Whatever happened to these long-time dealers?

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by mikemb

Attachment 621404

Got my first pre-war from Bruce Yeko at Wholesale Cards. A T206, 75 cents, note that Playballs were $1.50. Goudey's, on a different page are $4

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by DHogan

There was a shop in Arlington Mass. Hall's Nostalgia.

As a grade schooler and Red Sox fan growing up in Canada, I was in awe of the Halls' ads in the trade rags of the time. So much incredible stuff; lots of oddball/regional Red Sox pieces, too.

It was an absolute thrill to visit their store a million years ago. I was all of 10 years old and on a vacation. Even though it was so long ago, I still don't know how I snagged T206 Chase (trophy) and Frank Smith (Chicago and Boston variation) for $1 or $5 each!?! They're still around here somewhere, though packed away and unseen for decades. I don't even know which backs they might have, but I want to say Piedmont.

It would be many years later when I was to meet the Halls again. Still as nice as ever, and still running a really great auction the old fashioned way. I sure do miss those auctions. They managed to keep their offerings extremely eclectic, too.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

Got my first pre-war from Bruce Yeko at Wholesale Cards. A T206, 75 cents, note that Playballs were $1.50. Goudey's, on a different page are $4

Let me just hop in a time machine really quick for those prices. Holy smokes

[stlcardsfan]

I used to buy cards (mainly complete sets I think) from Walter Abe in Foster City, CA in the mid to late 1970s. My dad used to read The Sporting News so I probably found him in that fine publication. Anyone ever heard of or remember Walter?

[campersmd]

First baseball auction I ever went to was in Ellicott City, MD in 1986 where my wife and I were fortunate to sit next to Dan McKee. He was very helpful that day and every pre-war card I ever bought was from him.

First show I ever went to was the Wayne Miller show in Columbia, MD.
Dealers included Mr. Mint, Bill Mastro, Joshua Evans, Kit Young, and probably several of you. Almost passed out from the unbelievable baseball treasures STUFFED into that small room.

[darkhorse9]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

Got my first pre-war from Bruce Yeko at Wholesale Cards. A T206, 75 cents, note that Playballs were $1.50. Goudey's, on a different page are $4

Yeah, but the New York Yankees stamps are more expensive than a T206. What is this guy smoking

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by akleinb611

As I've noted in other postings, my closest hobby friend was Bob Bostoff of Empire State Collectibles. He advertised in SCD and was a HUGE presence in NY-area card shows. His table always featured a little bit of everything, from cards, yearbooks, autographs and whatever. He passed away about fifteen years ago, and anyone who ever did business with him misses him.

One old time dealer I'm curious about is Ted Elmo, an autograph dealer active back in the Sixties(!). He advertised in Baseball Digest and would sell common Hall of Famers on 3x5 index cards for fifty cents. You know, common HOF players like Frisch, Dean, Crawford and Cochrane. He seems to have disappeared by the mid Seventies and I can't find any information about him at all, except form some indirect references to "something" that may have clouded his reputation?

Ted Elmo was a great guy, mostly autographs. He advertised in SCD all of the time. He passed (I'm guessing) at least 15 years ago. I think he had an asthma condition. The cloud on his reputation came out of Ted being too trusting. When the autographed Black and White HOF plaque debacle hit the hobby about 30 years ago Ted bought in and got burned when it turned out they were forgeries. I don't think he ever recovered from that financial hit.
_________________________
Always BUYING Vintage autographs
jim@stinsonsports.com

[oaks1912]

Originally Posted by stlcardsfan

I used to buy cards (mainly complete sets I think) from Walter Abe in Foster City, CA in the mid to late 1970s. My dad used to read The Sporting News so I probably found him in that fine publication. Anyone ever heard of or remember Walter?

Walter is still in the business. He owns three stores in the Bay Area (Peninsula Sports Cards in Belmont, South Bay Sports Card in Sunnyvale and Stevens Creek Sports Card in San Jose.

A great guy who has been successful for a long time

[stlcardsfan]

Originally Posted by oaks1912

Walter is still in the business. He owns three stores in the Bay Area (Peninsula Sports Cards in Belmont, South Bay Sports Card in Sunnyvale and Stevens Creek Sports Card in San Jose.

A great guy who has been successful for a long time

Good to hear! I remember him being a nice guy. He must be up there in age! Glad to hear he’s still around.

[akleinb611]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Ted Elmo was a great guy, mostly autographs. He advertised in SCD all of the time. He passed (I'm guessing) at least 15 years ago. I think he had an asthma condition. The cloud on his reputation came out of Ted being too trusting. When the autographed Black and White HOF plaque debacle hit the hobby about 30 years ago Ted bought in and got burned when it turned out they were forgeries. I don't think he ever recovered from that financial hit.
_________________________
Always BUYING Vintage autographs
jim@stinsonsports.com

Thanks for the information, Jim. I'll never forget how patient Ted was with me - I must have been all of ten years old when I first corresponded with him. I remember that when I sent him fifty cents for a Frankie Frisch index card, I taped two quarters to a card and just dropped it into an envelope. Simpler times. At one point, he offered me a Babe Ruth signed bank deposit slip for forty dollars. Unfortunately, to a twelve year old in 1967, it may as well have been $40,000. I think about that a lot more often than I should...

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Don't feel so bad, Alan. We've all been there in one form or another, especially as young, poor collectors.

The best/worst story of this sort I ever heard was from a friend who may even be lurking and see this. He's told it to me before, and I believe he's already posted it here many years ago, so it's information that's already been shared. But it's a doozy.

When he was a kid, he used to buy T cards from Wirt Gammon, as so many longtime collectors did in that era. Wirt wrote him, offering a Wagner, saying something to the effect of, "This is something really rare that you should get if you can.". Price tag? $50. My friend couldn't really swing it. $50 was a lot of money to a young guy that long ago.

[Rich Klein]

I had mentioned I found Bruce on FB, checking his friends list (it's easy there are only 17) there was a Scott Oran as well who appears to be slightly more active than Bruce.

So. based on what I saw on Bruce's list, both Orans are still with us

Rich