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New Hall of Famer Billy Wagner joins Roger Clemens, Cal Ripken Jr., other big stars at TRISTAR Houston show
HOUSTON—Art Smith of Florida-based Sports Cards Plus was all smiles after TRISTAR Production’s 39th annual Collectors Show at NRG Arena. Hours before the three-day sports memorabilia convention closed on Sunday, Feb. 2, Smith made a bold statement:
The show was his best regional show in 25 years.
“It was great overall,” Smith said. “You hope a show draws fans and collectors, and this TRISTAR show did just that. Everything was selling, autographs and cards, high-dollar and low-dollar cards. I sold a lot at the show and bought a lot.”
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Smith said his sales included autographed bats and one collector who poked through vintage cards to complete his 1957, 1958, 1966 and 1969 baseball sets.
Smith said the top sellers were Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Al Kaline, including Kaline’s 1954 Topps rookie card (#201). Bart Starr, Roger Staubach and Johnny Unitas also were in high demand among card collectors, Smith said.
One of the surprise sales at the TRISTAR show was a 1996 Collector’s Edge Dallas Cowboys Memorabilia Box. Over the past two years, spanning about 20 shows, Smith had sold one such box. At the Houston show, Smith sold four.
Also sold in Houston: a single-signed Mantle baseball, with No. 7 added. It went for $1,100. In addition, a Mays-signed bat went for $450.
About 5,000 collectors attended the three-day show.
“The show was strong. There was a lot of excitement among collectors, an air of enthusiasm. It was very well attended, including a lot of kids,” said TRISTAR Vice President Bobby Mintz. “The autograph pavilion was very strong.”
Longtime dealer Mike Stoner added the show was “one of the best ever.” “This is good news for the hobby; it’s always nice to have a strong show like this,” he said.
The top autograph signers at the show included Ryne Sandberg, Cal Ripken Jr., and Billy Wagner, appearing days after the announcement he was a 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. “Billy had a huge crowd and was great [with fans], as always,” Mintz said.
Other top signers included Emmitt Smith, Johnny Manziel and Vince Young. Plus, many baseball prospects had long lines of autograph seekers, including J.J. Wetherholt, Kumar Rocker, Tre Morgan, and others.
Other show signers included “Mean” Joe Greene, Ray Lewis, Adrian Peterson, Jan Stenerud, Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, Willie Lanier, Jerome Bettis, Michael Irvin, Keith Hernandez, Rich Gossage, Yainer Diaz, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Spencer Arrighetti, among others.
Roger Clemens also signed autographs at the show, with his son Kody signing at the table to Roger’s left.
The show also featured appearances by Hunter Brown, Mike Garrett and Jabari Smith Jr., among others.
Carl Gerjes of Alvin, Texas-based T&C Investments was presented the 2025 Starry Award, presented annually by TRISTAR to a show dealer with at least 10 years of experience in the business who demonstrates strong business ethics and standards and markets all aspects of the hobby with honesty and integrity.
Making its first-ever appearance at a sports collectibles show was jerzeeart.com, which offers a new way to display your jerseys. The company offers 3D jersey mounts/displays, bringing a lifelike presentation for jerseys in a stylish and striking way. The mounts and displays are tailored to each sport, ensuring that each jersey and display reflects the taste of the customer. Check ‘em out: www.jerzeeart.com.
Here’s a look at memorabilia and souvenirs for sale at the this year’s show:
• Aaron Judge framed and signed 16-by-20 photo, $900.
• Chas McCormick signed Houston Astros batting helmet, $100.
• Happy Gilmore hockey card, $4.
• Sports Illustrated first issue, $100.
• Roger Clemens 2004 SGU nesting doll, $5.
• Carlos Correa game-worn spikes, $300.
• 1967 Topps Mickey Mantle cards: graded 1 ($140) and graded 2 ($165).
• 1972 O-Pee-Chee Baseball Box, $6,750.
• 1976 Topps Football box, $16,500.
• 1974 TCMA Forest Charles Pressnell card, autographed To Chuck, $15.
• 2020 Bowman Chrome Bobby Witt, Jr. card, graded Gem Mint 10, $650. And the dealer was clear, with a sign by the card, he was FIRM on the price.
• Donald Trump custom raw cards: $12 each or 2-for-$20.
