Boston Sports Collector’s Show This Weekend

[Kutcher55]

Managed to bulk up some of my Red Sox needs at this show. Obviously not a great location to find cheap Sox cards, but some decent deals to be had. A few shout outs. James Ryan / JP Sports Collectables. This is a real solid outfit and usually my first stop when I go to Wilmington. They are paradise for set collectors. Best selection and prices hands down and the two guys running it are both cool and down to earth. I always find a few topps minis to upgrade with these guys and on this trip I even picked off a 51 Topps Red Dom DiMaggio, first 51 topps I ever owned (and prolly the last lol).

From there, I grabbed a nicely centered 53 Topps Roy Campanella SGC 1 for a real fair price from National Card Investors. They had a bunch of vintage slabs next to Ted Woo who also has great merch. Both of these guys are around the market with their pricing. Anyway I dumped my Campy 6 and bought this 1 for less than 20% of the price and it’s better centered, crazy nice for a 1.

I grabbed a few 60s Sox items, a 52 bowman Sox common and then got a random 34-36 Goudey Sox common that I probably overpaid a bit for but the dealer was great and he had a lot of relatively obscure pre war stuff so I was able to get a Sox representative in some odd ball set.

I almost made a deal for a SGC 5 ‘55 Topps Jackie but we were off on negotiations by $50. No regrets at all about holding my ground. This card is far from scarce and I’ll have many opportunities to find one with that rich color that is so important to the eye appeal of this great card. It was a civil exchange anyhow.

Last purchase was sort of an impulse buy. A 1939 Playball Doc Cramer autographed and PSA authenticated. Not an autograph collector but it was a chance to add a new wrinkle for my Sox collection. Cramer’s autograph is fabulous and I strongly prefer autographed cards without a facsimile auto to begin with and this card checks all the boxes. Btw Cramer had 2,705 hits in his long decent career.

[Kutcher55]

Some pics.

[BabyRuth]

I have been going to this show for nearly 30 years, and this was the least crowded I have ever seen it (Saturday morning). The downturn in the economy is definitely hitting. Prices were in the stratosphere for the most part. Usually the lines would be 5 deep just to get up to see a table, yesterday morning I strolled around the show with my son with barely anyone blocking my table views. In the past there would be lines for SGC drop off submissions. I just walked up and sat down at 1 of the empty stations and did my submission. The big draw on Saturday was autograph guest Julian Edelman. If he wasn't there, I wonder how small the crowd would have been. I've been taking my son to the show since he was 3 (2002) and we always have a great time.

[Fred]

See the top picture in post 4. Add up the $$ for the cards at the very top row of the picture. It's over a quarter million dollars.

Add up the $$ for all the cards in the picture, it's over half a million dollars.

Does anybody bring this type of cash to shows?

Let's make a deal...

[brunswickreeves]

There were definitely some big deals going down day 1. I observed a $36K exchange for a 52 Topps Mick upgrade. If you do your research, go with a plan, have laser focus, and create win-wins you can make it an amazing experience and outcome.

[GrayGhost]

I was supposed to go up today, but the car rental fell through, due to enterprises BS ID policy. Still PO'd

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by BabyRuth

I have been going to this show for nearly 30 years, and this was the least crowded I have ever seen it (Saturday morning). The downturn in the economy is definitely hitting. Prices were in the stratosphere for the most part. Usually the lines would be 5 deep just to get up to see a table, yesterday morning I strolled around the show with my son with barely anyone blocking my table views. In the past there would be lines for SGC drop off submissions. I just walked up and sat down at 1 of the empty stations and did my submission. The big draw on Saturday was autograph guest Julian Edelman. If he wasn't there, I wonder how small the crowd would have been. I've been taking my son to the show since he was 3 (2002) and we always have a great time.

I read the same thing from two patrons about how the crowds were very thin at the show.

It will be interesting to see how things are at the next big shows before the end of the year.

[bcbgcbrcb]

That seems to be the trend at least over the last 30, 60 days pretty much all over the country. I have heard the same thing about the last Dallas show, last Chantilly show, last Jacksonville show down here in FL and this Shriner’s show. However, except for Jacksonville, these are all still major shows with thousands of attendees at each over the weekends so dealers still getting plenty of opportunities to make sales/money.

[NATCARD]

I have been set up at this show for years, 252-254 are my tables (National Card Investors). I first want to thank Kutcher55 for the shout out on the Campy 1. My tables were very busy and I had a tremendous show. If you set up and price your merch correctly you will sell it. This is not a museum, it is a card show. I want to thank the numerous collecors for their purchases. There were many new customers. The hobby may be softening and prices correcting slightly but people are still spending their money on cards and memorabilia.