Jack Weaver......a true Sports & non-Sports collector for 80 years

[tedzan]

With very much sadness, I'm reporting the passing away of one of the greatest friends I have had the honor of knowing in this great hobby. I'd like to take a little of your time
to tell you about Jack Weaver.

Circa 1983, I was set up at a small BB card show at a Firehouse in Trenton, NJ. An older (mid-60's) gentleman approached my table, looking for 1934-36 Diamond Stars cards.
I gave him a stack of about 60 cards. And, I noticed that he was more interested in the backs of these Diamond Stars. So, I asked him if he was completing a set ? He said.....
"My 108-card set was completed in 1936, and I am now working on a Master set (170-cards)". Then, Jack told me of all the sets (Sports & Non-Sports) that he had completed
in the course of 50 years. His sets went back to 19th Century, early 20th Century T-cards & E-cards, virtually all the Goudey, Play Ball, and Bowman sets. And, a vast number
of Topps sets. The 1975 Topps set was one of his favorites. Including the Mini version, Jack had completed 14 sets of the 1975's.

To paraphrase Claude Rains to Bogey in the closing scene in Casablanca "this was the start of a great friendship"..when Jack informed me his Aunt was George Moll's secretary.
George Moll was the genius behind the Bowman Gum Co. in 1938 - 1955. The George Moll Advertising Agency in Philadelphia produced the Gum, Inc. (1938 - 1943) Sports &
Non-Sports cards. And, also for the 1948 - 1955 Bowman Sports and Non-Sports cards. Jack arranged for me to meet and interview some of the artists that were former em-
ployees of the Bowman Gum Co.

Jack was a professional artist who never really retired. In his later years he did artwork for many of the well-known BB players. When I would visit Jack at his home in Yardley,
Pennsylvania, I was amazed at all his artwork of living HOFer's that he had on display on the walls of his BB room. And, I'll never forget our great BB card trading sessions that
would last for many hours. Or, some exciting Phillies games we got to see with his season tickets.

Many of you may find this quite interesting. In 1973, Jack attended a BB card Show in Lambertville, NJ. There was a guy there from Princeton selling T206's. Jack acquired 40
cards for only $1 each. Included in this group were Johnson (pitching), and 3 green Cobb's. One of these green Cobb's was the "split-screen" card (that may be the same Cobb
that Jeff Lichtman owns).

At the Willow Grove Show in the late 1970's, Jack traded this unusual green Cobb for 5 - 1933 Goudey's. Needless to say, this was his biggest regrets in the hobby. Conversely,
in the early 1970's, Jack acquired one of his favorite BB players, Buck Weaver (OBAK) for a few $$.

Recently, when Jack consigned his collection to an auction house, he sold the above stated Johnson (SGC 84) for $4500. And, his Buck Weaver (SGC 60) for $4500.

Jack would occasionally check into Net54. He never posted, but did enjoy reading threads that pertained to his collecting interests.


Several years ago, my Family celebrated my birthday. Friends attending were Barry and Judy Sloate, and Jack and Jayne Weaver. Jack presented me a token of his artwork.....




There is a lot more I could say about Jack; but, I will leave you with this to ponder....we all love these little pieces of artistic cardboard that we collect and they will be here for
a very long time. Far more important are the people we meet in the process of collecting them and the long term friendships we establish because of this hobby.



GOD BLESS your soul Jack....and, comfort your Family.


TED Z
.

[Mikehealer]

Sorry for the loss of your friend Ted, thanks for the story.
Mike

[pencil1974]

Sorry to hear the passing but a great story of friendship and bond over some cardboard.

[Leon]

Hey Ted
Sorry to hear of your friend's passing and please send my condolences. It is sad for our hobby too. He sounds like one of the great "old guard" generation which we are losing at a rapid pace. May he rest in peace.

[ullmandds]

Sorry to hear about your loss, Ted...Jack sounds like a really cool guy?

[CurtisFlood]

Very sorry for your loss. Most of us are lucky to have a few friends in our later years. It is obvious that Jack had a real friend in you Ted.

[Jacker_ Cracks]

Sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a great man. Thanks for posting your memories of him.
James

[Bpm0014]

great story

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Great story and very cool you guys became friends! Would be neat to travel back to 1973 and buy em by the truck load!

[Rickyy]

Sorry to hear of the passing of your friend Ted. I always enjoy your posts and stories since it harkens back to the days of collectors meeting up and trading and looking at each others cards for pure enjoyment. It reminds me of days of fun trading with my childhood friends...

Ricky Y

[glynparson]

say the only thing i truly hate about getting older is losing friends and family i love along the way. I can handle my own physical aches and pains as the come but the emotional ones are sometimes just too much to want to deal with. My condolences to you Ted and to all his other friends and family. May he rest in peace. Sleep in the stars Jack.

[toppcat]

Condolences on the loss of your friend Ted.

[timn1]

Ted,
Thanks for posting about Jack - he sounds like a great character. Tell us more about what you remember when you have a chance.

Best,
Tim

[gregr2]

Sorry for your loss, he truly sounds like a great guy.

[DHogan]

I'm very sorry to hear of your friends loss. A great story to read about your friend.

[barrysloate]

Hey Ted- I guess I met Jack, because I do remember him handing you that card. Sounds like he lived a long and productive life. Sorry you lost a good friend.

[Cmount76]

Although it serves as very little comfort to you during this difficult time; the sharing of that story allows Jack's memory to endure, within a circle of people who would have enjoyed his passion the most.

Thanks for sharing!

[Eric72]

Hi Ted,

Please accept my sincere condolences regarding the loss of your friend. The hobby was better for knowing him and he will be sorely missed.

Sincerely,

Eric

[freakhappy]

Ted,

I'm sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Weaver, as he was a great friend of yours. Thanks for sharing these precious memories with us...I enjoyed them very much.

RIP Jack

[tedzan]

Thanks again guys for all your very considerate and sincere words.


Jeff......Jack was right regarding the Diamond Stars (DS) High # series (card #s 97 - 108). These cards were the last ones for me when I completed my set.
Furthermore, most collector's DS want lists invariably needed some, or all, of these 12 cards.


One more story to share with you. Every November, the Philadelphia A's Historical Society would sponsor a Members Breakfast Gathering that would feature
former A's players (Lou Brissie, Eddie Joost, Bobby Shantz. Gus Zernial, etc.). Jack and I occasionally attended these Gatherings. Fall of 2002, Jack called to
tell me that the keynote speaker at the A's gathering will be Connie Mack III. This was certainly a definite Breakfast for us.

The former U.S. Senator from Florida, Connie Mack III thrilled us for more than an hour with stories of his famous Grandfather. Afterwards I had a chance to
talk with Connie. A really down-to-earth guy to converse with. Plus, he signed my 1950 A's Program celebrating Connie Mack's 50th Anniversary.





TED Z
.