Hobby history: 1977 Chicago Tribune article on card collecting

[Tony Gordon]

Thanks for posting. I was an 11 year-old kid in 1977 collecting cards in Chicago. I used to beg my dad regularly to take me to Pat Quinn's card shop. I just saw Mr. Quinn at the National a few weeks ago. I also attended those Hillside Holiday Inn shows in the 1970s. I remember buying multiple '56 Koufax cards in Ex for just 20 bucks a pop, among other tremendous buys at those shows.

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by Tony Gordon

Thanks for posting. I was an 11 year-old kid in 1977 collecting cards in Chicago. I used to beg my dad regularly to take me to Pat Quinn's card shop. I just saw Mr. Quinn at the National a few weeks ago. I also attended those Hillside Holiday Inn shows in the 1970s. I remember buying multiple '56 Koufax cards in Ex for just 20 bucks a pop, among other tremendous buys at those shows.

I was an 11 year old kid in 1977, too, in the Chicago suburbs (Glen Ellyn). And I also fondly remember those shows at the Hillside Holiday Inn, through the early '80s, though the first one I specifically remember going to was at one of the hotels up by O'Hare. We were probably at some of the same shows. Wish I had known Pat Quinn was at the National, or I would have tried to find him and say hi.

[KCRfan1]

Thanks for posting! What a terrific read!!!!!

[Piratedogcardshows]

Great perspective on the early days of organization of the hobby and collectors getting together. Even then the "investor" collectors were frowned upon.

[quinnsryche]

Thanks for posting and thanks for all the kind words about my dad. He's still going strong at 77 years old this year. Many of his contemporaries are sadly gone but he's still always looking for the next big deal! I love hearing from the guys who came to the shop. I probably met most of you as I was always there from 1976 at years old until I got married in the early 90's.

[CW]

Nice article, thanks for sharing.

In many ways the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[tennisguy]

Cool read!