Q&A – How Do I Attend The Topps Q&A During The National Sports Collectors Convention?

Question:  How do I attend the Topps Q&A during the National Sports Collectors Convention?

Answer:  The Topps Q&A meeting is one of the best events that you can take part in while attending the National Sports Collectors Convention.  The NSCC usually starts on a Wednesday, and Topps typically holds their Q&A meeting that following Friday.  The Q&A takes place after the NSCC has closed for the day, and is held either at the convention center or a hotel near by.  It depends on where the NSCC is taking place, and what’s available.

In order to attend the Topps Q&A you must sign-up for it at the Topps booth.  The event is limited to about (150) spots.  Its a wise idea to get to the Topps booth ASAP, because those spots fill up very quickly.  Badges for the NSCC usually can start to be picked up at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. that first day.  The VIP Party starts at 2:30 p.m.  At 3:30 p.m. the show opens for VIPs.  General Admission gets in at 4:00 p.m.  If you’re a VIP, as soon as the show opens at 3:30 p.m. I’d run to the Topps booth and get my name on that list.

During the Topps Q&A you are encouraged to ask Topps employees anything you want pertaining to the hobby.  In between questions they tend to giveaway lots of prizes.  Everyone who attends usually receives a special gift on the way out when its over.  This gift is specially made for the Topps Q&A, and can only be obtained there.  In 2018, everyone left with a Francisco Lindor autograph #’ed/50.

The 2019 National Sports Collectors Convention takes place 7/31-8/4 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.  I think its safe to say Q&A attendees will leave with a special Chicago-related card.

Leaf Booth Finds During The 2018 National

To celebrate their 70th anniversary, Leaf created a set of 2018 Leaf Originals Metal cards that were handed out during the National Sports Collectors Convention.  I opened a few boxes of 2018 Leaf In The Game Used Sports at their booth, and got the pull of a lifetime.  I also walked away from the Leaf booth with a nice stack of these promos that pay tribute to the original 1948 Leaf set.  They cover a wide variety of sports, and come in all sorts of colors.  I like the simple design combined with chrome technology.  Leaf is very underrated, and produces some nice looking products.

Look at what I got!

• Liangelo Ball Red #’ed/3
• Anfernee Simons Red #’ed/3
• Greg Maddux Green #’ed/5
• Errol Spence Jr. Black #’ed/7
• Gordie Howe Black #’ed/7
• Derrius Guice Black #’ed/7
• Earl Campbell Pink #’ed/10
• Dennis Rodman Pink #’ed/10
• Chloe Kim Purple #’ed/15
• Shohei Ohtani Purple #’ed/15
• Kyle Kuzma Purple #’ed/15
• Jerry Rice Purple #’ed/15
• Stephen Curry Blue #’ed/20
• Pete Rose Blue #’ed/20
• Josh Rosen Blue #’ed/20
• Whitey Ford Blue #’ed/20
• Josh Rosen
• Lamelo Ball
• Magic Johnson
• Cal Ripken Jr.

Leaf sold Babe Ruth Yankee Stadium seat relics at their booth too.  Each is stamped commemorating the 2018 National.  The photos used for these remind me a lot of their 2017 Babe Ruth Immortal Collection.  I chose the one picturing Babe Ruth in a tuxedo signing what looks to be a series of baseball bats.  Where do you think those bats are today?

If you weren’t able to attend, be sure to checkout my Day #1, Day #2, and Day #3 coverage.

Record Pin Haul During The 2017 Little League World Series

40.  That’s how many new pins I obtained for my collection this year.  I believe that is a new record.  Some of them I got for free, others I bought, and I even took a handful of my Sports Card Info pins to use for trading.  It really helps to have your own line of pins when it comes to trading.  Most collectors have never seen them before.

Every year more and more businesses in the surrounding area make pins.  I live about an hour away from Williamsport and a few businesses in my town like Budget Bakery and Murray Motors Chevrolet has pins.  As they should, considering not everyone visiting the Little League World Series can stay in Williamsport.

Over the past few years, Little League and many of it’s corporate sponsors have become heavily reliant on these electronic wristbands.  These are used for various activities and assist in getting you eligible for giveaways.  From my point of view and for what I’m there for, I find them to be intrusive.  But for the kids and the things they use them for I can see a reason for having them.  Their activities can keep them busy all day long.  And I think that’s the point.  Personally, I’m there for pins.

After spending a few hours on the Little League campus scoring as many free pins as possible and making some trades with other collectors and ushers, it was time to head downtown.  I hit up the Chamber of Commerce, The Clothier, Bullfrog Brewery, and Genetti Hotel.  All of them have pins.  Williamsport’s Golden Strip is loaded with businesses that I’ve never had pins from before.  KFC, Dolly’s Diner, Olive Garden, Aquarius Pools, Kriger Fence, The Taber Museum, and Bimbo Bakeries are all new places I got pins from.  You could easily spend all ten days of the Little League World Series hunting for pins.

Merchandise for the 2017 MLB Little League Classic featuring the Pirates and Cardinals is available over at Little League.  I got a new t-shirt and a few pins.  I’ve been to Historic Bowman Field many times.  For the most part, that game was for Little League players and their families.  A local lottery was held for Lycoming County residents so some fans from the general public could attend.  I hope they make this game an annual event.

One day it would be great to see Topps have a corporate booth setup at Little League.

I’ll do anything for a free pin.

