My Strongsville Recap: Pickups and Thoughts

What a fun two days at a really (really) great vintage sports card show. In short, it did not disappoint.
The Friday night YT content creator event was buzzing and an absolute blast. Some hobby acquaintances started becoming hobby friendships this weekend.
Shoutouts to @vintageonvintage817 for the transportation, to @chrisfrommissouri for leading the Friday night event, and to @EverydayCardCollector-Jason, @broth6, @ACollectorsDream, @WadeBoggsFan and a whole bunch of others.
#cardmunity #vintagecards #baseballcards #cardcollecting

[@thecardpyle]

Pretty sweet haul my man... dig the Santo!!!

[@videoguy316]

Awesome pickups John. Your recap & others have been so fun to watch. I’ll be at the National and really looking forward to that as it will be my first, but it absolutely sounds like Strongsville will be the place to be next year. Really appreciate you sharing your recap & fantastic pickups.

[@EverydayCardCollector-Jason]

Thank you so much for the shout out John, you are to kind.

[@jpcards]

Hey Jason, it was great fun hanging out!

[@returntocollecting]

Great to meet you in person John! Awesome pickups! Such a fun event!

[@jpcards]

A memorable weekend in a lot of ways. It was great meeting you, Darren, and congrats on your awesome pickups!

[@jamesgillem1294]

Great to meet you,great pickups,fantastic show Thanks for sharing

[@jpcards]

Hey James, it was very nice meeting you. I enjoyed our conversation at the Friday event. Thanks for watching!

[@ACollectorsDream]

Was great meeting you and spending some time together. Great pickups, congratulations

[@jpcards]

Thanks, Orlando -- likewise, and I'm still ooh'ing and ahh'ing over your red Cobb. Amazing pickup!

[@scootscollectibles]

Great additions to collections! Glad you had a good time. I’m looking forward to meeting you and others at the national! Have a good week.

[@jpcards]

Thanks, and hope to meet you in July!

[@CraigsCards62]

Great cards. Enjoyed meeting you. The get together on Friday was great.

[@jpcards]

Thanks - it was great meeting you as well. Friday's event was very, very fun.

[@tjmacvintagecardsnostalgia648]

Hi John! That’s awesome you got to hang out with Steve . It sounds you had a great time. Love the pickups. Henrich was such an important player not only on the McCarthy Yankees but also the early Stengel winners. He probably has his best season in either 41 or 48. I think the 54 is my favorite Roberts card. Such a beautiful photo. Thanks for sharing your new cards.

[@jpcards]

Hey, Terry -- it was a really fun time. Great conversations and not a small amount of gawking over some incredible pickups that people made. The Roberts image captures his home Phillies pinstripe uniform so well, I think it's what I like about it the most. Coupled with the good centered copy I found, it's a favorite among those '54 Bowmans I'm chasing. And that Henrich, I'm really happy to have it and to finally pick up my first Play Ball. There will be more.

[@EverydayCardCollector-Jason]

John is was so great getting to hang out with you this weekend. You and Steve both killed it at this show. That 52 Bobby Thompson is Beautiful. Congrats on all of your awesome pick ups

[@jpcards]

Thanks, Jason!

[@thedetroitcollector]

Great pickups! Awesome home run leaders cards. Super sharp. Great pickups in all. Glad you had a good time at the show, sorry I missed you Saturday!

[@jpcards]

I hope you had a great day there -- I need to look for your video!

[@Peacemakercards]

Great buys. I want to get the 62 HR leaders card someday. The meet up was a good time, I couldn't believe how many people were there.

[@jpcards]

Thanks! It was a great show of support for the vintage hobby. And just a whole heck of a lot of fun.

[@ken-pr2df]

Congratulations on the awesome pickups John!! Sounds like you had a great time with the other KZbinrs!!

[@jpcards]

It was indeed a great time. It's pretty wonderful that a hobby that's usually pretty solitary can provide moments like this past weekend.

