2018 Cleveland National Report - Sneak Peak, Round 2 and Round 3 is LIVE

[LuckyLarry]

David: I’m enjoying your reports very much but wanted to comment on the “PLEASE DO NOT PUT HANDS UNDER PLASTIC” table. I do not know this dealers name but he is quite nice and managing his large set up by himself. I assume his stuff (all hockey) is under plastic to prevent theft.
Larry

[Rhotchkiss]

I was there Wednesday and Thursday. I had a great time. The facility was phenomenal and I was very pleased with the selection of pre war (WWI) cards. I made two huge trades and a large purchase. I met many Net54ers - David (the patron of this thread), Sam, Danny, Evan, AJ, etc., met some iconic collectors and industry personalities, caught up with old friends, and made some new friends. My only complaint is there was too much to look at that I left both days starving (never ate) and exhausted. Yes, many cards were overpriced, but whose surprised? Awesome show!

[bounce]

Originally Posted by LuckyLarry

David: I’m enjoying your reports very much but wanted to comment on the “PLEASE DO NOT PUT HANDS UNDER PLASTIC” table. I do not know this dealers name but he is quite nice and managing his large set up by himself. I assume his stuff (all hockey) is under plastic to prevent theft.
Larry

Not to be snarky, but is a sign truly necessary if you've got the plastic over them? I appreciate the concern for theft, but why not just get cases like everyone else? Again, to each their own, it's his stuff and he can handle how he desires. However, I'm sure I'm not alone in the feeling that it just sends the wrong message, and people like me just keep walking so he never gets a chance.

[bounce]

Okay - Round 3 is in the books and what a day it was!

First off, I knew today was going to be a short one for me, as one of my buddies had tickets for the Indians/Angels game tonight, including ON FIELD PASSES for batting practice. As you can tell from some of my previous posts, I'm an autograph collector, too, so the chance to get Trout, Ohtani, Pujols and/or Lindor was exciting. I've gotten Pujols before, but he'd still be a nice score.

I mean we were right there, I could not quite spit on them but it would still be close.
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To get ready for the potential, I bought a 2014 All Star ball (Trout MVP), a 2016 All Star ball (first time Lindor was an All Star) and a regular MLB baseball (could use for anyone). I was ready to rock!

Well, as terrible luck would have it...Lindor had finished BP before they let us down on the field. Strike one.
Trout is hurt with a right wrist injury and apparently hasn't swung a bat in two days, so he didn't participate today. Strike two.
Ohtani doesn't pay attention to anyone, including the Angels family folks. Strike three.
Pujols actually walked over right next to us to talk to someone he knew. By that time, it was one little kid and me and my buddy - 3 total autographs - but when we asked he says "Not right now, Papi" to my friend and walks off. Strike four. Thanks, Albert.

COMPLETE DISASTER! My buddy said that has never happened to him before, and he travels the country and does this frequently in many different cities thanks to his job. To borrow a phrase from someone on Instagram who was disappointed that Trout wasn't in the lineup after they planned their trip including a 7 hour drive - "I'm getting a good taste of the Cleveland fan experience." UGH, really disappointing but still cool to hang out on the field. I'd been to BP many times before, but never that close so it was neat. The stadium is pretty cool as well. Tough to really complain, and yes I understand no one is crying for me. First world problems - I get it.

[bounce]

Moving along to the action, today I did something I rarely do. I just sorta wandered through the aisles, hoping that the cards that wanted me to own them today would somehow draw me near. And sure enough, they did!

I'm sometimes a set collector, so when I saw this on top of a stack at a good price I just knew my 57 set was going to make another leap forward. Of course, foreshadowing things to come, it was literally the only card I needed in a stack of 8s and 9s that was probably 50 cards total. But still, you take them when you can get them.
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I'm also a set collector of the 2012 Topps Chrome football refractor sets. I had put them together in raw form, but had decided in the last few months to go ahead and upgrade my Lucks and Wilsons to BGS 9.5s. So this one was a great add for me at a great price. Got it form a guy who only does baseball, but it took it in on a trade yesterday and it was the only non-baseball card in his case. He was excited to sell it, and I was excited to own it. WIN WIN!
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My wandering then led me to this. Certainly one of the more interesting items I've seen at the show, and I feel like maybe this is one of those odd collections that just about anyone could start - signed coasters? That's a Wilt Chamberlain in case you don't know, and someone actually paid PSA to slab the thing. To each their own, and no I did not purchase this - in fact I forgot to ask the price, I should do that tomorrow.
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This might be one of the coolest booths at the show, not sure my picture does it justice at all. The Card Bar is pretty cool, I'm sure the man-cavers can latch onto some version of this in the future.
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Dumbest thing I heard today...
Me - What are you asking for the PSA 4?
Dealer - These are only available as a pair.
Me - Fine, how much for the pair?
Dealer - $16,000
Me - Ok, but I really only want the PSA 4.
Dealer - I need to keep it so people can see the comparison to the other one.
Me - I'm not sure they need to see both to understand, but good luck to you.

