Future National Sports Collectors Convention Sites Announced

Per an e-mail from the National Sports Collectors Convention, here is a list of the next three locations they plan to hold the show:

• 2023 Chicago (Rosemont)  July 26-30, 2023
• 2024 Cleveland IX Center July 24-28, 2024
• 2025 Chicago (Rosemont) July 30-August 3, 2025

I’m glad to see that Atlantic City is off the list, and Cleveland is back on. Cleveland has always been my favorite location. Its possible I might even try to get back there in 2024.

Good Luck Attending The 2022 National Sports Collectors Convention

Good luck to everyone attending the National Sports Collectors Convention this year in Atlantic City, NJ. It runs from July 27-31.

There are a lot of card shows held all over the country all year long, but in my opinion the National Sports Collectors Convention is the best. Others will argue with that thought and that’s ok. Its always had a little bit of everything for collectors. Looking for that $0.50 base card to complete a set? Need to get an item autographed? Interested in looking at museum quality cards and memorabilia? Want to voice your opinion on a topic directly to a card manufacturer or other business involved in the industry? These are all things you can do.

I will not be attending the show this year. In 2016 I went when it was held in Atlantic City, but I just decided I didn’t want to go through the travel process. Lets not forget the price of everything is through the roof as well. The Atlantic City Convention Center didn’t impress me very much either. I wasted a lot of power in my wheelchair going from the parking garage up to the area where the show was being held. Cleveland, OH will always be my favorite venue. Now that the I-X Center is back open for business, I hope the National Sports Collectors Convention considers placing them back in the rotation. The second you walk into the I-X Center the show is right there in front of you.

Content will not be in short supply. Each night I look forward to seeing what went on that specific day. Just don’t believe everything some of these “influencers” who have popped up over the last few years are telling you. They may make it look as if they’re living a high and mighty lifestyle, but so many of them are in debt up to their eyeballs just to keep their show going. Others will use undisclosed non-sports card related income to make it look as if flipping cards is their only job. Some will even arrange fake deals just for video views. A lot of manipulation can and does go on.

Cash is king. So take plenty of it. Dealers accept all types of payment methods, but cash is almost always preferred.

Topps usually holds a Q&A meeting after show hours one of the days. If you have a VIP or Media Pass I would recommend signing up for it ASAP. Typically only (150) spots are available. From my experience Media Pass holders can get in to the show well before VIPs. During this Q&A session you can learn a lot about what Topps has planned for the future. You can also voice your opinion on certain issues. At the conclusion Topps hands out a special card to everyone who attended.

If you’re looking to buy boxes and participate in some of the manufacturer’s wrapper redemption programs, I’d suggest checking out Marty’s Sports Card Exchange. I’ve always found his prices to be very decent. His booth can be located in the corporate area.

The five days will go quickly, but take time to soak it all in. Safe travels. Have fun. Good luck.

Card of the Day: Ken Goldin – Goldin Auctions – 2021 National Sports Collectors Convention Auto

Card of the Day: Cal Ripken Jr. 1994 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice #240

Card of the Day: Kevin Garnett 1996-97 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice #89

2020 Topps Baseball’s Finest Flashbacks Hits A Home Run With Collectors

As a member of the Topps 582 Montgomery Club I was able to purchase (3) boxes of the new online-exclusive 2020 Topps Baseball’s Finest Flashbacks for $55/box.  The design pays tribute to 1993 Topps Finest which introduced collectors to the Refractor.

Not only is the design a nod to the original set, this new version also consists of (199) cards and contains (1) refractor per box.  With that being said, most people ripping find at least (2) refractors on average.  Parallels include Base Refractors, Gold Refractors #’ed/50, Black Refractors #’ed/25, Red Refractors #’ed/5, and Superfractors #’ed 1/1.  Even though the Base Refractors aren’t serial numbered, its speculated that no more than (50) copies exist for each card.

Opening a single box doesn’t guarantee an autograph.  Autographs fall about 1:6 boxes.  Base Autograph parallels include Base Refractor #’ed/20, Gold Refractors #’ed/15, Orange Refractors #’ed/10, Red Refractors #’ed/5, and Superfractors #’ed 1/1.  Base All-Stars Autographs are #’ed/20, and have parallels which include Gold Refractors #’ed/15, Orange Refractors #’ed/10, Red Refractors #’ed/5, and Superfractors #’ed 1/1.

Andre Dawson, Ivan Rodriguez, John Smoltz, Mark McGwire, and Roberto Alomar each have original Autograph Buybacks #’ed/20 or less.

Inserts come in the form of All-Stars Jumbo Box Toppers.

(18) packs come in a single box.

Pack Odds

Base Parallels:

• Refractor (1:18)
• Gold Refractor #’ed/50 (1:18)
• Black Refractor #’ed/25 (1:36)
• Red Refractor #’ed/5 (1:176)
• Superfractor #’ed 1/1 (1:880)

Autograph Parallels:

• Refractor #’ed/20 (1:296)
• Gold Refractor #’ed/15 (1:381)
• Orange Refractor #’ed/10 (1:573)
• Red Refractor #’ed/5 (1:1,138)
• Superfractor #’ed 1/1 (1:5,765)

The odds of finding an Autograph Buyback is (1:2,260).

