RIP Mike Berkus

[MLBbatman]

There is no question that Mike was a visionary in this hobby who not only saw the "Big Picture," but often created it as well. As far as the shows and collector's meetings and such in the L.A. - San Diego pipeline in the mid- 1970's, it was amazing how many collectors showed up in the bowling alley in El Cajon (Parkway Bowl ), a classroom at some elementary school near Mission Viejo, and other out-of-the-way places. In the interest of not rewriting history, the framework of what eventually became The National
was in place a little before Mike's involvement thanks in large part to the efforts of the L.A. guys --- Gavin Riley, Steve Brunner, and Jim Nowell. Soon thereafter, Mike became involved and was a master at glitzing the hobby up, leading to nationwide recognition . RIP Mike