"brush with greatness"

[Archive]

Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

The 1st few years I returned to this hobby I concentrated
on my original Bowman, Leaf, and 1952 Topps cards which I
had from youth. Upgrading and completing these sets. While
doing this I met Ralph Triplette from the Smokey Mtn. area
of North Carolina who had identical collecting experiences
as a kid as I did. And, he too, saved his original cards from
the late '40s and early '50s.
Eventually, we became co-authors on a mystery solving article
published in the BB Card Magazine in 1981 on the 1949 Bowman
set.
It was Ralph who introduced me to Frank Nagy's monthly mail
auction. And, it was Frank, who broaden my BB card collecting
interests to pre-War issues. Tobacco cards, Cracker Jacks,
Goudeys, Diamond Stars, and PlayBalls....Frank included all
of them (and of course post-War cards) in his auction. Each
monthly mailing was a pamphlet with "tons" of material.
And, get this....he did not bill you....he sent all the cards
you won on APPROVAL. Everyone was on the honor system with
Frank. Furthermore, he would include with the cards a page, or
so, of handwritten commentary on the cards. Frank and I had
many interesting "conversations", I learned a lot from him.

The best, though, I left for last.....if Frank thought you
over-bid on a card, he would modify your bid and charge
you less. And, he would provide a lengthy explanation with
his billing....JUST AN AMAZING MAN.