First, a few notes from grading companies and trading card manufacturers about their National Sports Collectors Convention plans….
PSA will be grading at the National with on-site fees starting at $250 per card. They’re asking customers to use their online submission center prior to visiting the booth (#1531) in Chicago.
They won’t be accepting drop-off submissions. Every submission has to be received, graded and returned to customers at the venue. They also won’t be accepting submissions of packs, tickets, coins or pins.
PSA’s autograph authentication division will have some specials at the show. More details on PSA’s plans can be found here.
CSG (booth 1607) will be grading on-site and the company is encouraging those who want to submit to get there as early in the week as possible as it’ll be first come, first served.
Rates for getting your cards graded by CSG during the show start at $50 for cards with a value of up to $1,000. You can also drop off cards to be graded at company headquarters later at the usual rate.
You must be a CSG Associate or higher member to submit cards for grading. Elite members and CSG Authorized Dealers will receive their usual discount on on-site grading.
CSG is also asking collectors to complete the online submission form in advance. Select “National On-site Grading” when filling out the form and print the packing slip to bring with you to the show. “CSG will provide tablets at the booth for submitters to use to join CSG and submit, but joining and completing submission forms in advance will save you time,” they say.
If CSG needs to cut off on-site grading submissions early, submissions will still be accepted for CSG to grade at its Florida headquarters at its normal fees and turnaround times.
Upper Deck is offering a free promo back at its booth for those who purchase a 2020-21 box from a Certified Diamond Dealer at the show. The packs will contain rookie cards, Prominent Cuts cards, NHL Draft Restrospective cards and some autographed cards as well.
They’ll be hosting free box breaks on Thursday at 3 PM and a free raffle for cards, autographs, boxes and other prizes at the GTS Distribution booth on Friday at 3:30.
Upper Deck’s Expired Redemption Card Raffle is back on Saturday at 11 AM at the GTS booth. Collectors can turn in unfulfilled, expired redemption cards in exchange for other cards on Friday and Saturday morning.
Topps will have a wrapper redemption program at the show (Booth #676). Collectors who purchase select hobby boxes there can turn in the wrappers for some exclusive cards featuring current and former stars and major prospects. The cards will be created using the 2021 Bowman design.
They’ll also unveil the checklist for the card set produced in conjunction with National Baseball Card Day, offer giveaways, pack wars and are promising some “special guests” at the booth.
Here’s a trip back into the history of Topps and the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card from Will Levith in Brooklyn Magazine.
Look for a big show in the Tampa area over Labor Day weekend.
Spectrum News1 TV visited Finnigan’s Sports Cards in Albany, NY where long-time owner Tim Finnigan has a shop packed with new and old cards and memorabilia. He’s been busy selling to avid collectors but also trying to help educate those who are coming back in after a long hiatus or are just getting started. He also has someone to handle the shop’s eBay store.
If you’re headed to Myrtle Beach, SC anytime soon, you might want to make a stop at the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s new exhibit there. Here’s some video and more info.
I chatted about about eBay’s jaw-dropping first quarter trading card sales, the NBA card market and more with Alan Goldscher on the Collectable Daily Podcast.
Give it a listen here.
