Chris Bossy: A Passion for Cards

Chris Bossy is always in search of the best possible deal. As he made his way inside Toronto’s International Centre for the biannual Sport Card Expo, Bossy had one goal in mind: to get the very best for his valued customers.

“What’s the best deal here on this one?” Bossy asks one of the dealers, pointing to a 2008 James Neal rookie card, short printed to 99 copies, a card desperately sought after by his cousin Ryan, standing beside him. “It has got to go both ways. Don’t low blow me. The dealer in question respectfully declines the trade offer and Bossy walks away, putting the cards back into his satchel.

Chris Bossy in his element, trading at the Sports Card Expo in Toronto.

Following Bossy around for a few hours at the Toronto Sports Card Expo, you could see the passion that he had for cards. Watching Bossy work the room at the card show was like a work of art as he used the tools of his trade to the best of his ability. If one dealer refused to trade, Bossy did not waste any time approaching another dealer, in an effort to get the most for his cards and for his clients.

Bossy’s hockey roots grow all the way back to his early childhood. He grew up in a hockey mad family with five brothers and four sisters, where playing Canada’s

national pastime was simply not an option. The family home in Ahunstic had a backyard rink set up by his father where the boys could hone their skills.“I didn’t grow up with much,” Bossy admitted. “But, we always played sports. We always played hockey. We would go to the outside rink and we would not come back until our feet were falling off. It was the way of life and something we enjoyed. We always dreamed of being the next Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull. ”

One of the Bossy bunch did manage to earn a spot on an NHL roster as younger brother Mike was drafted by the New York Islanders, where he would score over 500 goals in only ten seasons.

Chris’ brother Mike scored 573 goals in ten seasons with the New York Islanders, winning 4 Stanley Cup championships in the process. (Photo courtesy of grantland.com)

“I was proud of my brother,” Bossy said. “We always knew that he would be there, from the day he was two years old. Talent runs in the Bossy family.”

The close connection to hockey translated into a love for hockey cardboard from an early age. Bossy still remembers buying cards when he was a youngster growing up in the 1950s. However, back then, cards were not used as trade bait or held as cherished mementos.

“Back then, we didn’t collect but we played with them,” Bossy said. “We would be on the floor playing with the hockey cards, with the Maurice Richard rookie card. I have always been into cards even before Mike (his brother) was in the NHL. I would go to the store and buy packs of cards. I just liked hockey cards.”

Bossy has been collecting almost continuously ever since that time, including a substantial collection of brother Mike’s cards. He proudly claims to count over 30 years of consecutive years collecting hockey cards.

Bossy’s love of cards turned into a business by accident. After a serious back injury put an end to his career as a plumber, Bossy sought to find a new calling. He could not think of a better path to go down than the hockey card hobby.

“I had to learn a new way of life,” Bossy admitted. “I couldn’t work no more physically. I love hockey cards and an opportunity opened up where I would have a little space in a store. From there, it just snowballed.”

Bossy has been operating a small section in the Coin Du Jouet toy store in Lasalle’s Carrefour Angrignon for over ten years. His time at the store has enabled him to forge special connections with customers and collectors just like himself. However, it was an unfortunate incident that turned into a big break for Bossy, which helped jump-start his business.

Le Coin du Jouet toy store in Carrefour Angrignon is where Bossy is based.

“We had a Gretzky card that was stolen (a 1/1 autographed jersey card, valued at $25,000),” Bossy remembers. “We were not into social media or Facebook before but were now using it to help locate the card or get any leads. When we went onto Facebook, it opened up a whole new world.”

The infamous Wayne Gretzky hockey card stolen from Bossy’s collection (Photo courtesy of Upper Deck)

Bossy’s search for Gretzky made him realize that the Internet and social media could have major benefits for his business. “It’s like night and day,” Bossy said. “You are able to reach thousands and thousands of people as opposed to sitting in the store where you have to rely on people showing up physically. It changed the way I work and how the business goes.”

Bossy is now an active contributor on five online forums (Sports Card Forum, Hobby Insider, Clouts n’Chara, Beckett, and Maritimes Hockey Card) but credits Facebook, above all else, with shaping his business. The social media tool has helped market himself through the posting of cards to be traded or sold, help conduct box breaks and raffles or just to connect with collectors through hockey talk. During his time at the card show, he was stopped numerous times by complete strangers Bossy had never met before who noticed his “Bossy’s Cards” cap and wanted to say hello to the familiar face they have come to know online.

Bossy has seen his fair share of collectors and cards over the years. Nevertheless, he still gains great satisfaction from “pulling a nice card”, a term used to describe hitting it big in a pack of cards, and helping others in the simplest of ways.

