• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on eBay
    • Most Watched Graded Rookies
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched BGS, BVG Cards
    • Most Watched SGC Cards
    • Most Watched CSG,CGC Cards
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2023 Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards
      • Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Ronald Acuna Jr. Cards
      • Shohei Ohtani Cards
      • Mike Trout Cards
      • Fernando Tatis Jr. Cards
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Jackie Robinson Cards:
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • T206 Cards
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2022-23 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2021-22 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Nikola Jokic Rookie Cards
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo Cards
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • Prizm Basketball Cards
      • Panini National Treasures
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2022 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Brock Purdy Rookie Cards
      • 2021 NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2020 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Joe Burrow Rookie Cards
        • Justin Herbert Rookie Cards
        • Jalen Hurts Rookie Cards
      • Josh Allen Rookie Cards
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
      • Tom Brady Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2021-22 NHL Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2020-21 Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Wayne Gretzky Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched UFC Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Top Sports Card Dealers on eBay
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
      • Vintage Sports Memorabilia
    • Vintage Sports Tickets, Stubs
    • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Soccer Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • UFC Cards
  • Top - Ad

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Editor's Blog / Dribbles & Scribbles: A Little 80s “Magic” Restarts a Collecting Journey

Dribbles & Scribbles: A Little 80s “Magic” Restarts a Collecting Journey

February 17, 2021 By Tim Gallagher

Tim Gallagher

In the first of an ongoing series, long-time collector Tim Gallagher takes over the Editor’s Blog to share 50+ years of memories from chasing basketball autographs.

—-

In the early 1980’s a fortuitous convergence of geography, hotel ownership and a superstar player’s absence from my collection reignited my passion for pursuing basketball autographs. 

COLLECTING ORIGINS

My basketball autograph collecting story started in 1967 by obtaining signatures in-person at University of Dayton college games, Cincinnati Royals NBA games and relentlessly through the mail. Early successes with local hero, Dayton All-American Don May, and through the mail with my favorites like Rick Mount, John Havlicek and Oscar Robertson lit the fuse and I was off and running. 

HIGH SCHOOL YEARS

Even after my beloved Cincinnati Royals with Nate “The Skate” Archibald, Jumpin’ Johnny Green and Tom Van Arsdale abandoned me and moved to Kansas City in 1972, there was still plenty of big time in-person basketball within a couple hour drive of my childhood home. College programs like Dayton, Cincinnati, Xavier and Miami of Ohio (and their visiting opponents) were in reach, as were the ABA Indiana Pacers and in the 1973-74 season the ABA Kentucky Colonels played some of their home games at the University of Cincinnati’s Armory Fieldhouse. Dayton would also host occasional NBA preseason games, including the first ever pro matchup between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton in 1974. 

Those ABA games were so much fun! The Pacers had Hall of Famers Roger Brown, Mel Daniels and George McGinnis in those years. The Colonels had their own trio of Hall of Famers in Louie Dampier, Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel. Seeing Julius “Dr. J” Erving of the New York Nets, Billy Cunningham of the Carolina Cougars, Johnny Neumann of the Memphis Tams and Wilt Chamberlain (wearing sandals!?) coaching the San Diego Conquistadors are some of the enduring memories. And almost all the players, even “Coach” Wilt, were accessible and cooperative signing after the games. 

COLLEGE YEARS

After high school graduation in 1976 I was off to college at Bowling Green State University in northwest Ohio, a mostly rural area and even further from any basketball hubs. Since I was doing things college students do, collecting sports cards and autographs certainly wasn’t “cool”, and I did indeed have other priorities at the time. There were some trips to see the Pistons play at Cobo Hall in Detroit and the Cleveland Cavaliers play at Richfield Coliseum, but most of my college buddies did not grasp the concept of waiting after the games for autographs, and one of them was usually driving (I didn’t have a car in college), so we were on the road home after the final buzzer sounded. 

