Autographs
With another star-studded lineup, TRISTAR Autograph Pavilion a must-attend event at The National
The numbers game for the TRISTAR Autograph Pavilion at the 46th annual National Sports Collectors Convention is astonishing, to say the least.
Just consider:
• 167: Total number of autograph signers.
• 43 first-time National signers.
• 35 Baseball Hall of Famers.
• 60 Pro Football Hall of Famers.
• Nine Super Bowl MVPs.
• 10 Basketball Hall of Famers.
• Three members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, UFC Hall of Fame and WWE Hall of Fame.
• A Hockey Hall of Famer.
• A gold-medal winning, game-winning Olympic hockey goal scorer.
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An estimated 75,000 autographs will be signed for the public at this year’s NSCC show.
“We should have great success, as Chicago traditionally does,” said Bobby Mintz, vice president for Houston-based TRISTAR Productions. “The growth and continued interest in the hobby lends optimism and the [autograph] lineup has received positive feedback.”
The signing slate includes boxing Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield, Baseball Hall of Famer Jeff Kent and football legends Drew Brees, Rob Gronkowski and Zach Thomas. The five likely will be the top guests among first-time National signers.
Among the most anticipated signers: Mike Tyson, Ric Flair, Johnny Bench, Miguel Cabrera, Cal Ripken, Jr, Mike Schmidt, Dan Marino, Kurt Warner Dennis Rodman, and Megan Keller.
And let’s not forget Willie McGee, Doug Collins, Buster Douglas, Sheryl Swoopes, Jon Jones, Dez Bryant, Christian Laettner, Geovanny Soto, and Steve Lyons. They likely will sign more autographs than anticipated.
“It’s a great mix from baseball, football and basketball,” said Mintz, who added a few more noteworthy numbers for the 2026 TRISTAR Autograph Pavilion:
• 8,000: 8-by-10 photos expected to be signed.
• 15,000: Baseballs expected to be signed.
• 1,000: Footballs expected to be signed.
• 1,000: Basketballs expected to be signed.
“Anyone who is a [sports memorabilia] collector should attend this show. It is like going to the Hall of Fame, yet you can buy things,” Mintz said.
Longtime hobbyist Paul Furfuro of PTF Sports added: “The lineup is great and extensive, a little better than usual. It seems like there are a lot more signers than the last few years.”
Furfuro is looking to snag a signature from Johnny Bench.
“It’s a really strong line up, especially for football. There’s a huge number of Hall of Famers,” said Mike Provenzale of Heritage Auctions, who is most excited to see Ricky Williams during his signing session. “I recently found a photo of me and Ricky, taken when I was a freshman at the University of Texas. I’m going to have Ricky sign that. It will have a place of honor in my house.
“The autograph group is very strong this year,” Provenzale said. “As the industry has grown, we’ve seen more athletes participating who hadn’t in the past, so this is one of the best group of signers the show has had.”
Some of this year’s first-time signers bring even more star power to the show.
Drew Brees: “He is so beloved; I have met him a couple times and he always was first class to me,” Mintz said.
Gronkowski: “When I think of him, I think of fun, and believe he will give a lot of fans a fun time,” Mintz said.
Devin Hester: “One of the greatest kick returners of all time. So many electric plays he is remembered for, and he does not make many public autograph appearances, so to have him in Chicago is exciting,” Mintz said.
Doug Collins: “He has not made many sports collectible show appearances ever,” Mintz said.
Megan Keller: “One of the most famous female hockey players of all time,” Mintz said.
Marv Levy: “The only 100-year-old celebrity we have ever had at one of our events.”
Randy Martz: “If he played today, he would have been a rich man,” Mintz said.
“There are some great names appearing,” said Brian Schwartz of Schwartz Sports.
“Looking at the autograph lineup, the first thing that pops out is the number of signers,” said Texas-based collector Ryan Hutchinson. “When I first got into the hobby, I never would have expected to be going to a show with so many guests. When I look at the schedule to plan my days for the show, every day is as large as any other [standard] three-day show in the industry.”
