The Sports Card and Memorabilia Collector's Pilgrimage
By: Frank James Howard
The year was 1980 when a hodge podge group of collectors assembled in Los Angeles for what later became known as the First National Sports Collectors Convention. That meeting grew into the annual gathering that it is today. Hoping to appeal to a larger group of collectors, the creators of The National Sports Collectors Convention decided that the convention should take place at a variety of cities so that collectors from all corners of the continent could take part in the event. In the early going, The National Convention occurred in Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and the New York metro area.
The National has since grown considerably, becoming a massive event that can only be accommodated by a handful of venues in the nation. That doesn't stop the event from attracting guests from all corners of the collectibles industry. It is the only event where the majority of the people in the hobby come together to meet in one place. The National Convention is where every sports memorabilia wants to be in large part because of the support from major trading card companies, sports card graders, auctioneers, and professional sports licensors.
The 30th National Sports Collectors Convention occurred in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Cleveland's International Exposition Center. Reviews of the event were favorable from visitors, licensors, manufacturers, and exhibitors. The 31th National is now being arranged for 2010, when sports collectors will meet in Baltimore, Maryland for the show.
The National Sports Collectors Convention's autograph guests are legendary. Over the last three decades the National has presented a countless list of superstars to sign autographs at the shows. Past autograph signers include Wayne Gretzky, Cal Ripken Jr., Wilt Chamberlain, Joe Namath, Shaquille O'Neal, Mickey Mantle, Ferguson Jenkins, Joe Dimaggio, Magic Johnson and many other luminaries. Several years ago the Autograph Pavilion has added personalities from the entertainment world. Non athlete autograph signers who have attended The National include Penny Marshall, Erin Moran, David Faustino, Jon Provost, Cindy Williams, Jerry Ferrara and even the rock group KISS.
The National Convention is the largest sports collectibles event with the greatest tradition, the most impressive autograph signers, the widest range of sports card dealers, and the most remarkable range of sports cards and memorabilia, all in one place.The National Sports Collectors Convention is where every collector, distributor, licensor, manufacturer, and dealer will be in 2010 to take part in the most important sports card and memorabilia event of the year.
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