Conference school::sports_memorabilia

    Thanks Mike for the Dates of this really great show.  This is by far
    the best run and organized show in New England.  If anyone is looking
    for Cards or Memorabilia, don't miss this show, its the best.  The
    prices are very good also, as the dealers compete for your business,
    the prices come down dramatically!!  
    
    And, if you go see Mike, just like he said, he will give the kids a
    FREE team set.  I was fortunate enough to get a New England Patriots
    Team Set last year, and since the Team set a new all time loosing
    streak, that set will be worth $$$$ someday.  I won't be around to
    collect on it, but maybe my kids kids kids will?
    
    Anyway, I can hardly wait for this show!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    
    Mike-
    
    	Which day is Gibson appearing, and which day is Whitey Ford
    appearing?  Or are they both appearing both days?
    
    	(I've never been very impressed with Whitey as an autograph
    guest, and he's stiffed a couple of shows he was supposed to
    appear at, but contrary to the hobby's opinion, I've always found
    Gibson to be a great guy!  Still VERY imposing after all these
    years, and he called me a pain in the ass, but still a nice guy! 8^)
    
    							-rjk

    Anyone go to the Andover show this past weekend?  How was Joe D. and
    the  other signers, and how was the show itself?
    

    
    I went.
    
    My impressions:
    
    	o B & M almost always puts on a good show.  Nice location, easy
    	  access, well organized autograph lines/procedures, etc.
    
    	Not this time.
    
    	o Joe D. has been very cordial the previous two times I've seen
    	  him.
    
    	Not this time.  Very reserved.
    
    	o Yaz has been a 'hole the previous few times I've seen him.
    
    	Not this time.  He was reasonably responsive.
    
    	o Brock has been a great guest each time I've seen him.
    
    	Same old same old.  Same for Mize and Marichal.
    
    Some people are going to claim that I'm covering up for B & M when
    I say this, but not all the problems were theirs.
    
    The main thing I would blame them for is allowing anyone with a bat
    ticket to get in line at any time.  A bat ticket was like having a
    series A+ ticket.  A lot of people showed up at the door, bought
    tickets (including a bat ticket) of series Q, and were able to get
    in line immediately (because of the bat ticket) -- ahead of some
    advanced ticket holders who didn't purchase a bat ticket.
    
    The bat tickets should've been part of whatever series they were sold
    in.  If a person walked up, and they were selling series Q, you take
    one of the "Q" tickets, and stamp "BAT" on it.
    
    The dis-organization and crowds outside the autograph areas were NOT
    their fault.  They were the customers fault.  Pure and simple.  If
    you read my "Roy's primer to an autograph show" (next note I write),
    you'll find out what these people did or didn't do to make it easier
    for all involved.
    
    -rjk

    Roy,
    
    You should offer your consulting services to these promotors.  You have
    been to good shows and bad, and know now what a bad show is, and what a
    good show should be.  You would save the promotor and customers along
    with the autographers alot of misery, and make the day a more enjoyable
    event for all.  For a couple $$$'s, it would make the difference from a 
    good day and a miserable day.
    
    	Rick
    
    

    
    
    
    I also attended the Andover show on Friday night.  Based on the flyer, 
    Yaz was scheduled to sign from 6-9.  I realize that at anything like
    this, it is impossible to conform to the time stated.  Since I did not
    have an an advance ticket, I was issued series Q and was told the group
    would be called between 8:30 and 9:00.  By the time half past eight
    came, they were barely finished with series B.  Of course A & B weren't
    called after 6:30.
    
    Aside from this and the large crowd outside the signing room, I thought
    the show was okay.
    
    
    Did anyone sign up for the Charlie Gehringer private session with the 
    individual outside the A.R?  For those of you interested, the cost is
    $30 flat items and $70 bats.  This may turn out to be a good bet
    considering his limited appearances and age.

    
    As always, Yaz was late.
    
    Unusual for him, he was personalizing, and being semi-agreeable,
    even stopping to let a picture be taken, shake a hand, answer a
    question.
    
    Those two events, plus the fact that anyone with a BAT ticket (see
    my previous complaint/suggestion) could get in line, made for a
    very long wait for Yaz.
    
    
    As to the Gehringer private signing.  He does NOT do shows (signs
    freely through the mail tho' -- 2 items, one time only).  This is
    an extension of the private signing they (TI Sports Marketing)
    were original supposed to have with him over HOF weekend.
    
    Originally prices were $25/flats&balls, $60/bats.  They've gone up,
    and this time the signing is SUPPOSED to happen on 10/19.  Don't
    hold your breath.

