Topps To Issue Yasiel Puig Gypsy Queen Card During The National

The 2013 National Sports Collectors Convention is only a few days away.  Details on a majority of the promotional programs put on by the manufacturers have been released and are ready to go.  Topps just unveiled one last little promotion I’m sure collectors won’t want to miss out on.

Collectors opening a box of 2013 Topps Tribute WBC Edition at the Topps booth will receive an exclusive Yasiel Puig Gypsy Queen rookie card.  There is a limit of one card per day per collector.  Topps will only give out 100 of these cards each day.  Now its off to the races to get in line.

Brian Kong Is Bringing Some Promos To The 2013 National

Brian Kong will be setup at booth #787 for the 2013 National Sports Collectors Convention that begins this Wednesday evening.  Kong is a highly talented artist that has worked on many projects for Topps, Upper Deck, Leaf, and ITG.  Please stop by his booth as he will be displaying original artwork and working on sketch cards made just for the 2013 NSCC.  While you’re there, check out how you can obtain some free Matt Harvey and Yasiel Puig cards featuring his artwork.  Also check out how you can get your hands on a limited edition mini card set featuring Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Yasiel Puig, and Mike Trout.  He’ll even be signing free autographs (10 autos per day).

Historic Autographs 2013 National Promotions

Throughout the National, certain booths will have a limited supply of Beckett Cover Cards.  Anyone who brings the Frank Thomas Beckett Cover Card featuring the Historic Autographs name on the back to the Historic Autographs booth will receive a 21-card set of 2013 Historic Autographs Originals, 1909-1912 with players such as Harry Hooper, Ray Schalk and Max Carey.

Any box of HA product purchased at the National and brought to the Historic Autographs Corporate Booth (#664) and opened there will receive a compete 21-card 2013 HA Originals set.

Any of the “National Promotion” boxes of Ball of Fame II or Five Boroughs purchased at the National, [and has a “National Promotion” sticker], and opened at the booth, will get an autographed item from a Hall of Famer (keys to include Ted Williams, Nellie Fox, Clark Griffith) plus a complete 21-card 2013 HA Originals set.

• These Ball Of Fame II and Five Boroughs boxes need to be new purchases, not from your existing inventory, prior to the National, and will come with our “National Promotion” sticker affixed to the box to distinguish these boxes from the regular boxes.

Any person buying 8 or more boxes of the same product will receive a FREE BOX of the same product or EQUAL (to be mailed to the purchaser). {excludes the Originals, 1909-1912 that will release on Friday at the National}  A receipt from the National show dealer MUST accompany these boxes.  Any person buying a sealed 12-box case of Historic Autographs National Promotion boxes (Ball of Fame II or Five Boroughs) will receive ONE FREE BOX of the same product (to be mailed to the purchaser) {excludes the Originals, 1909-1912 that will release on Friday at the National}

OYO Sportstoys Creates Exclusive Minifigure For The 34th National

OYO Sportstoys has been busy.  During the All-Star FanFest they unveiled their new Field Sets and blind packs.  Now they’re moving on to the 2013 National Sports Collectors Convention.  If you’re attending The National, be sure to stop by booth #670.  Each day they will be giving away 100 (50 kids and 50 adults) Special Edition OYO minifigures that commemorate this year’s NSCC.

In addition, Thursday-Sunday between 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., OYO will run one-half hour sessions for kids to build an OYO field.  There are 12 spots available per day.  OYO is providing 12 field sets and each participant will be invited to build and play with the field sets and OYO players.  All participants will also receive a bag of “goodies” from Never Enough Cards including sports card sets, packs and other items.  Extra OYO figures will be given out as prizes.  Kids may register in advance by sending an email to  OYONationalPromo@aol.com  to reserve a spot.  Parents should send an email including the child’s name, day and time they would like to participate and a contact phone number.

I couldn’t be happier to hear news like this.  Having your favorite sports figures turned into a minifigure that is completely compatible with other popular building products such as LEGOs is just awesome.  It doesn’t matter who you are, because I’m guessing that a majority of people played with toys like this when they were kids.  Being able to connect what you enjoy now to something from your childhood is great, and that’s exactly what these minifigures do.

One day I would like to see these minifigures reach the level of collectability that some of the LEGO issued ones have.  Just take a look at some of the insane prices the Comic-Con superhero minifigures are selling for.  As of right now, OYO Sportstoys makes minifigures for a wide array of baseball and football players.  Plus they make minifigures for all types of events such as the Super Bowl, Spring Training, and NFL Draft.  What I would like to see from them in the future are more limited editions and minifigure variations.

