Just got back from the SF show...

Axtell · September 4, 2004 10:11AM

...and have to say, it doesn't look like many things have changed. It's been years and years since I've been to any sort of card show, but my memories are of cards being sold at high book (and beyond), dealers offering to buy cards at a tiny fraction of their worth, and players getting inordinate sums of money to sign items.

I'll admit that I am quite hesitant when it comes to buying raw cards to work on my set (1971 baseball), as I am just not familiar enough to know what will garner a 7 and above...that being said, the cards I did find in PSA slabs were well above SMR listing. I did a good deal of walking around, probably went to each vendor's booth at least 2 times...looking over the card selections...and most of the times, while looking over them, not even a 'hi' or 'how's it going?' from the vendor. I did find a vendor who had 8 or 9 1971's in 7 (7 is about as high as I can afford for a set this large), and began to ask him some pricing on them. He showed me what he'd sell them for, and each one was $5 or so over SMR. I bought the Carew and Yaz because I didn't want to feel like I'd wasted his time (he did take a few bucks off), and I didn't want to go home empty handed.

The one deal I did pick up was the 71 Garvey for $20....book shows it at $45...so that helps make me feel like today wasn't a complete waste. However, I doubt I'll be going to any major shows again...just far too much headache (throw in 2+ hours driving each way) to make up for the cards I picked up.

joestalin · September 4, 2004 10:23AM

how crazy was Bonds stuff?

LMK
Kevin

Axtell · September 4, 2004 10:36AM

There was tons and tons and tons of the bonds stuff...everywhere. It seemed every booth was selling it...raw, graded, uni's, bats. You name it, it was there. I guess from the overabundance of it led to a lack of activity.

joestalin · September 4, 2004 10:42AM

what modern players was everyone looking for...sorry for all the questions, I haven't been to a show in months!

Kevin

Axtell · September 4, 2004 10:56AM

I didn't really talk to too many people, so I'm not sure what was hot....I was checking out the vendors, trying to find some graded 71s. It didn't help it was quite warm there...not sure why exactly, but it was very, very warm there. I felt bad for the vendors who were at the ends of the hall...there was little (if any breeze) and they must have been suffering.

gemint · September 4, 2004 12:25PM

"hot" is a better word for it. It was a hot day in SF which is rare. The air doesn't circulate well in that building and there is no air conditioning. It was probably in the 80s inside. It was even hotter a few years ago.