Back To Back Show Weekends - Part 2: Chantilly, VA

I was a little under the weather Saturday, since I had been fighting a cold/cough for the last couple days, but I was determined to make it to the big show.  After all, they only come around three times a year.

It was also a lousy rainy day, but the drive wasn't bad and it was warm, so the trip was no problem.  I slept as long as I needed to and then headed out.  Got to the show about 11AM.

I usually start in the far end of the show, but decided to stop first at my favorite current set/insert guy.  Knocked off my Banner Seasons and Special Days, and all but one of my Gems and shortprints (still need #308 Herzog).  He had singles from a lot of the new sets, including Stadium Club and football Legacy, and I found the Tulo in a box of assorted things.

Found Keith at another dealer with vintage of all the sports.  I have to go back and verify my PC Hostess and Kellogg's lists.  I'm not confident that they're up to date.  Hopefully I don't have this one already.

Same guy had these Fleer World Series sticker backs.  Not sure which scan I'd consider the front or back in this case, but both are the same two cards.

Also found a major bargain in this '58 Cleveland team card.  Expected to pay about $20 for the '50s dynasty squad, but this was only three bucks.  There are a couple soft, layered corners, but it presents well enough.  A football bargain among mostly baseball.  This theme will continue...

Sticking with the '58s for a moment, got these two HOF'ers and a coaching legend at another table.

...Who also had this nice Larsen for only $6.  Again, mixing sports from the same dealer is leading to good things.

Another guy had these pristine '57s for $3 each.  BAL was $5 and looks a lot less crooked when not up against the others.

An older couple usually has a couple tables with showcases of cards laid flat.  And there's sets and other assorted stuff around the perimeter of their setup.  Whitey Ford was only $35 instead of the projected $50 I found, and isn't quite as off center as the overcropped scan shows.  If you look close at the other two, you'll see subtle writing - which appears to be actual autographs.  These were only $15 total.  The '67 Palmer WS does have a crease along the length, so I probably should have picked another of his from about eight or so they had.  But it's a bit more unique, so I'm good with it.

Two more '57s from Uncle Dick's (now under new management, but same great selection).  Nieman might look familiar.  Yeah, I always do that with something when I buy this much in the same short time period.  Luckily he was only a buck.  Logan is a cool card and was $3.

Finished my '74 Topps football set with these two, and got one '68, even though I looked through a lot of them at this show.  I guess the ones I need are the tough ones to find.

This somewhat bow-cut but clean Post cereal was the last item from Uncle Dick's this trip.  I just like these, and you can't beat big star cards for single digits.

Almost left these early '60s Salada coins off this post, since I stashed 'em in my list binder pocket so I wouldn't lose them.  Added bonus is the Topps coin of Elston that I got in Ephrata...

Got this odd pair from a dealer I'd never met before, but he was very helpful in finding several current year inserts for my trading buddy Stuart.  (Since I quit doing Topps flagship baseball, I don't know what a lot of the new inserts even look like, or which set they go with).  Knocked off my last Gem and grabbed this KD Donruss football card while we were looking for the other stuff.

And now, the finale. 

The seller I call the "football guy" because he has a huge box of football singles all tagged and sorted and stored in so many different holders, toploaders, etc.  The box is very recognizeable and I've bought from him several times.  His prices vary, but I've found some great deals.  

These Fleer Team Actions were a buck or two each, which is more than I like to pay for them, but with what else I got, it was worth it.  Needed two of the '85 WAS cards - one for set and one for team collection.  Still need a bunch of the green '84s, but passed some up.

He did have several of the earliest FTA set - from 1976 - which are actually stickers.  They were $4 plus a shot, but I had to at least get the Washington one.  I've never seen these in person until now.

Picked up two more 1984 USFL cards to get closer to that set.  Will have to find the big guns (Kelly, Young and White) eventually.  These were also a few bucks each, which is again a little more than I like, but wait 'til you see how this turned out....

I got the bargain of the year.

Maybe the last FEW years.

The Football guy had a showcase with vintage baseball as well.  I noticed they had prices written in marker on the corner of the card savers, so when they were stacked up, the prices markings ran together.  

I said let me see the '57s, just to check for bargains maybe on the minor stars or something.  I saw this one on top of one stack, but figured it was 600-1000 at best, like the others I saw last week.

Nope.

This thing was marked "115".

I said "Is this right?"  He said yes, and something else that I didn't quite catch, but I said "Well, shoot, I gotta do that!"  There really aren't that many major flaws.

NEVER thought I'd be getting Teddy Ballgame - the first standard sized card ever issued - for basically 10% of the typical price until way after pandemic prices faded out.

What's the best bargain you've ever found on a white whale?