Card Nostalgia/Board Memories
UlyssesExtravaganza
Posts: 849 ✭✭✭✭✭
I fondly remember the first card show I went to. Somewhere around late 1983 my Dad told me on a Friday night during the Incredible Hulk or Knight Rider or whatever was popular at that time that there was going to a Card Collectors Convention at the Silver Spring Armory in Maryland that Saturday and I could go if I wanted to. I was just starting to really get into it and knew that yes, absolutely I wanted to go. But I was 11 and had never been to one so thought it would be in some fancy ballroom and every card would be $1000 and my allowance wouldn't get me very far. I remember being high as a kite walking around that place and was so happy they had anything I could afford let alone things I really wanted. I remember digging through a 50 cent bin and picking up a Payton and Campbell rookie. Sure the corners were rounded but condition doesn't mean anything right. I didn't have the cards and I wanted them. I remember my Dad telling me that I might not wanted to spend all my money at once and I nearly came out my shoes emphatically telling him that these were Payton and Campbell rookies. Pretty soon after that I strolled around and saw the Joe Montana rookie but this guy wanted a full dollar for it. I balked at it but my Dad said you know that guy is pretty good. So he talked me into it and I coughed up my whole dollar. Thanks Dad. Of course even though they're pretty haggard looking, I still can't seem to part with those three cards. I also believe I may be getting stupider every day of my life because those were the best card decisions I've made by a longshot. Ron Kittle was next year and Heath Shuler came 10 years later and the Jeremy Bonderman experiment was several years ago.
If anyone else has a sentimental Hallmark story like this, I'd be interested in hearing it. I apologize to those who hate sap. I think the 32 inches of snow has made me a softy.
If anyone else has a sentimental Hallmark story like this, I'd be interested in hearing it. I apologize to those who hate sap. I think the 32 inches of snow has made me a softy.
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And no - not sap - I've shared my moments over the years here.
The best times were when I went to things with my son - like our first National together in 1992.
mike
Also "hoarding" 1000's of Ron Jones Rookies in 1989.......still have em!
looking for 1964 topps baseball psa graded 7+
<< <i>Past memories always bring me back to 1986-1989 card shows that were PACKED and all anyone wanted was a NICE 84 Donruss Mattingly...that was the card, everything else came second!
Also "hoarding" 1000's of Ron Jones Rookies in 1989.......still have em! >>
I still want nice 84 Donruss Mattinglys. Ha! Liked that era too. Was very heavy into collecting then. I remember being mega-excited about the the update sets coming out at the end of 86 and going to a show and getting my Donruss Rookies set and wanting a Wally Joyner. Of course all those second-tier guys like Barry Bonds were cool too but at that time it was all about Wally and Canseco. Decided I wanted to reexperience WallyWorld again a month ago and picked up that card in a PSA 10. The one I got back then looks pretty bad.
It was a long summer, that's for sure. I bet I cleaned every barn in the county to earn a few dimes and buy as many packs as possible. I don't think there was any kid in town that could burn through a pack of Piedmonts as fast as I could. My dad even bought me a few packs because he knew how important it was for me to get that Cobb.
Then it finally came, I'll never forget, on a hot lazy Saturday in August. Me and Billy were sitting under the oak tree out by old man Thompson's pond. We just finished smoking a ten pack and had two packs left. I tore into the next pack as usual, and almost knocked Billy into the pond with excitement. A Cobb! And not that bat on shoulder Cobb that doesn't really look like him, but and honest to goodness red portrait Cobb!
As hard as I try, you just can't relive those days. Sitting around smoking with my kids just isn't the same without baseball cards.
ULY great story.
Steve
<< <i>Being from Minnesota I remember attending the monthly Twins Cities Sports Collectors shows at the Apache Plaza shopping center. I also remember attending all of the shows at the Thunderbird Motel. That show was so awesome back in the day. I also attended all of the shows at the State Fairgrounds. Many big time HOF's signed at those shows through the year's. >>
I attended the tail end few of the State Fair shows. It was after the big name HOFers but they still had signers and a decent number of dealers. I recall the last one as it had gone downhill a bit in size and then it was gone only to be resurrected for one year I think at the RiverCentre which was a nice show and had Mr. Mint there (not that he "makes" a show but gives you an idea how big it was if he was going to be there).
<< <i>The first "high dollar card" (I think it might of been only a dollar) was the 1988 Greg Jefferies Donruss. Man was I pumped whemn I opened that pack. I spent a quarter or so for the pack and I got a card worth a dollar. woo hoo!!! >>
I refuse to believe that Gregg Jefferies didn't make it. In the delusional world I live in, he will always be a star. I think the Fleer card got up to 8 bucks in value. He was a sure thing. Me and the guy I shared a fantasy team with in Gregg's rookie year (back in the pencil and a spiral draft days) took him in the second round. We got laughed at.
The big thing when I first started really collecting (I had spent $10/year on cards in 83 and 84, but 85 I may have spent $100 was the 85T Gooden. It was *the* card for us.
Fast forward 21 years when my card came back slabbed PSA 8 o/c.
How were cards commonly preserved years ago, before grading slabs, top loaders, big plastic screw downs, plastic sheets etc.? How in the heck were cards from 100 years ago, preserved in PSA 8ish condition?
Kiss me twice.....let's party.
<< <i>The first "high dollar card" >>
That was a really good memory too! A beat up Bobby Orr RC that I cherished with pride for me.
- Garret