2016 NSCC Opens in Atlantic City

The National Sports Collectors Convention returned to Atlantic City for the first time in 13 years Wednesday.

Mike Berkus was co-founder of The National and a driving force behind its popularity and growth throughout the years.  Berkus died in November after a bout with brain cancer but his influences can be seen throughout the show.

On opening day of the NSCC Wednesday, the center stage of the show was officially renamed the “Mike Berkus Main Stage.”

Glad to see #NSCC16 honor the late Mike Berkus in Atlantic City w/ @NateBerkus, his brothers & Mike’s wife. pic.twitter.com/DYL65Q2LnG

— Ross Forman (@RossForman1) August 3, 2016

The VIP party and sneak peek included autographs from former closer Mitch Williams, 1969 Met Art Shamsky and hockey great Eddie Giacomin.

The #NSCC16 has officially started! Hockey Hall of Famer Eddie Giacomin signing right now at the NSCC VIP Party. pic.twitter.com/FvKV7Xkvnn

— TRISTAR Productions (@TRISTAR1) August 3, 2016

#NSCC16 Art Shamsky signing for VIPs pic.twitter.com/FxULyKG3aL

— Dudley D (@SNJNYR) August 4, 2016

Mitch Williams signing free autographs in the case break pavilion @nsccshow #NSCC16 pic.twitter.com/OSwEG5z2EF

— ESPN Mint Condition (@ESPNMintCondit) August 3, 2016

Much can change in a year. The skyrocketing prices of vintage cards mean higher price tags. Few cards have been hotter than the 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan, which means last year’s sell prices are now sometimes well below this year’s buy prices.

Photo on the left from @BBCExchange booth at last year’s #NSCCShow. Right…this year. #NSCC16 pic.twitter.com/JkxCs0avnu

— Sports Collector (@SportsCollector) August 3, 2016

A short video from inside the convention center…

Some items are display only….

#NSCC16 pic.twitter.com/nzypDx0y2G

— Andrew Chrisman (@sportscardinfo) August 4, 2016

…but you can hold Babe Ruth’s bat at the Memory Lane booth.

A photo posted by The 37th National (@nsccshow) on Aug 3, 2016 at 1:38pm PDT

If you’ve got the time, you’ll find no shortage of dime and quarter boxes to dig through…

A photo posted by Cards And Comics (@neverenoughcardsinc) on Aug 3, 2016 at 10:20am PDT

Ty Cobb & Cy Young from a fresh T206 collection we purchased and the story appeared recently on Forbes.com…sending them in to get graded @nsccshow in Atlantic City this week! #collect #thehobby #auction #nsccshow #vintage #tycobb #cyyoung #hof #baseball #atg #goat #tobaccocard #flipping

A photo posted by Just Collect, Inc. (@justcollectcards) on Aug 3, 2016 at 8:11am PDT

Here’s a nice photo gallery from The Press of Atlantic City.

Among the events tomorrow…the annual Topps Q&A session, open to the public but with a limit of 200 attendees. You can sign up at the company’s booth.

The show continues through Sunday at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

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About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 35 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]