One month to go before the big show..... (1 Viewer)

[gk5717]

For those who are first timers to OTSN, Brad is 100% on it.
This show is all about room trading. I can,t remember the last time I stayed for the show itself.
Seems like a lot of you will be arriving Wednesday, I,ve never got there that early, maybe next year.
I,ll get there about 1PM on Thursday.
I do have a question for you regulars. How is the room trading in the evening after 7PM? I always bring my wife and we go out to dinner every night and I,ve never roamed the halls of the Hyatt in the later hours.
Forget Christmas, birthdays, holidays, this is the best time of the year!!!!
Gary

 

[Louis Badolato]

For me, the best part is hanging out with the real characters like Andy & Gordon Neilson and the Nevilles. I've spent many a wee hour in Andy's room getting the skinny on future plans, and just plain talking toy soldiers. The room trading is also great . . . every year I've found one or two old pieces I needed for the museum.

 

[jazzeum]

Gary,

In '05, we did it after dinner. Remember it as being fun -- and productive!

Hey Gary, how about the Cards, man! They're looking awesome. Those Cubbies and the rest of the NL better watch out.

 

[wadepat]

For those who are first timers to OTSN, Brad is 100% on it.
This show is all about room trading. I can,t remember the last time I stayed for the show itself.
Seems like a lot of you will be arriving Wednesday, I,ve never got there that early, maybe next year.
I,ll get there about 1PM on Thursday.
I do have a question for you regulars. How is the room trading in the evening after 7PM? I always bring my wife and we go out to dinner every night and I,ve never roamed the halls of the Hyatt in the later hours.
Forget Christmas, birthdays, holidays, this is the best time of the year!!!!
Gary

Hi Gary,

I am one of those people who has roamed the hotel halls in the evening (also in the morning, afternoon, etc. ). My experience has been that there is plenty to see, do, and find until sometime between 9:00 and 10:00 pm when tired vendors begin the crash for the night. If you are wondering if might be worth your time and effort to search the halls between 7:00 and 10:00 pm, my experience would suggest that, yes, it is. You might even catch a glimpse of me doing the same thing!

Happy Hunting at OTSN and I hope to see you there!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[ucla1967]

I wouldn't right off Saturday night either. Depending on foot traffic, room sellers will stay open late, if warrented. Many times you can find something you previously over looked. I usually wander the halls until it is painfully clear that it is a losing proposition, because, at some point, they need to close their doors to pack up for Sunday's show.

 

[Bob Neville]

So much of this show is about the room trading that in a sense the show on Sunday almost becomes a non-event. For example, in 2005 (when I was there), Gary had already spent all his money and he left before the actual show. I found very little at the actual show and my purchases were made during the room trading. Hopefully, Bob will cover the room trading and the days leading up to it in some detail.

Hi Brad
I get in to Chicago from Hong Kong on the Wednesday and will post films covering the whole four days; Thursday to Sunday......including all the bedroom action............going tobe a blast!
Bob

 

[gk5717]

Yes Brad, they won again today.
Rick Ankiel has been unbelievable.
Speaking of baseball, I just got done watching Ken Burns documentory on baseball, have you seen it, and if so what did you think?
My perspective was that Burns thought that baseball was all NewYork, with a few tidbits of other big league cities thrown in.
This may not be politically correct but baseball did not revolve around Jackie Robinson!
Enjoyed the early parts, but the later segments contained to much of the above.
I thought the best nostolgic series was HBO,s When Baseball Was a Game.
Gary

 

[jazzeum]

Gary,

When Baseball Was a Game is fantastic because it gives you a real feel for the game, they way it used to be years ago.

I saw the Ken Burns series when it was first aired and it is a bit New York centric but in all honesty from the mid 20 through the mid 60s, New York baseball did dominate the game, especially the Yankees. One of the problems with all the Burns series is that he tends to wax poetic about certain subjects or people.

Speakin of Jackie, well more about Branch Rickey, Ralph Kiner, who has broadcast for the Mets since their inception, has this great story about Rickey, who he detests to this day. In the early 50s, Ralph had a great season for the Pirates who had finished last. He went to see Rickey about a raise and recited all his accomplishment, led the league in HRs, etc. Rickey, in saying no, reportedly said "Ralph, we finished last with you and we can finish last without you." I think Ralph was traded shortly thereafter.

That saying came to mind in 1987 when they gave Andre Dawson the MVP when he was playing for the Cubs, who also finished last that year. I said to myself "Andre, you don't deserve the MVP, the Cubs finished last with you and they can finish last without you."

Baseball has some great stories, that's why it's the greatest game. There was a would be base stealer who I think played for the Giants in the 20s of whom it was said "he had larceny in his heart, but his feet were honest."

 

[modwalls]

I just want to wish all you the best, have a great time, and I hope all the dealers and Toy Soldier Companies prosper. As far as Baseball, that truly is Americas game, in my opinion, the two greatest players are, in no order, Ted Williams, and Willie Mays. Have a fun time, Mike