I had been waiting anxiously for the next big Nashville card show. Finally, March 10th arrives and I head out early to the Nashville fair grounds. I splurge $30 for a VIP pass to get in 2 hours early (10AM vs. Noon). Once inside I make a right turn and start scanning the tables looking for graded '66 and '67 Topps Mantles, Lou Brock rookie cards, and the big card I was hoping to pick up - a 1954 Topps Ernie Banks rookie card. Along the way I looked at several 1968T Johnny Bench rookies, some 1980T Henderson rookies, and various other random cards. Unfortunately, there were not many Banks RC's in my price range, so I would leave without checking that off my want list.
After my first round around the floor, I make it back near the start where I look through a small stack of raw T206s and some 1934-36 Batter Ups. I ended up picking up 3 T206 commons, one with a Polar Bear back and another with a Sovereign back. I also picked up a '34-'36 Batter Up Rick Ferrel... my first ever Batter Up card.
I saw a '55T Berra that would have been a good fit for my '55T beater set. It had two pin holes, but otherwise presented pretty well. So I ask the dealer how much, and he says $300. I wonder if he saw my eyes because I was shocked. I put it back on the display rack and the dealer started to say it was a $600 dollar card... so something along those lines. I responded by saying yeah, but it has two pinholes in it. Then I walked off.
I ended up getting some other low grade HOFer cards from some sale boxes.
The big pickup of the day though came in the afternoon when I returned to a dealers table for maybe the third time. I had thoroughly searched the show for both raw and graded '66 and '67 Mantles but hadn't seen this dealer's copies because he had previously been busy with other customers and I moved on. This time I asked to see both. The '66T PSA 4 was priced at $395 and the '67 PSA 4 was priced at around $350. I asked for the best he could do on the '66T and he came down to $340 but offered to match comps. I searched comps and found them ranging from $240 to $380+. I figured $325 was fair, so I took it. I think I came away with the best looking PSA 4 1966 Topps Mantle at the show! It looks great!
After making several more laps around the floor, picking up some supplies and looking for junk wax boxes (which I didn't buy), I finally left at 4PM with some very sore feet (partly due to an injured Plantier Fascia ligament I am dealing with).
All-in-all it was a great day at a card show. I think next year though, I may convince the wife to let me travel to Philly, Strongsville, or Chantilly to get a change of scenery and see some new dealer inventory.
After my first round around the floor, I make it back near the start where I look through a small stack of raw T206s and some 1934-36 Batter Ups. I ended up picking up 3 T206 commons, one with a Polar Bear back and another with a Sovereign back. I also picked up a '34-'36 Batter Up Rick Ferrel... my first ever Batter Up card.
I saw a '55T Berra that would have been a good fit for my '55T beater set. It had two pin holes, but otherwise presented pretty well. So I ask the dealer how much, and he says $300. I wonder if he saw my eyes because I was shocked. I put it back on the display rack and the dealer started to say it was a $600 dollar card... so something along those lines. I responded by saying yeah, but it has two pinholes in it. Then I walked off.
I ended up getting some other low grade HOFer cards from some sale boxes.
The big pickup of the day though came in the afternoon when I returned to a dealers table for maybe the third time. I had thoroughly searched the show for both raw and graded '66 and '67 Mantles but hadn't seen this dealer's copies because he had previously been busy with other customers and I moved on. This time I asked to see both. The '66T PSA 4 was priced at $395 and the '67 PSA 4 was priced at around $350. I asked for the best he could do on the '66T and he came down to $340 but offered to match comps. I searched comps and found them ranging from $240 to $380+. I figured $325 was fair, so I took it. I think I came away with the best looking PSA 4 1966 Topps Mantle at the show! It looks great!
After making several more laps around the floor, picking up some supplies and looking for junk wax boxes (which I didn't buy), I finally left at 4PM with some very sore feet (partly due to an injured Plantier Fascia ligament I am dealing with).
All-in-all it was a great day at a card show. I think next year though, I may convince the wife to let me travel to Philly, Strongsville, or Chantilly to get a change of scenery and see some new dealer inventory.
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