Hutchinson said he is stoked to get signatures from Tyson and Holyfield.
“There are several signers at the show who are going to allow collectors to put together some amazing dual- and multi-signed pieces,” he said. “Collectors appreciate the thought and planning that goes into making that possible.”
Many celebrities also will be getting autographs from other signers. Bench, Reggie Jackson, Joe Theismann, Andre Dawson and Earl Campbell, among others, will no doubt leave Chicago with autographs in their luggage.
“The 2026 Autograph Pavilion lineup is one of the strongest and most diverse in recent memory,” said CJ Breen, director of marketing & licensing for Leaf Trading Cards. “It offers something for every collector. Whether you’re into Hall of Famers, current superstars, legends from other sports, or personalities from outside the traditional sports world, the variety is what makes it stand out.
“There are plenty of names who stand out, but I’m always excited to see the legendary athletes who helped shape their sports. It’s great catching up with old friends like Barry Sanders, Miguel Cabrera and Johnny Manziel, of whom I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over the years.”
Breen is most excited to meet Tyson.
“As one of the most iconic and recognizable athletes of all time, the opportunity to meet him is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” he said.
Breen collects signed tickets and game-used jerseys and plans to get his Allen Iverson “Step Over” NBA Finals ticket signed.
“The biggest difference today versus years ago is the overall scale,” he said. “The autograph pavilion has become a destination itself within The National. The number of athletes, the diversity of guests and the overall fan experience have grown dramatically. Today’s autograph pavilion feels more like a major sports convention than a simple autograph area, which speaks to how much the hobby and The National have evolved over the years.”
Mintz said he’s excited to see Chris Sabo, a flashback to his childhood when Sabo starred for the Cincinnati Reds, and former Bengals QB Carson Palmer. “I was always a fan of his,” he said.
Massachusetts-based collector Josh Katz said TRISTAR “out-did itself this year.”
“The names are bigger and the number of attendees is unreal,” Katz said. “I’m pumped that they added Gronk. I also will knock two more names off my 10,000-yard rusher helmet: Ottis Anderson and LaDainian Tomlinson.”
“The autograph lineup is a little on the heavy side. You reach the point of diminishing returns at a number that is well short of the total number of signing guests at this year’s show,” said longtime collector Mike Breeden. “But, on the other hand, there is something for everyone in this lineup.
“There is one guy I need who I’ve never seen before: Doug Collins. He is the top name on my [list] for this show just because I’ve never met him.”
TRISTAR SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)
Wednesday, July 29
Cecil Cooper, 2:15
Gregg Jefferies, 2:15
Patrick Mannelly, 5
Jim Miller, 5
