Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 18, 1995 TAG: 9504180110
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHLEEN WILSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The one who collected fireflies in mayonnaise jars. Skipped stones across a lake. Searched streams for tadpoles. And didn't consider it to be a full day unless he came home dirty, dusty and muddy.
I found a gang of all-grown-up little boys last Tuesday night at The Wax Shop, a baseball card store on Colonial Avenue. The second Tuesday of each month they gather - and this is open to everyone - just to trade baseball cards.
``This has been a dream of mine,'' said owner Bill Bryant. ``You know, to have a night where guys could just get together and trade cards. Just like we did when we were kids.''
There stood James Witten, M.D., his reading glasses at the end of his nose, scanning a price list, a notepad and his own set of cards.
He was in his own world, swaying back and forth to the music on the radio, mouthing, ``Ba-ba-ba-ba-de-ba-bom-bom-de-bom-de-bom-bom-dang-de-da-lang-ge-dang-de-dang- dang...blue mooooon...you left me standing a-lone...''
Few of these men had held onto their childhood card collections. Many had taken a 20-year or so break from collecting.
As far as this group is concerned, there are only three television stations: 25 (ESPN), 44 (Home Team Sports) and 15 (CNN - ``But just to check the scores.'')
And you're not a man unless you've got a remote control in your hand.
``I sleep with mine,'' claimed Mark Atkins.
I'm not sure what I expected trading to look like. Mostly these nine guys just stood around the display cases, their eyes darting back and forth to each others' collections.
Mark and Bill recalled the first trading night three months ago.
``I traded my `84 Chrysler for a `67 Mantle,'' he said rather proud. Then to Bill, ''I've still got that Mantle, but the car still ain't runnin', is it?''
On a subsequent trading night, Mark and Bill negotiated a $3,000 trade.
``Bill had to sit down after that one,'' explained Carol, Bill's wife.
There are lots of ways to collect cards other than the traditional way. Some collect baseball cards of players who have been in jail. Others, cards of baseball players with weird names. (Rip Repulski was offered as an example. ``Just like repulsive only with a `ski''')
``Some even just collect the ugly players,'' Carol told me.
I wanted an example. Just what constitutes an ugly player? I mean, these guys are all somebody's sons, you know.
``Don Mossi,'' erupted every guy in the shop, scrambling to find one.
Well, sure enough. Don Mossi sure was one interesting looking ballplayer.
``I love the tight close-up head shot where it looks like his ears are going to wrap all the way around the back of the card,'' said Paul Scott.
Bill figured that, in order to get in touch with my masculine side, I should do a trade before I left. So I traded an old Matt Bahr football card for the ugliest of the Don Mossi cards.
It was a good trade, too. Mossi's card is worth about three bucks. Poor Matt Bahr was worth about a nickel. At best.
I didn't understand most of what I heard.
Stuff like this:
- ``I've got 57s 64s and 55s . Do you?''
- ``How many sharp 55 Bowman's do you have?''
- ``Do you have keys, leaders or commons?''
- ``Do you think this is a veegee or an ex?'' (Finally figured out that's trading talk for very good and excellent, as in condition.)
Do the cards still come with the gum inside, I wanted to know.
``GEEZ!'' erupted Mark in total disgust.
Mark was getting antsy, waiting for another fanatic to arrive. He had a BIG trade in mind.
``Whether I eat chicken at Kenny Roger's or Hardee's depends on this trade,'' he told me.
Bill, Mark, Dr. Witten, Joe Burtch, Brian Sieveking, Paul Scott, Ken Arrett, Todd Marcum and I were in some very impressive company that night.
Willie Mays was there. So was Whitey Herzog. Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, Sandy Koufax, Stan Musial and Whitey Ford were all in attendance. Safely encased in plexiglass. Many folded within black velvet pouches.
The guys keep the really valuable ones in safe deposit boxes and pull them out for nights like this.
Brian has two 1909 Piedmont Tobacco Ty Cobb cards that are worth $2,000 apiece. Brian, a local artist and printer, got involved in this hobby because of his admiration of the printing quality of these two cards.
The favorite card for sale in the shop seemed to be a `56 card of the late Pittsburgh Pirate, Roberto Clemente.
``Oh, that's so pretty,'' cooed Mark and Brian.
by CNB