On college school breaks when the schedule aligned, the lure of seeing a legend like “Pistol Pete” Maravich, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe or my all-time favorite player, Brian Winters, play in person in Indianapolis’ Market Square Arena against the Pacers was still strong, so I would make the two-hour drive each way to see them play. I would be poised for post-game autographing with my manila folder filled with basketball cards, magazine photos and index cards and properly warmed up ballpoint pens. 

A LITTLE “BIRD” TOLD ME

One special tip from a Pacers locker room security guard led to getting a most memorable signature. The guard saw me patiently waiting for the players and stated, “If you’re collecting autographs you should get that blonde headed boy leaning against the wall over there.” I said, “Who is he?” My new uniformed friend replied, “That’s Larry Bird and he’s going to play for Indiana State next season.”

Recall this is the mid-1970’s and awareness of young hoop prospects is nothing like it is today, plus Larry was “off the grid” for a time after his very brief enrollment at Indiana University in Bloomington. So even an avid follower of the game like me had not heard of Larry Bird. I went ahead and inked Larry on an index card that night and the next season I started hearing about a new phenom lighting it up in college basketball… and I was quite proud to already have Larry in my collection (his signature was a bit different as a teenager).

THE “MAGIC” OF MARCH MADNESS

My hometown University of Dayton Arena hosted many NCAA tournament “March Madness” games in the 1970’s. I found a way to attend almost all of them. In fact, UD Arena has hosted more NCAA tournament games than any other venue! One especially memorable game at UD Arena was the 1978 regional final, with Michigan State playing Kentucky. The Spartans were led by Greg Kelser and a rising freshman named Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Kentucky, who would go on to win the NCAA title about ten days later, had stars Kyle Macy, Rick Robey and Jack Givens. 

My autograph pursuits were limited during these years, but I was so enamored by Magic Johnson’s game (I had seen him play two nights before in the regional semi-finals) I decided that after the game I would get him to sign an index card for my collection. I took my familiar postgame spot and waited for the Michigan State players to exit the arena tunnel. Greg Kelser came out first and I inked him on an index card. I got those butterflies in my stomach anticipating doing the same with Magic. Well, when Magic emerged the crowd of well-wishers had grown, he was quickly whisked away from the frenzy into a private car and was gone… and I stood by glumly with my index card still blank, intended for Magic’s signature. 

My disappointment in that missed opportunity would grow as I watched the following seasons. Sophomore Magic Johnson, pitted against Larry Bird in the historic 1979 championship game, won the NCAA title. Then in 1980 as a rookie with the Lakers, Magic led Los Angeles to an NBA title. And sadly, still no Magic Johnson in the Tim Gallagher autograph collection.

JERRY BUSS, A HOTEL, BASKETBALL & “MAGIC” AT LAST

By 1980 I had graduated from college in Ohio and followed a then-girlfriend out to Phoenix, AZ. I was getting my business career under way, working for a bank in the city and getting my “adult life” going. I kept a close watch on basketball and attended my fair share of Phoenix Suns games but did not make time to get in-person autographs. I had signatures of most of the current basketball stars of the time already, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nate Archibald, Larry Bird (thanks Pacers security guard!), Adrian Dantley, Dr. J, Paul Westphal… although not Magic Johnson. And that nagged at me. 

The names of NBA team owners were not widely known to fans in the 1981-82 season. No one was really interested. Just a few blocks from my bank’s downtown Phoenix headquarters there was a hotel with bright signage that read, Jerry Buss’ Camelback Sahara. Wasn’t Jerry Buss also the owner of the Lakers? How many Jerry Buss’ could there be? Wouldn’t it make sense that the Lakers would stay at their owner’s hotel when they came to town? A lightbulb moment. The same Lakers who Magic Johnson, a gaping hole in my autograph collection, plays for? I checked the Suns schedule to see the next time the Lakers were playing at Phoenix and circled the date on my calendar… and waited. 

