I had a pretty good time at the San Francisco TriStar show on Saturday. There were a lot of dealers set up with a nice variety of cards. However, I am very particular with my collections (as you know), so I didn't know what I would find that fits into those collections. I was impressed by the amount of vintage cards available. Baseball, basketball, football, boxing, etc. There were some awesome, old cards at the show. There was a ton of Giants and 49ers stuff. A ton! I don't collect either team, so that probably cut maybe a third of the tables off immediately.
I was sorely disappointed at the lack of A's stuff available. So, so disappointed. The only card I saw (outside of a few Cespedes base cards priced at $30 a pop) was a sick Reggie Jackson Triple Threads 1/1 Auto Patch booklet. Beautiful card, but way out of my price range. After touring the room a couple times, I started alking with a very nice dealer who had a large display of 1951 Bowman. I told him I had $200 on me and that I was buying low-grade 1951 Bowman in quantity. We talked and negotiated for a minute, then settled on a price as a I thumbed through his cards. In the end, I picked up 54 cards for my $200 (under $4 each). Most of the cards are in decent shape, too. Only a few were at the low-end of quality that I would accept. Scan 1. Scan 2. Scan 3. Scan 4. Scan 5. Scan 6. Scan 7. Scan 8. Scan 9. Scan 10.
I am very pleased with that purchase. I'm thinking that card shows would be the best way to put the bulk of the 1951 Bowman set together. I just bring my list of what I'm looking for, and I can knock out a bunch of cards for a few dollars each. It's hard to find decent lots on eBay. I'm up to 78/324 of the set now (24.07%). I also checked in with PSA to see what the prices would be (for a non-member) to get a few cards graded. It was going to be $15 each for my three base Rickey Henderson cards, and $25 each for PSA/DNA on a few TTM autos I have. That was a little rich for my blood, so I decided to pass. I'd rather spend that money on cards, not grading. Soon enough, I'll splurge for the grading and PSA/DNA package. I also picked up the 2011 Topps Update Set and 2011 BCPP111-220 set for $30 total. Those will go in binders and help me towards my 2011 total set completion project.
All in all, it was an awesome time and I can't wait for next year's TriStar!
I was sorely disappointed at the lack of A's stuff available. So, so disappointed. The only card I saw (outside of a few Cespedes base cards priced at $30 a pop) was a sick Reggie Jackson Triple Threads 1/1 Auto Patch booklet. Beautiful card, but way out of my price range. After touring the room a couple times, I started alking with a very nice dealer who had a large display of 1951 Bowman. I told him I had $200 on me and that I was buying low-grade 1951 Bowman in quantity. We talked and negotiated for a minute, then settled on a price as a I thumbed through his cards. In the end, I picked up 54 cards for my $200 (under $4 each). Most of the cards are in decent shape, too. Only a few were at the low-end of quality that I would accept. Scan 1. Scan 2. Scan 3. Scan 4. Scan 5. Scan 6. Scan 7. Scan 8. Scan 9. Scan 10.
I am very pleased with that purchase. I'm thinking that card shows would be the best way to put the bulk of the 1951 Bowman set together. I just bring my list of what I'm looking for, and I can knock out a bunch of cards for a few dollars each. It's hard to find decent lots on eBay. I'm up to 78/324 of the set now (24.07%). I also checked in with PSA to see what the prices would be (for a non-member) to get a few cards graded. It was going to be $15 each for my three base Rickey Henderson cards, and $25 each for PSA/DNA on a few TTM autos I have. That was a little rich for my blood, so I decided to pass. I'd rather spend that money on cards, not grading. Soon enough, I'll splurge for the grading and PSA/DNA package. I also picked up the 2011 Topps Update Set and 2011 BCPP111-220 set for $30 total. Those will go in binders and help me towards my 2011 total set completion project.
All in all, it was an awesome time and I can't wait for next year's TriStar!