PSA To Offer “Cards That Never Were” To Collectors Club Members During The National

For those collectors who like getting cards graded a lot, PSA and Historic Autograph Company have teamed-up to bring you an interesting promotion this year for the National Sports Collectors Convention.  According to PSA, “The first 500 visitors to the PSA booth who sign up for a Gold or Platinum level PSA Collectors Club membership or who renew their membership at the show will receive fantasy Diamond Stars-inspired cards.  Gold Level memberships receive one randomly-selected card, and Platinum memberships receive the complete five-card set.”  The set features two different Babe Ruth cards, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, and Bob Feller.  None of these players were included in the original Diamond Stars set which debuted back in the 1930’s.  Each card comes encased in a PSA holder.  The cards are printed by Historic Autograph Company, and the artwork was done by Arthur K. Miller.  Miller isn’t a stranger when it comes to designing fantasy cards as he was the artist who designed the Babe Ruth Cracker Jack card for last year’s National.

Be sure to stop by the PSA booth to see Miller’s original artwork that was used to make these cards.  Also on display will be an original set of 1934-36 Diamond Stars cards from the Charles M. Merkel collection.  Its the best example of a Diamond Stars set known to exist and was inducted into the PSA Set Registry Hall Of Fame in 2013.

Super Break Sports Products To Hold Case Break Events During The 2014 NSCC

As we get closer to the 35th National Sports Collectors Convention more and more news will come out.  Today we learned that Super Break Sports Products will be holding some case break events this year.  Be sure to thoroughly check your registration kits.  If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the press release below.

More excitement has been added to this year’s premier hobby event, The National Sports Collectors Convention.  First off, our valued VIP ticket holders will be in line for a cool surprise when they open their registration bags.  Super Break Sports Products will be inserting 20 random coupons, each good for 1 special slot in the first ever VIP’s Only – Case Break.  An additional 4 spots will be given away on Twitter to VIP holders.  Be one of 24 lucky winners, all free.

Super Break Sports Products will provide a 4 Box “Super 6 Pack” case for the VIP giveaway.  The 24 high quality packs shall be given away to the VIP’s by way of 24 coupons in the VIP bags.  Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey Retail value $4000 and only VIP’s will be in the running.  Super Break VIP Only break will take place on the Amazon.com Sports Collectibles Main Stage, Thursday July 31st, at 3pm.  Coupon entries are transferable and select seating is available in the VIP seating area in front of the stage.

Hey Vintage Show Dealers, you too will have a chance to witness a “case break”, exclusive just for you!  12 lucky National Show Dealers will find a random coupon, from Super Break Sports Products, inserted in their registration kit.  Vintage dealers will be surprised and pleased by the first Super Break All Vintage Baseball Product.  “The G.O.A.T. Super Break” Product will make it’s debut with Tobacco cards to Vintage Topps cards.  These “Super 6 Packs” will be a Greatest of All Time Vintage extravaganza!  The very first National Show Dealer exclusive case break will take place at 5pm, Thursday, July 31st, also on the Amazon.com Sports Collectibles Main Stage.  Coupons are transferable, if you cannot attend the Break.

​Our thanks to National Show Sponsor, Super Break Sports Products, who will be set up in the Premiere Case Break Pavilion and will have 5 Main Stage Breaks over the course of the National.  Breakers who wish to be part of Super Breaks exhibit space are welcome to contact Super Breaks Sports Products at info@Superbreaksports.com.

The #1 Question Being Asked During The 2014 Industry Summit Is…

Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig Dual Signed Baseball To Be Given Away During The 2014 National

We’re only a few hours into the New Year, but its never too early to talk about an event taking place during the next National.

Prospect collectors looking to bust something non-card related might want to check out Onyx Authenticated’s newest product that arrives later this month.  2014 Onyx Authenticated Premiere Gear will come with (1) authentic game-used piece of baseball memorabilia per box.  This just won’t be a small portion of memorabilia like you would find in a card, its the whole thing – caps, jerseys, cleats, fielding gloves, batting helmets, and catchers gear.

The checklist includes pieces of memorabilia from:

• Byron Buxton
• Jabari Blash
• Miguel Sano
• Dorssys Paulino
• Garrett Richards
• Enny Romero
• Gary Sanchez
• Jose Iglesias
• Dan Voglebach
• Breyvic Valera
• Julio Morban
• Gregory Polanco
• Scooter Gennett
• Logan Morrison
• Rymer Liriano
• Felipe Rivero
• Michael Pineda
• Kaleb Cowart
• Jon Lester
• Grant Balfour
• Jameson Taillon
• Keyvius Sampson
• Jonathon Crawford

As an added bonus, Onyx Authenticated has also thrown in some autographed baseballs that you can keep an eye out for from players such as: Bryce Harper, Javy Baez, Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, and Jon Lester.

Onyx Authenticated will only be making 100 boxes.  Five of those boxes will have a Golden Ticket.  Anyone that obtains one of these Golden Tickets will be eligible to win a Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig dual signed baseball which will be given away during the 2014 National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland, OH.

Heading to Cleveland for this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention?  If so, be sure to check out this very Limited Edition product available exclusively at the event, Preferred Players National Edition 2014.  Each Limited Edition case contains 3 Autographed Baseballs from today’s baseball Stars and Top Prospects.  Each Hand-signed baseball comes in its own wood box and display cube with an official ONYX Authenticated Certificate of Authenticity.