Vintage Memorabilia at National - Anyone?
 

If anyone who attends the National can comment on the memorabilia scene. (particularly more higher end stuff) I’d really appreciate your impressions. Photos, contracts, etc. Thanks.

I heard (from a very reliable source) that although it's jam-packed, the show is very light on quality vintage memorabilia. Lots of hype around cards, set breaks, mass-produced items, grading, autograph guests and modern offerings.

Most of the good memorabilia in the building is not necessarily for sale, and is displayed by auction houses to promote their current and upcoming auctions.

Thanks Mark. That all sounds consistent with what I would have expected.
Cards are just a more fungible commodity I guess. Population reports, website with prices.
Someone spent $5M on a Mahomes card. Their money but I’d rather have a Gehrig Jersey or Ruth one of a kind piece.

Amen to that. I can understand putting some money into new player either because you like them or think they could be good invesments, but $4-5 million on a guy, who, if he gets hurt tomorrow, could be done for good is a lot to risk vs a nice Ruth, Gehrig, or some other known established entity.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Read it as 5k on a Mahomes card and thought that was a tad high…

National vintage memorabilia
 

Bought this framed up ad from circa 1900 or so (BASE BALL) ...pretty much covers everything you need to know about the activities taking place....that is what attracted me to it....Also, it was found in North Carolina but now has made its way back to the home state....Sandwich, Il. is about 75 miles from where I live.

the seller you bought that from had some incredible memorabilia at his booth. the “baseball today” cloth banner was a beauty. lots of high-end top shelf memorabilia throughout this national.

Do you have any pics or images to share? Thanks!

no. i don’t go to the national to take pictures

Weird response.

Really? I've been to a half-dozen Nationals and never taken a photo.

The show today was crowded. I finally figured out the huge floor is pseudo broken into two parts. Newish stuff on one side and vintage stuff on the other. I don't know if that was on purpose. But that's how I found it. I wasted a lot of time in the newish section before realizing.

Each is own with photo’s or not photo’s. Some of us who never been to Nationals loves the members sharing their experience and we are hopeful some have photo’s to help better visualize it.

So no harm meant in asking

Thanks

I totally agree: no harm in asking.

The response to when someone said he doesn't take photos at the National was it is "weird" is what prompted my post.

The vintage guys are all near the front because they've done a lot of Nationals and have priority in picking tables.

Reading comprehension Bill. I said his response was weird. He seemed offended he was asked for pictures. That is a weird reaction. As if it's a crazy idea.

Well, the card guys have no trouble posting photos. Other collector forums and Youtube videos are showing a plethora of cards at the National.... but I still haven't seen diddlysquat in the way of vintage memorabilia.

Judging from the numerous videos and photos I've seen so far... the floor space seems to be allocated to 60% cards, 20% auction houses, 10% TPGs, 5% new "manufactured" memorabilia, 3% supplies and maybe 2% vintage memorabilia.

Don’t think I’ll ever bother with another National. My one and only was Anaheim (1994?).

Already looking forward to AC next year. In 2016 when it was here in NJ I really enjoyed the show and came home with a couple nice items. I know 5 years ago many things were different but saw lots of great Memorabilia at that national. Hope 2022 is the same.
J

To answer your question, I thought it was weak. There was some great stuff at some of the auction house displays including Hunt and Heritage, but little for sale. The memorabilia that was there was generally marked about 2-3 times normal retail, but people are free to mark as they wish. Keith Javic had a nice display as usual and Rick Haskins had plenty of great pennants and his prices are very reasonable in my opinion. There were some other pieces here and there and some nice autographs for sale. The rest of what I personally saw was the regular run of the mill stuff and other items I have seen many times in the past. Sorry I don’t generally take photos. Jason

sat it out
 

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/qBVAGF.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/7LTo8r.jpg

I didn't go this year but snagged two items by text, after friends sent photos...first was the Yale hockey sweater from Corey Leiby...Dave Sykes of the three Bill's n' Dave posse sent a shot of a display cabinet and it looked like a Corey booth...so texted Corey and clinched it...One of the best hockey sweaters I've come across...then that University of Pennsylvania baseball broadside schedule I got from Keith Javic...I learned John Gennantonio had already seen it because when I showed it to him he said he had researched previously and it was either 1908 or 1914 based on cross examining the dates with yearbooks from his archives...Faded and chipped...that's the perfect condition I like a broadside...because you're 300% sure it's real not a repop...You can see why these kinds of posters are so rare because of how fragile it is...very few have survived...most were broken and tossed...University of Pennsylvania sports broadsides are extremely rare for some reason…I believe this is the first one I’ve seen…so I was very happy to get it…

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/NsXHXI.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/njhPdP.jpg

It isn't 1908 or 1914. I took a date from the broadside, April 21 which needs to be a Friday. That date, on the following years, was:

1908 Tuesday
1909 Wednesday
1910 Thursday
1911 Friday
1912 Sunday
1913 Monday
1914 Tuesday
1915 Wednesday
1916 Friday

or what ever...
 

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/juS0dm.jpg

I should correct that Gennantonio said as much he "thought" from recollection it was 1908 or 1914 speaking off the cuff...My first question to John was when did they stop wearing collared jerseys...

I am not trying to be a jerk, I am trying to help you identify the year.

thx
 

Thanks very much Mark...

my only pickup
 

Guys............This was the only memorabilia pickup for me at the show, as I was there Wednesday and Thursday. I acquired it from Corey, as well. I love the colors and vintage graphics and it's still sealed. There were more cool items, but I was kind of looking for a figural baseball trophy which didn't pan out.

Matt

If I go to one, it will probably be that one. It fits more easily into my calendar. Just can't seem to make room for Chicago in July.

I've rarely taken photos at the National but I did snap a few at past shows. I thought this one was a great still-life of the National experience:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ze/9image.jpeg

I call it "Stuff and Donut"

Then there's this one:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...bsize/Bowe.jpg

Last AC show, me and Riddick Bowe.

I would generally agree with all of Jason's comments.
As far as vintage memorabilia, this National was the weakest that I have ever attended. His comment about the memorabilia items that were for sale being 2-3 times normal retail was spot on.

Many of you know that I collect vintage baseball tickets. This National was a virtual bust in terms of finding any of these.

That being said, the experience was still worthwhile. Getting a chance to get together with some of my collector and dealer friends was awesome.
I missed attending the National in 2020. It was great to get back to some sence of normalcy. :cool:;)

I thought the amount of memorabilia was down considerably from past years. I am not talking about super high end stuff more under a $1000 items like games, equipment, odd ball stuff. It did seem like there were more hartlands and it seemed bobble heads must not have sold as well or were overpriced because it seemed cabinets were still pretty full on Sunday afternoon. Lots of pennants but they seemed priced about double what I would expect. I usually buy from non memorabilia dealers so I may not have a good idea on retail price. Took this one picture as I just picked up a set of reeded shin guards. I was surprised how much these were marked. I had fun, was amazed how much money was spent on new stuff as a chance.