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Sunday, February 19, 2017

Thomas Jefferson Would Be Proud

On Saturday, I made it to my first card show of the year.   Only an hour away from me, the Gibraltar Trade Center has a 40 table show every month. I've been once in the nearly two years I've lived here.  Public market or indoor flea market [aren't these the same?] this place attracts all types of people, not unlike Walmart.  It's a trip made with a friend as I'd never go alone. The unusually warm weather brought folks out of their homes and into the show meaning less cards for me - oh - and my friend.  I certainly don't want to appear selfish. 

I took $60 and left my debit and credit cards at home.  We arrived around 11am, missing the first hour.  The first half of the day yielded very little of the very few 2017 Topps on my list.  Looking over the tables, nothing really caught my eye.  I picked up several one dollar cards. Sample:

Set build: 1970 Kellogg's 
Set build: 1961 Golden Press

Because it was there: 1962 Post


I picked out twelve 3 for $1 cards.  Here are six:

PCs: 2014 Posey, 1995 Donruss, 1996 SPX

                                                                                     Set build:  1972 Topps
It's a dream set to be sure, adding random cards here and there.  These are gorgeous in color and condition! My disco boy Astros and Cleo showing off his now retro Cubbie patch.

I found a table with miscellaneous packs of old junk at three for $1.  I bought all ten packs of 1994 Stadium Club Series Two.  These yielded a First Day Issue Tiger, Scott Livingstone and player collection boys:
Gracie is a parallel
From the same 10 packs, I pulled four of these:
COLLATION NIGHTMARE
A floating bat and a funky cold Mussina:



It was 3pm as we made our way to the back of the floor, to the last row of tables when we spotted this:



You read the sign correctly.  Thousands upon thousands of cards for a NICKEL!!!!!!!   The dealer's sign was a bit of joke.  He mentioned some people got upset that kids had a better deal...people who obviously didn't read the whole sign - 20/$1 !!    

Several folks were seated on the aisle side of the tables by the time we'd found them.  So we took our spot on what would be the seller's side.  Working as a team pulling cards for each other, we managed to go through most of the boxes on our side before the show ended at 6pm.    

During our search, an older woman [70ish or more] came barreling around the corner seeking information on a card she'd purchased over twenty years ago.  She first approached the group searching the boxes on her side then she saw me seated behind the table.  'Oh I can ask YOU this question.'   Why me?? I thought.   'What was that card they made 500 of twenty years ago'   I had no idea.  She then narrowed it down saying 'you know, he was married to that famous actress'.  OH!  'Joe DiMaggio'.   I tried to explain cards are now numbered to 25 or even less.  If she could tell me the year or brand, I might be able to help her.    I was trying hard to be polite but she reeked of cigarettes and cheap perfume, right out of an old Bogart movie.  Of all the shows she had to wander into...  I hadn't yet noticed my friend had scooted down the row a bit. So much for the team effort. She was pulling cards while I heard all about the dame's kids: one a college graduate,  the other still flipping pizzas after 18 years.  After ten minutes or more of listening, she says 'I don't even know where the card is.  If I can find it, I'll bring it next time.'   Next time???  Oh goodie.

Just what can a nickel get you these days???  Twelve cards added to my 2016 Stadium Club set, cards for mini-set binders and player collections.  Cards, cards, cards! 

Set builds: 94 Pinnacle Museum, 1990 Swell   70s binder: 2013 Golden Age Playing Card
Just Because: 2013 Cooperstown Lumberjacks




PIAZZAS - ALL A NICKEL EACH INCLUDING THIS 2-SIDED BEAUTY:
       2004 Donruss Elite Passing the Torch

                                                            
I managed to stay away from any large impulse purchases, sticking mainly to set builds and players. I left the show with $15 in my pocket and at least 500 cards for five cents each.  Surely our Founding Father and third President would be pleased to know how far a nickel goes these days.



37 comments:

  1. Sounds like an awesome day (other than the smoky old lady) you got a heck of a haul for under $60. 1961 Golden Press is one of my favorite "oddball" sets, along with 1964 Topps Giants. The Eddie Collins you got looks great. And those nickel finds were excellent! I think some folks ought to lighten up about that dealer's sign - even if he were serious, what's wrong with letting kids get a better deal?

