A Message from Huggins & Scott Co-Founder John Scott

[hugginsandscott]

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of hobby titan and auction pioneer Bill Huggins. Proud patriarch of our H&S family, Bill got his start in the late 1970s as owner of the Maryland-based House of Cards baseball-card store—which remains in operation today after nearly a half-century. Bill and I co-founded Huggins & Scott Auctions back in 2002, more than 100 auction catalogs ago. Anyone who has ever known Bill will agree with me that he was a loyal friend, devoted family man, savvy entrepreneur and widely respected expert in all fields of cards and memorabilia. He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy Huggins, his children Allison Gannett (Tim Gannett) and Ricky Huggins (Saira Huggins), and his two grandchildren George and Nora.

Despite this monumental loss, it will be business as usual for Huggins & Scott Auctions, with Bill’s long-time right-hand man Ron Oser stepping in as H&S President and Consignment Director, and with H&S Director of Operations Matt Flores continuing to run point on everything we do. So on behalf of myself, Ron, Matt and the entire auction staff, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude for your past business and all of your well-wishing upon this sad news. Huggins & Scott’s commitment to the hobby and to the H&S community is unwavering, and we look forward to carrying on Bill’s looming legacy with our trademark quality of auction services.


IN LOVING MEMORY
John J. Scott

[ullmandds]

sad to hear this about bill. when I lived in MD...I'd visit house of cards occasionally and Bill was always fun to talk to.

[Carter08]

Sorry for your loss. Great auction house.

[Zach Wheat]

Sorry to hear of the loss. Although I did not know Bill, I know of his reputation. Best wishes

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Heard this sad news earlier today. Huggy was a character with absolutely no qualms in being himself among whoever he happened to be dealing with.

I'll remember him with laughter and am thankful for the post-show nights we enjoyed years ago for dinner and drinks.

If I still drank, I'd raise a head-sized margarita glass to his memory. RIP Bill.

[ccre]

My deepest condolences.

[JimC]

Very sad. My Dad used to drive me up from Richmond to visit his card shop. That's how great it was. Amazing auctions too. And a nice guy to talk to. A huge loss.

[theshowandme]

Wow, I just talked to him in October at the Chantilly card show. That was the first time I had met him. I had only been to the store one time before.

Very sorry for your loss.

[sb1]

Very sad indeed. Bill was a long-time fixture in the hobby and enjoyed life to the fullest, he will be missed around the many shows that H & S sets up at.

[Johnny630]

RIP may he Rest In Peace with the Lord. Prayers to his Family and Friends.

[mrreality68]

Rest in Peace and our prayers for the friends and family

[Robert_Lifson]

I am terribly sorry to hear of this great loss. From his very earliest days in the hobby, I will always remember Bill laughing and joking and just being great fun. My deepest condolences to the Huggins family and all his friends.

[JollyElm]

He seems to have touched a lot of people, the mark of a life well lived.

Rest in peace.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Who will tell me my table skirt/sign is crooked? Will be very weird not seeing him at shows. Always seemed like a good guy.

[MVSNYC]

Very sorry to hear this. RIP.

[BeanTown]

My condolences to his family and all at H&S. Met Bill at a his surprise birthday party at the National back in the early 2000s. Bill treated me like family and was a class act. He will be missed.

[oaks1912]

Very sad to lose another hobby fixture. My condolences to all of Bill's family and closest friends

[DCDcollects]

I spoke with Ricky earlier, but wanted to post here.

Bill Huggins was a dear friend. Through my father, I met Bill almost 30 years ago. When my dad moved out East and didn't know many people, he found Bill (and Nancy) and found friendship, shared interests in sports and collecting, and a great soul. I moved out a few years later and the entire Huggins family was so friendly and warm that it made the transition so much easier.

I was really sad when I read the news of Bill's passing. His laugh, our conversations about sports and life, and the time we all spent together all came back in a rush.

Beyond all that, Bill was a big part of The Dreier Collection. I could go through the building and point out so many integral pieces that came through Bill, his shop, or Huggins and Scott. When it came time to sell, Huggins and Scott was a part of that process as well.

