Two Shows and Twelve Cards Later...

With Blogger acting up saying that my Internet Browser is no longer able to see certain features, I now have Google Chrome as a third Internet browser (along with IE which I don't know what version I have, and Opera).

Anyway, I tweeted earlier (follow me @bdj610):

I don't know what the fuss is about. Went to 2 card shows within 2 miles of each other. Both full & there were kids. Hobby dying? Not here.

On the rare Sundays that there is not one but TWO card shows within distance of each other, I try to find ways to get to either, if not both.  Today, I was able to do just that.  Will I complete my ToppsTown set?  Will there be more surprise Original Backs found in the quarter bins?  Will I find my missing Gold Futures card?  Stay tuned.

I arrived at the first show at 10:00 am CST, and the place was already hopping.  It was packed as usual, and believe it or not, there were kids.  KIDS!!!  I found the one card I needed to complete my Gold Futures set (Mark Trumbo), and found an original back card from 2010 Topps Update Series (1975 Berra/Campanella MVP).  Total spent on both cards:  $0.50.

Seeing nothing else that I needed, I proceeded to the second card show.  This was another Fred Copp production.  Less of a crowd here (the spillover from the first show had not yet arrived).  Saw a stack of 2011 and 2012 Topps Stickers.  I do not yet have the 2012 Topps Sticker album, and I still need five more stickers to finish off the 2011 book.  Unfortunately, I did not find any of the five I needed.  I did find five of the nine Prime 9 Home Run Legends cards.  The dealer said he had six, and was going to sell them to me for $5.00, but it turned out that he only had five of them (missing #5, Alex Rodriguez).  Still paid him $5.00 for the cards.  

The same dealer also had three SP cards from 2010 Update series.  Now, I have really been bad about trying to hunt these down lately.  But thanks to other commitments (like mortgage, utility bills, groceries), these SP cards have been less of a priority.  And they're getting harder to find!!!  But this guy had three of them (Steve Carlton, Washington Senators, New York Giants).  And I could have them all for $15.00.  Unfortunately, I was out of cash, so I asked him to hold on to them and that I would return shortly.

I ran to the bank, but decided to stop back at the first show, just in case anyone had the missing Home Run Legend cards that I needed.  Sure enough, one dealer not only had the ARod card, but also card #7, Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks.  For $3.00, the pair was mine.  After double checking all the tables to see if there was anything I had missed (a stack of ToppsTown cards turned out to be from Series 1), I headed back to the Copp show.

The person who had the Prime 9 cards did find the ARod card in his possession, but because I already bought it at the other show, I had to decline.  But after giving the gentleman the $15.00 for the three SP's, my trip was done; and it was time to head home.

I wound up spending a grand total of $23.50 for twelve cards.  All make great additions to my want list.  I spent a bit more than I had anticipated, but I had to have those Prime 9 cards, and now only need the Frank Robinson #8 and I think it's Albert Pujols for #9 to complete the set.  Maybe I'll check the Bay later on for the last two.

Who said the Hobby is dead??!  It certainly isn't here in Chicago.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama