2009 National Sports Convention

[vintagebrett]

July has arrived so that means the National Sports Collectors Convention will be here very soon. Anyone attending the Cleveland stop this year? I'll be there on Wednesday and Thursday. I know one of our own will be set up with lots of lumber. If anyone cares to meet up, drop me a note and I'll give you my cell number. And for those of you who can't make it until later in the week, don't worry, my budget is non-existent this year so I won't buy all the good stuff.

[MGHProductions]

As Brett knows, I will be setting up with Chris Galbreath. While there will be a lot of bats, I'll make sure I have some gloves available .

Even though I'm more of a bat guy, I really enjoy this board and would like to meet anyone who is at the show, so be sure to stop by and say hi. If anyone does want to meet up, you can also PM me for my cell.

Hope to see some members there!
Matt

[Deacon]

I'll be making a day-trip. Hopefully I'll have some money left after the kitchen & landscape projects.
I'll be on a mission to add to my early collection and probably anything else that catches my eye.

[vintagebrett]

Dave - cool, what day are you heading down?

[Deacon]

Brett...I'm planning on Wednesday or Thursday. I planned on those days for the last one, but finally made it on Friday.
Get me your cell number & I'll send you mine.
Hopefully we may be able to hook up.
I'd like to bring some traders...are you there Matt?

[vintagebrett]

Reporting from Cleveland.

Enjoyed our day here in Cleveland. Woke up at 3:00 am and headed out the door about 3:30. Made good time and was here about 12:20 pm. Met up with Mr. Mitt and had a late lunch and then off to the show. Ran to our favorite booths first - Herbert Thomas has some nice gloves and killer bats. Visted John Kanuit to check out his usual assortment of vintage pieces. Show seems to be a little slow in dealers and shoppers. Found a couple nice pieces for my collection this evening (pictures on Friday after I've had a chance to recover). Found a Sonnett B5F Jack Dittmar in excellent shape to add to my pile. Two other gloves - a Goldsmith model 67 Eppa Rixey = top line glove with nice stampings. Also a MacGregor GF20 Hank Aaron personal model. Bought a Leacock box sans the glove and a Rawlings display piece from the late 20's, early 30's that is super cool - lot of compliments from people walking around.

Best part of the show is always talking with fellow collectors. Had a super great time with Mr. Mitt - super great guy and a keen eye for nice stuff. Spent a couple minutes chatting with Paul M., Mark W., Mike H., and Ryan S. Also Herbert and mghpro - always a pleasure.

Going back tomorrow for a couple hours - looking forward to meeting deacon from the forum. hoping it doesn't rain the whole way home like it did the whole trip here.

[Deacon]

While Brett is recovering from his journey home, I just thought I'd share my Thursday experience at the National. My wife & I made it a day trip.
First off, it was great to put some faces to names. We met up with Brett, brother Travis and Centerfield (from the forum) at Herbert Thomas' booth, which, as Brett mentioned earlier, had some incredible pieces. Herbert (and partners) displayed a great representation of gloves, mitts (some with boxes), catchers gear (some great masks) & definitely killers bats along with other pieces.
This was only my second National experience, but I was a little disappointed in the lack of early gloves and mitts that I remember from the last show in Cleveland a couple of years ago. There were a number of dealers with decent leather, but either not on my wish list or with a price tag more than my means. Overall, I thought the variety was great, all kinds of baseball related items. We walked through about 3 times and kept seeing things we didn't see before.
I did lighten Herbert's load back home though. I added a great League ring bat & a near mint Zinn Beck 100 Diamond Ace, Arthur Ryan game used, side written bat (he never made the bigs, but played in the New Enngland League in the '20s)....then my wife kept twisting my arm for this great 1890s vintage presentation bat, so I ended up with 3 great bats. I had to hold off on anything else, but there's always next year.
A quick thanks to Brett for taking the time before his trip home & to Centerfield for spending some time with us, the introductions & sharing some pieces of his collection.
I'll try to post some pics of the bats soon, but now I've got to get a little work done to help fund those purchases.

[vintagebrett]

Finally caught up and awake enough to post a little more about the 2009 National.

Like I said in my previous post, one of the best parts, if not the best part, of attending this show is getting to meet fellow collectors. It was fantastic to meet up with Dave and his wife on Thursday. Very friendly and a knowledgeable guy with great taste in equipment. Also caught up with Andy S. on Thursday which was great as always. Spent more time with Mr. Mitt, who is extraordinarily kind and also has an eye for incredible, drool inducing pieces. Too bad it's the wrong team he collects stuff from.

Here are some pictures from the National. First picture has everything in it - you'll see an advertisement for a Ruth glove giveaway plus the other stuff I mentioned in a previous post. Oh yeah, I picked up an Eddie Collins glove on Thusday as well.



Sonnett glove I picked up - what a nice one!



Goldsmith model 67 Eppa Rixey



Reach Eddie Collins



Leacock box for a model 309C - my glove is a 310C - I'll still join them in the bonds of glove/box love.



Rawlings display piece from the late 1920's, early 1930's - got a lot of compliments and inquiries on this one walking around. I already found a nice spot for it in my glove room and it's hoisting my green leather Rawlings 1B mitt now.







Next year the show goes to Baltimore for the first time. Can't wait to attend. I'm planning to be there with my brother as usual. We plan on tying my dad to the car and dragging him kicking and screaming if that's what it takes.

[Mr. Mitt]

Just returned from my first National. Though I did pick up a dear-to-my-heart box and another non-glove trinket, I expected much, much more from the show. That said, I had an absolute blast! I’ve always heard that meeting people at the National is what it’s all about. Now that I’ve experienced it, I concur wholeheartedly.

Finally putting names to faces, exchanging stories and helping each other hunt for treasures made the trip a complete success on a social level. Brett and Travis, what can I say… thank you, thank you, thank you, for everything! Dave M, after all these years, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you. I had no idea that my old website enabled your (and your wife’s) glove addiction! What a sweetheart she is! Wish there was more time to spend with the two of you. Mark W, you’re having a hell of a week acquiring magnificent additions to your already stellar collection! I hope there a lot of weekend walk-ins for you to keep the ball rolling. I look forward to another deal or two down the line, as well as spending more time with you. That’s the theme of this post, I sincerely wish I had more time to spend with everyone I met. Paul M, great to finally meet you. I didn’t want to interrupt all your dealings, you looked so intense at each booth you visited. At some point, I’d love to sit down over a few beers and just bs. And lastly, Matt H. I could have walked away from the show empty handed and the trip would have been worth wild because of finally meeting you. I truly appreciate you allowing your booth to become my base station and for putting up with me!


All the best…

Jerry

(formerly centerfield)

[mushroomknob]

Brett,Looks like you found some nice items.That Rawlings glove display is great!

Dave S

[cjw]

I did lighten Herbert's load back home though. I added a great League ring bat & a near mint Zinn Beck 100 Diamond Ace, Arthur Ryan game used, side written bat (he never made the bigs, but played in the New Enngland League in the '20s)....then my wife kept twisting my arm for this great 1890s vintage presentation bat,

Great items guys! Love to see those bats when you have a chance. chris

[Deacon]

I don't post photos often enough...hope I can get it right the first time.

[jsalinas]

The bat marked "Diamond Ace" is beautiful.