[@Storkzilla]

Great pickups. That was my first Strongsville show, but hopefully not my last. Really great time.

[@jpcards]

Same -- hoping to go back next year!

[@SammyThunder]

Hey John, it was great to chat with you at the Friday gathering. I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to talk beyond that night, but if you're going to The National, I'm sure we will then. I love the variety in your pickups. I hope your expectations were exceeded!

[@jpcards]

Hey Sammy -- It was good to connect, and looking forward to more online and at The National. My pickups can be a bit broad, but I guess I just like good looking baseball cards! I like it when they pack some history as well. Strongsville certainly exceeded my expectations -- when I saw the show floor layout ahead of time I started wondering if it would live up to the billing. But it did, and then some.

[@BaseballCollector]

Great meeting you John!

[@jpcards]

Likewise, Mike! And congrats again on that Jackie. What a gorgeous card.

[@thedrewavintagelegacy6455]

Awesome pickups. Looks like a great time for sure. I wish I could have been there but the National is right around the corner

[@jpcards]

It was a really fun weekend. The National is certainly different, but it should be a blast, and yes, it'll be here before we know it.

[@MidLifeCards]

Great meeting you John.

[@jpcards]

Hey Graig -- It was great meeting you as well. Hope to see you at The National.

[@JoeWoodCollector-Doug]

Hey John , was disappointed I didn't get to talk to you on Friday night. I seen you were there but we didn't cross paths. I really like your pick ups and glad we all had a great time.

[@jpcards]

Thanks, Doug. Yes, I saw you at another table at the event. There were a few others there that I didn't speak with and wish I had. But what a great time it was. If we're at The National, hopefully we'll get a chance to connect.

[@tmeade6465]

Nice Home Run Leaders card I would cherish as I along with my brother were at the stadium Oct 1, 1961 with Mom.

[@jpcards]

Wow, what a wonderful memory to have! I wish I could've experienced the old Stadium pre-'74, even for one game in those early '70s years. Where did you sit for 61?

[@rayfromphilly6969]

nice pickups. wish I could of made it.

[@jpcards]

Hopefully next year! It was my first time at Strongsville, and even if I was remembering the dealers and some of their stuff the third and fourth time around, I was still finding awesome cards in those cases that I didn't catch the first few times around. The quantity, quality and depth of the vintage, given the space, was impressive.

[@rayfromphilly6969]

@@jpcards Yes next year for sure.

[@tonyfarfan2]

What is Steve's channel? Nice meeting you both at the event Friday night!

[@jpcards]

Great meeting you! Steve is at @vintageonvintage817

[@CVMGAM]

is the traveling, hotel, food, everything associated with these kinds of trips worth it ? Leaving the "experience" out of it, and just talking financially, and what the new cost average is with these purchases to allow for the expenses, are these trips really worth it ? It just appears to me that the "strongsville" show, really seems a bit over the top with all these KZbin channels, and it seems like all you guys got together to hype this up.

[@jpcards]

Thanks for watching and commenting, and that's a great question. Since I only did one hotel night and carpooled from four hours away, I'm probably not the best person to ask. That said, I don't think you can leave the experience entirely out, as there is value in that. For me, the memory of a card show pickup adds to the enjoyment of the card as a collector. And at this show, because it wasn't huge, and I saw a familiar face most times I looked around at a distance, that kind of added to the fun. We were enjoying each other's pickups, asking each other questions, etc., on the show floor. And again, just to take in the sheer amount and quality of vintage here -- with little to no "interruption" from ultramodern -- was very cool. So, the costs (for me, anyway) also include the opportunity to experience all of that. That's just how I approach it.

[@DoubleDvintagebaseballcards]

Yo John only ten minutes it but didnt realize your collecting the entire 54’ set. I sold a bunch the other day but I have some left that are pack fresh and would love to send them to you if you need them. Shoot Steve a text and get my number 👊👊

[@jpcards]

Hey Dylan, thanks for reaching out. I'm definitely looking to upgrade a few more of my Topps '54s. I'll follow up!