My trip to the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland was a little different this year, as I was on a mission to knock out as many cards as I could for my 1987 Topps set. I had autograph vouchers for a few of the signers who were on-hand that were in the set, and also brought some cards for the VIP signers. I was also on the lookout for anyone who had any of the signed cards for sale. I ended up finding the proverbial "needle in a haystack" when I happened upon a table that had the above gem beneath a piece of plexi-glass.
My good friend, Nate, and I were almost through the last row of tables when I saw the above 1987 Topps Astros team card. Almost forgotten in time, Yogi Berra was a coach on that team. Since he passed away recently, I pretty much reserved myself to getting Hal Lanier on the card and calling it a day. I hadn't seen any signed by Berra, and assumed they would be at astronomical prices if I had seen one.
This seller had gotten the card at the Berra Museum for a cheap price, as typically, anyone who wants a Berra auto will want it on Yankee items. He sold me the card for $20. I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough. This might have been one of my all-time favorite card show finds.
I had also found a few vendors who had albums and boxes of IP and TTM autos, organized by set. One such vendor had a ton of 1987s that I needed at on average $2-$3 a piece, with a few being higher. I knocked off a bunch of guys that I had gotten TTM, but failed to send a 1987 in the bunch. Guys like Oddibe McDowell (actually, he sent my 1987 back unsigned), Kent Oberkfell, Dale Sveum, Greg Gagne, etc. I also added tougher sigs like Davey Lopes, Bubby Bell and Mike Laga.
I also saw a couple deceased players in the album, and picked those up. I was afraid I would have to search a long time for Jim Fregosi, but was able to knock it off of the list easily.
One of the cards that was high up on my list to look for was this Mike Flanagan. I had searched for one on Ebay for a while, but had no luck in finding one. The auto isn't the best, but it definitely is Flanny's, and I can say I own one. It is still a shame that he took his own life; I really wish I had met him when he was living.
While going through the albums, I saw this 1985 Benny Ayala and had to pick it up. That may be one of the most unique autos I have ever seen, and had to grab one of them. I also found the above Matt Lipka in a dollar IP auto box that the guy had.
While Virgil Trucks and I corresponded back and forth before he passed, I had never sent him any cards to sign. I always felt bad that I was keeping track of how many Topps autographs I had, but had no Trucks in any of those years. I bought each version that the seller had, including the above 1954 Bowman.
In my opinion, the vendor wanted way too much for his Trucks autos, especially this 1956 Topps. However, I wanted to think that I provided a good home for these signed cards, as I feel I had a decent enough connection to Trucks.
He really was a good man, and I'm sure he probably would have been a little miffed at the guy writing to him a bunch of times for autos, just to sell them. So, they will be added to my albums and preserved as a true fan should.
I have come to realize that in building any signed set, you can't really turn your nose up anymoe to the "pro" graphers who sell what they get. I mean, I would have had no shot at some of these guys, so I guess I have to buy the ones that would be tough otherwise. It can be a bit of a moral dilemma, but in the end, they have the supply, and I have the demand.
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