Card of the Day: Mike Rozier 1985 Topps USFL #55

PHOTOS: The 2010 National Sports Collectors Convention

The National is by far the greatest show of the year.  I saw a lot of people, opened a ton of packs, and participated in many of the wrapper redemption programs provided by the manufacturers.  I even had time to watch the Orioles take on the White Sox Friday night.  The marketing was much better this year, not only for The National, but for other companies too.  There were T-shirts, cups, and all sorts of promos flying around the Baltimore Convention Center.  Check out some of my photos.

Panini

Press Pass

Sportkings

Upper Deck

TRISTAR

Topps

Brian Gray plans to bring the Leaf brand back starting with 2010 Leaf MMA in Sept.

D & A Card World

Blowout Cards

FreedomCardboard.com

This was one of the coolest artifacts on display at The National.  This is the bat Cap Anson used in 1897.  I had never seen anything of Anson’s before.

Former Baltimore Colts running back Lydell Mitchell

Member of the Miami Dolphins Perfect Season team, Earl Morrall

1983 Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier

Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Palmer

This has nothing to do with The National, but Pickles Pub was right next to the hotel I stayed at.  Every night the place was packed.

Historic Heisman Photo Sums Up The ’09 National

Ron Dayne, Billy Sims, Eric Crouch, Gino Torretta, Jason White, Mike Rozier & Steve Owens

During the National we became good friends with Dave and Jim Maser who run THE PIN MAN.  They have pins for almost anything you can think of.  I purchased a bunch of Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Phillies, and various other pins from them including one that states the Tampa Bay Rays won the ’08 World Series.  Dave and Jim are from Colorado and attend shows all over the country.

Dave and Jim are friends with Mary & Scott of Crescent Collectibles who were setup across from them.  Crescent Collectibles was able to go behind the TRISTAR curtains and obtain autographs for their shop.  Since Dave and Jim of THE PIN MAN know Crescent Collectible so well, they helped me get “backstage” too.  At first I thought I was going to meet Billy Sims and have him sign my football, but I got a whole lot more.  Mr. Sims signed my football and then called over six other Heisman Trophy winners who were back there signing stuff for TRISTAR.  They all came over to take a group photo.  This was a great way to end the 2009 National Sports Collectors Convention.