Was thinking about miconelegacy this weekend on the way home from Disney World.

1980scollector · April 3, 2016 12:03AM

One of my more funny memories from a National is with him. Mike taught me some life lessons without even knowing it. Only one came from cardboard. I got to thinking about cards on the long ride home from Disney World and this made me laugh.

At the National, in 2011 or 2012, he had a Gary Carter 1975 Topps rookie SGC 98. The difference between the SGC 98 and a PSA 10 was huge money. Well, he was convinced Probstein could get it crossed to a PSA 10 rather than submit it himself. Honestly, I agreed. Well, Probstein submitted it for crossover( 1 or 2 times) and it came back in the SGC 98 holder. Well, at the last moment a few of us said just submit it on your own and make sure. He did and I will never forget the look on his face when he opened that little brown cardboard box and the card was sitting in a PSA 10 holder. The look on his face was priceless.

Anybody else have a good story about Mike?

Darin · April 3, 2016 12:37AM

That's a cool story.
I never met him, just had some PM discussions with him. Seemed like a great guy.
Mike and some others from the board were going to Vegas for a getaway weekend,
so I sent him some money to bet on the Royals to win the world series for me.
I think this was 2012, so I was 3 years to early. LOL.

samspop · April 3, 2016 7:26AM

Interestingly enough, I was going through the same thought process as I drove around yesterday. I met Mike, along with 4 other board members at a card show in Charlotte, NC. Over the next year or two, I was able to go on a golf trip to Myrtle Beach and a couple of trips to Vegas with him. Mike was 100% wide open in all that he did and was one of the most giving people you could ever meet. "No" was not part of his vocabulary. It was exhausting and exhilarating and we had a blast. My only regret is that I didn't really appreciate who Mike was until it was too late. I think about him often and hope that his 3 kids are ok. He loved them with all of his heart but in the end, his own demons were too much to handle. I miss Mike.

maddux69 · April 3, 2016 8:09AM

I never met Mike, but the PSA 9 thread made me think of him as I obtained my Henderson PSA 9 RC from the auction that benefited his kids. What this board accomplished for his family was the greatest thing that we have ever done collectively. After learning that Mike lived his life with that same fervor, I am sure he would have been proud.

cincyredlegs · April 3, 2016 8:45AM

Nathan, that was at the show in Chicago...I think it was 2013. I remember walking over with him and he was nervous as heck. I remember him slowly pulling the card up and seeing the PSA 10. He was stocked for sure.

I spent ALOT of time with Mike and his kids. He really was a good guy and would give you the shirt of his back. His kids were as nice as could be.

I can't count all the fun times and stories about Mike. From helping him bust cases of modern un-opened to putt putting with his kids and mine to just hanging out and talking.

I do remember the time at the Baltimore National. We were with thunderdan, thosebackpages, mrmint, double striker and a few others at a bar where Larkin and Doc Goodin showed up. Mike was buying shots with everyone and got a little drunk. He and I left and somehow got separated on our way back to the hotel. Well, we both ended up on the WRONG side of town. I was walking down a street looking for a cab when the clubs let out. I walked up to a cop to ask for directions and couldn't get Officer out of my mouth when he said "just keep walking, fast". Finally I found a cab and got back to the room.

5 minutes later Mike showed up. He ended up at a pizza joint and bought everyone in the place pizza. That was Mike though. He didn't know anybody there but still gave something that he didn't have to do.

BTW, the bar we were at was the same time that Kirk (Mr.Mint) almost ran over Don Larson trying to get an autograph. We all thought Kirk killed him....LOL.

Mark

lahmejoon · April 3, 2016 9:34AM

I never communicated with him, but what a tragedy. I hope his kids are flourishing.

craig44 · April 3, 2016 12:01PM

I guess I don't recall what happened here. Can anyone catch me up to speed. Anytime children are involved my heart just breaks.

Stone193 · April 3, 2016 12:40PM

Originally posted by: craig44

I guess I don't recall what happened here. Can anyone catch me up to speed. Anytime children are involved my heart just breaks.

Hiya David

Never met Mike but did talk to him via pm and he on some occasions was nice enough to let me know when he saw some games for sale on eBay.

It was around 2011 when his wife passed away. It was very tragic.

Then, as you know he passed away leaving his children to the grandparents.

We did run an auction back a few years ago and successfully raised close to 10 grand IMR?

As sad as this whole thing was, it was also immensely gratifying to see the generosity and magnanimity of our forum.

This is one hell of a good bunch of people.

craig44 · April 3, 2016 10:16PM

Thanks Mike. I guess I do remember. What a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the children. I agree that there are a ton of great people on this forum, and I'm glad to be a part of it. Before I met you at Cooperstown last summer, I was a long time lurker, but decided to become more active. I'm glad I did.

Stingray · April 4, 2016 2:52AM

Originally posted by: Stone193

Originally posted by: craig44
I guess I don't recall what happened here. Can anyone catch me up to speed. Anytime children are involved my heart just breaks.

Hiya David

Never met Mike but did talk to him via pm and he on some occasions was nice enough to let me know when he saw some games for sale on eBay.

It was around 2011 when his wife passed away. It was very tragic.

Then, as you know he passed away leaving his children to the grandparents.

We did run an auction back a few years ago and successfully raised close to 10 grand IMR?

As sad as this whole thing was, it was also immensely gratifying to see the generosity and magnanimity of our forum.

This is one hell of a good bunch of people.

Thanks, I had forgotten about that, what a tragedy!!

MantleFan23 · April 4, 2016 5:44AM

The first I heard of Mike was that he was the coordinator of the group breaks for the first few that I did, and he always did an awesome job with that, along with Mark who took it over after that. I had the chance to meet Mike at a Sun Times show in Chicago I believe in 2011. He had a great display of unopened, which was unusual to see at the sun-times shows. Anyhow, we chatted for about 15 to 20 minutes and I came back and bought a 79 cello box from him and he gave me a great deal on it just because I was a CU member, and all around great guy LOL.....just kidding.

I was saddened to hear about all the tragedies. I wish I could have gotten to know him better. From all that I heard he was a very giving individual and a lot of fun to be around.

Jeremy

Was thinking about miconelegacy this weekend on the way home from Disney World.

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