Given that the odds of pulling a non-autographed Superfractor are (1:880) packs should tell you how limited this product actually is.  Normally that number is in the thousands.

This was a no-brainer buy for me.  Where else are you guaranteed (2) cards #’ed/50 or less for the price of $55/box?  The answer is nowhere.

Nostalgic design.  Colorful, low-numbered parallels.  On-card autographs.  It doesn’t surprise me that these boxes are selling for hundreds on the secondary market.  Nobody knows what the ceiling will be for these boxes.

BREAKING: 2020 National Sports Collectors Convention Postponed Due To Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Update: THE 2020 National Sports Collectors Convention HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

The National Sports Collectors Convention issued the following press release today:

(Edison, NJ) – The National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC) announced today its Board of Directors has voted to postpone the 41st National, scheduled to start Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, a result of health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The world’s largest sports and entertainment collectible show’s premier annual event has been tentatively rescheduled for Saturday, December 12th through Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at the Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“We have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic situation with our partners along with city and state officials.  It has become clear postponement is the appropriate course of action.” said John Broggi, NSCC Show Promoter.  “We have tentative plans to hold the National December 12-16, 2020, at the Atlantic City Convention Center, given state and federal guidelines indicate it is safe to hold our event.”

Open to the public, the Atlantic City Convention Center will be transformed into a collector’s paradise utilizing over 400,000 square feet, including 650 high profile exhibitors from around the country who will be buying, selling, and trading sought after sports and entertainment collectibles.

“It was a very difficult decision to postpone the 41st National but we feel it is the right decision given the number of critical unanswered questions and uncertainty concerning the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, said Dan Berkus, NSCC Show Promoter.  “We are currently working with Atlantic City officials and our NSCC team will be coordinating with exhibitors, attendees, and signing guests to ensure a smooth transition to the new December 12-16, 2020 dates.”

Exhibitors currently registered for the 2020 National will receive information pertinent to their participation and how to proceed going forward.  In addition, exhibitors and attendees can visit http://www.NSCCShow.com, and our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@NSCCShow) social media platforms for current news and up-dates concerning the National Sports Collectors Convention show dates, December 12 – 16, 2020, at the Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

We thank you for your support and patience as we all work through these unprecedented times.  Our thoughts go out to those directly affected.

Well… this should be no surprise.  Honestly, I don’t think it will even happen in December.  People will still be recuperating from the coronavirus both physically and financially.  Given that its December the weather could be a potential factor.  Plus its the holiday season.  Lets not forget right now the Atlantic City Convention Center is being used as a field hospital for non-coronavirus patients.  I just don’t see it happening this year.  Wait until 2021.

I’ve attended seven Nationals.  Four in Cleveland.  Two in Baltimore.  One in Atlantic City.  I wasn’t impressed with the Atlantic City Convention Center.  I wasted so much power in my wheelchair just getting from the parking garage up to the room where the National was being held.  Cleveland will always be my favorite location.  As soon as you walk in the door of the I-X Center in Cleveland the National is right there.

Promos obtained through wrapper redemption programs are a huge part of the whole National experience.  I’m not a fan of Panini, but they are the only manufacturer so far to show-off what their wrapper redemption base set for 2020 will look like.  Take a good look folks.  This could very well be the most of any National promos you see this year.

Panini’s 2018 Illusions Football Autograph COA Mistake Continues To Screw Unknowing Collectors

In 2018 Sports Card Info helped to shed some light on this issue.  Even though not much has changed since the initial story broke, I believe its important to remind people that this continues to be a MAJOR problem in the hobby.  Especially when a collector was recently screwed out of $400.

On February 28, 2020 a Tom Brady 2018 Panini Illusions Living Legends Autograph sold for $393.  Too bad the autograph is a complete fake.  Panini made the huge mistake of printing the message “THE AUTOGRAPH IS GUARANTEED BY PANINI AMERICA, INC.” on the back of a bunch of cards from 2018 Illusions that were never intended to be signed.  But yet these unsigned cards with the autograph COA on the back somehow found their way into the product.  We’ve seen this error popup on the Living Legends, Illusionists, and Mystique inserts.

Panini allowing cards to ship out with their autograph COA yet lacking the actual signature itself opens the door to all types of fraud.  And that’s exactly what we’re seeing here.  Loser scammers will sign the athlete’s signature themselves, and then attempt to pass it off as the real thing.  Because that COA is printed on the back people will believe its authentic.

As you can clearly see the autograph here is on-card.  MAJOR RED FLAG as the authentic cards use stickers.  Another indicator is the absence of a serial number.  It should be #’ed/10 or 1.

Panini simply stamped their autograph COA on too many cards here.  Some were meant for legitimate pack-inserted autographs.  Others received the autograph COA by mistake, and are just basic unsigned inserts.

Tom Brady 2018 Panini Illusions Living Legends insert with a fake autograph (front)

Tom Brady 2018 Panini Illusions Living Legends insert with a fake autograph (back)

This is what an authentic example should look like:

Card of the Day: Brian Harper 1995 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice #181

Card of the Day: Dikembe Mutombo 1996-97 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice #205