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 - Vice President, SCP Auctions

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.


Brendan Wells – Auction Director

Brendan came to SCP Auctions in July 2013 after working for Upper Deck just a short drive down the I-5. He was an avid card collector in his youth until playing sports took over. While he may be more proud of his team sports adolescent glory days in soccer, basketball and baseball, it was middle-distance running that gave him the opportunity to compete on the cross-country and track teams at Duke University (and, admittedly, to get into the school). He dabbled in the financial services industry before earning an MBA in Sports Business and turning his attention back to sports marketing and memorabilia.

Having grown up in the Bay Area, Brendan remains a loyal Giants, 49ers and Warriors fan, and is proud of his NorCal roots in spite of how soft SoCal has made him. He is most passionate about baseball having heard countless stories from his father, who pitched for the Dodgers organization in the 50’s and 60’s. A numbers guy and people person, Brendan feels lucky to be able to go to work each day living and breathing sports.

Send an email to Brendan Wells.


Renée Lyons- Operations 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.


Terry Melia - Marketing and Social Media Mgr.

Terry Melia landed at SCP Auctions in April 2014 after serving as Public Relations Mgr. at both Upper Deck and Leaf Trading Cards. A lifelong sports fan and native of the northeast, Terry grew up on Long Island but maintained his allegiance to teams from Boston based on his father’s early influence. His sports heroes included Carl Yastrzemski, Fred Lynn and John Havlicek. Terry wrestled through college and earned a B.A. in Communications from the State University of New York at Oswego.

His introduction to sports memorabilia occurred in 1990 when he accepted a job as the editor of Beverly Hills-based Trading Cards magazine. Terry spearheaded editorial duties there for four years and also launched a sister publication entitled The Encyclopedia of Sports Memorabilia & Price Guide. Prior to landing at Upper Deck in 1998, Terry served as an editor at Wizards of the Coast in Seattle and freelanced for Mariners magazine.

Throughout his career, Terry's interviewed hundreds of athletes including Mickey Mantle, Wayne Gretzky, LeBron James, Landon Donovan, Troy Aikman, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Tim Tebow. An avid autograph collector, his most prized piece remains a single-signed baseball handed to him by the late, great Ted Williams following an interview with the "Splendid Splinter" in 1993.

Send an Email to Terry Melia.


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.


Dave Johnson – Shipping Manager

Dave began working at SCP Auctions in the summer of 2013. Since joining the SCP team, Dave’s fascination with and knowledge of sports memorabilia grows daily. Dave loves going to baseball and hockey games and rooting for the L.A. Dodgers and Anaheim Ducks every chance he gets.

Send an Email to Dave Johnson.


Emily Thomas - Office Manager

Emily joined the SCP family in June 2013. With her cheerful demeanor and superb customer service skills, Emily’s passion for helping others is evident with the care she takes with each client that calls. The variety of memorabilia coming through SCP’s doors keeps inspiring her love for all things vintage and the traditions that are passed from one generation to the next.

Send an Email to Emily Thomas.