White Plains show was dead.

[HolyGrail]

October has always been a slower show with fewer dealers and less inventory. And smaller crowds.

But I was there all three days and had a fantastic show!

1) I purchased one of my last Holy Grails: a signed Seaver rookie from Joe T. at Memory Lane who had a dupe after buying the best one in the hobby (PSA 9/9). He wrote me a sweet note to display with it. He also showed me his run of 58 signed Seaver cards, also the best in the hobby. I had been cultivating this deal for months because Joe knows how much I love Seaver.

2) I got essential, inexpensive hobby supplies from Dan who sets up against the wall.

3) I bought two Mickey Mantle books for $10 for research and a rare religious pamphlet at the end of his life for research I'm doing. I would never have found that last piece on eBay because I didn't know it existed.

4) I reported a story on the new security system installed after big thefts from the last show and worked on two other stories. Another about a dealer who put only Mantle cards in his bike spokes in the early 60s and the other about Stan Loch who completed his run of 200 Mantles after 30 years. He just got a PSA 2.5 '52 Topps Mantle.

5) I spoke for hours about the hobby to two of the really good guys, Portland, ME dealer Don Hontz and Al Crisafulli of Love of the Game. They gave me some all-time great hobby stories, some involving Net54 contributors. Every dealer at these shows is super friendly and helpful.

6) On Sunday, I helped broker a deal for a 1948 Bowman Musial SG 7 between Jon Celona of Champion Sports Cards and a super new collector Jason Epstein. It's become a hot card and Jason's favorite.

7) I met and spoke to Tom Lasorda for a minute and got snapped at by his nasty body guard who Lasorda yelled at for being mean to me.

8) I saw a very cool vintage Mickey Mantle ad display piece, one of a kind.

Etc. Etc.

The biggest White Plain shows are August, January, and March. But they are all good. Jimmy and Brian do a great job and deserve credit and support to keep these going.

How can you replicate these live experiences? It's mostly about the wonderful friendships; like the National, except on a smaller scale.

David Seideman (Senior Contributor, Forbes)

[Donscards]

Originally Posted by HolyGrail

October has always been a slower show with fewer dealers and less inventory. And smaller crowds.

But I was there all three days and had a fantastic show!

1) I purchased one of my last Holy Grails: a signed Seaver rookie from Joe T. at Memory Lane who had a dupe after buying the best one in the hobby (PSA 9/9). He wrote me a sweet note to display with it. He also showed me his run of 58 signed Seaver cards, also the best in the hobby. I had been cultivating this deal for months because Joe knows how much I love Seaver.

2) I got essential, inexpensive hobby supplies from Dan who sets up against the wall.

3) I bought two Mickey Mantle books for $10 for research and a rare religious pamphlet at the end of his life for research I'm doing. I would never have found that last piece on eBay because I didn't know it existed.

4) I reported a story on the new security system installed after big thefts from the last show and worked on two other stories. Another about a dealer who put only Mantle cards in his bike spokes in the early 60s and the other about Stan Loch who completed his run of 200 Mantles after 30 years. He just got a PSA 2.5 '52 Topps Mantle.

5) I spoke for hours about the hobby to two of the really good guys, Portland, ME dealer Don Hontz and Al Crisafulli of Love of the Game. They gave me some all-time great hobby stories, some involving Net54 contributors. Every dealer at these shows is super friendly and helpful.

6) On Sunday, I helped broker a deal for a 1948 Bowman Musial SG 7 between Jon Celona of Champion Sports Cards and a super new collector Jason Epstein. It's become a hot card and Jason's favorite.

7) I met and spoke to Tom Lasorda for a minute and got snapped at by his nasty body guard who Lasorda yelled at for being mean to me.

8) I saw a very cool vintage Mickey Mantle ad display piece, one of a kind.

Etc. Etc.

The biggest White Plain shows are August, January, and March. But they are all good. Jimmy and Brian do a great job and deserve credit and support to keep these going.

How can you replicate these live experiences? It's mostly about the wonderful friendships; like the National, except on a smaller scale.

