Our Staff
David Kohler - President, SCP Auctions
Since founding SCP Auctions in 1979, David has become one of the largest and most respected dealers of rare sports collectibles in the country. An expert in the field of high-grade sportscards and memorabilia, his company has handled some of the most valuable and historically significant sports artifacts in the world. Among the many record-setting sales conducted by David and his SCP Auctions staff was the sale of Babe Ruth's Signed 1923 Bat Used to Hit The First Home Run in Yankee Stadium in 2004 for $1.265 million and the sale of the famed T206 Honus Wagner PSA 8 NM-MT Card for $2.8 million in 2007 (the highest price ever paid for a vintage sports collectible).
David has appeared on and/or contributed expertise to hundreds of news outlets including USA Today, CNN Headline News, ESPN News, ESPN's Cold Pizza, Sports Illustrated, Robb Report, ESPN Radio, The New York Times and many others.
His company, SCP Auctions has handled the sales of many of the most high profile athlete estate collections ever brought to the marketplace including collections from the estates of Honus Wagner, Lefty Grove, Arthur Ashe, Pee Wee Reese, Wilt Chamberlain, Casey Stengel and Bob Cousy to name a few.
David was a founding board member with the Sports Collectibles Association International (SCAI), which promoted ethics in the sports collectibles industry.
Send an Email to David Kohler
Dan Imler - Managing Director
Since joining SCP Auctions in 2002, Dan Imler has been an integral part of the SCP team. Born in Western Massachusetts, Dan grew up around his family’s third generation antiques auction business, developing a keen understanding of every aspect of the auction process from an operational standpoint with an emphasis on client relations. Dan has been a driving force in establishing SCP Auctions as a leader in the field of important sports memorabilia and cards, including the successful orchestration and execution of every high profile live and internet auction SCP has conducted in partnership with Sotheby’s, New York. Throughout his career Dan has been vital in procuring and auctioning some of the industry’s most valuable and historically important single objects, as well as prominent collections from the estates of Honus Wagner, Lefty Grove, Arthur Ashe, Pee Wee Reese, Casey Stengel, Bob Cousy, and Tony Lazzeri to name a few.
Dan’s broad knowledge of nearly every facet of the sports memorabilia and card market helps sustain SCP Auctions status as a premier seller of high-end sports memorabilia and cards and propels the company’s ever increasing market position.
Send an Email to Dan Imler
Clay Hill - Director Acquisitions, West Coast
Clay Hill's love of collecting goes back to that day in the Spring of 1960 when he purchased his first five packs of baseball cards from the back of the neighborhood bakery truck. One look at cards of Dodgers Clem Labine, Larry Sherry, and John Roseboro hooked him for life. Continuously active in collecting from the mid-sixties on, Clay considers himself lucky to have been able to make his hobby also his occupation. He has been with SCP Auctions since 1986.
A former president of the Southern California Sports Collector’s Club in the 70's, Clay has many fond memories of those early days. When asked if he has any favorite piece from his extensive personal collection, one item stands out above all others. Over 30 years in the doing, Clay has managed to have the entire 1960 Topps Baseball set completely autographed. Players, managers, coaches, even owners; all have signed their respective cards in this incredible set. Clay rates the late George Allen, former coach of the Rams and Redskins, as his all time favorite sports personality.
Send an Email to Clay Hill
Calvin Arnold - Sales Manager
Calvin joined SCP Auctions straight out of high school in 1985. He spent the next five years helping grow sales at SCP. As a collector from an early age, Calvin brings 30+ years of knowledge to the table in the sports and memorabilia field. His passion for helping others in obtaining the missing pieces to their collection is evident in the care with which he handles each client. In 2007, Calvin rejoined the SCP team to provide growth to the private sales side of the business. He has been fortunate to turn his hobby and passion into his career. He looks forward to assisting you in building your collection.
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Rich Atherton - Inventory Manager
Rich began collecting baseball cards in 1979. When all the other kids would get candy and ice cream from the ice cream truck, he would buy packs of baseball cards. Rich’s hobby career began in 1989 working at a local card shop and continued through 1997, before coming to SCP in 2008. Always a collector, he is currently working on a ‘59 Ted Williams Fleer set graded PSA 8 or higher. Rich cheers for the L.A. Dodgers and Anaheim Ducks when time allows.
Send an Email to Rich Atherton
Ed Gallagher – Monthly Auction Director
It was apparent early on that Ed’s love of sports was more than a passing fancy. Most of his days growing up in the New Orleans metro area were filled with trips to the practice fields or the gymnasium. Weekends were capped off by the weekly game of whatever sports season it was at the time. Reading the daily sports section wasn’t enough, he had to study the box scores of every game to make sure he knew how any given player was doing. Taking it a step further, knowing what college a player went to would really keep him up to date. It’s still not uncommon today for some of his friends to jokingly ask while watching a game, “Hey Ed, where did X player go to grammar school or how many yards passing did Manning have in first grade?”
It was in the early years where collecting became part of his DNA. His two sports idols growing up were Pistol Pete Maravich and Archie Manning. Ed vividly remembers his first collectible was an Archie Manning’s rookie football card. His signed Pistol Pete memorabilia piece, while not worth much, “isn’t available for any price” according to Ed.
Ed took a 23-year hiatus into the corporate world but the prodigal son has returned to his first love….sports and sports collecting.
Send an Email to Ed Gallagher
John Williams – Shipping and Inventory Manager
John joined the SCP team during the summer of 2011. Since working for SCP Auctions John’s knowledge as well as his passion for the hobby has only grown. From little league to his high school sports teams the thrill of competing is a driving force in John’s life.
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Renée Lyons- Office Manager
Renee joined SCP Auctions after completing her Master’s classes at California State University, Long Beach. Hailing from the great state of New York her true love for the Yankees shines whenever a call from the East Coast rings through. She fit right into our SCP Auctions family and understands the passion our clients have for cards and sports memorabilia.
Send an Email to Renee Lyons