Don West is one of those “what ever happened to” cases who is still quite visible, once you know where to find him. West traded his job as an over-the-top baseball card salesman for an equally animated gig in pro wrestling.
West, 42, was the gravelly voiced pitchman for the Shop at Home Network’s late-night, infomercial-style “Sports Collectibles Show” in the 1990s. West was the brash, barking salesman who developed a cult following for his ability to sell, “GEM-MINT BARRY BONDS ROOKIE CARDS!” as he would yell. Even “Saturday Night Live” incorporated a “Don West character” into an on-air skit that Will Ferrell portrayed three times, complete with West’s traditional golf shirt and mullet-style hairdo.
“That was the biggest compliment I ever had, to actually hear Will Ferrell introduce himself as Don West,” said West, who hosted his collectibles show from 1991 through May 2001.
The show ran from midnight to 8 a.m. four nights a week (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday). Old baseball cards were offered in the early days, then incredible memorabilia items. And loads of Michael Jordan-related relics.
When West started, the show was doing about $3 million annually in sales. When he left, sales were at $150 million.
“I’ve had people in the [sports memorabilia] industry call me `the Devil.’ I’ve also had people in the industry thank me for bringing a new breed of customers into their stores,” West said.
West’s passion for the products was legit, not just some on-air persona. He has been a card collector since he was 5, growing up in Chicago. Now he is a sports-talk host at WNSR-AM in Nashville, a job he has had for almost three years.
West joined Nashville-based TNA Wrestling (10 p.m. Thursdays on Spike TV) as its color commentator four years ago, working alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Tenay.
“Pro wrestling seems like a good transition for me, huh,” he said with a laugh.
“I’ve had more fun doing this wrestling [commentating] than anything I’ve done in my whole life. Ever. This is pure enjoyment. I look forward to coming into work for TNA every day.”
And yes, several of the TNA wrestlers, such as Brother Ray of the tag-team Team 3D, are former customers of West’s sports-collectibles job.
