I have a card show to go to this weekend. It is the same show that I haven't been able to go to for the last two Januarys because of the monumentally crappy weather that we receive every first month of the year. (You people who have weekly card shows in Florida just remember that, and let the guilt wash over you as you flip through cards in your Hawaiian shorts).
But this time, unbelievably, the weather is supposed to be passable.
And wouldn't you know it, this time, I also happen to be broke.
I will be going to this card show with the least amount of money that I have taken to a show since I returned to the hobby. Also, a portion of the little cash that I have will be going toward purchasing items for a couple of super generous people who have showered me with terrific card packages recently (stay tuned for those. They're crazy good).
That leaves me with this thought:
I may end up going to this show only to come away with two or three cards, or even one card, for myself.
That increases the pressure. I must ensure that the few cards, or card, that I get is the biggest bang for my paltry buck. I want no regrets. I need something special, but within limits. I don't have money to even buy a 1974 Dave Winfield, which happens to be the most money I've ever put down on a single card ever.
I might end up with a handful of 1971 Topps needs, or a very cool Kershaw card, or maybe a couple of '56s.
But I'm open to any suggestions.
Also, what would you do? If you had, say, only 20-30 bucks to spend on one or two cards, what would you choose?
Comments
Good luck picking out something cool.
I love going to shows and just watching collectors. Some people go to a shopping mall to people watch, but a card/sports memorabilia show is just as good of a place to people watch. You see peoples' faces light up when they find their white whales, you see kids get all excited about the hobby and you also see greedy people squeezing/cutting in front of others. Peoples' actions and reactions are fun to watch. I have a psy background so may be the dork in me.
As for a card. I was in the same situation at a card show 2 years ago and bought a 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson RC. I've always liked the look of that card. I only paid $12 for a pretty nice condition one. Have fun!!!
It would be nice to have some decnt card shops and any card shows here in Seattle once in awhile.
In the hard-to-find category, I'd say a 1950 R423 #5 of Yogi Berra. They're tiny cards originally sold in strips and while some of the set's on eBay, Berra almost never pops up. ($30 should still cover it, though--it's not a high-demand card, just rare.)
More readily available would be a low-grade 1953 Bowman #97 Eddie Mathews. (The one I have now is trimmed, so anything with borders is an upgrade.) $30 should cover that, too.
With that little money though, you have to go into it with an open mind. Let go all your wants and expectations, and wander through the show in a Zen-like trance and allow the perfect card to find you.
The fact that card shows in Jacksonville sucked helped that...heavier on NASCAR and football than anything else. Then there's the fact that asking for "older" cards led to '81 Topps being shown.
"What? 30 years isn't old enough for you?"
"No. And even if it were, I'm not paying that for them."
Since I moved to St. Pete, though...there's a mall show every month that can suck the money out of my wallet if I'm not careful. In those cases, having my wife around helps.
While there are still sellers who deal with shiny stuff and memorabilia (and are easy to walk past) and the guys who either want more than I'm willing to pay or won't give you a price without calling up the Great Oracle of Dr. Beckett -- a pet peeve of mine -- it helps ease the pain. However, there's always at least one of those sellers who have everything priced and keeps dropping the price as you pick stuff out. That's always a way to keep me at a table.