Cooperstown Vintage shops?

[mjkm90]

Where did all the figural pieces, pinbacks, advertising, etc go?!?!?!? He could have one of the auctions of the decade if he went that route.

[sayhey24]

Originally Posted by mjkm90

Where did all the figural pieces, pinbacks, advertising, etc go?!?!?!? He could have one of the auctions of the decade if he went that route.

Mike,

It's my understanding that quite a bit of it was sold privately, and much of the rest was sold through Leland's.

Greghttp://www.baseballbasement.com

[Cooptown]

I had three favorite stores in Cooperstown growing up:

Mickey's Place
National Pastime
Larry Fristch Baseball Card Museum

Sadly, all three are either gone or not the same.

Larry's Museum, which I have talked about in a few posts in the past, might be my all time favorite. I believe it was only open for about a year, but it was a museum of my his amazing collection, along with a small shop in the lobby where he sold cards as well. As I had posted in the past, even after I realized it closed, I would still walk by it every HOF Induction weekend hoping that it somehow miraculously appeared again. It was a baseball card lover's dream. At one point I believe the building was an ice cream shop and then maybe a realtor's office, and last I checked I believe it was empty. Gorgeous building too.

National Pastime, well, I can't add much more than what was already posted. While I loved that store, I always wondered how it stayed open so long. This was well before the days of the internet and online auctions. There were always tons of people going in and out of the store, yet I never really saw anyone buying anything. I loved that store, but I viewed it more as a museum than a store. I loved going in there to view the items, but I was more of an autograph and baseball card collector, instead of memorabilia.

Mickey's Place. Out of the the three I am talking about, Mickey's Place is still there. However, like many things with this hobby, it's "just not the same". The store now is a lot more tshirts, hats, etc. Back when the store first opened (circa 1992/93 or so?) it was all baseball cards and memorabilia. In the back there is still an area that is devoted to Mickey Mantle in a glass case. Well that use to be a majority of the store. I believe this business changed hands at one point.

A lot of the shops in Cooperstown are either:

1) Overpriced or 2) Tshirts, hats, trinkets, etc.

The diehard baseball card or memorabilia collector is better off looking someplace else. I love Cooperstown (hence my username), but it's just "not the same anymore".

I will highly recommend a shop called Legends are Forever that is located right on Main Street, not far from Doubleday Field and on the same side of the street. I have known the owner for 20 plus years and is a very stand up guy. I use to work baseball card shows and in his baseball card shop many, many years ago.

[Bugsy]

Originally Posted by mjkm90

Where did all the figural pieces, pinbacks, advertising, etc go?!?!?!? He could have one of the auctions of the decade if he went that route.

I believe many things were also sold on eBay a few years ago. I bought a fob from him.

[Ronnoco]

Originally Posted by mjkm90

Where did all the figural pieces, pinbacks, advertising, etc go?!?!?!? He could have one of the auctions of the decade if he went that route.

Greg is correct. Most of the truly high end material was sold privately, while some of the museum-quality material (especially photographs) was sold through a few Robert Edward and other auctions in the years before the store actually closed. The HOF also bought some material directly. One thing to know is that the collection actually belonged to two separate men: the original shopkeep and his long-time understudy who bought the store and was buying the collection piece-by-piece over at least its final seven-year period. I have no idea how it was divided between them, but there were singular pieces that have yet to appear in any public sale or auction.

The store owned, for example, one of the HUGE original 1939 "Cooperstown Baseball Centennial" wooden signs that were produced by the city for the HOF opening in the same year. The last owner once told me that it was probably the most valuable single piece in the collection, as fewer than four of the original signs were extant--and one of those was in the HOF. Could you imagine THAT in an REA? I am plagued by the question of who got the "Base Ball Today" horse-worn canvas sign that I lusted over for many years. The owner would never talk seriously about selling it.

It was very strange looking at the recently-completed Leland's auction and seeing some of my old items (e.g. the Adirondack bat rack and many of the early gloves) gone to new homes. A grim reminder that some of my particular contributions weren't exactly high end. None of the highest-quality items that I sorely regret selling or trading showed up in the Leland or any other auction I know about. Someone may have moved in quickly on them. There are many things I'd love to own again (but I suppose we all sing that song.)

[sayhey24]

Here is that Cooperstown sign -- you don't see that white shiny material in person -- it's reflection from the flash -- they used reflective paint so drivers could see it at night. It took me years of waiting, but I finally purchased it a couple of years ago.

Greg
http://www.baseballbasement.com

[bigtrain]

There is also a Cooperstown Baseball Centennial sign hanging in the Doubleday Cafe on Main Street.

[sayhey24]

Here is an original wire photo of one of the 1939 Cooperstown signs.
I've also included photos of three other pieces I picked up at the closing of the National Pastime store.

Greg
http://www.baseballbasement.com

[Scott Garner]

Simply awesome, Greg!!
I love these items!!

[Ronnoco]

Originally Posted by sayhey24

Here is that Cooperstown sign -- you don't see that white shiny material in person -- it's reflection from the flash -- they used reflective paint so drivers could see it at night. It took me years of waiting, but I finally purchased it a couple of years ago.

Greg
http://www.baseballbasement.com

Tremendous! What a beautiful acquisition, Greg. I'm glad it ended up in the hands of someone who will cherish and curate it.