40th Annual Cranston Sports Collectors Show to be held Saturday

By Pete Fontaine
Posted 2/4/16

While the National Football League will celebrate Super Bowl 50 Sunday, Immaculate Conception Church is closing in on another unique and mighty milestone.

Although it’s not a half century old …

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40th Annual Cranston Sports Collectors Show to be held Saturday

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While the National Football League will celebrate Super Bowl 50 Sunday, Immaculate Conception Church is closing in on another unique and mighty milestone.

Although it’s not a half century old like the NFL’s storied championship game, the St. Joseph Men’s Guild of the Roman Catholic parish – that’s located at 237 Garden Hills Drive off Oaklawn Avenue – will hold its 40th Annual Cranston Sports Collectors Show Saturday at famed West Valley Inn in West Warwick.

“In our sports (collectors and dealers world) it’s Super Saturday,” offered Thomas A. “Tom” McDonough, a dedicated ICC parishioner, volunteer and the show’s long-serving chairman and founder. “This year’s show just may be the biggest and best we’ve ever had.”

Saturday’s 40th annual Cranston Sports Collectors Show will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside WVI’s spacious Triple Crown Room that’s located at 4 Blossom Street – off Providence Street – in West Warwick.

McDonough announced that admission is only $3 per person and all proceeds go directly to St. Joseph Men’s Guild and Immaculate Conception Church. He also noted that WVI will offer food for people who’d like to take in all aspects of the show and spend all day there shopping and buying.

“And to think this all started from a visit to a similar show in Massachusetts,” said McDonough, who has been an avid sports fan, collector and public relations specialist for much of his adult life. “This (Cranston Sports Collectors Show) has enjoyed quite the run.”

After McDonough returned from that show in the Bay State, he suggested that ICC host its own show to raise money for the St. Joseph Men’s Guild. Parish officials concurred and before long, the Cranston Sports Collectors Show was held in a small church hall.

Since then, the Cranston Sports Collectors Show has grown in huge proportions and is regarded as the oldest event of its kind.

“We get over 1,800 dealers, collectors and sports fans every year,” McDonough explained. “We’ve had people come from Wisconsin, Minnesota and all of New England as well as the New York Metropolitan area and people are always amazed that we always have something new.”

As yet another example of just how much the Cranston Sports Collectors Show is respected – and known – New Jersey resident Alan Rosen, a.k.a. “Mr. Mint”, who spends $1-million annually at such events, is a regular visitor to the show.

Likewise, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung has been attending the show ever since his younger years and regards the event as a true old-time New England sports tradition.

Saturday’s show will also have a sad side, as McDonough will step down from his chairman’s chair once the 40th anniversary edition is complete.

“After 40 years I’ve decided to get some young blood into our organization,” McDonough offered. “I will continue as a consultant and make sure the Cranston Show remains as a New England legend. It’s a valued piece of sports life in Rhode Island that in 39 years has resulted in $250,000 for our parish.”

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