National Notes: PSA Giving Away 1986 Fleer Jordan; Vintage Break Announced

PSA Giving Away Jordan, Banks and Payton Items
Memorabilia of three Chicago sports icons, Michael Jordan, Ernie Banks and Walter Payton, will be given away by PSA at the 2015 National Sports Collectors Convention. PSA also will offer special rates for items submitted at the show for authentication and grading.

"To celebrate the National's return to the Chicago area, PSA will hold daily sweepstakes at the show for prizes related to three of the top players in the history of the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears, respectively," said PSA President Joe Orlando. "We'll give away a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card graded PSA Mint 9 that is valued at more than $2,600, an autographed Ernie Banks baseball bat and an autographed Walter Payton poster."

Visitors to the PSA booth (Hall B, #1436) can register for the sweepstakes, which will be held during the three middle days of the show. There is no cost to enter, and the winners do not need to be present at the time of the drawings.

"The Banks autographed bat will be awarded on Thursday, July 30; the Payton autographed poster on Friday, July 31; and our grand prize, the Jordan rookie card, on Saturday, August 1," said Orlando.

The 2015 National Convention will be held July 29 - August 2 in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Ill.

Everyone visiting the PSA booth will have the opportunity to view a trading card exhibit featuring some of the finest master card collections of Banks, Jordan and Payton found within the PSA Set Registry.

While supplies last, visitors can also obtain a complimentary copy of an expanded, special "National" edition of Sports Market Report (SMR) magazine that features Michael Jordan on the cover.

PSA experts will be at the National to provide onsite authentication and grading of cards, and PSA/DNA will also accept submissions of autographs. Certification fees will be as low as $16 per item for bulk submissions of cards. PSA/DNA will be offering authentication for items signed at the National for a discounted rate of $10 per signature.

A complete list of special discounts, further details on the sweepstakes, and information on other PSA activities at the 2015 National Sports Collectors Convention can be found at www.PSAcard.com/National.

First-Ever Vintage Break: Ruth-Signed Ball Up for Grabs
The National Sports Collectors Convention is excited to announce they will be hosting the first ever "National Vintage Break" (hit draft) sponsored by Heritage Auctions (and RippingWax.com, located at the Case Break Pavilion on the AmazonSports.com Main Stage, at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center, Saturday, Aug. 1 at noon.

Heritage Auctions is teaming up with RippingWax.com to bring in some spectacular vintage collectibles, including a Babe Ruth signed baseball, to highlight the first-ever "National Vintage Break."

The event will be limited to 15 participants who will assemble on the AmazonSports.com Main Stage to participate in the live vintage break (hit draft), which will be simulcast online. Each participant will purchase a spot with a $2,500 entry fee. Using random.org the 15 participants' names will be selected to determine draft order. The live draft itself will then take place on the main stage where participants can select the available slots shown below. The estimated value of the significant vintage cards/memorabilia the winners can take home totals more than $40,000.

Items available
– Babe Ruth signed baseball with Gary Cooper and the cast of "The Pride of the Yankees"
– Michael Jordan signed 1984 rookie style jersey
– Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris signed baseball
– Lou Gehrig signed album page
– 1955 Jackie Robinson signed World Series greatest thrill questionnaire
– Ted Williams signed baseball bat
– 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig #92 SGC 70 EX+ 5.5
– 2010 Albert Pujols game-used bat
– Wayne Gretzky game-used, signed hockey stick
– Mickey Mantle signed baseball bat
– 500 Home Run Club multi-signed baseball
– 1961 Topps Mickey Mantle #300 PSA NM 7
– 1932 Ty Cobb signed check
– Michael Jordan & Muhammad Ali signed, oversized photograph
– 1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal Ty Cobb, red portrait PSA VG 3.

"We are incredibly excited to host this historic National Vintage Break event, at the National, on our AmazonSports.com Main Stage", said Mike Berkus, founder, National Sports Collectors Convention. "Chris Ivy of Heritage Auctions and David Gelfman of RippingWax.com have created a high-profile live event that attracts and includes current trading card collectors and vintage memorabilia collectors simultaneously on-site and online, a truly unique and exciting concept."

The 36th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention is the multi-billion dollar collectible industry's premier show. More than 50,000 collectors, sports fans, exhibitors and 90 high-profile athletes are expected to converge on the Donald E Stephens Convention Center during the five-day event, July 29-Aug. 2. For more information, visit www.nsccshow.com.