America’s longest running vintage sports card and memorabilia show is back.
The Strongsville Sports Collectors Convention is scheduled for March 25-27 at the Best Western Hotel in the Cleveland suburb of Strongsville, OH. The 2020 and 2021 events weren’t held because of COVID.
Steve Menzie, who owns and operates Toronto’s Sport Card and Memorabilia Expo, considered North America’s largest show after the National, will be managing and operating the Strongsville show.
“There is a lot of excitement about the return of the Strongsville show,” said Menzie, who was in Edmonton for a site visit for a large western Canadian show he is planning. “The Strongsville Sports Collectors Convention has a lot of history behind it. It is not the largest show, but it has always been known as the premier show for rare and vintage cards and memorabilia.”
The convention began as the Ohio Sports Collectors Convention in 1978 and is the longest-running show in the country for vintage sports cards and memorabilia. The show annually draws thousands to Strongsville to visit a stable of some of the premier dealers in the United States. There is a list of 65 dealers from all over the country currently registered for the show, as well as a growing waiting list in case of cancellations. Menzie said the convention is sought after by dealers as an important annual market to sell to and buy from a large and enthusiastic audience.
In addition to collectors looking to buy rare and vintage items, it is also known as a show for owners of these items to be able to sell to the dealers on the floor.
For those attendees who want to better understand the value of items or collections they own, Menzie said there are many capable dealers and auction houses who can provide expert, “on the spot” appraisals for your items. Attendees should plan to bring their items and tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience available for free at the convention.
Attendees who want expert authentication of their autographed memorabilia are encouraged to bring their items to the convention. PSA, the world’s leading authentication service for sports autographs, will be at the convention providing paid authentication services. In previous iterations of the show, both PSA and JSA have been onsite for both items submitted by collectors and for items signed onsite by appearing player guests.
Player appearance announcements will be published 6-8 weeks prior to the convention.
“We are currently working on finalizing our line-up of autograph guests,” Menzie said. “One of the challenges since the return of sports card shows is that some of the older, retired stars have been reluctant to travel or to do shows because of COVID. But with many of the restrictions eased and crowds once again gathering for sports events and shows, we are confident that we will have a strong line-up.”
The show’s hours will be noon to 8 PM on Friday; 10-6 on Saturday and 10-4 on Sunday.
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