David Seideman (Senior Contributor, Forbes)

David---Very nice follow up to the White Plains show. You are always a pleasure to chat with--and I always love your Forbes stories.---Yes, the show was slow (as others stated, the Oct. show is the slowest)--I sold some nice items, T205 Cobb, T206 Cobb, A encapsuled Cobb Cut (I guess Cobb is hot), 1940 Play Ball DiMaggio, Signed Mantle card and a few others. I bought a nice T206 Collection with 5 Cobb's and a 1952 Topps Mays. Back home now in Portland and getting organized. The show has great Dealers and Collectors and always nice to talk with all. Now looking forward to the Boston show next month.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

It always amuses me when people bitch about museum pricing on ebay, and then turn around and complain that cards at live shows are over priced. Is there anywhere those people do feel the price is good?

[horzverti]

Originally Posted by Donscards

David---Very nice follow up to the White Plains show. You are always a pleasure to chat with--and I always love your Forbes stories.---Yes, the show was slow (as others stated, the Oct. show is the slowest)--I sold some nice items, T205 Cobb, T206 Cobb, A encapsuled Cobb Cut (I guess Cobb is hot), 1940 Play Ball DiMaggio, Signed Mantle card and a few others. I bought a nice T206 Collection with 5 Cobb's and a 1952 Topps Mays. Back home now in Portland and getting organized. The show has great Dealers and Collectors and always nice to talk with all. Now looking forward to the Boston show next month.

David is great. I enjoy reading his stuff in Forbes. I met him at the Chicago Nat'l a few years back. He was near me as I worked to buy of some 1968s that a dealer had just purchased from a walk-in seller. After I had bought an Aaron and Ryan Milton Bradley card lot, David pulled me aside and asked me about the buy. We ended up talking about MBs for a while. I didn't know that he was interviewing me until he asked my name and for my permission to use our conversation in his upcoming story. Since then I have been reading David's entries. Check him out when you get a minute.

[HolyGrail]

Yes, I remember those MB cards. You taught me a lot. Thanks for the kind words.

David

[horzverti]

Originally Posted by HolyGrail

Yes, I remember those MB cards. You taught me a lot. Thanks for the kind words.

David

It was nice meeting you. I think I still have your business card inserted inside the toploader in which I have that MB Ryan. I like to note where/when/$$ I acquired each card.
Keep up the great work David!

[Al C.risafulli]

Always a pleasure to see you, David.

Yes, the show was slow, but any opportunity I have to hang out and chit chat with collectors is fun.

We picked up some great last-minute consignments including a full Goodwin Round Album and a couple of magnificent T206 print freaks. I got to see a bunch of show regulars, which is always a blast. I wrestled with the idea of spending money to stand in line and meet 17 members of the team that helped me discover baseball, the 1978 Yankees (ultimately I decided it was better to keep them where they are, which is on my childhood television and in the pages of "The Bronx Zoo"). I got a crash course on shiny basketball cards from Carlo Cella, which was insane - the shiny card hobby is amazing.

There aren't that many small, community shows left in the country. I've got to think the White Plains show is one of the best.

-Al

[HolyGrail]

Originally Posted by Donscards

David---Very nice follow up to the White Plains show. You are always a pleasure to chat with--and I always love your Forbes stories.---Yes, the show was slow (as others stated, the Oct. show is the slowest)--I sold some nice items, T205 Cobb, T206 Cobb, A encapsuled Cobb Cut (I guess Cobb is hot), 1940 Play Ball DiMaggio, Signed Mantle card and a few others. I bought a nice T206 Collection with 5 Cobb's and a 1952 Topps Mays. Back home now in Portland and getting organized. The show has great Dealers and Collectors and always nice to talk with all. Now looking forward to the Boston show next month.

Thanks, Don. First for instructing me how to navigate Net54 so I can be part of these conversation. It sounds like you had a really good show, too. What year was your signed Mantle? I've made arrangements to go to Boston. I can't wait to see what you have. And, yes, Cobb is very, very hot. David

[Donscards]

Originally Posted by HolyGrail

Thanks, Don. First for instructing me how to navigate Net54 so I can be part of these conversation. It sounds like you had a really good show, too. What year was your signed Mantle? I've made arrangements to go to Boston. I can't wait to see what you have. And, yes, Cobb is very, very hot. David

The Mantle was a newer card, a 1991 Score, they came out of packs, Mickey had a contract with Score for a few years--the cards go $400-500---a 7 card autographed set---see you in Boston and nice to see you on net54.