Reflections on 30 years of the Philly Show

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by tedzan

I will continue to set-up at the National's (East of the Mississippi) with Mark Macrae.


TED Z

So you will be in Chicago next year for the National? If so, great!

[barrysloate]

Ted- I certainly understand, and as I often say, nothing lasts forvever. The shows have changed drastically over the years, and I think for many a lot of the fun is gone.

[vintagecpa]

I'm still trying to get past the $25,000 Gretzky Wagner. Makes me feel a little better about selling a Gretzky rookie for $10 before the price took off.

[curch]

I went to the show for the first time ever this year. As stated in another thread, I though 90% of the dealers wouldn't give me the time of day. And I would say most of the cards can be purchased cheaper on ebay. But it was a fun time and would go back again if I were in the area.

Joe

[Clark7781]

Ted, it was a pleasure to meet you a few weeks ago at my store. I tried to get to the Philly show, but I am moving into my new home this Friday and, well, I'm sure you can understand that the immediate weekend prior to a move is very hectic.

I'm sure our paths will cross again!

Your friend,

Paul

[tedzan]

I was looking forward to seeing you and your 3 children.

I drop in to see you some day in Flemington.


Best regards,

TED Z

[tedzan]

Responding to your......
"I first attended and set up at this legendary show in 1981 with my friend and veteran hobbyist Bob Thing."


Bill

That's when I met Bob, at my first Willow Grove show. Bob and I hit it right off the bat, since I lived in Maine
for 4 years (and go up there every summer), so we had a lot to talk about.

I see Bob every summer at the show in Cooperstown on HOF weekend. A really great guy and a great guy to
talk Baseball with.

Thanks for reminiscing about those early Willow Grove days.

Best Wishes,

TED Z

[WillowGrove]

Grew up being driven down to the WillowGrove show from Brooklyn by my parents when I was about 12-13 in 1977/78. They would usually walk around with me for a bit then give me 20 bucks and they'd go off antiquing.

I distinctly remember buying 1934 Goudey Luke Appling for three dollars and fifty cents and being pretty darn happy. I also still have the Bob Gibson rookie that cost me two quarters and the 62 koufax that was $3.00.

I was just a kid but my memories were of seeing all this amazing old stuff at what seemed like table after table. MY eyes would bug out of my head. I remember staring at an Allen & Ginter Cap Anson for like 5 minutes straight until the dealer offered to let me hold it. It was in a plastic sheet that was cut down to size.

Bought a lot of cards, went to the show about 10 times. So special to me I made it my name on our forum.

Ted I didn't know I was buying from you at the national until I met up with some fellow Net54ers and they told me. Thanks for a fair price on a couple common t206's. Hope to see you east of the mississippi sometime.

peter

[tedzan]

Hey guys, my daughter Zoe recently sent me this photo that she took of me in the Summer of 1981.
Here is what I looked like when I first started "wheeling & dealing" at the Willow Grove show in 1981.

Check-out my Golden Glove award (to the right of my left shoulder).





TED Z

[Jewish-collector]

Ted,

I'm sorry to hear that. I really enjoyed seeing & conversing with you on the Friday evenings at the Ft. Washington Expo Center.

I have been going to this show on a regular basis since the mid 1990's and have even attended a few shows back when it was in the old motor lodge in the 1980's. Many times, I used to stay overnight from Friday thru Saturday. But, over the the last 5 or 6 years, I drove up & back on the Friday only. I haven't been to the new location as of yet.

Outside of the National, this had been known as the very best show around. The fact that it moved initially to Reading before its new location probably didn't help keep it strong. It is clear that the show promoter has decided that the autograph signings are more important, so therefore a lot of the national vintage dealers have stopped setting up because a lot of collectors of vintage cards are not attending. If they truly want it like the old days, they would have to put much less emphasis on the autograph signings to try to get the vintage dealers back.

Alan

[tedzan]

I remember those two cards. I think I sold them to you in one of our early encounters at the Ft Washington show.

That Matty Mac graded out pretty nice.

The BROAD LEAF 350 McGinley was one of my first BL 350's, that I acquired back in the 1980's.

Thanks for the kind words.

Regards,

TED Z