A look at some of the sights just prior to the opening of the 2021 National Sports Collectors Convention at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. From dealer booths offering 25 cent cards to rare vintage items, the Bill Russell collection and valuable boxes of decades old cards, the show, as always, has a little bit of everything. For full coverage of the … [Read more...]
Memories From the National: Dave and Jeff Go To White Castle
It was a genius plan. It all began a week or two before when I was chatting with Dave Sliepka, a veteran in the hobby who was, at the time, working at Beckett. I was working at Pacific in Seattle at that time, and we were talking about doing something at the 2002 National in Chicago. “We should go to a baseball game when we are there,” Dave said. I was completely on board … [Read more...]
Collectors, Dealers Converge on the National for Their Own Special Reasons
The reasons for coming were as varied as the people attending the 2021 National Sports Collectors Convention. After two years of waiting, it was time for the hobby's biggest event once again. Many think it will be the biggest show ever. Collectors, dealers, auction companies and everyone else inside was more than eager for the afternoon opening. Some come with … [Read more...]
Photo Gallery from the 2021 National Sports Collectors Convention
Images from the floor of the 2019 National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. For full coverage of the show up to now and all week long, click here. Sign up to get our headlines in your email each morning here. Follow our Twitter feed here. … [Read more...]
SC Daily Live Twitter Feed from 2021 NSCC
We're tweeting from the floor of the 2021 National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. Check back often...even if you're not on Twitter...for photos, tidbits and more. Tweets by SportsCollector For full coverage of the show up to now and all week long, click here. Sign up to get our headlines in your email each morning here. … [Read more...]
NSCC Set to Open Wednesday
Like countless other events last year's National Sports Collectors Convention, scheduled for Atlantic City, NJ, never got off the ground. The east coast stop got a rain check for 2022, but the cancellation ended a streak of annual gatherings that dates back to a time when there was still only one company producing about 99% of North America's trading cards. The first … [Read more...]
Dealers Prepare for Potential “Massive” NSCC Turnout
It’s been more than two years since the last National Sports Collectors Convention and it looks like collectors can’t wait for the 2021 Chicago NSCC to open up Wednesday.It might not quite be the Oklahoma land rush, but to hear dealers talk, collectors will have plenty of money to slap down.VIP passes for the National have sold out, with only general admission tickets … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: A Rookie Heads to the National
As a collector for roughly 30 years, I've checked a lot of boxes off of my 'resume.' I've met a lot of collecting goals and exceeded a few, too. But one thing I've never done is make it to a National. That's changing this year. Truth be told, this wasn't something in the works for a long time. Collectors often plan their National trip out months and months in advance but … [Read more...]
Security Tips for Collectors, Dealers as Hobby’s Biggest Show Approaches
A Mel Ott game-used bat. A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. A Goudey Ruth. A high-end modern rookie card. Dealers at the National Sports Collectors Convention have lost some nice things to crooks over the years. While the vast majority of the people who will walk the floor in Chicago are simply there to spend money, visit with other collectors and lose themselves in a … [Read more...]
eBay, Panini Announce NSCC Plans; $3.1 Million Mantle; New Shows; Bucks Jersey Auctions
Panini America has announced its plans for next week’s National Sports Collectors Convention. Among the highlights: the annual Live Redemption Trade-Up program is back with collectors who hold multiple unfulfilled autograph redemption cards that are at least four months old can make a deal for another card. The Silver Pack program is back on a limited scale … [Read more...]