Goodwin Goldfaden, Hobby Pioneer

[Chris-Counts]

Like so many collectors, Goodwin was my introduction to the business of vintage cards. In the early 70s, when i was 11 or 12, my dad drove me and my brother to his pint-sized shop for the first time. Two things were clear to me from the start — first, we were walking into the greatest collection of baseball memorabilia on earth; and second, Goodwin was one cranky son-of-a-gun. To this day, I cringe when I picture him sorting through a stack of cards. He had this maddening habit of shuffling them like a poker dealer, occasionally tapping the deck nervously against some flat surface and smashing countless corners of perfectly nice cards in the process. Later, he warmed up to me at shows. Perhaps he simply had no patience with kids. I recall making deals with him and it was never easy. His wife back then (was it Esther?) was the perfect compliment to Goodwin's grumpy demeanor, always friendly and gracious. Rest in peace, Goodwin ...

[Chris-Counts]

This thread might be worth moving over the the main board ...

[baseballart]

I had a few phone calls and letters with Goodwin in the early '90s. If I recall, his letterhead had 3 or 4 different images- ii'll try and dig it out

One regret I have is that I didn't interact more and get more knowledge from him in the book area. And certainly inspirational to all of us for continuing to work at something he loved well past retirement age

Max

[ocjack]

RIP Goodie.

Used to visit his shop in the 60's. Place looked like a small tornado had hit it. But ask him for a 1905 Joe Schlotnik and he would go into the back and come out with a handful of them in about 30 seconds. He did have a bad habit of fanning a group of cards in his hand and flipping through them to find the number you needed. Even then, I used to cringe when he did that.

Another part of our history gone.

[CarltonHendricks]

Wow..I never had the pleasure of meeting him but I think I called him once or twice looking for broadsides or something many years ago. I think I recall seeing his ads in antique journals when I first got in the hobby in the mid 80's. I had a friend who is or probably 66 years old now...told me stories of going to his store when he was a yongster in Los Angeles...said his mom would drive him there if I recall....From what I gather he was a national treasure...it was sad to see this thread. Reading the posts are very interesting though.