1975 Collectors Checklists of Cards........Dick Reuss

[brian1961]

Thanks for correcting me, Fred. I imagine Mr. Lerner would have had some pretty impressive accumulations regarding many of those sets. I remember at the time he had his whole collection inventoried/categorized on IBM data entry cards (I'm probably expressing the wrong jargon). His table always seemed to have a substantial and delectable array of Bazookas and Topps test products.

In the late 70s I remember he became very interested in World Series press pins. Finally, at some point later on, Irv began to collect championship rings, eventually taking the moniker, "THE RING MAN".

Much appreciated your memories of some of the collectors responding to Dick Reuss's survey. They, along with yourself, were in your own way heroes to me as a young collector at the Detroit shows in the early 70s.

Things were comical, too. I remember reading some of the comments on John England's wife, Patti. One scribe bravely depicted her as "delicious". It's been 40 years I suppose since I read that, and will never forget it. I can understand why the guy would appreciate her beauty, but to write she was "delicious" has such rousing connotations, all deserving unto him a hearty punch in the nose.

Fred, it's really neither here nor there. A lot of water under the bridge. However, when you wrote that you acquired your T-206 Wagner in Cincinnati, I believe you were mistaken. Now I'm being brave, I guess. I was there at the big Detroit show in the summer of '73 when Mike Aronstein's Wagner was auctioned in absentia. You won, and I remember the photo that dear Bob Jasperson snapped of you shortly thereafter, being congratulated on either side by another wonderful collector of the past, Mr. Elwood Scharf, and his vivacious wife. As you probably recall, Mr. Scharf was the hobby's Exhibits expert extraordinaire. I only live a dozen miles from where he once resided, La Porte, Indiana.

Well, it's late, and I'm getting verbose again.

Keep the memories coming, Fred. I think the lads like it. I know this old gray-haired guy does.

Wishing you well --Brian Powell