Memorabilia
Gronk revs up crowd as Tyson, Holyfield square off on Day 4 at The National
ROSEMONT, Ill.—The hobby has added an exuberant personality.
Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski has jumped into the card collecting community, appearing at The National and Fanatics Fest as eBay launches a content series titled “Gronk Geeks Out.”
Gronkowski was on the eBay Live stage Saturday ripping packs and revving up the crowd. The event was right in Gronk's wheelhouse.
“I love meeting fans, but I love meeting fans with a purpose,” Gronkowski told SCD. “So, we’re here at eBay Live at The National, and I had the purpose of ripping packs—selling packs to fans and ripping them for them on eBay Live and then seeing their reaction in person.”
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Gronk tossed footballs to fans, signed a few autographs and even auctioned his game-used cleats and gloves.
He also pulled a rookie autograph card of former teammate and NFL legend Tom Brady from a pack of 2000 Playoff Contenders. The card was immediately sent off for grading, and Gronkowski was told if it grades well, it could be worth $100,000-$200,000.
“Absurd,” Gronkowski said. “That doesn’t happen. That’s a miracle. That’s like the 28-3 comeback. You didn’t think it was possible, but it happened.”
Gronkowski also ripped a hobby box of 2010 Topps Chrome Football and got his own rookie card.
“I got to sign it on the spot and write a little message, ‘First ever Gronk rip.’ That’s the first time I’ve ever [pulled] my own card,” Gronkowski said.
Gronk loves to have fun, and he’s having fun in the hobby.
TRAVELING THROUGH TIME
The National has become a must-attend convention each summer, but it wasn’t always as big as it is now.
The very first National took place in 1980 at the Marriott Los Angeles Airport Hotel. Now in its 46th edition—it was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic— this year’s event is spread out over more than 600,000 square feet.
Even a rainy Saturday could not deter the long line of collectors from jamming into the convention center for the weekend portion of the show, traditionally the busiest of the five days.
The NSCC even had an exhibit dedicated to the history of trading cards and a timeline of the show and its growth through the decades.
Replete with photos and memorabilia promoting past shows, the exhibit, located in Hall G on the second floor, was one way to travel through time while attempting to dry off.
BOXING DAY
Three heavyweight champions appeared at the TRISTAR Autograph Pavillion on Saturday: Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Bonecrusher Smith.
Tyson fought both Lewis and Holyfield—and lost to both of them. The most infamous of their two bouts took place in 1997 when “Iron Mike” bit off a piece of Holyfield’s ear.
Tyson later apologized and the two remain friends. They are also both represented by Fitterman Sports Group.
Collectors were chomping at the bit to get signatures of both fighters on photos from that fight.
JORDAN LIVE
eBay Live was the place to be at The National on Saturday.
Before Gronk stoked the crowd into a frenzy, Michael Jordan was the star of the show. Or Michael Jordan collectibles anyway.
Former Jordan teammate and Chicago fan favorite Craig Hodges joined Upper Deck execs on stage as eBay auctioned Jordan memorabilia, including a sealed box of 1986 Fleer Basketball cards signed by Jordan. Bidding for that treasure runs through Aug. 9.
On Saturday, eBay auctioned Jordan-signed basketballs and other memorabilia as Hodges and Upper Deck shared memories of the all-time great. Hodges, a Chicago native, was on the Bulls’ first championship team.
“That first step that we took we had a perfect storm of players and coaches and the system that we had,” Hodges said. “And MJ was probably the most coachable superstar to ever play the game. It was a great time and with me being born and raised here it was cool to be the first champion.”
FEMALE HOBBY STARS
WNBA star Caitlin Clark has proven in recent years that trading cards and collectibles featuring women can sell for thousands of dollars.
This year’s National featured a healthy list of autograph signers on Saturday from the world of women’s sports, including retired basketball star Sheryl Swoopes.
Even Swoopes was surprised by the hobby boom. She asked one autograph seeker why she was carrying a heavy case. When informed it was for trading cards, Swoopes said, “That’s fancy, but isn’t it heavy?”
At a table just a few rows over was Megan Keller, who scored the winning goal to lift the women’s U.S. hockey team to the gold medal at this year’s Winter Olympics. At the Upper Deck booth, fellow Olympian and PWHL star Taylor Heise also signed autographs for fans.
— Greg Bates, Jeff Owens and Clemente Lisi all contributed to this report.