• Autographed Baseballs: Ralph Branca ($75), Red Schoendienst ($60), Al Oliver ($50), Brooks Robinson ($100), Frank Robinson ($200) or Mark Fidrych (with ROY and The Bird inscriptions), $250.
I enjoyed seeing and learning about the Venezuela Topps Baseball Cards that one dealer specialized in. He offered commons and stars, and everything in between. I asked what the Honus Wagner of Venezuela Baseball Cards is and was told the 1968 Nolan Ryan. If in a grade 5.5, “you’d potentially be sitting on a whole lot of money,” he said. Another popular, valuable Venezuelan card is the 1960 Carl Yastrzemski.
• Autographed 8-by-10 photo of Denny McClain, $14.
• Bill Goldberg autographed WWE Revolution card, $90.
• Shawn Michaels autographed WWE Select card, $125.
• Rey Mysterio Jr. autographed WWE Revolution card, $35.
• Texas A&M College Football 2024 CSE pack, with one autograph: $20.
• Jeff Bagwell 8-by-10 photo, $10; 11-by-14, $15; 16-by-20, $20.
• Replica championship rings, $30 or 2-for-$50.
• 2024-25 Upper Deck Black Diamond hockey box, $300.
• 2025 Topps Chrome WWE box, $350.
• The 1990 Bowman card of Frank Thomas, graded 10, $2,000.
• The 1984 Donruss card of Don Mattingly, graded Gem Mint 10, $3,975.
• 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan, graded 8, $55,000.
• 1948 Bowman Yogi Berra, graded 9, $60,000.
• 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky, graded 9, $26,500.
• Jose Altuve framed and signed 16x20 photo, $250.
• Jeremy Pena framed and signed Houston jersey, with two 8-by-10 photos and Astros logo, $500.
• Hank Aaron autographed baseball, $250.
• Ted Williams framed and signed 16-by-20 photo, $800.
• Jeff Bagwell player-issued shoes from his rookie season, $150.
• Bum Phillips signed baseball hat, $40.
• Autographed baseballs: Vida Blue ($35), Vince Coleman ($25), Ron Blumberg ($20), Lenny Dykstra ($30), Duke Snider ($95) and Ted Williams ($450).
• Luka Doncic Dallas jersey, signed: $600.
• Canelo Alvarez signed and framed 11-by-14 photo, $600.
• Roger Clemens signed and framed 16-by-20 photo, $250.
• Charlotte Flair signed and framed 8-by-10 photo, $150.
• 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson card, graded 7, $160.
• 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson signed card with HOF 2009, graded 8, $2,900.
• 1959 Topps Willie Mays card, graded 4: $250.
• Baseball ticket from April 1, 2021 MLB debut of Jonathan India, signed: $30.
• 2024 Panini Instant WNBA card of Caitlyn Clark, graded 10: $250.
• 2018 Topps Five Star Shohei Ohtani card, signed and numbered #11/15: $20,000.
• 1958 Official Baseball Guide, $25.
• Joe Burrow signed LSU football, $450.
• Brett Favre autographed official NFL football, $350.
• LSU signed baseball helmets: Dylan Crews ($400) or Paul Skenes ($600).
• Vintage Houston Oilers glasses $5, or a set of four of a different version, $50.
• Sheryl Swoopes signed baseball, $40.
• Bob Gibson signed baseball with HOF ’81: $199.
• Signed mini football helmets: Mel Renfro and Bob Lilly ($80), Frank Gore ($60), Michael Irvin ($150) and Eric Berry ($60).
• Hulk Hogan autographed and framed replica wrestling boot with two 8-by-10 photos, $800, and Ric Flair autographed and framed replica boot with two 8-by-10 photos, $700.
• 2024-25 Upper Deck Black Diamond hockey box, $300.
• Hobby Box Report: “Anything 2024 baseball sold,” said one dealer. Just as hot, Panini Prizm Football. Basketball, soccer and NASCAR products were just OK on sales.
• Larry Bird signed art jersey, $850.
• Larry Bird signed game jersey, $300.
• Authentic replica soccer jerseys: Ronaldo ($450) and Messi ($2,500).
The 40th annual Houston show will start on Jan. 30, 2026 and will feature past autograph guests who have not appeared in years for a return appearance at the milestone convention, and TRISTAR has hundreds, if not thousands, of past signers to consider. Case in point: Ken Griffey Jr., who appeared at the 1989 show.