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    1. Thanks Chris! I love a kid-friendly dealer! It was fun! The best part is the opportunity to do it every month! The Collins was in gorgeous condition. Who could say no to that?

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  2. Killer nickle box, congrats! I agree with Chris on the Golden Press set, a favorite of mine as well. I miss going to shows. Thanks for the package of cards! I am hoping to get a thank you post up soon.

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    1. You are so welcome! Hope there were a few cards you needed! Golden Press is a very popular oddball set. Condition is everything with that one!

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  3. Wow! So much goodness. Looks like Pinnacle shot Turk Wendell out of some crazy alternate universe.

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    1. 94 Pinnacle - I'll take any card for a nickel! Turk was definitely from his own alternate universe!

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  4. Campy/Piazza Passing the Torch for a nickle? I'm not the biggest fan of cigarette smoke and cheap perfume, but I'd be willing to suffer through that for cards like that. Nice pickups!

    By the way... if I'm ever in that area, I'll definitely go to that card show. I've ordered a lot of cheap autographs online from the Gibraltar Trade Center over the years.

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    1. Ain't it sweet??! The old gal was a mess to be sure, but the show itself is smoke free!

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  5. I could easily spend a whole day camped at a table like that. Bonus points for the awesome sign as well. Looks like you had a fantastic nickel box experience! The '77 Carter is one of my all-time favorites, and that Campy/Piazza insert is terrific.

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    1. I thought of you Nick! This dealer will have ALL new inventory next month. I have a feeling my sorting will never be complete!

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  6. Man, I'll take Piazzas for a nickel all day long! Great haul. Hope there's a mickle box at the next show I go to.

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    1. Me too! He's one of my first PCs. So many cards I still don't have and likely never will.

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  7. Looks like a good time no matter the Bogie castoff that you had to shoot down!

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    1. Lots to be had for my trade pals for sure. I'm stocking up!

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    1. Jeff....do you need it? I couldn't say 'no' for five cents! It does hurt a little tho, cards like that for a nickel. I'd feel the same way!

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  9. Love the nickel cards! HOFers and numberedd cards for a nickel! Love it! I also need to find me one of those 94 Stadium Club Mussina cards. That's awesome!

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    1. Mussina is awesome! How I haven't seen this card before is beyond me.

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  10. That Turk Wendell card is a thing of beauty. You know it is not a good card show unless you have to go home and take a shower so you don't reek of cigarettes and 1990 Donruss.

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    1. She just plum reeked. Fortunately the show is smoke-free. I did smell a bit of old Donruss and Fleer though. Reminded me of my pup when she rolls in the yard. I was all over those cards.

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  11. So jealous of the nickel boxes!

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    1. Can't wait to go back! I'm stocking up on trade goods!

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  12. Re: shopping at a card show with a debit card: "Family, tomorrow we all go out and get second jobs."

    That Awesome Austin Powers Piazza card is Awesome.

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    1. Cash only! I know where my weakness lies... and Awesome? I never knew this card existed!

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  13. I used to go Gibraltor quite often. Sometimes for autograph signings but usually just for the cards. Maybe I should go down there again sometime soon

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    1. Might be worth the drive! What you save on cards will pay for the gas! Thanks for reading!!

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    2. coming from East Lansing..it isn't THAT far too :)

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  14. Those nickel boxes look like a fun time...I used to go to card shows all the time here (just about weekly in the 1990s) but rarely saw any boxes under a dollar each.

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    1. There aren't many opportunities out where I am. This public market was under my nose the whole time. I will be going again soon!

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  15. Cool show Julie. Have you been to the local Jackson one yet?

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    1. hi John! no I haven't. Jackson is two hours from me. I have been to the Lapeer VFW show which was fun. May do that again this year. Is Jackson worth the drive out?

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    2. It's okay. He runs it quarterly (or about that) which totally works for me. I've found some very good deals there.

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  16. Awesome show! I would have been all over that 5 cent bin...

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    1. Hi Base Card! Nice to meet you. Introduce yourself :)

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    2. Hi Julie! Nice to meet you too. I've been reading sports card blogs for a while. Within the last month I have started commenting and actually trying to make an attempt to get to know people and blog myself.

      I find the sport card blog community incredible. Lots of old school true collectors-- not "hit" chasers.

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