Thursday, July 30
Rocky Bleir, 10:45
Steve Carlton, 10:45
Ron Mix, 10:45
Brian Bosworth, 11
Earl Campbell, 11
Gene Hiser, 11
Jerry Korab, 11
Warren Moon, 11
Anthony Munoz, 11
Bob Lilly, 11:15
Kurt Warner, 11:15
Robert Parish, 11:30
Phil Simms, 11:30
Randy White, 11:30
Torry Holt, 11:45
Boomer Esiason, 12
Kevin McHale, 12
Marshall Fault, 12:30
Mel Renfro, 12:30
Mike Singletary, 12:30
Roger Wehrli, 12:30
Isaac Bruce, 12:45
Drew Pearson, 12:45
Steve Atwater, 1
Jonathan Ogden, 1
Jackie Slater, 1
Charles Haley, 1:15
Jan Stenerud, 1:30
Dwight Stephenson, 1:30
Joe DeLamielleure, 1:45
Will Shields, 1:45
Randy Martz, 2
Mike Squires, 2
Emmitt Thomas, 2
Billy Williams, 2
Dan Hampton, 2:15
Bruce Matthews, 2:15
Dave Casper, 2:30
Drew Brees, 2:45
LeRoy Butler, 2:45
Donovan McNabb, 2:45
Steve Largent, 3
Kevin Mawae, 3:15
Neil Smith, 3:15
Robert Brazile, 3:45
Jackie Smith, 4
Friday, July 31
Ozzie Guillen, 11
Matt Hughes, 11
Grant Mulvey, 11
Jim Osborne, 11
Billy Smith, 11
Lynn Swann, 11
Eric Allen, 11:15
Jim Thome, 11:15
Jeff Bagwell, 11:30
David Ortiz, 11:30
Cal Ripken, Jr., 11:30
Mike Schmidt, 11:30
Luke Kuechly, 12
Emmitt Smith, 12
Jack Ham, 12:15
Archie Griffin, 12:30
Richard Dent, 12:45
Walt Frazier, 12:45
Zach Thomas, 12:45
Johnny Bench, 1
Edgerrin James, 1:15
Ozzie Smith, 1:15
Daunte Culpepper, 1:30
Jay Cutler, 1:30
Ric Flair, 1:30
Matt Forte, 1:45
Doug Collins, 2
Wendell Davis, 2
Bernard King, 2
Chuck Knoblauch, 2
Jim McMahon, 2:15
Ricky Williams, 2:15
Allen Iverson, 2:30
Lawrence Taylor, 2:45
Carlton Fisk, 3 p.m.
Chad Johnson, 3:15
Johnny Manziel, 3:15
Ottis Anderson, 3:30
Willie McGree, 3:30
Hakeem Olajuwon, 3:30
Rod Woodson, 3:30
Sterling Sharpe, 3:45
Joe Theismann, 4
Michael Vick, 4
Jim Kelly, 4:15
Thurman Thomas, 4:30
Marv Levy, 4:45
Andre Reed, 4:45
Saturday, Aug. 1
Matt Hughes, 11
Reggie Jackson, 11
Ron Kittle, 11
Sheryl Swoopes, 11
Christian Laettner, 11:15
Pedro Martinez, 11:15
Barry Sanders, 11:30
Miguel Cabrera, 11:45
Dwight Freeney, 11:45
Calvin Johnson, 11:45
Joe Montana, 12:15
Megan Keller, 12:30
Jerry Rice, 12:30
Dez Bryant, 12:45
Mariano Rivera, 12:45
Carson Palmer, 1
Manny Ramirez, 1
LaDainian Tomlinson, 1
Kerry Wood, 1
Antonia Gates, 1:15
Dan Marino, 1:15
Mike Tyson, 1:30
Mike Hartenstine, 2
Evander Holyfield, 2
Otis Wilson, 2
Devin Hester, 2:15
Jeff Kent, 2:15
Andruw Jones, 2:30
Terrell Suggs, 2:30
Andre Johnson, 2:45
Scott Rolen, 2:45
Dennis Rodman, 3
Buster Douglas, 3:15
Jaromir Jagr, 3:30
Tommy John, 3:45
Jon Jones, 4
Bonecrusher Smith, 4
Gerry Cooney, 4:30
Sunday, Aug 2
Rollie Fingers, 10:45
Roger Clemens, 11
Chris Sabo, 11
Lee Smith, 11
Geovany Soto, 11
Dave Winfield, 11
Trevor Hoffman, 11:15
Javy Lopez, 11:15
Jack Morris, 11:15
Ted Simmons, 11:15
Angel Berroa, 11:30
Andre Dawson, 11:30
Rafael Furcal, 11:30
Fergie Jenkins, 11:30
Vlad Guerrero, 12:15
Rob Gronkowski, 12:30
Tony LaRussa, 12:30
Tommy John, 12:45
Juan Marichal, 1
Tony Perez, 1
John Smoltz, 1
Robin Yount, 1
Bert Blyleven, 1:15
Wade Boggs, 1:15
Tom Glavine, 1:15
Eddie Murray, 1:30
Edgar Martinez, 1:45
Steve Lyons, 2
Tony Oliva, 2
Reid Simpson, 2
