I love the Internet. I spend more time on eBay than I ever did on my high school homework. I’ve bought things from Amazon.com more than 100 times and I’m not even a big book reader. That said, nothing can compare to one-on-one communication. And for a card and memorabilia collector, there is still nothing that even comes close to a good, old card show.

So, if hobbyists love going to shows so much, why do we have a better chance of finding a $500 dollar pack of cards from 2007 than a quality card show in our hometown? Now, I’m not talking about one of those rinky-dink mall shows that have more Princess Diana Beanie Babies than 1957 Topps Hank Aarons, nor am I thinking about one of those flea markets featuring more memorabilia of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sr. than pieces headlining Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. I am talking about a solid, honest-to-goodness card show, with dealers selling autographs, commons, star cards and memorabilia from all the major sports.

My frustration has come to an end and I am going to do something about it. On Dec. 29, in Green Bay, Wis., my friend Scott Harpt and I are going to try and do the unimaginable … put on a darn good local card and memorabilia show in 2007.

I guess what we are trying to do isn’t totally a fair experiment. We will be holding the show at The Sideline Bar and Grill, right across the street from Lambeau Field and will have the benefit of possibly attracting some of the thousands of football fans that will be in town for the Packers/Lions game, which will take place the day after the show. But still, it is a card show in our small town and there hasn’t been a good one in Green Bay since the early '90s.

I want to make it perfectly clear that we aren’t doing this to make lots of money. We may actually end up taking a loss. I’m sure that I am not alone when I say that some of my fondest childhood memories come from the time spent with my father and I searching through 50-cent packs of cards, or looking for that tough Bo Jackson card at a show.

I remember getting an autograph from special guests Warren Spahn and Eddie Mathew about 20 years ago for less than $10 per signature at a small show in Wisconsin. Those days of affordable signatures from Hall of Famers will never come back, but hopefully some of the face-to-face bargaining with local dealers will.

After the show takes place, I will write a follow-up story about our experience. This show may totally bomb, but hopefully there are still some nostalgic collectors out there in search of the same type of buying and selling experience that I am.

If anyone has any suggestions that may help make our show a success, please e-mail me at Chris.Nerat@fwpubs.com.

Note: Spahn image courtesy of Heritage Auction Galleries