Feel free to share a cool card show memory

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by Brian B@rry

Mostly lurker here but I have a good story about a card show.

I was probably 16 when I went with my brother and my dad to a show in the Chicago suburbs (1974?). Toward the end of the day we spotted a 1933 Goudey Ruth at a table, but above our budget. It was probably $30.00. We drooled over it but we just didn't have enough money.

The dealer was an older gentleman, an obvious veteran of the early days of collecting. He asked us how much money we had. We emptied our pockets of all the loose bills and change we had and it came to about $17.00. He said, "OK, help me load up the car and I'll sell you the card for what you have left."

It meant that we left the show a little late and my dad had to check the dealer out to make sure he was OK, but he was, and that's how I got my first Ruth. Still have it and although it's not in perfect condition, it's a nice presentable card.

I don't really collect anymore, but I read this forum pretty regularly and I've tried to play it forward. Once in a while an acquaintance will mention a card he or she used to have and if I can, I just give it to them. Makes them so happy and in turn makes me so.

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Nothing wrong with being a lurker . The angst on this board sometimes can be intimidating....and it has lessened considerably in the last 8-9 years.

Cool story. Nice way to pick up a Ruth.

Z

[The-Cardfather]

The year was 1976 or 1977, and I was 14 or 15 years old. I was attending one of the semi-annual card shows at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan (New York City). It was late in the afternoon and I had developed a bad headache. I was sitting in the lobby, where they had plenty of plush chairs and sofas.

I probably had my face in my hands when I was approached by an older gentleman who inquired if I was okay. I told him that I had a bad headache. He asked if I was staying at the hotel. I explained that I had attended the card show and was waiting for my headache to subside before taking the subway home to Brooklyn. (I'm paraphrasing. I don't think I used the words "attended" or "subside" at age 15.) He asked if I had taken any aspirin, and I said that I had not. He then walked away, only to reappear within two minutes with aspirin and a paper cup of water. I took the aspirin and thanked him before he walked away.

A few months later, I attended a smaller card show. (I don't remember where.) I ran into the aforementioned gentleman there. Much to my surprise, he was signing autographs. His name was Cal Abrams - former Brooklyn Dodger.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Brian B@rry

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Great stories, guys. Thanks for sharing them!

[Volod]

Originally Posted by The Cardfather

...I ran into the aforementioned gentleman there. Much to my surprise, he was signing autographs. His name was Cal Abrams - former Brooklyn Dodger.

Really like that story. It's so easy to forget that ballplayers - or celebrities in general - are often down-to-earth, decent human beings. I think that is because a minority of them are at the opposite pole and get a lot of the media coverage.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by Volod

Really like that story. It's so easy to forget that ballplayers - or celebrities in general - are often down-to-earth, decent human beings. I think that is because a minority of them are at the opposite pole and get a lot of the media coverage.

Great point! The few that are jerks get most of the attention it seems. I guess that is generally true in society. Really nice story, thanks for sharing!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[skil55voy]

Dearborn, Michigan 1987. My daughter and I went to the show to get Gordie Howe's autograph. She had a Red Wings pennant with some autos on it. I had a jersey that had a few sigs on it. We went in and bought our tickets, we were in the 400's. I looked around and the bleachers were full of people waiting for Gordie. No one was walking around the tables. So, we went went around and purchased a few things until we got to the last table on our route. My daughter bought a grab bag for a dollar that had the Domino's pizza 68 Tiger set in it. I am a Post and Jello collector and I looked down and there was a stack of 62 Jello cards for sale. Mays on top for 120.00. 34 cards. I told the dealer that I had 80.00 dollars in my wallet and he said, "I'll take it, you guys are the third people that have bought anything all day. In the stack, Bobby Richardson and Bill Stafford. We then sold our autograph tickets, because she was ready for McDonald's and didn't want to wait 4 hours for the autograph.

[7nohitter]

1990 at a show at BC High in Boston, MA. Ken Griffey Jr. was the autograph guest. My ticket was something like number 98. As I walked by the room where Ken was signing the announcer called, "Tickets 1-100." I was literally the first one in line and got an incredible signature on Griffey's 1990 UD card. 26 years later and that card is still one of my favorites!

Griffey could not have been nicer!

[DHogan]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

1990 at a show at BC High in Boston, MA. Ken Griffey Jr. was the autograph guest. My ticket was something like number 98. As I walked by the room where Ken was signing the announcer called, "Tickets 1-100." I was literally the first one in line and got an incredible signature on Griffey's 1991 UD card. 26 years later and that card is still one of my favorites!

Griffey could not have been nicer!

That was one of the first shows I went to. It was awesome.