Sports Card Dealers
Mystery card packs, Notre Dame football legends highlight Chicago Card Show
Kyle Cook drove about 45 miles from his home in Cedar Lake, Ind. to the Chicago Card Show, the six-hour collectibles convention presented by Midwest Sports Buffet.
Cook brought about 50 cards from various players tied to Chicago pro teams and about 100 hand-made mystery packs of either football, baseball or Pokémon cards to the March 11 show at the Bridgeview Community Center.
Selling the unknown packs ($5 each) was a flashback to some of his earliest card show memories when he was 6 years old.
“You never knew what was going to be in the mystery packs. The mystery was all the fun, whether [the pack] included an autograph card, a relic card, or whatever,” Cook said.
Now 32 and, ironically, a chef, Cook brings his mystery packs to four or five shows annually. He gets as much joy watching others open the unknown packs as they do. His girlfriend helped him prepare the packs for the March show.
“The Mystery Packs do pretty well,” said Cook, who was interrupted by a teenage collector who purchased a football Mystery Pack. When asked why he chose the pack, the youngster replied, “because the envelope is colored different.”
Cook had noteworthy football, baseball and Pokémon chase cards, including rookie cards of Jalen Hurts and Aaron Judge. All packs included at least one autograph or relic card, and more.
He said the mystery packs typically appeal to younger collectors, but at the March show, former Notre Dame star running back Vagas Ferguson, 66, purchased a football mystery pack and scored a noted Javorius “Buck” Allen card.
Cook said he doesn’t know which pack has the prime chase cards.
The Chicago Card Show drew about 400 collectors, with about 40 dealers spread across 60 tables. The show featured three autograph guests: Vagas Ferguson, Bob Golic and Luther Bradley — all three from the 1977 Notre Dame National Championship team.
“The turnout was really good,” said show promotor Nick Parsons, who has run the Bridgeview show — located about 25 minutes south of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, site of the 2023 National Sports Collectors Convention — for about 18 months.
JSA was on-site at the March show, which featured door prizes, packs for kids, $1 admission and free parking.
“We have a nice variety of dealers, with vintage and modern cards, autographs, memorabilia, and more,” Parsons said. “There’s something for everyone at these shows, including Pokémon, which is huge nowadays.”
The February show from Midwest Sports Buffet was its best-ever, with more than 600 collectors and three former Chicago Bears players signing autographs.
“I remember [growing up] and going to card shows with my dad in [hotel] ballrooms in and around Osh Kosh, Fond du Lac and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That’s my goal for these shows, to re-create that retro-show vibe,” Parsons said. “I think the older dealers appreciate this show for the retro feel and retro approach.”
Here’s a look at some of the collectibles available March 11 at The Chicago Card Show from Midwest Sports Buffet in Bridgeview, Ill.:
• 2022 Topps Baseball complete set: $45
• 26 assorted 1970s White Sox photos and a 1976 Harry Caray record: $5
• Super Bowl XX program: $15
• 1960 Chicago Bears Press Guide: $20
• 1972-73 Chicago Cougars Program: $10
• Spotted a full case of $1 rookie cards, including Craig Biggio (Fleer), Jeff Bagwell (Topps Stadium Club), Peter Forsberg (Upper Deck) and others.
• Box of 50-cent cards. First one I pulled was a 1972 Tom Matte.
• 1970 Kellogg’s cards, all graded 9: Harmon Killebrew ($34), Billy Williams ($40) and Pete Rose ($92).
• Michael Jordan plates: $10 each.
• Dick Butkus figurine: $30
• Willie Roaf or Andre Rison autographed mini-helmet: $35 each.
• 1990 Fleer Basketball packs: $4 or 2-for-$7
• Chevy Chase autographed Ty Webb card, his character from Caddyshack, with PSA/DNA: $85
• 2005 Topps Baseball complete set: $70
• 2001 Topps Baseball complete set: $150
• Mark Grace autographed Chicago Cubs helmet, with four inscriptions: $200
• Autographed 8-by-10 photos: Ron Santo ($80) or Brett Favre, William Perry or Gale Sayers ($70 each)
• Dick Butkus autographed mini-helmet: $100
• Earl Campbell autographed full-size Houston Oilers helmet: $100
GRADED CARDS
2021 Panini Select Patrick Mahomes (10): $2,000
2019 Donruss Optic Trae Young (10): $899
1968 Topps Willie McCovey (grade 5): $50
1956 Topps Hank Aaron (4): $365
1968 Topps Roberto Clemente (8): $575
1989 Bowman Barry Bonds (9): $10
1968 Topps Tom Seaver (5): $95
1964 Philadelphia Mike Ditka (5): $75
1968 Topps Mike Ditka (4): $4
1969 Topps Dick Butkus (4): $60
1971 Topps Dick Butkus (5): $55
2001 Topps Archives Walter Payton (10): $25
2005 Topps Jay-Z (9): $25
2021 Donruss Optic Justin Fields (8): $32
2022 Panini Select The Rock (10): $75
2007 Topps Heritage Ric Flair (10): $80
2016 Decision 2016 Donald Trump or Barack Obama (10): $150 each
2019 Donruss Optic Rui Hachimura (9): $20
HOCKEY ROOKIE CARDS
Brad Park: $22
Adam Oates: $12
Bob Probert: $10
HOBBY BOXES
2021 Heritage Baseball blaster: $25
2021-22 NBA Hoops blaster: $20
1986 Topps Series 4 Garbage Pail Kids Chrome: $70
2023 Topps Baseball Series One: $75
JUSTIN FIELDS, 2021 PANINI CARDS
Spectra, graded 10, numbered to 99: $225
Certified, graded 10: $150
Obsidian, numbered to 50: $400
BINDERS OF TOPPS CARDS
1957 Baseball: $3 each
1978 Football & 1981 Football: 50-cents each
1977-78 Basketball: $1 each
AUTOGRAPHED JERSEYS
Neymar: $550
Pele: $300
Allen Iverson: $250
Jason Taylor: $100
AJ Pierzynski: $50
Dennis Rodman: $60
SCOREBOOKS
1943 Indians vs. Browns, scored: $35
1955 White Sox vs. Orioles: $25
1962 Cubs vs. Giants: $15
1966 Astros vs. Cubs, scored: $30
1969 Angels vs. A’s: $20
UPCOMING SHOWS FROM MIDWEST SPORTS BUFFET:
• April 30 with autograph signers Scott Williams, Dennis Hopkins and Dave Reeve
• May 13 with autograph signers Tim Wrightman, Brian Baschnagel and Gary Fencik
MIDWEST SPORTS BUFFET
Contact: 773-440-6913
Website: midwestsportsbuffet.com
Twitter: @midwestsportsbuffet
