I have been following this outstanding forum for months with very limited participation because of my "don't get involved" attitude. But the reference to Dick Dobbins reminded me of when equipment collecting was truly a hobby instead of an investment or business opportunity. I was a friend of Dick Dobbins for nearly 20 years, and I visited him frequently at his Alamo, California home. He taught me much of what I know about equipment collecting as he was always generous with his time and believed in passing along his knowledge. The mention of his name on this forum reminded me that we should all share our knowledge. Indeed, isn't that the purpose of this forum?
I have numerous pieces of Giants equipment with Dick Dobbins' San Francisco Giants Memorabilia COA, including game-used Barry Bonds jerseys, caps, and cleats. Usually, sometime between October and February, Dick would drive to Candlestick Park to meet Equipment Manager Mike Murphy, who would load Dick's mini-van with the past season's equipment. Although it was all suppose to be game used, invariably, there would be game-issued pieces. Dick had integrity, so when selling these pieces, he would indicate in the COA that they were game-issued as opposed to game-used. For example, in 1994, 1995 and 1996, he sold game-issued Barry Bonds Russell jerseys, and represented them as so. Obviously, most collectors know Bonds only wore Rawlings during this period. But the point is that the COA would state the Russell jersey was only game-issued. Unfortunately, a number of those Russell jerseys, which had Dick's Giants stamp in the tail, have made their way into the hobby, minus clarifying COA, as game-used.
If you like, e-mail a scan of the COA as I may be able to assist.
I first started collecting by dealing with Dick Dobbins. He always shared his knowledge with me and he always had time to talk to me. I still have a couple of jerseys that I bought from him. I got the chance to meet him at the national in Atlantic City and he was just as nice in person. He took the time to talk to me and he made me feel welcome at his table. He even talk to me about how San Francisco Memorabilia got started. He used his connections to try to help me find "Ken Boyer - Cardinals" items.
He was a terrific person and a fine gentleman. I miss him to this day. The hobbu has lost a great person.
Dick Dobbins was a prince of a gentleman. In my 30 years in the hobby, I have met many, many fine people, but none can quite measure up to the qualities of Mr. Dobbins.
I can only echo what Randy and Hutch have already stated. My two visits to Mr. Dobbins' home in Alamo, California, in 1993 and 1994 are still two of my most memorable experiences in this hobby. Not only did I have the opportunity to spend hours digging through all of the various uniforms, bats, etc. in his garage, I was treated like a family member by Dick and his wife. Although he knew me only from telephone conversations and showing up at his table at The National, he opened his house and garage to me for however long I wanted to look.
Floyd Hartel of Hartel Sport, who passed away a year or two before Dick Dobbins, was also one of the best. He, too, was kind enough to let me tour his vast warehouse of uniforms on short notice when I visited Steeleville, Illinois, in 1996.
The uniform hobby lost two of the best when they passed. They were quick to share accurate knowledge and information while making this hobby a whole lot of fun and very pleasant for everyone who had dealings with them, something that seems to be missing in the current hobby environment.
I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to meet both of them, and I still and always will greatly miss them.