“It is always satisfying when you get a nice pull,” Bossy admits. “But, the ultimate satisfaction is when a little kid comes into the store and I can give them a box of cards which puts a smile from ear to ear on their face. It is so much different than a kid coming in and buying a card that is monetary. You give a box of base cards to these kids and it’s amazing to see. That is my gratification, to teach the new generation to continue collecting.”

Bossy knows that he is not perfect and has his flaws. This was evident at the show as he got into some disputes with dealers over trades as profanities were exchanged when a deal broke through, but all was done with the good in mind.

“I am miserable, grumpy, obnoxious and rude at times, but am also caring, giving, generous, love to make people happy,” Bossy reasons. “I am still learning my values. It is better to let my anger subside and not ruin my day or other people’s days over stupidity. Be fair and honest to each other. Be kind but also be you. I am who I am and I can’t change that. What you see is what you get. I could be the nicest guy and you see me on the other side where I could be one grumpy SOB. In the end, I have more better qualities than bad ones.”

He is proud of the hobby’s growth over the years and new innovations and designs of the card, but laments the economics of the industry.

“It has become too monetary.” Bossy says. “It is too much selfishness. Beckett (the sports pricing guide) puts monetary value on cards and people go on social media to lie cheat and steal because they are being told that it is worth so much money. It’s all about money. The small things about the hobby are what make it great. It doesn’t have to be the best players or teams, but what you enjoy.”

Bossy still has his own collection, which he has trouble letting go of. Despite the business side of things and the pretty penny to be made, Bossy still enjoys the feel and look of the cards he picks up.

“I still get attached to cards. I am attached to every card that I pull. I am teaching myself not to stay attached. Even the cards that I traded (tonight), I am still going to have them in the back of my mind. I have many nice cards that I like but as a business, you just have to learn to move on. You have to get rid of them and wait for the next nice ones. There are many times I want to get rid of Mike’s collection, (referring to his biggest collection of his brother Mike’s cards) but it always ends up back in the box and I don’t touch them. I am still a kid at heart. I am a rat pack.”

Bossy continues to enjoy the hobby and does not see a time anytime soon where he will stop.

“I’m having a lot of fun,” Bossy says. “I am not a rich guy, but I am having fun helping others. I live through my clients. To see them enjoy what they are doing, it gives me pleasure. Even online, there are kids collecting cheap sets and I send them hundreds

of dollars of cards for free. It’s fun for me to do it. Some don’t realize that I enjoy giving things. The hobby has brought me to open my eyes to the underprivileged. What I am doing is reliving my youth through my clients, because I did not have what they have.”

Bossy’s devotion to the needs of his clients is unquestionable and proven front and center at the expo. Upon discovery of two cards of junior sensation and expected number one pick of next year’s draft, Connor McDavid, Bossy knew he had to have them for a client, who collects the Erie Otters phenom. Bossy removed his cell phone from his pocket and made a long distance call back to Montreal. Although his call was not answered immediately, it only took a few moments for the collector to come calling back.

“Hey, I found two McDavids,” Bossy said, going on to describe the cards in question. “What are you willing to spend? If I can get it for $325, do you take it?”

After listening to the affirmative response, Bossy hung up and sprung into action. Within minutes, the cards were in his hands, safe and secure for his trusted customer back home.

Bossy encourages others to join the hobby that is given him so much joy and offers some words of advice to newcomers.

“Young kids, I tell that most card stores will try to sell their most expensive products,” Bossy cautions. “Start with the lower end products so that you can learn the cards and enjoy them. As they get older, they will learn the monetary values and how to protect the cards. The older guys, it depends on what you want to collect. Just buy the players you are looking for, not boxes. Be weary if others want to make a sale and take advantage of you.”

Bossy left the sports card expo at the end of the day with little in his pockets for himself. He had instead picked up cards for others, as is his nature.

“It’s all about the collectors,” Bossy exclaimed as he exited the International Center at the end of a long day and entered the cold Toronto evening.

An aerial shot of the hustle and bustle of the massive Toronto Sports Card Show (Photo courtesy of Beckett Online)

Chris Bossy is very active on Facebook, where he frequently posts pictures of his new card additions. You can find him by searching for Chris Bossy in the search bar or by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/cpbossy?fref=ts. He can also be found on http://www.sportscardforum.com/articles/forum/, http://hobbyinsider.net and http://www.beckett.com/forums/. He can also be visited at Le Coin du Jouet in Carrefour Angrignon (7077 Boulevard Newman, Lasalle, QC H8N 1X1, located right next to Target)