From spending time in the store, dinners with the entire Huggins family, early Huggins and Scott auctions, to sporting events attended together, Bill Huggins was always the nicest guy to me and my family. He loved his family very much, was a great friend to mine, and leaves behind a great legacy of collecting.

Thanks Bill!

Much love to the entire family and Huggins and Scott community!

Doug and the entire Dreier family.

[icollectDCsports]

Terrible news. A great guy who helped so many, including me, pursue a fun hobby. And he was such an important figure in the DC area collecting community. He will be missed.

[jbsports33]

Bill - Thank you for all the conversations and memories during our New York trips/shows - rest in peace and God bless you and your family!

Jimmy and Barry

[BlueSky]

Sad news. I remember going to House of Cards in Wheaton in the 70’s.

[Gorditadogg]

Very sorry to hear the news. My heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.

[peanuts]

Terrible, terrible news. Condolences to Bill's family, staff, coworkers, and friends.

[marzoumanian]

I enjoyed talking to him a number of times in recent years. Down to earth and was always willing to share his many years of experience with me. Thank you, Bill, and RIP.

[Mike Eisenbath]

Please accept my deepest sympathy

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[ValKehl]

I shall always remember getting my first pre-War card, a T207 of Walter Johnson, in a trade for some 1960 Topps cards with Bill at his Maryland brick-and-mortar store circa 1990. This began my gravitation to becoming predominantly a pre-War collector, especially of WaJo and Sam Rice cards. Rocky, Bill also told me many years ago that he is a distant relative of HOFer Miller Huggins. RIP, Bill.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I shall always remember getting my first pre-War card, a T207 of Walter Johnson, in a trade for some 1960 Topps cards with Bill at his Maryland brick-and-mortar store circa 1990. This began my gravitation to becoming predominantly a pre-War collector, especially of WaJo and Sam Rice cards. Rocky, Bill also told me many years ago that he is a distant relative of HOFer Miller Huggins. RIP, Bill.

If I remember correctly, Miller Huggins was Bill's great-uncle.

[skil55voy]

Many condolences to his family and friends. I was stationed at Fort Meade from 1979 to 1981. Made many trips from Baltimore to Wheaton. Bill was great. I think he was with Nick Schoff at the House of Cards? Maybe not.

[Kevin Savage]

Bill Huggins was a special guy who built a great business over the last 40+ years. He was a fantastic relationship builder with a big personality, who probably knew just about everybody who happened upon this career path throughout the country. He was knowledgeable, fair, and always approachable.

Of all the dealers I have known over the years, I don't think anyone embraced the fun of this hobby/business as much as Bill did. Whether it was golfing, playing fantasy baseball, going out for dinner and drinks after a card show, working on a card deal, or getting that cool consignment- Bill always seemed to have a great time. A dealer buddy once told me - "If Huggy ain't smiling...he's probably sleeping- or just had a double bogey....".

I will miss my friend- as will this hobby. RIP Huggy

[T205 GB]

Not going to lie that this one hits deep

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by T205 GB

Not going to lie that this one hits deep

Yeah. There aren't very many people in the industry who I found to actually be likeable, but Huggy was among them.

[Rich Klein]

Huggins & Scott are one of the sponsors of Dr. Beckett's podcast and he did a nice tribute to Bill that aired today

https://beckettinsights.podbean.com/...cott-auctions/

Regards
Rich

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Huggins & Scott are one of the sponsors of Dr. Beckett's podcast and he did a nice tribute to Bill that aired today

https://beckettinsights.podbean.com/...cott-auctions/

Regards
Rich

Touching...I posted this on my Facebook page. A very difficult for all of us at Huggins & Scott, but as was said in our meeting just before his passing, Bill would want us to keep moving forward.

[painthistorian]

My sincerest condolences for the entire Huggins and Scott Organization, Team Members and Family-Our hobby has lost a legendary personality of the hobby that had a great sense of humor, honest business ethics and his obvious passion & love of hobby, he was a pleasure to interact with and I was blessed to have played cards with him at Philly!
Huggins and Scott is a unique and innovative auction house, and this Net 54 thread is a great tribute to this well deserved hobby legend and his place in hobby history.
May God be with you....RIP