Larry Frisch Cards..what happened ??

[jcmtiger]

Pretty sure His son now runs the business. They do have tons of cards, not sure how many are pre WWII though. They are old school.

Joe

[drc]

Didn't know they ever had a brick and mortar store. Not saying they didn't, just didn't know they did.

[chris6net]

Larry was one of the first real dealers as most everyone knows. I am sure from what I am reading once he passed his family tried to modernize the business and it will never be the same.
P.S. I remember buying my 1970-74 sets from him and then trying to put my own sets together from packs. (Putting a set together from packs was a lot more fun than having the whole set series by series)CN

[sbfinley]

I still get their catalogs a couple of times a year. It's great to flip through as I enjoy that type of thing, but I've only made one purchase from them and that was years ago. I'm glad that the family decided to continue the business, and I think the niche that they cornered with reprint and oddball sets more covers their operating costs. IF they ever do decide to sell out it will be one heck of a fire sell.

[Ladder7]

Those reprints caused many new collectors a lot of grief.

[Jewish-collector]

I believe that a small portion of their inventory was in an auction house catalog a few years ago (maybe unopened material ???). If they ever decide to sell everything else all at once, the auction catalog might be like 12 inches thick.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Does anyone remember a New Hampshire (I think) dealer named Doloff? Similar type of business, catalog sales, although perhaps not on the same massive scale.

[Den*nis O*Brien]

Originally Posted by drc

Didn't know they ever had a brick and mortar store. Not saying they didn't, just didn't know they did.

Larry and his son Jeff had a very nice retail store close to the banks of the Wisconsin River in the 1980's until Larry's passing. They had quite a few glass display cases with pre-war to modern cards displayed. The walls were filled with pennants, shelves of balls and other memorabilia. They maintained an area of hobby periodicals and referance books. This was a place to lean on the counter and talk cards with a very interesting person. There was an adjacent warehouse bldg. that housed the bulk of the inventory. In order to peruse a specific pre-war issue, a phone call 3 days (or so) in advance, was necessary so they could dig out and bring the material over to the retail store. Since the store was 2 1/2 hours south of me I only visited twice a year. On one occasion I asked to look over his Plowboys and 1910 Obaks. Upon arrival Larry threw the stack of Plowboys across and down the showcase like he was dealing cards in poker. Each of the cards was without a top loader and had thier prices afixed with post it notes. The obaks were in penny sleeves and in a cardboard box. Larry did not differentiate between 150 subjects and 175 subjects. Every card was the same price no matter the estimated grade. Regarding the reprint line....one of the frequent counter leaners was the Wausau Wi. area FBI special agent. Larry told him that some guy on the east coast was altering and selling his reprint 1947 Tip Top Bread cards as vintage. Agent Berg took this seriously and initiated an investigation that resulted in an arrest and conviction. I realize this post is very long winded but, Fritsch Cards posts occur here, and the old board, with some regularity. Larry could have been considered eccentric but he was honest and certainly "Old School". The store was great. Dennis

[hangman62]

I dont know who has higher prices on prewar low grade stuff - Frisch Cards or 707 Sportcards !

[CharleyBrown]

lol.. I'm not 100% familiar with Fritsch, but 707 has some ridiculously high prices.

[bh3443]

One of the best experiences in my 4 decades in the hobby was in Cooperstown during induction week in the 90's. I was with my pal, veteran card guy, Bob Thing of Maine. Bobby introduced me to Larry Fritsch who had just opened his museum. Larry begged Bob to be the curator of the museum on a nice Cooperstown night as the beer flowed and we talked cards into the early morning hours. What great guys: Larry & Bob!

Another great moment was at our GBSCC show in Wilmington, Mass when I met Dolloff cards who on a rare occassion had set up. He was perhaps the most organized dealer I've known. His merchandise was organized so well that it was almost overwhelming for a collector to seek out what they wanted! He knew his cards so well, I was actually impressed! His catalogs on every sport were impressive and he was a true gentleman of the highest order.

Call us old school or old-timers, but I was honored to be with these giants of our industry.

I wish Jeff Fritsch well in running Fritsch cards and I hope Dolloff is doing well. I know my pal Bob Thing is down to a few shows a year. Bob goes back to the late 40's in our hobby and is one was the most like-able guys you could hope to meet. I've ben blessed with his friendship since the 70's. He was at my wedding and count-less family functions as well as I travelled to 28 States with him for shows!

Thank you,

Bill Hedin

[benchod]

Bill,
Thanks for sharing your stories

[Vintagecatcher]

I bought many cards over the years from Larry Fritsch Cards. Granted it was always an unusual buying experience. They were truly "old school." If you had an interest in a card, there was no scan or photo available to be emailed. The kind folks would, however, mail me a photo copy of the cards.

They always had an awesome selection. Their pricing was always very reasonable. Grading usually was a bit subjective. I truly miss buying from them.

Living in Maine, I am also crossed paths with Doloff. He had a tiny storefront in Portsmouth, N.H. in a strip mall on Route 1.

I stopped in several times to inquire about cards, however, Doloff could not be bothered to show me any cards. I inquired about seeing cards for the seven MLB catchers I collected. He told me he had cards of all the players, but he couldn't be bothered to show me any cards. Great way to run a business.

So my experience with these two dealers is that they were polar opposites.
Larry Fritsch Cards couldn't have been more helpful and Doloff couldn't be bothered.


Patrick

[Cooptown]

Originally Posted by bh3443

One of the best experiences in my 4 decades in the hobby was in Cooperstown during induction week in the 90's. I was with my pal, veteran card guy, Bob Thing of Maine. Bobby introduced me to Larry Fritsch who had just opened his museum. Larry begged Bob to be the curator of the museum on a nice Cooperstown night as the beer flowed and we talked cards into the early morning hours. What great guys: Larry & Bob!

I have VERY fond memories of that museum. I believe it was only open a year or two? Took the tour, and got a pack of cards that had Larry's "Top 10 Finds" and how he aquired them, for how much, etc. Went to Cooperstown the next summer, walked up to the museum and rememembered my disappointment of how it was gone. I remember from every summer on, I would walk by in hopes it would re-open. Great building too; I believe it was completely new when he moved in. For whatever reason, that building has been more vacant than not since Fritsch left. I remember an ice cream shop being in there one summer.

You know the funny thing? I still go and walk by that empty building when I am in Cooperstown....that tells you how much I enjoyed that Museum.