Its not the size of the show, its the content that counts.  This is one simple phrase that I could use to sum up the 2009 Ephrata Recreational Center Sports Card & Memorabilia Show put together by the Lions Club.  

The show opened Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. and as I was pulling into the parking space I could see the line going all the way out the front door.  The line moved pretty fast and within a few minutes I had my hand stamped and purchased an autograph ticket.  After attending the Philadelphia Show and the 2007 National, I knew this show wouldn’t seem as big.  Before making any purchases I browsed around the 30 plus tables of cards and memorabilia.  The major reason I go to this show is because it always has a ton of Phillies stuff, and this time it really delivered.  

Check out some of the Phillies and other single cards I picked up for my personal collection.  I did bust a few packs, but after seeing all the Phillies stuff I decided to stick with singles.

Around 11:00 a.m. they started calling ticket numbers for autographs.  This year the autograph setup ran mucher smoother unlike two years ago.  Darren Daulton was signing autographs in the old room they use to hold the card show in.  I think the last time I was in that room was 11 years ago when I got Garo Yepremian to sign my Dolphins pennant.  Having the autograph guest outside of the card show and in another room, really helped keep the traffic down around the show entrance.  

Photos:

The line to get in went all the way out the front door.  Waiting in line may not seem fun for some people, but I think this is a great sign that so many people still enjoy this hobby.

Inside the show there were about three dozen dealers.

Here is Darren Daulton signing my bat.  He has to be one of the nicest athletes I have ever met.  He really enjoyed talking with his fans and taking photos.  He wanted to know who else signed my bat.

Championship ring

As I was passing by one dealer, they were putting these bobble heads out for display.  I had to pick one up for my collection.

How could I not pass this up?  Its a dual bobble head of Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn.  I also purchased a 2004 Philadelphia Phillies Inaugural Citizens Bank Park pin & 2008 World Series Champions button.

Overall, I think this was a successful show, especially if you’re a Phillies fan.  I can’t wait to go back next year.

The next event Sports Card Info will be attending is the Tailgate at the Dome dinner with former Penn State stars Blair Thomas, Shane Conlan, D.J. Dozier, and Kenny Jackson on April 23, 2009.  Be ready for more photos!

For as long as I have been collecting, the Ephrata Lions Club has held their annual sports card and memorabilia show at the Ephrata Rec Center located in Ephrata, PA.  The next show will be held Saturday March 28, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Darren Daulton of the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies will be there to sign autographs.  If you are a Phillies fan like myself, you would love these shows.  There is Phillies stuff everywhere.  I am definitely attending.  For more information about the show click here.

Darren Daulton 2004 Topps Fan Favorites Auto

This morning on my way to work (yes I work on Saturdays), I was listening to the story about the sub prime lending fallout. Here is what I don’t understand, why do people feel they are entitled to own homes? I am 36 years old and will be 37 this year. I knew if I wanted to own a home, I would have to make x amount of dollars, so that I could pay the mortgage off each month. So I waited until I could afford a house. I was 34 when I bought my first house, I have never missed a mortgage payment and I am going on three years. One person I used to work with bought his house when he was 28. He got an 5 year ARM loan with a tiny teaser rate, just so he could own the home. After the five years were up, his rate went to 13% and raised his mortgage payment right out of his price range. When he went to refinance, his house was worth considerably less than what he paid for it (since he bought it at the peak of the bubble). He has since sold the house, took a huge loss and is still paying off the difference. He said the earliest he could buy another home is in 8-10 years. So here is what grinds my gears, why do people buy houses they can’t afford? I just don’t get it. I know it has nothing to do with baseball cards, but I had to vent. Let’s look at pack 16.

1. Darren Daulton – C – Phillies – 636 – Darren was one of my favorite players back in the day and this is his second card. In 1987 he was still serving as backup to Lance Parrish, only getting 128 at bats (which was down from 1986), he ended up going 0.194/3/13. It would be two more years before he got the starting nod. These numbers didn’t help his case. His fun fact was that he lettered in football, baseball and wrestling in high school.

2. Dave LaPoint – P – Padres – 754 – Dave LaSucked in 1986, he got traded to the Tigers then to the Padres. In 1987 he was signed by the Cardinals, LaSucked for them, then traded to the White Sox where he did LaGood. Overall in 1987 he went 7-4/3.56/1.328 and actaully stayed with the White Sox for most of 1988 before getting traded yet again. His fun fact was that he is a baseball card collector. So maybe he does have some redeeming qualities.

3. Checklist cards 526-660 – 654 – That’s number one if you are counting at home.

4. Randy Meyers – P – Mets – 213 – One of the Nasty Boys, but much earlier in his career. 1987 was Randall K’s rookie season and he did quite well, establishing himself as the set-up guy in NY. He went 3-6/3.96/1.21 with 6 saves. This would be enough to signal the end of the line for Roger McDowell in New York. He has no fun fact, but a lot of minor league stats.