The Lakers were finally in town. That sunny Phoenix afternoon after work I made the short trip from the office over to the Camelback Sahara hotel. As I turned the corner, I saw the idling team bus parked curbside. Bingo! Not a soul in sight, but in a short while players in Lakers road purple warmups started trickling out from the lobby, walking to the bus. My folder was in hand, my ballpoint pen ready. First Norm Nixon, then Michael Cooper, Jamaal Wilkes… and finally… Magic Johnson. I had Magic sign an index card and a couple Sports Illustrated tear out photos. And he was really nice about it, flashing that million-dollar smile. The feelings of collecting satisfaction and joy enveloped me. It was almost too easy! 

THE COLLECTING JOURNEY CONTINUES

That afternoon in Phoenix I realized I was now-living in an NBA city, no other collectors present (at least that day, it was the Lakers, where were they?), so the mostly extinguished flame to collect basketball autographs from all the teams and players was relit. It took a little “Magic” to get me back on my collecting journey, but it is a road I haven’t left since that day. 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

Notes: Brewers Collector’s Charitable Heart; Brady Card Paid with Crypto; Broker’s Euro Trip, More Dribbles and Scribbles: Al McGuire and the Strangest Autographed Item in My Collection Childhood Autograph Collection Includes Sports Icons, Great Memories Dave Hill’s Massive Autograph Collection On Block Via SCP Auctions Navigating the National’s Autograph Lines Thousands of Items from Jack Smalling Autograph Collection at Auction The National Continues to be a Family Affair Riddell Ice helmetNew Riddell Ice Helmets Designed with Autographs in Mind

About Tim Gallagher

Tim Gallagher works for Robert Edward Auctions as a Consignment Director. Prior to working directly in the hobby, he spent decades in corporate sales. During his business career, Tim continued to build and grow his large collection of sports cards and autographs, which started while he was growing up in Dayton, Ohio

He shares collecting memories through his “Today’s Treasure” posts on Twitter @timgall13.

You can email him at [email protected].

Filed Under: Editor's Blog Tagged With: autograph collecting, collecting autographs, dribbles and scribbles, tim gallagher

Primary Sidebar

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click on links to merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

Shop Sports Cards on Ebay
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

High End Cards and Memorabilia

  • BBCE Authenticated Boxes, Packs opens in a new window
  • Graded pre-War Card eBay Auctions
  • PWCC Premier Auction
  • PWCC Fixed Price Marketplace
  • Graded Rookie Cards on eBay opens in a new window
  • Authenticated Photos on eBay opens in a new window
  • Graded Tickets & Stubs opens in a new window

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Kobe Bryant cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Pre-War Cards Under $100 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Football Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Basketball Cards $25 and less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Hockey Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Complete Sets $20 and Less opens in a new window
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1 opens in a new window
  • Buy Boxes Directly from Topps opens in a new window

RSS Auction Report

  • Steve Novella Offers PSA Baseball & Football Card Auction Ending October 3, 2023
  • REA September 2023 Encore Auction Brings in $1.7 Million in Sales
  • PWCC September 2023 Premier Auction Recap

Footer

Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Featured Articles
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Uncategorized

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forumopens in a new window
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cardsopens in a new window
  • Game Used Jerseysopens in a new window
  • Championship Rings For Saleopens in a new window
  • Vintage Basketball Cardsopens in a new window
  • NBA Signed Itemsopens in a new window
  • Autographed Baseballsopens in a new window
  • NASCAR Autographsopens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cardsopens in a new window
  • Player Picturesopens in a new window
  • Vintage Football Cardsopens in a new window
  • Sports Collectors Storeopens in a new window

Pages

Ending on eBay Soon
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
Top 100 on Ebay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
Most Watched on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Tom Brady Card Auctions on eBay
  • 50 Hottest Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • What’s Hot on eBay
Sports Memorabilia
  • Sports Card Bargain Bin
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
About Sports Collectors Daily
  • Advertise with SC Daily
  • Contact Us
  • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Sell Your Cards
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?

Copyright © 2023 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Web Design by Wickam Groupopens in a new window