More on 1969 and the dawn of card conventions

[SteveMitchell]

Originally Posted by stlcardsfan

When I first started buying complete sets (1975) I used to deal with a guy named Walter Abe from Foster City, CA. Seemed like a great guy. Guessing he may have been at some of these. His name ring a bell with anyone?

Walter was one of the first out-of-state dealers to set up at the Washington State Sports Collectors Association convention. I'm guessing the year would have been sometime around 1975 or '76 - possibly later but definitely pre-1980. He did bring a number of smaller complete card sets. Unfortunately, I do not recall anything about him after about 1980 as we left the Pacific Northwest for 6 years before returning in late 1986.

[oaks1912]

Walter Abe is still around, in fact owns three stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. He attends the National most years and occasionally will make cameo appearances at the Bay Area shows. Another major asset to the Bay Area's collecting community.... and beyond.