Feedback from the 2015 National
 

So...the 2015 National in Chicago has begun, and those of us unable to attend are curious as to how the show is going?

What's hot and what's not?

Let's see your big scores!


Patrick

copied from OBC club report:
Well the show hours today were 4 to 8PM as a sneak preview but somehow we were able to get in at like 8:45AM:) I suppose there are two options on how to manage your bankroll here at the National. Number one go slow budget and spread out your spending over the week. Number two plan on spending a lot on day one because things don't last:) well since we were in the show early I guess you could say I spent $500 at the first table I visited seven hours before the show even opened:)
First stop was at mark Macre and Ted Z table Ted is a legend on Net54 and T206 expert. One thing I learned about getting into these more expensive cards who you buy them from is important too. I bought a nice stack from Mark and one from legend Ted as well.
I started the show with 430 of the 518 T206 in the set so with the HOFers remaining I know this will be a long project.
Spent the first part of my day visiting the dealers I know and had good results. Taylor and I came to the same conclusion: as our collections have advanced visiting a dealer like Ron Estes I mean the guy has 1,000s of bargain prices cards real steals but what the heck I don't need even one card it's an interesting dilemma. After that I was able to walk each aisle of the floor and finish a couple of non sport sets. Taylor texted me to a table where I got another batch of T206 Taylor has a real knack for spending my money just kidding!
I'm up early Thur AM in the lobby as Roomies Spike and Taylor are still asleep so I can't really go through all the cards but I know I added 27 hits to my T206 incl HOFers and Southern Leaguers. It was quite the first day! Mac called me over to a $100 Cy Young T206 I had already bought a stack of T206 from this guy but missed the Cy a Young cause the name is chewed off from a mouse! I passed on the card just to much mouse and acid bath and card looked SO fragile I know I'll never see a cheaper one. So this continues another tradition Mac calls me over to a card I should buy but don't, then all year long I cry in my beer that I wish I would have pulled the trigger:)
Dinner at Haufbrau House was so good sausages and sauerkraut but the company was better!
Amazing Experience!
Guru

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Great reporting!


Let's see some pics of some crazy stuff out there...
Wagners/planks etc....

I'll be checking back often.

Thanks

Here's a video I just found on You Tube taken at the convention yesterday --

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adG643BeiSc


Greg

I didn't want it to end. Just wonderful. Can't wait for the National to come to AC next year.

Tom C

Seeing this just makes me wish I had bitten the bullet and gone. /Facepalm

Very cool,
 

Thanks for sharing that video. I'm bummed that I could not make the trip but AC next year is on my calendar! Thanks!

Mike

Any of the younger crowd also hitting up lollapalooza too this weekend? Considering there's also a music festival in Chicago happening the same weekend makes me really regret not going.

Nice haul Larry!

Many, many thanks for uploading the video. Wish I could have seen the grade of that 1961-62 Topps Bobby Hull, one of my favorite cards. Regardless, nice camera work. Bravo. Thanks again. ---Brian Powell

If anyone is able to get me some of the Manny the Frenchie cards tomorrow at the Upper Deck booth that would be awesome. He is suppose to be there from 1pm - 3pm. My wife is begging me to find someone who can. So much so I'm very close to getting a Ty Cobb card out of the deal. Here's a picture.

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=18882

Steven,

I'm confused...per your other post, I think of you had it your way, you'd be here to get one for her! :eek:

"Post some of the rarer cards you see for those not able to make it or whose wife decided "it wasn't a good idea since we are building a house." (I'm not bitter at all I swear )"


I'll set an alarm for myself and will try to find them tomorrow, although no guarantees. If I can, I hope you get that Cobb.

Early reports from the National: very quiet, literally. I don't hear any of the cheering from the case breaks like I did in previous years, but maybe they haven't started yet.

Also, I'm happy to report that it seems like most people showered before coming to the show today. Can't always count on that with this crowd. :D

Cheers,
Steve

Easily the busiest Thursday I've seen at the national in years. Strong sales from everyone I spoke with.

On a personal note saw one total e105 Mello Mint which was a SGC 30 Wagner Batting at $4500. Asked every single dealer and that was it. Pretty amazing.

Mantles are absolutely on fire according to most I talked to. OJs seemed to be selling well also. Lots of tough t206 backs and print freaks. Still seem to be pretty strong.

Lots of kids and younger folks which was very refreshing.

Until next year...

That video is drool-worthy!!!

I got my 62 topps football and 67 topps football completed today.

I only found two dealers with a RAW Ditka rookie (guy I bought from for $115 actually had 3 of them) in the entire room.
And the same story for the 1967 topps football #59 unmarked checklist. One I bought for $40 and another for $75.

A few notes.

-The box break area is Huge and active.
-Panini was by far the busiest of the card manufacturers
-Every dealer I purchased from was very friendly and dare I say even talkative best cutomer service I experienced at nationals I have attended.
-One thing missing from VIP bags is a free deodorant sample. ..apparently many national attendees are unfamiliar with this product.

