Sports Memorabilia Dealers
Sports collectibles hobby returns to Detroit; new Detroit Sports Spectacular to feature star-studded autograph lineup
The biggest sports memorabilia show ever in Detroit drives into the Motor City for the three-day Detroit Sports Spectacular June 7-9 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich.
Detroit was the host city for the second-ever National Sports Collectors Convention in 1981, and dealer Mark Dehem recalls that event being packed with collectors, with probably 125 dealers spread across about 200 tables inside a ballroom at the suburban Plymouth Hilton Hotel. He doesn’t recall who the autograph signers were at the 2nd annual National but guessed there were probably only four or five as signings “were not a big deal; they were more a free added attraction,” at the 1981 National.
Brian Schwartz was one back in 1981, but it is Schwartz—the president of Schwartz Sports Memorabilia in suburban Chicago—who is spearheading the upcoming super-sized Detroit show.
The show features autograph guests Barry Sanders, Joe Montana, Mike Modano, Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns, Kevin Nash, Ben Wallace, Kirk Cousins, Anthony Richardson, Vladimir Konstantinov, Thurman Thomas, Goose Gossage, and many others. There also will be signing sessions with about 10 members of the 2023 National Champion Michigan football team, plus a 40-year reunion of 1984 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers, including Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker and Lance Parrish, among others.
“Nothing of this caliber has ever been held in Detroit,” said Dehem, who has been selling sports memorabilia at shows since 1974. “There will be a lot of autograph guests at the show; I hope this area is ready for it.”
The last mega-autograph show in Detroit was in 1998 when Dehem ran a show in suburban Mount Clemens featuring 28 autograph signers from the 1968 World Series-winning Tigers.
“The Detroit Sports Spectacular is going to be huge, something unheard of or unseen ever in this area,” said Dehem, who has sold his wares at every National except two. “I often hear local collectors say that it’d be great to have The National back in Detroit. Well, this upcoming show is the next biggest show.”
Schwartz, who also runs the Chicago Sports Spectacular, said there were multiple factors leading to the Sports Spectacular’s brand expanding into Detroit, including his company serving as the exclusive autograph agent for Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, arguably the best Lions player ever. The city’s Midwest roots, where many collectors and dealers live, and the fact that Detroit has not played host to a large show in a decade-plus were also factors.
“We talked about going to another city [besides Chicago to host a major show’ for a while,” Schwartz said. “As far as confirming Detroit would be the new host city, it happened pretty quickly at the end of [2023].”
The Detroit Sports Spectacular became official in January.
If Detroit is a home-run show this June, it could become a regular destination for a mega show, especially during the summer when The National is held in Chicago—and the Windy City is already confirmed as the host city for The National in 2025 and 2026.
The inaugural Detroit Sports Spectacular will not be as big as the Chicago Sports Spectacular. Schwartz said there could be up to 300 dealers selling their wares in Detroit, including cards of all varieties and eras, plus collectibles, Funkos, autographs, framing and supplies. Plus, many of the leading auction houses, grading card companies and authenticators will be on hand at the show. And, there will be a Trade Night at the venue on Saturday night, free to all attendees.
“We certainly hope this show attracts new collectors, people who don’t travel to other states for major shows,” Schwartz said.
The success of the Lions in 2023, plus the national championship by Michigan also weighed in the decision to set up shop in Detroit.
“Detroit area sports are hotter than they’ve been in quite some time,” he added.
Schwartz said there are no plans to expand beyond Detroit.
“Are we going to grow to 10 or 12 cities? That’s not in my plans,” he said.
The top signers at the show likely will be Sanders, Montana, Ben Wallace, Gibson, and Donovan Edwards. Other guests expected to draw long lines include Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal and former pro wrestling star Kevin Nash, a Detroit native.
Kirk Gibson has not done a public signing session in Detroit in several years, so he is expected to draw collector’s interest. And with 10 players from the ’84 Tigers, that will be a popular draw.
Cousins, the NFL quarterback and former Michigan State star, also is expected to draw expanded interest as this is his first public signing since joining the Atlanta Falcons. And the recent NFL draft picks from Michigan should draw interest in their new pro attire.
Free autograph Friday will feature more than 1,000 autographs—one random per person with a paid Friday admission—of Detroit sports stars, including Rick Mahorn, Joey Kocur and others.
Schwartz said if the Detroit Sports Spectacular returns in 2025, it likely will feature more autograph guests with a national appeal as opposed to those with only Detroit and/or Michigan ties.
“I want to make the Detroit show a destination show,” he said.
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