Big crowd, big stars and odd collectibles on Day 3 of the National Sports Collectors Convention
ROSEMONT, Ill.—Three days into the National Sports Collectors Convention it appears the 45th show is going to be another record-breaker in terms of attendance and likely sales.
The last two NSCC shows, in Chicago in 2023 and Cleveland in 2024, both set attendance records. A new record was anticipated before the doors even opened on Wednesday, with a large crowd flooding the show floor on Day 1 and dealers predicting the five-day attendance would exceed 150,000. While show management typically does not announce attendance figures, the last two shows were reportedly record crowds that exceeded 100,000.
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The Thursday and Friday crowds were insane, with big crowds all around the main show floor and extending into the upstairs hall, where first-time dealers were also attracting big crowds. On Friday, there was a long line of attendees waiting to get in around 11 a.m., an hour after the doors opened for general admission.
One big benefit of expanding the convention space to more than 600,000 square feet is that, while crowded, the main show-room floor is not nearly as congested as in years past. There is also more space for the TRISTAR Autograph Pavilion, alleviating congestion in what is usually a crowded section.
And the big crowds, of course, have led to brisk sales for sellers, dealers reported.
— Jeff Owens
PROM DATE
Dwight Howard had a flashback during his signing session Friday. He stopped his signing when he saw a teenage girl in line, nearly at his signing table.
Her red basketball jersey said NAPERVILLE on the front, and Howard quipped, “that must be a Candace Parker jersey.”
It was.
Parker, of course, was the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, where she spent most of her pro career and was regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time.
But Howard recalls Parker from their high school days, as he told the youngster. Howard went to prom with Parker when she attended Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill. and led her high school basketball team to state championships in 2003 and 2004.
Parker is the only two-time award winner of the USA Today High School Player of the Year award.
— Ross Forman
ODD SIGNINGS
From the “That’s an Odd Signature Request department,” the winner Friday appeared to be John Calipari, as the longtime college basketball coach was asked to autograph a baseball, which he did. In fact, he asked if he should sign it on the sweet-spot “like the skipper” of a baseball team.
However, late in the afternoon, that title may have gone to Johnny Manziel, as the former Heisman Trophy winner was asked to autograph an electric guitar.
Perplexed, I asked a fellow Texas A&M alum why Manziel would be asked to sign a guitar. He replied without hesitation, “because he was a rock star.”
Still perplexed.
— Ross Forman
ODD SIGTINGS
One of the biggest attractions of The National is that you never know what you might see.
While there’s almost every possible trading card, photo, autograph and game-used piece of memorabilia you can think of, you are also sure to run across something you never expected to see.
Like a Batman suit.
Batman comic books, action figures and other trinkets, sure. But a Batman suit?
Heritage Auctions not only has a Batman suit at its museum-style booth, but it has the original screen-worn costumes from Batman, Robin, Batgirl, The Joker, The Riddler and other heroes and villains from the classic 1960s television show.
With more auction houses like Heritage and Goldin expanding their pop culture offerings, Heritage is promoting its October Stewart Berkowitz Television Treasures Auction, which features screen-worn costumes and TV memorabilia from the 1960s.
Along with the popular Batman memorabilia, there are also costumes from such popular TV shows as “I Dream of Jeanie” and “The Munsters.”
— Jeff Owens
YOU'RE JOKING
Speaking of The Joker, Wild Card Inc. has one of the coolest cards I’ve seen this week, not to mention the most colorful booth at the show.
Wild Card’s Jokers Wild set pairs top pro athletes with comic book characters to create cool, colorful cards like a 1/1 Joker and Patrick Mahomes card.
Wild Card, located in a prime location near such popular stops as Topps, Fanatics and eBay, also attracted a lot of traffic with a vendor booth and displays bursting with color, energy and eye-catching graphics.
— Jeff Owens
BIG STARS
Friday was another big day at the TRISTAR Autograph Pavilion with such big names as new baseball Hall of Famer CC Sabathia, Cheryl Miller, Bo Jackson, Lawrence Taylor, Kurt Warner, Joe Theisman, Dr. J, and Ozzie Smith all signing.
Sabathia was one of the first signers on Friday, and returned to sign again at 1:15. Bo Jackson, the two-sport star, was also a big attraction.
BUCKET LIST
One of the most famous people in Chicago sports history is legendary Cubs announcer Harry Carey, who was a folk hero and icon in the Windy City.
One of the most popular restaurants in town is Harry’s Caray’s Italian Steakhouse. I’ve always wanted to go there, as much for the Harry photos and memorabilia as the food.
We have a reservation for Saturday night, so I leave you with this cool display at The National.
Harry, as usual, shows up everywhere, even The National.
— Jeff Owens