Dave,
I noticed the ole deodorant thing too!!! Eeeewww

I going on Saturday....anyone with 1954 high grade cards or 1933 psa ruths?

Levi I am sure. :)

I bought a card or two from him...maybe he will discount a card to market price as a favor...

Thursday sales were stronger than expected by a wide range of buyers. I sold an E98 Matty to a 15 year old girl - tough negotiator that shopped the whole floor a knew what she wanted. Cobb sales are going for way over book - what else is new.

Awesome

Day two what hurts more my head my feet or my back? First stop Mark M and Ted Z table but after thumbing through their T206 cards I passed for now and began my day. And I made a mistake a "veteran" like me should not make. SCD is selling their new big vintage book for $10 it's a heck of
a buy so I pick one up. Well the mistake was, now I have to lug this brick around all day! Prob should have stowed the book behind someone's table better yet wait till I'm leaving to purchase but I'm not always so smart.
Mostly smaller purchases to start off with, although I did finish off my 1959 Topps Hockey set AND picked up a discount 1957 Topps Hockey Bucyk RC on the cheap. Also purchased a 1960 Topps Bobby Hull I am SO close to finishing off my Topps Hockey run!
I did pick up several '69 Topps football "4-in-ones" to push that set along and of course chipping away at my non sports wantlist too I finished my 1976 Happy Days set with a couple of stickers of Richie and the Fonz it's the little things in life right?
Took a much needed break at the in lobby Starbucks and had a nice convo with roommate Spike plus I got to set down my sixty pound backpack! Running into OBC members all day and met Geordie, Gary, and saw Jason sporting the new OBC t-shirts.
Went back to the off grade t-206 guys table and bought a few more and ended up with eleven more hits to my t206 list that's thirty-eight hits so far:)
After the show we took the train into Chicago for our traditional meal at Mother Hubbards sports bar met Ray L and his wife. Chicago is so beautiful and let me tell you the women are beautiful too! I ate WAY to much last night.....
I have a meet up scheduled today with some of the Net54 football guys at noon and then the Net54 party tonight. More OBC members rolling in today too, just look for the hats (although their are three versions of hats). Lots of activity in the pack busting area but at least there's not all that annoying cheering they did last year:) I don't quite understand what they do back there but they seem to have fun. Off we go for day #3!

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Video of vintage at national
 

Becket posted a cool video of the BBCE table that's not well labeled so I'll post it here:

http://youtu.be/JI2VWyVQHgE

I'm on a plane from ny to chi to hit the national for a day trip - I'll plan on taking lots of video of the vintage tables and specifically old Red Sox stuff including Ted, Doerr, Jimmie Foxx, Smoky Joe Wood etc. If there are any Ted fans in attendance here. - id love to grab lunch. I'm new back into he hobby and have very few collector contacts.

My plan is to spend about half my budget on vintage wax and half on the above posted Red Sox. I'm not a dealer so whatever i spend is SPEND so I'm going to try to keep it below 2-3k as I'm having a baby on Aug 19 and it's just the principle of doing that so close to birth that is holding me back from that 5-8 range. I'm so excited that I can't stop smiling - there are two of the tiniest card shops in all of Manhattan and one in Brooklyn and it's all Yankees gear so this is just going to blow me away. Anyway - more from the floor in a few!

Everyone have a good Friday at the show!! Looking forward to seeing some more pickups and hearing stories today.

For everyone going to the dinner tonight, please have a beer in my name. I'll be cracking some in Columbus around 4:30 this afternoon.


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I was at the show on Thursday. I thought it was pretty good. I found the pricing to be a little better than the last time I went. I didn't find any deals, but the pricing at some of the tables was fair. I picked up some hall of famers I needed:

T206 Crawford with bat PSA 4
T206 Flick PSA 4
M116 Sport life PSA 4
Bulgaria Sport Ruth & Schmeling PSA 5
1939-46 salutation Ted Williams PSA 6

I also Picked up a few post war cards:
1964 stand up Killebrew PSA 6
1965 Topps Brock - PSA 6
1961 topps Berra - PSA 6

I resisted the urge to drop money buying vintage wax.

Walked the show since Tuesday and only saw one Gehrig RC-- the same "1" that's been on eBay forever. So much for upgrading! Great time tho. Lots of fun and gregarious folks with whom to talk cards and baseball.

Steven,

I picked up a pack of the cards for you. PM me your address and I'll send them to you.

Cheers,
Steve

Great pick ups everyone!
 

felt like I was there!!

thanks to live feedback from Jantz, Ted Z,Chris B, Brian W, Adam G, Sean C, to name a few ! thanks guys for the reports, I know I'm a pia :)

Larry....great score of 206:)



CONGRATS EVERYONE!
I was going to get a ride from nj with my friend and show up on Sat, but looks like there isn't a lot of T206 scraps there, plus it would be rushed for me....
good news is the show so far seems better than the previous years and Scrap continues to be well sought after:) kinda "bitter sweet" for me....

so I am re grouping and am already counting down the hours until A/C, where I can finally display my freak show "Circus"!:D
a lot of my collector friends are already planning the trek:)

Please continue these great reports!

