In 1602, when the Dutch East India Company issued the first shares of stock on items that were made tradeable on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, little did these capital investors know that their business model would be used centuries later by passengers on private jets, yacht enthusiasts, vacationers-- and now sports memorabilia collectors. Collectable's Jason Epstein says … [Read more...]
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Real Breaks Grows With Family Friendly Approach
A few years ago, collectors Ryan Holland and Tom Kulczewski didn't even know each other. Now they're best friends, business partners and run one of the largest sports card case break websites by volume on the internet. Their philosophy behind Real Breaks? Keep it fun...and family friendly. Holland says their business is growing thanks to the hobby's overall … [Read more...]
Preserving Negro Leagues History Part of NSCC
Proving that the National Sports Collectors Convention can be as much about education as it is about buying, selling and trading sports cards and collectibles, a centennial celebration of the Negro Leagues launched at The National, thanks to the hard work of Seattle's Jay Caldwell. Caldwell is a collector who has a passion for preserving the history of the Negro … [Read more...]
Bel Air Cards Brings Sports Bar Concept to National Convention
Bel Air Sports Cards in Bel Air, Md. has successfully combined the sports bar and card shop concept at home in Maryland, so they thought they would take it on the road. That's why when you come by booths 257 and 259 on the floor of the National Sports Collectors Convention, the first thing you will see is a nicely constructed wood bar with colorful bar stools. It's the … [Read more...]
Autograph Authenticator Steve Grad Says Forgers Getting Creative
It's National week in Chicago and Beckett's Steve Grad is a very busy guy. You couldn't tell that he’d just flown back to his home city from an event in London. The hobby’s biggest event kept his energy level somewhat akin to a third grader at recess. Grad, also well known as the autograph authenticator on the hit TV show, Pawn Stars, has been a … [Read more...]
Big Turnout for National’s VIP Party
Those with VIP passes turned out in droves for the annual National VIP Party. It was held one hour before the show floor of the 40th National Sports Collectors Convention at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center opened on Wednesday and there was plenty of food, drink... and autographs. According to the show's organizers, the VIP party was the largest to date. VIP … [Read more...]
Gary V Opens 40th National; is Bullish on Baseball Cards
Serial entrepreneur, social influencer and CEO of VaynerMedia, Gary Vaynerchuk, never had the chance to attend "The National" when he was a young card collector and "investor." So to say he was "giddy" at a Wednesday afternoon panel discussion to open the 40th edition of the "Super Bowl of Sports Collectibles' was an understatement. The pre VIP Party special appearance also … [Read more...]
3 Dealers, All 39 Nationals
A lot has changed since August of 1980, and the first National Sports Collectors Convention at the Airport Marriott Grand Ballroom in Los Angeles. Collectors are having their cards graded in mass quantity, there was no eBay, you can't read an article about the hobby without seeing the word “breaks” and the National itself has grown into a massive almost week-long event about … [Read more...]
3-D Art Meets Sports at the National
If I hear the term “3-D” before anything, I get skeptical. 3-D movies can he hard to watch and 3-D TV never really took hold the way that many thought it would. After meeting “accidental artist” Steven Walden at the 2018 National, I'm “all in” in his 3-D art. Born and raised in Arkansas, but now living in St. Louis, Walden had one of the most colorful booths at this year's … [Read more...]
Grab a Seat at the National
There are two certainties at The National. Well, maybe there are more than two, but the two I'm thinking about now, as I have my feet propped up and relaxing in my hotel room are: you will do a lot of walking and you will be standing most of your time on the convention floor. That is, unless you meet Sean Walsh, the owner of Original Stadium Seats (booth 2270), based right … [Read more...]
