Meet and Greet- welcome to Net54baseball

[Anthony K.]

1. Name- Anthony Kates

2. Age- 25

3. Day job- US Army Soldier

4. Location- Kandahar, Afghanistan (Unit is stationed in Vilseck, Germany).

5. Collecting interest- 33 Goudey, Pr-1970's RC's, early 50's Bowman issues

6. Family- Wife and soon to be 3 year old son

7. How long in hobby- 19 years and counting. Took small breaks, but never got completely out.

8. Other interests- Reading mystery/fiction thriller books, motivational/business minded non-fiction; watching movies and TV shows (currently on Sons of Anarchy); playing any sport I can get my hand on (hockey, baseball, basketball, football, racquetball, etc); blogging.

9. Do you attend shows? Haven't been to a show in over 10 years, but if I find some where ever I decide to move to when I get out of the Army, you will be able to find me and my son there

[Wite3]

1. Name- Joshua Levine

2. Age- 39

3. Day job- 4th grade teacher

4. Location- CA

5. Collecting interest- phillies, t205s

6. Family- wife

7. How long in hobby- 25 years and counting

8. Other interests- books, music, movies

9. Do you attend shows? I would if there were any left in Southern California.

[wrapperguy]

1. Name- Jeff Schwarz

2. Age- 55 (2 days ago)

3. Day job- retired physical education teacher, coach, and athletic director. Now I assign sports officials for 15,400 games per year and just got selected to assign the basketball refs for a North Shore high school conference. "Retired" is not really the right word, but the first pension check gets sent next week!

4. Location- Arlington Hts., Illinois - good to see so many IL and southern WI people on here!

5. Collecting interest- Missing only a few cards to complete the 1923-24 Exhibits, 1931-32 Exhibits, 1933 Exhibits, W711-1, E121 Series of 80, R303A, Wide Pen Premiums (Type 2 only), R315, Diamond Star master set, 35 Goudey master set, Morgan Red Belts, 1926-29 Exhibits, and Dietsche Postcard sets

6. Family- Wife of 26 years, son Andrew (23), son Kyle (22), daughter Emily (18), and cockapoo Kelsey (10).

7. How long in hobby- My father and I started to collect seriously when we picked up a Beckett guide at the 1982 or 1983 Chicago National. Dad started collecting pre-war (his era) and I completed Topps sets, wrappers and press pins. Dad also started doing football and hockey sets, and then I leapfrogged Dad and started working on tobacco sets. This Board has been instrumental in getting us interested in caramel sets. Once I finish the above sets, I will just get whatever appeals to me. Dad, at age 91, is no longer active but loves to see what I've picked up.

8. Other interests- Sports officiating, music, travel, and hoping to see the Cubs win one!

9. Do you attend shows? - Luckily living in Chicagoland provides many show opportunities but rarely find anything on our wantlist.

Photo is me umpiring a mens league championship game played at Wrigley with my sons in tow. They got a day off of school and got to run around Wrigley. What a thrill!

[drc]

...

[Writehooks]

Anthony K:

Just wanted to say "thanks" to you and all the other men and women serving with the coalition forces in Afghanistan. Words can't express the respect and admiration I have for the job you're doing. A lot of the Canadian kids that have paid the ultimate price over there were deployed from a base about an hour from where I live, and every time I see another group ship out, it reminds me to be thankful for all who answer their nation's call.

Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year.

[arsrvfan]

1. Name- Steve Morrow

2. Age- 53

3. Day job- Grocery Store General Manager

4. Location-Arkansas

5. Collecting interests- 68 Tigers, Gas House Cardinals, 30s to 70s team signed balls, Mantle, completing signed 68 Topps set, etc.

6. Family- wife, 2 kids, 5 grand kids

7. How long in hobby- 30 years. Show dealer, Sports Collector's Digest advertiser (as 10th Inning Sports, Joplin, Mo.) and retail store owner from 1984 thru 1994.

8. Other interests- Golf, music

9. Do you attend shows? Set up at 100s in 80s and 90s. Haven't attended one in years.

[lhoyle]

Ditto. Anthony, I am very proud that you are part of this little group and a part of our armed services. Thank you for your service.

Lee Hoyle

Originally Posted by Writehooks

Anthony K:

Just wanted to say "thanks" to you and all the other men and women serving with the coalition forces in Afghanistan. Words can't express the respect and admiration I have for the job you're doing. A lot of the Canadian kids that have paid the ultimate price over there were deployed from a base about an hour from where I live, and every time I see another group ship out, it reminds me to be thankful for all who answer their nation's call.

Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year.

[MacDice]

1. Name- Mike MacCulloch

2. Age- 36

3. Day job- Director of Marketing & Corporate Sales for a minor league hockey team

4. Location- Edmonds, WA (20 minutes north of Seattle)

5. Collecting interest- Earl Averill memorabilia, low grad T-206’s, cards of former players who are now in professional ball and working on a signed 1957 set.

6. Family- Wife and two kids (that I know of).

7. How long in hobby- Since 1983, took a little break while in college

8. Other interests- Coaching college baseball. Currently I am an assistant community college coach and serve as league president for a summer collegiate baseball league which I also coach in

9. Do you attend shows? No, need to spend some time with the family since I am at over 100 sporting events per year.

[Bunker]

1. Name- Rick Mynatt

2. Age- 48

3. Day job- Fire Chief...I will celebrate my 30th year in the fire service on February 9, 2011

4. Location- Cincinnati, Ohio

5. Collecting interest- I am 14 cards away from completing my 1971 Topps BB set in NM or better and I have a total of 14 cards for my new project, a 1955 Topps BB set. I also collect players of "The Big Red Machine" Rose, Bench, Perez etc.

I have raw sets from the 70's that I work on every now and then that I would love to finish off some day. I also have a modern weakness which is the1984 Donruss. I to embarrassed to tell anybody how many I have, but if you need to finish your set I am the man to see...lol

6. Family- Married for 12 years the first time and got two great kids (boy and a girl) out of the deal. (that was all I got out of that deal!) My second marriage is going strong at 13 years and has given me another child a beautiful daughter who is 9 going on 16.

My son who is 18 and I are very close and spend a lot of time together. He collects cards with me although he likes the shiny stuff (he says I like the dusty, musty stuff) We also enjoy astronomy and spend a lot of time outdoors with a telescope.

My oldest is my 22 year old daughter who actually just moved back home with us. When she was a teenager she couldn't wait to get out on her own and now she couldn't wait to come home

7. How long in hobby- I started collecting in 1973 and still have all of my childhood cards. I went through periods where I would put them away for awhile, but would always get them back out again. I haven't put them away this time since sometime in the mid 90's.

8. Other interests- My job and astronomy (Family is a given)

9. Do you attend shows? Local card shows only, never the National although that is on the "To Do" list

[oriolesbb6]

Name- Kyle Barniak
2. Age- 38

3. Day job- Local Estate Auction Manager/Antique Sales

4. Location- Branchville, NJ

5. Collecting interest- Any and all sports memorabilia/Pre 70s Hockey Cards

6. Family- Wife Tami & dog Bella

7. How long in hobby- Since I was a kid......

8. Other interests-Antiques, anything outdoors

9. Do you attend shows? Not currently, just auctions....

[jbsports33]

1. Name- Jimmy Piccuito

2. Age- 36

3. Day job- GIS

4. Location- MA

5. Collecting interest- anything prewar

6. Family- wife, 2 kids

7. How long in hobby- 25 years and counting

8. Other interests- camping, fishing and just being with my family

9. Do you attend shows? yes in the Boston area, also setup a table at a few!

[campyfan39]

1. Name- Chris Partin

2. Age- 38

3. Day job- Pastor of Plymouth Baptist Church

4. Location- Raleigh, NC

5. Collecting interest- 50-70's topps cards

6. Family- Wife of 15 years and three sons

7. How long in hobby- Since I was 8

8. Other interests- LOVE college basketball especially UNC

9. Do you attend shows? Yes. Mainly in Raleigh

[Howe’s Hunter]

Name: Ed McCollum

Age: Close enough to 50 to call it that

Day Job: Graphic Design Director for nonprofit provider of services for the intellectually and developmentally disabled (visit our website www.mosaicinfo.org)

Location: Omaha, NE

Collecting Interest: T-206s with a rubber stamp on the back from Howe McCormick, 500 W. Main St., Gainesville, Fal

Family: wife of 24 years Loretta, son George, Senior at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL

How long in the Hobby: since 1972. Collected complete sets of Topps for 38 years until selling them all a year ago February to concentrate on rebuilding Howe's collection.

Other Interests: restoring our home one room at a time.

Attend Shows: one in the last twelve years. It was a disappointment. Nothing but shiney new stuff
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