LET'S see more Scanz:D

BTW..........Where's Wonka??????????:o

Steve W....
 

great to have you posting BTW:)

Thanks Johnny! The forum has been a big help for me the past two months. We really have some great, thoughtful members. :)

Here are some scans of what I picked up at the National. This is my first time posting scans. Let me know if I screwed it up. Thanks. :D

Attachment 199036

Attachment 199037

Attachment 199038

Attachment 199039

Attachment 199040

I picked up a raw E102 Bescher, but no E105s - as Danny said they were non-existent. There was a lot of great eye candy though as always!

T206 Crawford.....
 

That left border on the Crawford is HUGE. Very cool oversized T206.

Mike

Lots to see
 

I think it's time for the National to embrace social media in a different format/use. A collector like myself can submit what he is most after, let's say an Oxford Confection Speaker and then this info is transmitted to all dealers in advance. Then when I come to the show I can open a site that says which table has the card I'm after.

I know, I know pain in the ass for the dealer, BUT WHAT IF, I put in my wants 2 weeks in advance. Each of us could have up to 5 posts. It would sure eliminate my walking the show and looking to see if the dealer had oldies or not. I'm sure I missed one somewhere because I'm sure I missed some tables.

I would think this would benefit dealers just as much if not more. How many get asked for something that they don't have with them but have back in their shops/inventories? I bet a system like this would increase sales across the board by 30%+

Just finished my first national experience Thursday and Friday

Gotta say it was a great time. I picked up a few t206 back stamps , passed on a few also . Most everyone was very friendly only had a couple of dealers that were less than friendly. Added a couple of t207's that I needed.

I don't recall seeing any Oxford confectionaries, t227 cobbs, low grade cracker jacks. Although I was focusing on "stacks of t206's".

It was a challenge for me to walk the whole show in 2 days.

Johnny you are right the only t206 scrap I recall seeing was Leon's multi strike.

I was disappointed that I didn't grab any t205 commons. I was actively looking for them but never found any even remotely close to the price at which I've purchased 8 on eBay the last 2 weeks.

I did find a new interest in topps coins and seeing a lot of post war regional issues and topps non-base sets made me want to list Al Richters collection as one of the top three I'd like to see.

I'm slamming a couple of Stiegls now in prep for "double fisting corona's " ( as Leon put it) at the net54 dinner- which I hope tops off a great 2 days- so excuse the "stream of conciousness report.

In summary I had a great time and recommend the national to any card collector who hasn't been!

I also am experiencing my first National, and it has been great! I picked up some wire photos and type 1s of Teddy Ballgame...will post when I get home. What a great environment and experience!

Glad you all enjoyed the video. Not all pre-War related but here is a link to numerous National-related stories: http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com...-convention-2/

I had a great time today in my one day at the National. Although I didn't plan it that way, my entire card haul consisted of T206s (all raw, of course) on which I got some pretty good deals. They included five HOFers (all three Matty bought as a lot, see below, and two of the Mordecai Browns), four Southern Leaguers, a Piedmont Factory 42 (thanks, Ted Z!), a Tolstoi, an Old Mill, and three very nice-looking commons at very reasonable prices. I also got a big stack of VCBC magazines and a couple of books from Wildfireschulte. In addition to him and Ted Z., I got to chat with numerous other Net54 denizens, on the show floor as well as at the dinner. They included Frank Burkett, Ed Hans, Jay Miller, Leon, Rhett Yeakley, Mac Wubben, Jobu (aka Bryan), Steve D, and others. Thanks, everybody!

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Great to meet Frank B, Steve D, trdcrdkid, Jobu, and others at the mixer last night thank you Leon! I'm still having a great time chipping away at all my sets and also picked up nine hits T205 and five more hits T206 including W Johnson and Cy Young thanks to Net54 member Mike P!
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tony....
 

thanks for the report! I heard there wasn't hardly any scrap there:confused:.....they are being held tight nowadays;)......I think a lot of collectors have become wise.....the little gems turn up hidden on ebay like a treasure hunt....I did hear of 2 particular scraps that were the only 2 spotted.....but they were huge cards:eek: wish I was there just to hold them.....I do not want to divulge what they were because they were so special......I heard the gentleman was going to hold onto them.... I would've too:D.......

glad everyone is having a great show:) those pick ups are great! keep 'em coming

Leon, I wish I was at the dinner also....

next year my friends! lock your scrap up, johnny will be in AC with the side show freak show "THE CIRCUS" on full display....:)

Stuck in Columbus? You poor bastard. [emoji6]

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It was great to meet you too, LuckyLarry! I knew there were some people I was forgetting!

Slow start this morning - not the usual flood of buyers. Must be a collective Net54 hangover?

He lives!!


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Only one pickup but still a great show for me. Favorite part as always is the great conversations on and off the floor. Big thank you to those who helped me.

Any cool Negro Leagues baseball stuff at the show? This is my first National missed in the past 12 years so not there to find out myself.........