Filmmakers working on the documentary about Dick Perez and his art were shooting part of it at this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention. Perez was a guest at Robert Edward Auctions’ booth during part of the show in Rosemont, IL, happily meeting collectors and signing autographs of his work. The Diamond King by Marq Evans, looks to honor Perez’s unique … [Read more...] about Dick Perez Met Collectors at NSCC as Film Work Continues
Steve Grad Brings His Huge Autograph Collection to The National
Beckett Principal Autograph authenticator Steve Grad is now bringing some of his own collection to market. An autograph collector long before his job was to examine them, Grad has gained plenty of notoriety in recent years for his appearances on the hit show Pawn Stars. Now, he's excited to let some of it go to fellow collectors. He had much of it for sale at … [Read more...] about Steve Grad Brings His Huge Autograph Collection to The National
South Korean Company Has Presence at NSCC
There are bigger booths and booths with more inventory, but you'd be hard pressed to find a booth that is doing more learning and has traveled further to Chicago than Hobby Korea (booth 148). It's manned by one person, Kim Sunghoon, who says he was sent my his boss to not only exhibit and make contacts, but also to learn. Sunghoon hopped on a plane on Sunday … [Read more...] about South Korean Company Has Presence at NSCC
Former Bulls Center Bill Wennington Has Fun Signing at NSCC
The 2023 National is loaded with former Chicago sports icons that are making appearances and signing autographs for Windy City sports fans. But not many still are working for their former team and still living in the city. Bill Wennington is the color commentator for the Bulls Radio Network and being seven-feet tall is instantly recognizable wherever he … [Read more...] about Former Bulls Center Bill Wennington Has Fun Signing at NSCC
National Trade Night Brings Out Ballroom Full of Hobbyists
Sometimes words cannot do justice to what actual photos can show. NSCC 2023 Trade Night. In an upstairs ballroom at the Stephens Convention Center Thursday evening, Trade Night attendees packed the room, many of them lugging around black or silver cases loaded with slabbed cards, autographs and who knows what. Others were laying their cards on the … [Read more...] about National Trade Night Brings Out Ballroom Full of Hobbyists
Opening Night National VIP Party Draws a Crowd
Burgers, Chicago pizza and free drinks--the non-alcoholic kind anyway-- can make for a solid start to what promises to be a busy convention week. Add in free signed giveaways and autographs from popular figures in three different sports and what you have is a fun opening afternoon for VIP passholders at the National Sports Collectors Convention. Passholders were … [Read more...] about Opening Night National VIP Party Draws a Crowd
Tennessee Show Draws Collectors, Hall of Famers While Remembering Founder
Even among guests like Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, Rickey Handerson and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, there was one name on the mind of longtime collectors, dealers and hobbyists at this weekend's Music City Sports Collectibles and Autograph Show in Franklin, TN: Rich Altman. A fixture at larger shows across the country for more than 30 years, Altman grew the … [Read more...] about Tennessee Show Draws Collectors, Hall of Famers While Remembering Founder
Prepare to Pivot: Leaf’s Gray Offers Message to Industry in Wake of New Trading Card Player
After a few days of generally positive vibes, the 2021 Industry Summit came to a close Wednesday with one trading card company chief addressing the elephant in the room. Leaf doesn’t have a major sports trading card license, but in light of the new deals Fanatics has reportedly made to essentially take control of the major contracts, company president Brian Gray is feeling … [Read more...] about Prepare to Pivot: Leaf’s Gray Offers Message to Industry in Wake of New Trading Card Player
Hobby Shop Owners Discuss Booming Business, Finding Help, Advertising, More
In the late winter and early spring of 2020, as COVID began to spread across North America, sports card shop owners were rightfully concerned. In the Denver suburbs, Mike Fruitman looked as his checkbook, started doing some math and thought about the number of months he might be able to keep his head above water if things got really bad. "I didn't know if we were going to … [Read more...] about Hobby Shop Owners Discuss Booming Business, Finding Help, Advertising, More
Hobby Shop Owners Get Tips for Avoiding Theft
No retail operation is immune to crime and that includes card stores and sports memorabilia dealers. That was the topic of one of the first sessions at the 2021 Industry Summit Monday morning. Three days of discussions opened in Las Vegas with a discussion led by Officer Randy Klenosky of the Las Vegas Police Department and Joe Davis, owner of J&J Sports Superstore in … [Read more...] about Hobby Shop Owners Get Tips for Avoiding Theft