Card of the Day: Tommy Herr 1990 Donruss Diamond Kings #21

Card of the Day: George Frazier/Tom Herr/Dan O’Brien 1980 Topps Future Stars #684

Ball Player Siting

Today I went down to Lancaster and spent most of the day with my aunt and grandmother.  We decided to go out for lunch to a local marketplace that has a ton of great food.  Going through the front door, my aunt said “hello” to a woman and her husband, but I didn’t pay attention to who it was until we were inside and they were out near their car.  After sitting down I found out that she was talking to Tom Herr and his wife.  My aunt use to work for a clothing store in Ephrata where Herr’s wife would shop a lot.  Herr played for the Phillies from 89-90, was an All-Star in 85, and won the World Series back in 1982 with the Cardinals.  Currently he his a bench coach for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the independent Atlantic League.  Last year I met Herr while attending the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show in Reading and obtained his autograph.   

Have you ever seen a pro athlete at a non-sports related event?

 

Philadelphia Sports Card and Memorabilia Show Results

Pickups:

3 – boxes of 2008 Leaf Certified Materials

1 – pack of 2008 Bowman Sterling football

2 – packs of 2008 Razor Cut Signature Edition

Jim Langer 1973 Topps RC

Jim Thorpe 2005 Playoff Absolute Jersey #’ed/250

Doak Walker / Walter Payton 2007 LCM Fabric of the Game Dual Jersey #’ed/100

I arrived at the Greater Reading Expo Center at exactly 9:00 a.m.  The big news that all the dealers were talking about was that the show was sold to Hunt Auctions.  Many of the dealers I talked to were not happy at all.  Not only are the dealers angry because they are moving the show to a new location, but they also hear rumors that it will cost them $500.00 per table to setup and they will no longer be able to reserve their usual spot on the show floor.  Now its going to be on a first come first serve basis.  A lot of the dealers I talked to said they may not even setup at the next show in March.  

Other than the fact many dealers were bummed about the new show’s owner, I thought it was a great day.  When I first got there I headed over the the supply table because I needed top loaders and penny sleeves really bad.  About five minutes later I visited one of my local card shop owners and picked up a 2007 Leaf Certified Materials Fabric of the Game Dual Jersey of Walter Payton and Doak Walker #’ed/100.  I eventually traveled over to a dealer from New York and picked up a Jim Thorpe 2005 Playoff Absolute BASEBALL jersey #’ed/250.  Around lunch time while eating one of Reading’s finest cheeseburgers I ripped open a box of 2008 Leaf Certified Materials which contained a bunch of inserts and memorabilia cards such as a Matt Ryan Fabric of the Game jersey, Fred Biletnikoff jersey and a Jeremy Shockey Mirror Emerald insert #’ed 5/5.  Throughout the day I opened a few more boxes of 2008 LCM and pulled a bunch of nice looking cards.  I knew it was going to be a good day when the first card I pulled was Brett Favre wearing a Jets shirt.

If there is one player that I hope does well this year in the NFL it would be Matt Forte.  I pulled three really nice cards of him: (1) 2008 LCM Jumbo jersey #’ed/599, (1) 2008 LCM Fabric of the Game 2 color patch #’ed/25, and (1) 2008 Bowman Sterling RC Auto #’ed/1050.  I purchased most of my boxes from the dealer near the back from Tennessee.  I got some really good deals from him.  It was his stand where I purchased two packs of 2008 Razor Cut Signature Edition.  That was the first time I saw any of these cards in person.  In the first pack I received a Yogi Berra Cut Signature numbered to 10 or less made and in the second pack I received a Faith Hill Cut Signature numbered to 10 or less made.  I really like these Razor Cut Signature cards.  Most of them are numbered to 10 or less which I think it pretty cool.  

Strolling past a small dealer I found a bunch of vintage cards in which I picked up a Jim Langer 1973 Topps RC for my Dolphins collection.  All day I was looking for an affordable 1886-87 Old Judge card.  I have been wanting to pick one up for awhile because they are some of the first mass produced baseball cards.  I came across one dealer that had a bunch of vintage cards that included some Old Judge.  I saw one for $110.00 and the dealer said he would sell it to me for $90.00.  It was in an SGC Authentic holder and I was about to buy it when he told me that it could possibly be trimmed.  As soon as I heard that, I knew I wasn’t going to purchase it.  So, the search continues for an Old Judge card for my collection.  

I got Tom Herr to sign my bat around 1:00 p.m. and after about another hour of browsing I decided I was finished for the day.  These shows really remind you of what the hobby is all about.  People swapping stories, showing off their collections, and being able to find cards for your personal collection.  Attending a show like this really takes you into the “belly of the beast” and can help you understand whats going on in the hobby.  I thought it was a great show, and I hope to see most of the dealers at the next show in March.

P.S.

I did see Chris Harris from Stale Gum, but he was walking up the steps to go in as I was leaving the parking lot 🙂

PHILADELPHIA SPORTS CARD & MEMORABILIA SHOW

I just checked out the website for the Philadelphia Sports Card & Memorabilia Show.  The next show takes place at the Greater Reading Expo Center in Reading, PA.  Tom Herr and Mike Torrez will be signing autographs.  I will be there Saturday to get Tom Herr to sign my bat.  The show runs from 9/26 – 9/28.  These are usually great shows with a ton of stuff.  For more information click here.