!

Hope everyone got what they wanted at the show.

Mike

[mattsey9]

More cards!


A big bunch of nice T201s. Sadly, none of them in sad enough shape for me. Nice cards though.



Three different Mattys in lower grade condition. That one on the right was singing to me, but I left it for another day.



A T205 Walter Johnson in SGC 92 condition. Remarkable card!



Someone already posted the beautiful Cubs jerseys and Hartnett MVP trophy, but this old jersey from the Mack Men was just as nice.



Music for a champion: Dedicated to Mr. Frank Chance of the World Champion Chicago Nationals!



Couple of $$$ Ruth baseballs:



A Babe bat:



And a Cobb cudgel:



One of the coolest things at the show personally. Ted Kluszewski's jacket from his days at Indiana University. 1945 was the only unbeaten season in Indiana football history, and we finished #2 in the polls to Army that year. Go Hoosiers! Ted was one of the ends on that years squad which featured Hall of Famer Pete Pihos.



Shoeless Joe, and a Fadeaway. CJs



More Cracker Jacks:



From the "Black Swamp Find". These things were in better shape than the 2013 cards everyone was ripping open at the show.



Beauty, eh?



The King!



Giants Hurlers



Eddie Collins



Mr. Mack



"Dummy" Hoy

[Gmrson]

Originally Posted by milkit1

I pretty much came out empty handed thanks to a LOT of dealers who can't be bothered to put price tags on their cards or handle more then one customer at a time. Whats even better is when you ask a price and they spend 10 mins "looking it up" and then are annoyed that your turning down their overpriced cards. I thought putting prices on cards was something that was established years ago as basic protocol to get people to BUY your cards?

While I picked up a lot of stuff and had a blast, I too agree this was a bit of a problem. I had one dealer who was having issues connecting to the internet with their Ipad, so just said the card "would be about" $300. I just said I would check back, but didn't. There were plenty of dealers with their cards mark and found myself spending more with them because I could pick several and negotiate what I wanted to pay quickly.