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Yes, I'm willing to concede I'm probably a jerk, as long as everyone else is willing to concede that neither one of those cards are actually for sale.

Moving on to big guns, just know that there's always a bigger gun out there. I finally found them today.
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This next one I think qualifies as a big gun? However, since we've been talking refractors earlier I think this one needs to be re-slabbed as a "Sepia Tone" variation. I'd much rather have the real one, but I know people like the weird T206 stuff and this one definitely qualifies on several levels.
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Some incredible baseballs, a couple of these may just make my pursuit list for the 2019 National. That second Ruth is really a stunning ball.
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[bounce]

In terms of time line, this post is going to fast forward again to tonight after I got back from the game. I sat down at the hotel with one of the guys I met last year at the National, we saw each other Wednesday on the way out and talked, but didn't finally connect in the show until today and planned a meet up tonight. It just reminded me that I'm not doing a very good job of getting to know some of the other collectors as well as I should, not because I'm not interested but more because sometimes I'm not that outgoing. However, I really enjoy meeting with him tonight and talking cards, and jobs, and families and life and all kinds of things. And ultimately getting a nice sized trade done was just the icing on the cake. Anyway, I walked away with these.
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Not a bad day, right? Well, let's rewind back to about 1:30pm this afternoon, when my WHOLE SHOW got made. Remember, I was just wandering aimlessly around, no direction, just zig-zagging my way across the floor. I turned the corner at a booth, and lo and behold...THERE IT WAS! Literally the ONE CARD that was at the VERY TOP of my want list. The National is the only place I would ever see this card, other than online auctions. I won't bore you with details, but it took about 45 minutes to close the deal, but I'm the proud new owner of this. Walter Johnson is my absolute favorite of the original Hall of Famers, and this my absolute favorite card of his. That's right, the T204 Ramly.
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Short day the show for me today, but I bagged my whale this trip. My only other National experience that even compares to this is when I picked up an Abraham Lincoln autograph. If today isn't the best, it's runner up only to that, but I think it's probably 1A and 1B for me. I absolutely LOVE the Ramly design, I've wanted this card for two years now and finally was in position to get it done.

Tomorrow will be my final day here, but who knows what might be in store? I've had my eye on a couple other things, here's hoping to some good fortune tomorrow and a couple dealers who are truly ready to make a deal? We shall see.

[DeanH3]

Fantastic haul David. Congrats on harpooning your whale! Thanks for write ups.

[Stampsfan]

Thanks for the efforts on the write-ops, David, and everyone else. Much apreciate the information you guys are posting. And what a beautiful T204 you picked up.

I'm guessing the guy with the plastic over the hockey cards might be Len Pottie. From Nova Scotia, if I recall correctly. Good guy, have bought from him for years.

[CW]

Originally Posted by bounce

Short day the show for me today, but I bagged my whale this trip. My only other National experience that even compares to this is when I picked up an Abraham Lincoln autograph. If today isn't the best, it's runner up only to that, but I think it's probably 1A and 1B for me. I absolutely LOVE the Ramly design, I've wanted this card for two years now and finally was in position to get it done.

I have seen some amazing hauls from the National this year, and yours easily ranks in the top 3, if not THE best. You not only have good taste, but you know how to make a deal. Congrats!

[basesareempty]

I know next year is in Chicago followed by Atlantic City in 2020. Do they have the schedule set past that?

