Strongsville Show

[Johnny630]

I bet the dollar boxes are going to be PACKED.....expensive cards....I think will go to the Auction Houses.

[BobC]

Definitely going, only about 10-15 minutes from my house.

Aside from Covid, another reason for the lapse of the show was from the passing of Paul Fusco a few years back in January, 2019. The show, also known as the Ohio Sports Collectors Convention, had already been booked and set up for March, 2019, so went ahead as planned. Paul owned and operated Fusco Auctions for years, along with hosting and organizing the annual Strongsville show. Paul had actually resurrected and taken over the Strongsville show after the passing of Geoff Sindelar in 2010. The show began in 1978, so don't know if Sindelar was prt of the group that originally started and organized the show at the Strongsville Holiday Inn each Spring. But he was involved for quite a few years before Paul took over. Sindelar was a big-time collector of cards and memorabilia, and became somewhat famous locally as the "Professor" due to his extensive knowledge of sports collectibles and memorabilia. He was always calling local sports talk radio shows and discussing sports collectibles, which is where he earned the moniker as the "Professor", from knowing so much more than the people on the radio. Eventually, local radio stations hired Sindelar to host his own on-air radio shows, which he did for quite a few years.

I especially loved it when back when Sindelar was running the Strongsville show he would also host a cash only, live auction on Saturday evenings, after the show had ended for the day. The coolest part was they held the auction around the Holiday Inn's indoor pool. Talk about a crazy auction venue, can still remember the chlorine smell in the air. You never knew in advance what they'd be auctioning off either. Also, it looks like Best Wester has recently taken over, so it's no longer a Holiday Inn anymore.

Anyway, when Paul took over the show, he had Leland's as one of the sponsors, and had heard they would likely continue the show after him. It was certainly the biggest and best vintage show in Ohio every year, except when they held the National every so often at the IX Center. Just hope it can live up to its past shows, and continue on for years to come.

[Jewish-collector]

I used to go to that show all the time in the 1990's. Loved it. It was one of my favorite shows to attend !!!

[Moonlight Graham]

I'm going! But sadly no SGC.

[ClementeFanOh]

Looking forward to it! Strongsville is, pound for pound, the best vintage
and tobacco card show I attend. This show is what all shows should strive to
be...
Johnny630- you obviously have never attended, right? There will be PLENTY
of good material on hand. Although I'm not a dollar box guy, there is usually
something for all types of buyers at the show. Any attempt to make it appear
like a neighborhood garage sale is woefully off base, however.
See you collectors there! Trent King

[asoriano]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

Strongsville is, pound for pound, the best vintage and tobacco card show I attend.

Couldn't agree more. Very excited to make it back to this show after a three year hiatus.

Here are a few random pics I took on Friday (maybe Saturday?) right as I walked in the door back in 2019:

[Tony Gordon]

Paul Fusco was easily my favorite promoter. I had to prove to him that I was a vintage dealer before he would let me set up. I loved how he would walk around the room and yell at dealers to remove modern cards from their tables. His wife and daughter did a fantastic job operating that last show in April 2019. I am concerned that Leland's is going to ruin the show. Unlike Paul, they are allowing dealers to sell modern cards. In my opinion, what made this show so great and unique is that there were no modern card dealers during Paul's reign. It is a five-hour drive for me and this may be my last year attending. I can set up at a show alongside modern dealers 20 minutes from home, why drive five hours for a show that is no longer great and unique?

[GRock]

I plan on going, used to be a really good show.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Moonlight Graham

I'm going! But sadly no SGC.

Agree It's so disappointing to me that SGC does no on site grading. This show would be perfect for them being it's pretty much an all vintage show. In the past SGC graded on site at this show along with National.