5. Luis Salazar – 3B/OF – White Sox – 454 – He didn’t do much for the Sox in 1986 (was in the minors almost the whole season), but in 1987 he signed with the Padres and worked as a backup during the season. He went 0.254/3/17 in 189 at bats. Luis would move around a lot over the next few years. His fun fact was that he and his wife have 2 kids.

6. Jim Dwyer – OF/1B – Orioles – 246 – Jim was a career backup, but had what would be his best season in 1987. He was still with the Orioles and went 0.274/15/33 in 241 at bats. He also had one of the better nicknames in the league (Pig Pen). Jim doesn’t have a fun fact.

7. Rob Dernier – OF – Cubs – 715 – Rob was known mainly as a speedster for most of his career, but in 1987 things took a downturn for him. His speed not quite as fast and his average starting to dip. He had a backup roll in 1987 in which he went .317/8/21/16 in just 199 at bats. His fun fact is that his boyhood hero was Bert Campaneris.

8. Stave Sax – NL All Star – 596 – The card for Steve is a list of the top ten base stealers in the NL in 1986. Steve was 7th on that list with 40. He was getting by on his name in 1986, not really deserving the spot. Much like Piazza in the early part of this century.

9. Joe Cowley – P – White Sox – 27 – 1987 would be Joe’s final season in the bigs. He spent it with the Phillies and it only lasted for 5 games. His stats were 0-4/15.43/3.26, which is definitely the single worst year’s performance I have ever seen since doing card reviews. His final fun fact was that he is a fan of University of Kentucky Basketball and Football. He also enjoys boating.

10. Bruce Benedict – C – Braves – 186 – Bruce started for a few years in Atlanta, but by 1987 he was in backup mode. His stats were 0.225/0/13 in 225 at bats. His fun fact was that in the offseasons he does speaking engagements and is a high school basketball referee.

11. Greg Harris – P – Rangers – 44 – For someone who was really an awful pitcher, he had a very long career (15 years). In 1987 he was a spot starter for the Rangers and ended up going 5-10/4.86/1.51, which should have been enough to move him into the down cycle of his career, but it wasn’t and he continued to make money well into the 90s as a pitcher. His fun fact was that he enjoys back packing in his leisure time.

12. Paul Zuvella – SS – Yankees – 102 – Paul spent most of 1987 in AAA but he did get 34 at bats in the majors. His stats were 0.176/0/0. His fun facts are that he likes reading, watching movies and playing chess. He also plays the piano and drums. Me thinks he should have been spending more time in the batting cage.

13. Bruce Ruffin – P – Phillies – 499 – An elusive Topps All Rookie Team member. Ruffin had a great season in 1986, where he went 9-4/2.46/1.24, but that would be one of his best seasons. In 1987 he was still with the Phillies and went 11-14/4.5/1.41, establishing himself as a NL doormat in the way of pitching. His fun fact was that he was All-City and All-District in high school and that he was on the 1983 University of Texas National Championship Baseball team (teammate of Roger Clemens).

14. Russ Morman – 1B – White Sox – 233 – Mormon was a career backup and in 1987 he didn’t play in the majors. In 1986 he went 0.252/4/17 in 159 at bats. His fun fact was that he was an All-American at Wichita State.

15. Mel Hall – OF – Indians – 51 – I was a big fan of Mel when he was with the Yankees, but in 1987 he was still with the Indians. He went 0.280/18/76, the perfect guy as t 5th or 6th hitter in your lineup. I always thought of him as your typical blue collar get it done kind of player, who was no fantasy stud, but you wanted him on your favorite team. His fun fact was that he played little league and Babe Ruth ball.

16. Dave Righetti – P – Yankees – 40 – What’s not to like about the Ronzoni man? In 1986 he set the record for saves in a season in the AL and in 1987 he earned another trip to the All Star game. His stats were 8-6/3.51/1.46 with 31 saves. Not as good as 1986 but not bad at all. His fun fact is that he grew up a Giants and A’s fan.

17. Junior Ortiz – C – Pirates – 583 – This is the original Junior. Just kidding, he was a bcakup most of his career and rarely saw more than 200 at bats. In 1987 he went 0.271/1/22 in 192 at bats. With Spank Lavaillere as the entrentched starter, Junior never got too many at bats. His fun fact was that he and his wife have 2 children.

Overall I liked this pack it had pep if you will, maybe it’s just me who has the pep, as I am on my third cup of coffee already and it’s only 9:15am. Overall I’ll give this one a 2.0 star rating. Not quite average, but not horrible either. The checklist and the Steve sax AS card lowers the grade from average. Hope you enjoyed my caffeine fueled banter today and if anyone knows why Jim Dwyer was named Pig Pen please leave a comment.