THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 27, 2012 , I was watching my son’s youth soccer game, but admittedly, my mind was elsewhere. Love of the Game’s Inaugural Auction closing was hours away, and Superstorm Sandy was rapidly bearing down on New Jersey. A lot of preparation had gone into the company’s first auction, and it seemed like there was a lot on the line.
Sure, it’s hard work. Sure, there’s lots of competition. But I’m proud of where we are and how we’ve gotten here, and I’m excited about the future. For this special auction, we wanted to put together a small, high-quality event with fewer than 500 lots, but each one of them special . Some of the lots are special because they’re high-value. Some are special because they’re super-rare, or historically significant. A few are special because they come with great stories. Some have other reasons, which may not be as apparent – maybe its personal, maybe it comes from a special consignor, or a good friend who wanted to be part of our 10th anniversary. The auction includes a number of items from the collection of Barney Pelty, one of the first Jewish players in the American League, who pitched for ten seasons – mostly with the St. Louis Browns – between 1903 and 1912. We’re featuring a complete run of
We had managed to procure a small backup generator, the last one available at our local big box retailer, and put it through a dry run. If we lost power temporarily, I’d be able to keep our refrigerator running, power the outlets in the kitchen, fire up our gas furnace, and operate the computer and a desk lamp in our small basement office. All I could do was wait. The storm plowed into New Jersey the following morning, and we lost power. Electricity was out for 11 days – I processed the invoices and packed the winnings by flashlight. It was days before I could ship anyone’s packages because delivery vehicles couldn’t get to us. But we got it done, the feedback was mostly positive, and so we moved forward with planning Auction #2. Since then we’ve hosted 37 auctions and sold more than 30,000 items to thousands of bidders. We’ve conducted a ton of hobby research and written countless auction descriptions. I’ve traveled tens of thousands of miles, crisscrossing the country multiple times, visiting all 48 of the Continental United States. I’ve met hundreds of people, visited dozens of homes, stopped at hundreds of tourist attractions, antique shops and museums. And after ten years, here’s what I learned: I have the greatest job in the world. I never want to do anything else. I’m surrounded by history, I’m immersed in vintage sports, and I seemingly learn a new story every day. I interact with the greatest people, and every day involves doing research, telling stories, helping hobbyists find pieces that have eluded them, and helping people turn their old collectibles into cash. And in ten years, I think we’ve built a pretty special company. We’re not the biggest, by a long shot. But I do think we’re one of the best. I think we do vintage auctions the right way. Ethically, with respect for the hobby, reverence for history, and a love of the game.
ticket stubs from every New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers World Series game – with an outstanding article by Mark Armour, current SABR president and longtime director of the essential SABR Baseball Biography Project. This auction has what might be our best selection of baseball photography to date, our largest ever offering of complete sets (including a really special T206 set), and our usual assortment of Great Cards. The auction is small, but mighty. So it’s our 10th Anniversary auction, and all I can feel is thankful. The hobby has given me years of enjoyment, I’ve met some of the most unbelievable people, and learned so much. Every day – literally – has been a joy. I realize that Love of the Game Auctions would be nowhere if it wasn’t for the trust of our bidders, the confidence of our consignors, and the help of our friends. So, thank you for all your support over the years. If you’re able to read this, it means you’ve been a part of our growth, and for that, I thank you. And thanks for being part of our 10th Anniversary auction!
Regards, Al Crisafulli
10 TH ANNIVERSARY AUCTION − CLOSES NOVEMBER 26, 2022 1
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