I got up at 5 a.m last Sunday and headed to the Long Beach Flea Market which is an hour away from my home. I love this one because it has some great stuff and I always do well there.
The morning started out bleak. I did my usual speed walk through the aisles looking for memorabilia and didn't find a thing to pounce on. On my second lap through things started to pick up and the vendors were starting to settle in.
My first pick up was the decent 50's trophy for 8 bucks (no I didn't talk him down). It is an LA rec league trophy with an interesting figural batter top.
Next, I walked down an aisle and noticed a very neat Baseball lettermen's sweater for 40 bucks. This one was identical to a one I traded to Rob Mucha a few years ago. So, I had to get it. This piece I tried to haggle with the guy, but no dice! 40 bucks it was. After paying the money, I headed for the home stretch and was doing my usual "eagle eye" scan job. "Old Tonka toys, antique lamps, old books, old clothing, baseball gloves.....BASEBALL GLOVES!" I hit the breaks and did a cartoon character type skid on one foot and headed toward the table. The seller had some nice leather: A Spalding Joe Cronin (JD it diodn't have a patch, it wasn't like the one you traded, so you can calm down
), a Ted Williams split, a hutch basemitt, an outward seam Andy Pafko, some 50's baseballs in the box, and a 50's mask. Of course I went through the prices and they were high, but I worked out a deal for the Pafko. It wasn't cheap, but it's a unique glove and it's wonderful trade bait. I paid the man and headed toward the exit, but before I could leave I found the OK brand split finger endorsed by Whitlow Wyatt. This glove had great potential and it had the most stamping I had ever seen on a glove (This glove has now been traded to Brett Lowman). All in all it was a great day!
