The first of an estimated gathering of around 50,000 collectors, sports fans and exhibitors converged on the Donald E Stephens Convention Center Wednesday as the 2015 National Sports Collectors Convention returned to the Chicago area. The five-day event runs through Sunday, drawing collectors from across North America and even some from other countries who will buy, sell … [Read more...]
Gale Sayers Collection to Highlight Super Bowl 50 Auction
Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers has chosen to sell his personal collection and came to the National Sports Collectors Convention Wednesday to unveil some of his items that will be up for bid at the Super Bowl 50 Live Auction in San Francisco early next year. After a brilliant college career, Sayers spent seven seasons in the NFL during the 1960s and early … [Read more...]
Ramblings: No Shortage of New Chicago Sports Stars
This season, Chicago Cubs fans are finally getting a chance to see the fruits of all of the work that’s been put in to build a top-notch minor league pipeline. Kris Bryant and Addison Russell are starting and playing just about every day. Heck, even Kyle Schwarber has made his major league debut this year and will probably have official rookie cards fairly soon. Cards of all … [Read more...]
National Proves There’s Still Nothing Like a Big Show
They’ll come by plane, by car and some maybe by bus or train. They will come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Some will wear jerseys. Some will carry briefcases. They’ve booked the majority of the hotel rooms near the big gray edifice known as the Stephens Convention Center. Some will stay for a day, others will hang around for a couple of days then see some sights while … [Read more...]
T205 Near Master Set Leads off Huggins and Scott Auction
Rare vintage cards, sets, autographs and signed baseballs will be on the block during Huggins & Scott’s fourth Masterpiece Auction of 2015, with bidding for the more than 1,000 items beginning on Monday and running through August 6. The Maryland-based auction house will bring some of the higher ticket items to its booths at the 36th National Sports Collectors Convention … [Read more...]
Panini Plans Redemption Trade-In, Kids Breaks at NSCC
If you’ve got some outstanding redemption cards from Panini America products, you can trade them in during the National Sports Collectors Convention. For the fourth straight year, the company will hold its Live Redemption Trade-Up program during the show. Anyone holding redemption cards that are four months or older with a total value of at least $35, can trade them in for … [Read more...]
Ramblings: National Promos Good for Business
Just about every day this month, I’ve gotten a promotional email from dealers, card companies and other corporate entities explaining various inducements to visit them at the upcoming National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. Mile High Card Company is putting a 1952 Topps Mantle up for grabs to one consignor during the show. PSA is giving away a Michael Jordan rookie … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Recent Newspaper, Magazine, TV Coverage for the Hobby
Some decent exposure for the hobby in mainstream media and cable outlets over the last week or so and we’ve gathered them all into a little box for you. A couple of stories appeared in newspapers. In this one, which appeared in several Upper Midwest papers, a reporter spoke with collectors in Minnesota but once again compared the current industry to the explosive growth of … [Read more...]
Mile High to Give Away 1952 Topps Mantle at NSCC
Mile High Card Company will give away a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card to one of its consignors during this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago. The PSA Authentic graded card, considered the most popular post-War baseball card ever made and Mantle’s first Topps issue, is worth about $8,000. Each $500 of value consigned to the October MHCC auction earns … [Read more...]
NSCC Launches Mobile App
Not that long ago, it was unusual to find anyone using a smart phone at the National Sports Collectors Convention. Now, show organizers have announced the availability of a mobile app for the hobby’s biggest show. The free online app, operated through Whova, has detailed information including a schedule of events, a map of the show floor, sponsor list, exhibitor list, … [Read more...]