Gearing up for the Philly Non-Sport Show

The 50th Philly Non-Sport Card show is May 2nd and 3rd, 2009 in Allentown, PA.
Beckett Grading decided that it is time for a presence at this show so I am off May 1st to Allentown.
I am a fan of sketch cards, especially sports sketch cards. I like collecting them and love making them. I believe sketch cards are growing in popularity and will be as popular as sketch cards in non-sports sets in the near future.
Sports sketch cards, really all sketch cards are still a relatively new phenomenon in the hobby.
There are some great ways to improve sketch cards that I hope will be coming down the pike soon. For me, this will be a fun show. The combination of non-sports cards and the Phillies AAA team less than 2 miles from my hotel makes for a fun weekend.
For more information on the show, click here: http://www.reightershows.com/
If you are interested in submitting cards under the show-only special pricing, or just want to come by and chat, drop me a line!

Sketchbook update

Easter Sunday around here was, for the most part, somewhat quiet.

We did all of our "stuff" on Saturday because of the T-storms that were coming in on Sunday.

I was going through the collection and I ran across my Bert Niehoff signed photo. I remembered I have been meaning to add him to the sketchbook for some time. I knew one of these plane trips soon I would lug him along and add him.

Well, I decided I might as well sketch him while on the couch today (Easter.)

If you are new to this site and wondering who Bert Niehoff is, check out: 1931 Lookouts

Bert was the Lookouts manager, among other things. He also won a World Series in 1915, as a player.

Anyway, here is the sketch.

We are heading to the Frisco Roughriders game this Saturday. We bought special tickets that are part of a charity. We get food, drink and hats!

Of course, we will be getting autographs as well. Will post the signings on Sunday.

0-2 yesterday

I had the privilege yesterday of being invited over to the great Eddie Brandon's house yesterday.The plan was to have a few beers and watch the Rangers game. Maybe a few pizzas and then head over to a local card shop.Rangers got spanked 15-2 so it wasn't much of a game if you were watching for the Rangers.Ok, off to something better. How about a card shop!We (Eddie, myself and the almost equally as great, Eric "Soft J" Janhke) piled into Eddie's car and headed over to the card shop.I think the only thing we were looking for were vintage singles for TTM autographs.We all struck out. I didn't find the one card I'm hunting for right now.So, 0 for 2 yesterday.

TTM shut-out

Well, another day and another TTM SHUT OUT.
No through the mail autograph requests back today. One back in a week and a half, that is a dry spell.
I just have to tell myself, they will come back....

Antiques Roadshow

I just watched tonight's episode of Antiques Roadshow.
This is episode #2 of a 3-part Chattanooga series.
The "field trip" was about minor league baseball and I was there on-hand for the taping with a few items from my collection.
The cigarette card with the red border is a T210 from 1910. The player is Fred Miller of the 1910 Chattanooga Lookouts.
The mannequin in the background is wearing one of my jerseys and hats.
I originally planned on displaying my complete and near-mint 1959 Lookouts uniform but it is white flannel. The white "blinded" the cameras. Luckly I also had my 1955 Don Grate Lookouts jersey and a replica hat used in a "turn-back-the-clock" game. The pants were from a turn-back-the-clock game that belonged to the Lookouts (thanks Pete.)
Since the pants didn't match completely, the jersey was left untucked.
All-in-all, I thought it turned out nice.

In the sketchbook

For those of you who read the old blog (hi to both of you) you will remember I, from time to time would post pages from my sketchbooks.
When I am traveling to card shows, I like to draw while flying. I also like to drink while flying but they don't cut me off from drawing.
I will usually take a few baseball photos from my collection or, hopefully will pick up a few new ones at the show if there is time to do a little shopping while working.
At any rate, this sketch is from my trip to the "new" Ft. Washington/Reading/Philly card show in King of Prussia. The show is now owned by Hunt auctions and they did a nice job from what I could tell.
This sketch was done on the return trip. I do not usually like to draw if the plane is packed or if I have someone sitting directly next to me.

Why?

Well, I don't mind chatting with people but for some reason when I am drawing, someone has to comment. 100% of the time, whether I have headphones in or not, someone wants to talk about me drawing.
I usually just want to draw but if someone wants to ask about a drawing, thats fine. Thank you for the interest.
Its the people that want to tell me about how their cousins brother once won 3rd place in an art contest and even though he is 37, he's gonna be an arr-teest and he favors me and he draws like me, but a little better.
Such is life. I guess if they knew they were sitting next to a grown man that is traveling somewhere where he is going to be staring at baseball cards all weekend and is drawing "pretty pictures" on the plane, they may think twice about talking to me. I'd probably get an "awwwwww" and a pat on the head as they look about for an empty seat to move to.

TTM time...

I am writing out some new TTM requests.

TTM = Through the mail, as in autograph requests mailed to someone in the hopes he/she will sign said request and return it.

I actually have a pretty high success rate. I send to specific people, not just to a random list of celebs.
I have some important ones out right now. Hopefully I will get not only a signed card back from them but also answers to the interviews I sent.
I have two out now that are "aging."
Jack Davis, the Mad cartoonist and Kim Basinger. Both are pushing the 3 week mark. Davis is usually 1-2 weeks. Kim? Who knows.