Although this I didn't attend this show, I thought I'd mention 
that I went to a show in Portland ME last Feb. Yaz and Dewey were 
signing.

Yaz was getting $17, Evans was $11.

The show opened at 9am. Yaz was signing from 10am-12:00 and 
1-4pm. We arrived at 9am sharp. There was a line out of the hall 
into the lobby and out the door, halfway down the street. We 
didn't get to the desk to buy our autograph tickets until close 
to 11am. We got TT tickets with Evans crossed out and Yaz 
pencilled in. We checked with the guy at the door 
and were told that they were up to series BB. We browsed for 
awhile and hit the lounge. We talked to various people that had 
come in from just getting their items signed. EVERYONE raved 
about Yaz. He was friendly, joking and open to just about 
everything. We finally got in at 4:10. There was still a line of 
50-60 behind us. After signing my items, Yaz stood up looked at 
the line laughed and sat down again and continued signing.

I talked to one of the promoters afterwards and was told that he 
sent someone out for some cigars and beer and sat there with a 
cooler and signed straight through lunch with no breaks. He also 
donated all his proceeds to the Jimmy Fund.

This was the 2nd time I'd seen him, the first was way back in '77 
at the opening of a Market Basket in Methuen when he was doing 
some work for Hillshire Farms. My memory has faded some, but I 
do recall that my father asked him a question in Polish. He 
replied and asked if we would hang around for a few minutes since 
he was done soon. Afterwards, he spent close to a 1/2 hr with us 
in the parking lot. Imagine being 15 years old...

I can't speak to the episode that Roy seems to be alluding to. 
Hey, everyone has a bad day, look at Williams at Mcmullkin in 
Nashua last summer. If I hadn't read about the jerks in the front 
of the line in here, I'd be in here saying Williams was a jerk.

As always, your mileage may vary...

daryll

    Verrrrry Interesting.  I'm glad someone has had a good experience out
    there dealing with Mr. Yaz.  I've never heard anyone say anything good
    about that miserable, stuck-up, egotisical ..B and thats coming from
    a well know employee of the Red Sox, a non-player type who goes to
    every home game.  Yaz must of been getting mucho dinero for doing that
    show.
    
    	Getting back to the "Big Show", last year, admission was $3.00, and
    $10 if you wanted to get in Friday nite and you were a non-member.  I 
    heard the price this year is $4.00.  Mike, you might want to tell your
    collegues in the clinic that the higher the admission price, the less
    we get to spend at the tables, and doesn't this all work like Vegas$$,
    you want the money spent at the tables where the IRS can't get there
    mitts on it.  Admission ticket receipts have to show up somewhere,
    Right?
     

Re: .11

Yaz donated all proceeds from the Andover show to the Jimmy Fund.

More than one can say about Mr. Coffee...

    
    Actually, Yaz' appearance fee went to the Genesis Fund, not the
    Jimmy Fund.
    
    -rjk

Sorry, I was going by what I read in last night's Lawrence Eagle 
Tribune.

daryll

    Looking for some directions to the show?
    
    Does anyone have some good directions?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Steve

    Well, what did everyone think of the "REally Big Shoe" ?  It seemed to
    me that the same dealers were there from last year, with the same stuff
    as last year, but at Higher Prices, especially the older stuff.  No
    deals were to be had, except at Mr. Kelly's table, where prices were
    at very acceptable.  Otherwise, the dealers were going to get
    mega-bucks, or keep there stuff for next years show, PERIOD!!  I see
    Big Bob Gibson was a huge flop, no lines to be had.  I guess after
    doing 1000 shows around the country, everyone must have at least 2
    Big Bob Gibson autographs around the house collecting dust.  How were
    the lines for Mr. Ford?  He just got off from his Fantesy Camp with the
    Mick in Florida, he must of been feeling no pain.  I can forget the 
    Dealer, "707 Sports Cards" at the show.  This guy's prices were at
    least 100% over book prices from the 22 Century.  This guy was
    definitely on something stronger than Coke, and I don't mean Classic.
    His pretty little wife kept telling what a great card this was, with
    a major league crease across the top.  I said, this card has a crease.
    She gave me that big smile and said but the rest of the card is Mint.
    Right, so the card must be mint.  Why isn't Mr. Mint over here buying
    all your stuff then??  Mr. Mint was probably the most honest of dealers
    that were there on Saturday.  He wasn't selling anything, just buying. 
    And he was passing out Mr. Mint cards for free, and if you asked, he
    would autograph it for you.  What a Deal!