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The
promoter
of the
1986
and
1990
National
Conventions
in
Arlington,
Texas,
Wanda
Marcus
was a
National
Sports
Convention
Board
Member,
and
Sports
memorabilia
show
promoter
since
1983.
She was
a
pioneer
as a
female
promoter
in a
male
dominated
industry,
and
before
her
passing
in
2004,
was a
major
force,
an
aggressive
promoter
who
brought
new
marketing
concepts
to the
sports
memorabilia
industry.
Over
the
years
Wanda
accumulated
a large
collection
of
player
autographs,
and her
family
is now
making
it
available
to the
market.
When Wanda Marcus did a show she perpetuated the myth about Texans doing
things
big,
but she
always
put the
little
guy
first.
When
customers
walked
through
the
door
she
made
sure
they
were
well
taken
care
of. Her
hospitality
did not
stop
there.
"You
know
all the
athletes
loved
my Mom"
said
Wanda's
daughter,
Pam
Henderson,
"She
babied
them
and did
extra
things
to make
them
happy.
She was
famous
for
buying
them
cowboy
boots."
At a time when most sports memorabilia shows didn't have prominent autograph
guests,
Wanda
brought
in big
name
players
to sign
at the
1986
7th
National
Sports
Collectors
Convention.
Players
such as
Mickey
Mantle,
Whitey
Ford,
Bob
Gibson,
and Lou
Brock.
Marcus
had the
cover
of the
7th
National's
program
enlarged
to a
"Texas
Big"
18x24
backer
board
poster
and had
the
Hall of
Fame
players
sign
it.
 Seven
large
two
sided
aisle
marker
signs
featuring
Mickey
Mantle
were
made
for the
1986
National
to help
visitors
find
their
way
around.
Numbered
in
intervals
of 100,
seven,
six
foot by
four
foot
signs,
100-700,
were
made to
be hung
from
the
rafters
at the
Arlington
Convention
Center,
in
Dallas-Fort
Worth,
TX. The
markers
that
feature
two
grommets
at the
top,
were
secured
to long
red
white
and
blue
banners
that
hung
from
the
ceiling.
The huge pieces of working art, were retired after the 1986 National, and
then
signed
'Best
Wishes
Mickey
Mantle'
on both
sides.
Pam
Henderson
the
daughter
of
'Wanda
Woman'
said "Mantle
had to
get
down on
the
floor
to sign
them
at the
house.
I wish
I
had
pictures."
There
were
only 7
aisle
markers
made.
Two
were
ruined
in
storage,
two are
staying
in the
personal
collections
of
Wanda
Marcus'
family,
and
three
are
hitting
the
market
through
Leyland's
Auction.
Also included in the 20 piece Mickey Mantle Autograph Collection
Lot
#538
are:
Items
1-3)
Three
signed
baseballs,
two
single-signed
and
Mantle/Mays/Snider.
4)
Signed
magazine.
5-6)
Two (2)
Mantle/Mays/Snider
signed
prints.
7-10)
Four
(4)
Mantle/Gibson/Ford/Brock
signed
7th
National
Convention
18x24"
posters.
11-12)
Two (2)
Mantle
signed
Robert
Stephen
Simon
prints.
13)
Mantle,
 DiMaggio,
Martin,
Ford
signed
photo.
14)
Mantle
signed litho
LE
/1500.
15-16)
Two (2)
signed
11x14"s
of
Mantle
and
artist
Stephen
Rockstad.
17)
Mickey
Mantle
signed
"I
Screwed
Up"
photo
to
National
Convention
Promoter
Wanda
Marcus.
18-20)
Three
(3)
1986
Mickey
Mantle
Signed
6'
Aisle
Banners
from
7th
National
Convention.
All are
JSA
authenticated
except
for "I
screwed
up"
piece
and
aisle
banners.
First instructed by Wanda where to sign, Mantle autographed the 'I
screwed
up'
photo
"Best
Wishes
Mickey
Mantle"
in the
wrong
spot.
Then after
Being
scolded
by
Wanda,
Mickey
who is
never
at loss
for
tongue
in
cheek
humor,
inscribed
above
it "To
John &
Wanda I
screwed
up !"
(John
was
Wanda's
husband
and
assistant)
This
collection
being
featured
in
Leland's
auction
house
is just
the tip
of the
iceberg.
The
family
plans
on
selling
a
verity
of
autographed
memorabilia,
from
athletes
of all
sports.
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