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by bounce

My wandering then led me to this. Certainly one of the more interesting items I've seen at the show, and I feel like maybe this is one of those odd collections that just about anyone could start - signed coasters? That's a Wilt Chamberlain in case you don't know, and someone actually paid PSA to slab the thing. To each their own, and no I did not purchase this - in fact I forgot to ask the price, I should do that tomorrow.
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I have a good feeling that's actually an item on my want list as they are not uncommon. If you asked to see the obverse, it is most likely a coaster from Wilt's restaurant which is a cool basketball design with the restaurant title. The bummer is that most examples are signed on the reverse like this one as Wilt logically would for legibility as the design is dark. I have always wanted one ( at a reasonable price, which is always the problem isn't it?) that is signed on the design for display purposes.

It is labeled as a "cut" so it might also be just cut in a circle for some weird reason, but if it is one the coasters, I think you'll think it's nifty.

[RedsFan1941]

from the website of the IX center:

Parking for all I-X Center shows is $10.

http://www.ixcenter.com/directions/

so it is not the evil show promoter who is taking food out of dealers' mouths (insert joke here)

[KMayUSA6060]

Originally Posted by RedsFan1941

from the website of the IX center:

Parking for all I-X Center shows is $10.

http://www.ixcenter.com/directions/

so it is not the evil show promoter who is taking food out of dealers' mouths (insert joke here)

I don't know who he car show promoter is, but I wonder if they pay the estimated total parking tab.

At the very least, it should have been a $10 parking pass or something like that, valid for multiple days.

[bounce]

Originally Posted by JustinD

I have a good feeling that's actually an item on my want list as they are not uncommon. If you asked to see the obverse, it is most likely a coaster from Wilt's restaurant which is a cool basketball design with the restaurant title. The bummer is that most examples are signed on the reverse like this one as Wilt logically would for legibility as the design is dark. I have always wanted one ( at a reasonable price, which is always the problem isn't it?) that is signed on the design for display purposes.

It is labeled as a "cut" so it might also be just cut in a circle for some weird reason, but if it is one the coasters, I think you'll think it's nifty.

Yep you nailed it - signed coaster from Wilts restaurant/bar. $1200 ask.

[glynparson]

Originally Posted by bounce

Not to be snarky, but is a sign truly necessary if you've got the plastic over them? I appreciate the concern for theft, but why not just get cases like everyone else? Again, to each their own, it's his stuff and he can handle how he desires. However, I'm sure I'm not alone in the feeling that it just sends the wrong message, and people like me just keep walking so he never gets a chance.

Lem, the hockey dealer being discussed here, has had his tables set up that way for at least 20-25 years and it doesn’t seem to have effected his sales. He has also had a sign for as long as I can remember. I don’t see this as wrong to not want someone to reach under the plastic. I know I don’t want someone I didn’t say it was ok to to just open and reach in my showcases. I honestly do not see a difference.

[bounce]

Originally Posted by glynparson

I don’t see this as wrong to not want someone to reach under the plastic. I know I don’t want someone I didn’t say it was ok to to just open and reach in my showcases. I honestly do not see a difference.

I never said it was wrong - read what I wrote.

Do you post a sign in your cases that says "PLEASE DO NOT OPEN MY CASES"?

[glynparson]

Originally Posted by bounce

I never said it was wrong - read what I wrote.

Do you post a sign in your cases that says "PLEASE DO NOT OPEN MY CASES"?

Do you honestly not see a difference between a lockable showcase and a piece of plastic? I know I do. I can understand a customer not knowing it is wrong to reach under the plastic. Where as I think it s easily inferred to not open and reach in a showcase. If I had the number of instances of people
Opening showcases as he did people reaching under his plastic I would absolutely not hesitate to put up such a sign.

[CW]

Originally Posted by glynparson

Do you honestly not see a difference between a lockable showcase and a piece of plastic? I know I do. I can understand a customer not knowing it is wrong to reach under the plastic. Where as I think it s easily inferred to not open and reach in a showcase. If I had the number of instances of people
Opening showcases as he did people reaching under his plastic I would absolutely not hesitate to put up such a sign.

I can see both sides here. Maybe a good compromise is to change the sign a bit, like "PLEASE ASK IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT IS UNDER THE PLASTIC".

Thanks everyone for the recaps. I attended Friday and Saturday but it's still nice to see everyone's experiences and observations.

As I scanned the entire floor on Saturday, I was pleased to see how busy it was and also how many younger people I saw asking about prices on cards at the tables.