The 2018 National – Day #2

Day #2 of the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention is in the books.  I was there right when the doors opened.  This is the first time in six years that I can remember the National having merchandise for sale.  I ordered a t-shirt a few months ago, but they have different shirts at the show to buy in addition to posters and pins.  Yes I said pins.  It use to be a regular thing that the National would issue pins, but its been a long time since those days.  This merchandise is for sale in the West Entrance.  I picked up another shirt and pin first thing this morning.

At 11:45 a.m. Jack Ham started signing autographs and taking photos with fans.  I had a little time to kill.  I went in search of a box of the new 2018 Leaf In The Game Used Sports.  Not every dealer/vendor has a box of this stuff.  The only two companies I saw selling them were Blowout Cards and Chicagoland Sports Cards.  I think Blowout Cards is buying up a lot of these boxes and cases from others to sell themselves.  I took the box over to the Leaf booth and broke the seal.  In return I received a special 2-card pack of Leaf Metal Originals.  These celebrate Leaf’s 70th anniversary and come in a variety of parallels.  Before I left, I handed two of the Leaf employees Sports Card Info pins.  As a thanks I was handed a stack of those Leaf Metal Originals packs.  Once I get back home I will go into full details about what I pulled from the boxes/packs I opened here in Cleveland.  I will say this.  From my box of 2018 Leaf In The Game Used Sports, I pulled an autograph/relic of Pelé #’ed/3.

Once I wrapped things up with Leaf, I headed up to the TRISTAR autograph pavilion.  This went a lot smoother compared to Wednesday night.  It only took me 30 minutes to get my Jack Ham signature.  Jack Ham is a really nice guy, just like Ickey Woods.  I got him to sign my black/gold Penn State football.  He was very interested to see which other Penn State signatures I have on the ball.  Its been a few years since I’ve been to the National, and I think TRISTAR’s employees are getting snippy.

I pulled the trigger on a vintage Philadelphia Eagles bobblehead from the 1960’s.  This is the second vintage bobblehead in my collection.  I purchased it from the same dealer I bought my vintage Phillies bobblehead from while attending the National in Atlantic City.

Marty’s Sports Card Exchange has some of the best deals on wax.  They are also one of the authorized Topps vendors who’s products are eligible for the Topps wrapper redemption program.  I purchased a box of 2018 Topps Museum Collection Baseball which got me (2) promo packs upon breaking the seal at the Topps booth.  Like I mentioned before, its better to show off what came out of my packs/boxes after I return home.  But I did get a Red Refractor #’ed/5, Orange Refractor #’ed/25, and an Ohtani from my Topps promo packs.

The rest of the day was spent wandering around checking out everything the National has to offer.  One of my favorite things to do is checkout what the auction houses have on display.  There are a lot of items here that once they’re sold will go into hiding and won’t be seen again for a very long time.

Friday, August 3rd is my last day for attending the 2018 National.  The big event of the day is the Topps Q&A meeting which I heard is already filled up.  All (125-150) spots were taken opening night.  I’m really interested in hearing the topics discussed.  I also have a feeling those attending leave with a special something.  We’ll see…

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker and 1988 HOF inductee Jack Ham

1971 LeRoy Neiman Signed Original Hand Drawn Sketch of Muhammad Ali

1921 E121 American Caramel “Series of 80” “Babe” Ruth

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig signed baseballs

Tom Brady rookies

Circa 1906 Jack Coombs Game Worn Philadelphia Athletics Rookie-Era Jersey