CHUCK

My History in the Sports Memorabilia Business

The Blatt family (Jeff, Beryl, Chuck, Michelle) has been involved in the Sports Memorabilia business since 1978.  I personally started collecting cards in 1972.  In 1978 my dad and I began attending Sports Memorabilia shows and shortly thereafter we became dealers exhibiting our collectibles.  In November 1980 we opened the first store of its type in the suburbs of Chicago under the name Beulah Sports.  As a family we have owned 6 Sports Memorabilia and licensed sportswear stores under a few names; Beulah Sports, Sports Emporium, Sports Source and Sports Fever.  We participated in 15 National Sports Collector Conventions the last being in 1995.  In addition, Jeff (my dad) was President of the Chicagoland Sports Collectors Association from 1985-1992.

For the past 10 years we took time away from participating at conventions and operating stores but continued to sell items on an online auction site, prior to ebay’s existence.   Then we signed up on ebay on December 1, 1998 and sold items until October, 2005, at which point we were burned out.  After a layoff we have once again become active on ebay.  Between both my account and my dad’s we have over 2,400 positive reviews (and counting) for our service (sportssourceauctions over 1,340 and tncauctions over 1,144).

Since the hobby has changed so much I felt is necessary to explain our long history in the hobby.  We were in the hobby before the first Beckett price guide was ever published.  We were in the hobby before anyone ever needed a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).  We were in the hobby during the heyday when collectors collected for the love and joy of collecting and not just for value.  We were in the hobby when individuals could grade their own cards and knew if an autograph was legitimate.

During our 30 years in the industry, we have been featured in many magazines, newspapers, and trade journals.  I will be attaching a few samples of articles written about us.  During our years in the hobby we have had the pleasure to meet many Super Stars, Stars and everyday players.  We had many an athlete at our stores and at memorabilia shows.  Below you will find a partial list of many of the athletes we have met.  

The items I am currently auctioning off are either left over from our years in the business or from our personal family collection.  I have either had the pleasure of meeting, driving them to and from a show, having dinner with them, and sitting next to them at a signing.

All of the autographs we are selling were obtain, in person, through private signings and collectors shows. We, therefore, guarantee the authenticity of each autograph sold.  I feel with the proof of this written statement, the attached articles, pictures of us with the athletes we do not need to include a Certificate of Authenticity.  I could create one for you but it’s just a piece of paper.  My reputation stands behind what is sold. 

All items are guaranteed to pass PSA/DNA testing.  If you get any of my items evaluated and find it is not authentic, I will be happy to refund your money, assuming the item is return in the original condition.

Partial List of athletes we have met.

Baseball

Joe DiMaggioMickey Mantle Alvin DarkAl Kaline Andre DawsonB.J. Surhoff Bert CampanerisBill Buckner Bill FreehanBill Mazeroski Bill MeltonBilly Herman Billy PierceBilly Williams Bo BelinskyBob Horner Bob FellerBob Lemon Bob RushBob Shaw Bob TurleyBobby Doerr Bobby ThomsonBoog Powel Brooks RobinsonBuck Lenord Carl ErskineCarl Hubbell Cecil CooperChico Carraqquel Cool Papa BellDan Plasac Darrell PorterDarryl Boston Dennis LampDenny McClain Dick AllenDon Kesinger Don LarsonDon Mueller Don NewcombeDon Sutton Eddie MatthewsBill Veck Eddie MiksisEnos Slaughter Eric SoderholmErnie Banks Ernie BrollioEwell Blackwell Fergi Jenki nsFrank Howard Gary MatthewsGaylord Perry George KellGlenn Beckert Greg walkerHarmon Killebrew Harry WalkerHarvey Haddux Hoyt WilhelmJim Rice Juan MarichalJay Johnstone Jerome WaltonJerry Hariston Carlos MayJim Catfish Hunter Jim HickmanJim Palmer Jimmy PiersallJoe Cowley Joe CunninghamJohhny Mize Johnny SainJohnny Vandemeer John CangelosiJose Cardinal Keith HernandezKen Kravec Ken WilliamsLarry Jansen Leo DurocherLou Boudreau Lou BrockLouis Aparicio Luis SalazarLuke Appling Marv ThroneberryMax Lanier Mike BileckiMike Krukow Minnie MinosoMonte Irvin Moose SkowronNyls Nyman Paul PopovichPete Rose Phil CavarettaPhil Plantier Phil RizzutoRalph Garr Ralph KinerRandy Hundley Ransom JacksonRay Dandridge Red SchoendienstRick Ferrell Robin VenturaRocky Colavito Roger MarisRollie Fingers Ron KittleRon Romanick Ross BaumgartenRoy Seivers Sandy KoufaxScott Sanderson Scott ThompsonShawon Dunsten Stan MusialSteve Carlton Steve LyonsSteve Sax Steve StoneSteve Trout Ted Dubble Duty RadcliffeTerry MooreTom Pacorek Tony OlivaTurk Lown Barney SchultzVern Law Vida BlueVirgil Trucks Warren SpahnWhitey Herzog Whitey FordWhitey Kurowski Wilbur WoodWillie Mays Willlie McCoveyWillie Stargell Willie WhiteYogi Berra

Golf

Wrestling

Bill GoldbergLex Luger Hulk HoganMedusa Kevin Nash

Political

Dan QuayleRichard Daley

Football

Walter PaytonGlenn Kozlowski Trace ArmstrongMatt Suhey Jim McMahonJim Harbaugh Emery MoreheadEd O'Bradovich John HadlDaryle Lamonica Chris Zoeich

Bobby HullStan Mikita Ed OlchykJohnny Bower Frank BrinsekEric Daze Alex DelcecchioBernie Federico Bill GadsbyEric Lindros Ken HodgeTed KennedyTed Lindsay Henri RichardJeremy Roenick Dale TallonGary Unger Stu GrimsonBrad Park Yvan CournoyerGuy Lafluer Bernie Parent

Michael JordanRay Meyer Janie FincherJerry Sloan Norm VanlearDoug Collins Horace GrantBJ Armstrong Mike FertelloDick Versase

Muhammed Ali

What better endorsement of our time in the hobby than this personalized picture which states; To Beryl and Jeff Best Always you do a fine show Joe Dimaggio

Here are some pictures of me or my family with different players

Me with Willie Mays                                                   My Dad with Mickey Mantle

More pictures of my dad with Mickey Mantle

My dad with Leo Durocher           My dad with Whitey Ford                     My mom with Bob Lemon

My dad with Ernie Banks            Me with Willie Stargell      Me and my dad with Willie Stargell

Personalized Mickey Mantle 8x10 To Jeff and Beryl My best wishes your friend Mickey Mantle

Me with Lou Brock, Roy Sievers and Ernie Broglio

Me with Bill Buckner

Me with Billy Williams

My mom with Bobby Hull

Thanks for your business.  If you have any questions please e-mail me.  Also if you have a request for an older autograph from someone we have met please ask and I might be able to find one.
Chuck