What’s up next for OYO fans?  Earlier this week OYO released this image which can only indicate they’re working on hockey minifigures next.

Gloves & Sweat Soaked Towels Highlight Panini’s NSCC Relic Promos

Have you gotten in line yet?  You better or your not going to get any of these prized Panini promo packs.  I’m already camped out inside the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center waiting for Panini to show up.  I’ve got my boxes, food, water, and smartphone.  I think I can wait it out until Wednesday night.  I guess in the mean time we’ll just have to settle for these new images Panini released today teasing us of what is to come next week during the 2013 National Sports Collectors Convention.  Enjoy!

Looks like Panini is bringing back their employee cards.  Now that’s a business card.

Horrors of War II 2013 NSCC Redemption Program

For all you history buffs attending the National, Famous Fabrics has something special for you.  Collectors opening a 10-box case of Horrors of War II at the Famous Fabrics booth will receive a coupon for a special 1/1 Art Relic card of their choice that will be made after the show.  Collectors can choose a personality they would like sketched on the card and Famous Fabrics will add an authentic relic from the corresponding conflict.  This promotion is another high-end one for collectors to take part in.  A 10-box case of Horrors of War II can run just over $2,000.00.

Original Player Sketch Cards Return To Panini’s NSCC Promo Arsenal

Collectors participating in Panini’s wrapper redemption program next week during the 2013 National Sports Collectors Convention better keep a look out for specially marked cards inside their promo packs.  Panini is bringing back their original player sketch cards.  While attending the NFLPA Rookie Premiere, Panini gets a slew of rookies to draw pretty much whatever they want on these cards.  They’ve also signed that back of the cards as well.  For a lot more pictures check out The Knight’s Lance.  These cards are very popular with collectors, and I think they’re some of the most interesting pieces Panini issues.  All of the original player sketch cards will be on hand at the show.  If you’re lucky enough to pull one of these redemptions, just show one of the Panini reps and they’ll be happy to get your card out of the case and into your hand.

Sportkings Series F 34th National Redemption Program Details

As far as bang for your buck, I believe Sportkings has one of the better box break redemption programs for the National.  For the price of one box of Sportkings Series F that collectors break at the In The Game booth, you’ll receive a specially made relic card just for the 34th NSCC.  These cards will contain single, double, and triple pieces of memorabilia.  Each card will have 19 silver versions and 1 gold.

If you’re a real high-roller and decide to open a 16-box case of Sportkings Series F at the In The Game booth, you’ll receive a 1/1 Spectacular Patch made just for the NSCC.

Given that this year’s National is in Chicago, there will be Spectacular Patch cards of Stan Mikita, Chris Chelios, Harold Baines, Bill Skowron, Luis Aparicio, Glenn Hall, Ed Belfour, Sammy Sosa, Jeremy Roenick and many more.

Panini’s 2013 NSCC Checklist Includes Top Rookies… Even Puig

Panini announced today that 23 rookies will be included within their 2013 National Sports Collectors Convention base set.  These top rookies will come from baseball, football, basketball, and hockey.  Even the Dodgers phenom Yasiel Puig has found his way in.  Every base rookie will be serial numbered to 499, each will have a Cracked Ice parallel and Progressions cards limited to five copies of four different colors.  It wouldn’t surprise me if collectors are already lined up.

PSA To Display $2 Million Cracker Jack Collection At The NSCC

You know me.  I’m up for any type of promo.  If you’re planning to attend the National Sports Collectors Convention you might want to take a break from everything and stop by the PSA booth.  They will have on display two of the finest known 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack sets with a combined value of $2 million.  This is to celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the first round of Cracker Jack cards ever produced.  Along with the beautiful display of cards, copies of the new book The Cracker Jack Collection: Baseball’s Prized Players will be available free to those attendees at the show that sign up for the PSA Collectors Club or renew their current membership.  Also on display will be a specially-commissioned painting by renowned sports artist Arthur K. Miller that depicts how a 1915 Babe Ruth Cracker Jack card might have looked.  Babe Ruth was not included in the original 1915 Cracker Jack set.  In addition to the free copy of the Cracker Jack book, the first 500 visitors who sign up for a PSA Collectors Club membership or who renew their membership at the show will receive a free, limited edition fantasy card of Miller’s 1915 Ruth Cracker Jack image.  The cards were specially produced by Memory Lane, Inc. and are housed in PSA holders with consecutively-numbered labels, 1 to 500.  For more information about PSA’s discounts and on-site grading during the National, please visit psacard.com.