Sunday, August 3, 2025, National Sports Collectors Convention, Rosemont, IL

Man, was I tired Sunday morning. See photo below. I did not hire any help because Sunday is usually dead at the National. I only had a few sales on Sunday last year in Cleveland. A few years ago in Atlantic City, I did not have a single sale until late in the afternoon. I was not expecting much today.

First order of business was to devise an exit plan. The show went until 4 p.m. and the folks who run the National would not allow dealers to drive their cars into the building until 5 p.m. My plan was to stay set up all day and slowly pack up at four, then drive my car to the booth at 5.

Not as many empty holes in my display cases on Sunday morning as Saturday sales were the slowest of the week so far. I wondered if I should even bother filling the holes since Sundays are usually so horrible. I just didn't like the look of the empty spots in my display cases so I ended up filling them the best I could, as back stock was now non-existent.

I had Scott watch my stuff while I went to the lobby for some crappy coffee and more avocado toast. Once I downed the coffee and had eaten the toast, I went back to the lobby for some better coffee at Starbucks where the line was the shortest it had been all week.

Good thing I was heavily caffeinated because I was busy! Totally unexpected. I was busy all day long and needed help! Wow! Probably my best Sunday ever at the National. 

Because I was so busy, the day went by fast. Before I knew it, it was 4 p.m. I was selling cards right up to the final bell. Crazy. What a crazy week!

It took me a long time to pull all the cards from my display cases and take down the four tables I brought along. All my cards fit into one bin which I brought with me as I made that long walk to the parking garage.

I pulled up to the garage by the autograph pavilion and had to wait awhile before I was let in. Scott was already gone.

I was able to park near my booth. It took a while to cart everything to the car and fill it up. I had the car filled floor to ceiling. Then I slowly exited the building. Another National in the books!

Once home, I decided to treat Lisa and Tabitha to a nice dinner at Benihana Japanese Steak House in Wheeling, Illinois. Benihana is one of those places where the chef cooks on the table and puts on a show. A fitting way to end a great week!

Before dinner, I pulled my cards out of the car but kept the display cases and tables in there for days before I had enough energy to empty it out.

A huge thank you to everyone who visited me at the National. Special thank you to my friend Larry who brought me an amazing pastrami sandwich on Saturday from Al & Joe's in nearby Franklin Park, IL. I also appreciate everyone who purchased cards and sold me cards. What a great week! 

So, I did not get a chance to walk the show because I was so busy. I have been enjoying all the YouTube videos. None have shown my booth but I did get interviewed on camera by some guys. I just can't find the video. Oh, well. From my booth, the show was amazing. Looking at all those videos, the show looked amazing except for the area upstairs where the dealers were jammed in. So many people complained about it all week. I was happy the air conditioning worked.

Looking forward to next year. Come find me in the same spot near the autograph pavilion.

Sunday morning selfie. I was tired!

Now for my purchases. All this stuff walked up to my booth during the National.

I still owe some blogs. Hope to get them done soon!

It is now September and I have a crazy busy month. The monthly Oak Creek show is Saturday, September 6. Then I have my Oak Creek Vintage Show on September 13. Then there is my 450-table MegaShow on September 20. The Milwaukee area is the place to be in September!!!

Saturday, August 2, 2025, National Sports Collectors Convention, Rosemont, IL

Saturday at the National is dealer booth-lottery day for purchasing a booth for next year. Dealers are given a number based on the number of Nationals they have done under their own name. I’ve set up at 12 or so Nationals but have only done six in my name. As a result, I am near the bottom of the barrel for the booth lottery.

However, being at the bottom of the barrel does not bother me. I just want to set up. Any booth works fine for me. This was my second year at my current booth. After such a great show, I want to get the exact same spot for next year.

So I had an easy plan for Saturday morning. Arrive around 8 a.m. for the booth lottery then go set up for the day — easier said than done!

My helper for the day was Donny, who arrived at my house earlier than scheduled. Great, I thought, because I wanted to make sure we arrived at the booth lottery on time. We hopped in my car and drove to Rosemont.

As we pulled off the highway onto River Road, I realized I forgot our badges. Ugh! We had to drive back to my house and get the badges. I was not going to be early to the booth lottery. Not sure I was going to be on time.

I drove back to my house like a bat out of hell. Sorry Donny! He did not realize he signed up for some crazy driving by yours truly.

We got back to my house. I ran inside and grabbed the badges. Hopped back in the car and drove back to Rosemont like a bat out of hell, again. Sorry Donny!

We made it back to Rosemont and into the room with the booth lottery just as they were finishing up the sixes. I was able to get my booth for next year. I also voted for Detroit for the location of the 2028 National.

Crisis averted. On to preparing for Saturday.

I had major open space in my display cases due to monster sales all week long. I pulled out most of the stuff I had left over that would not fit in the cases previously. I still had space so I had to place some of my National purchases into the cases to fill up the holes.

Now I needed food and caffein. I went to check on the line at the Starbucks in the lobby. Long.

The bar in the lobby did not have a line at all and it also served food. I ordered a coffee and some avocado toast. The coffee was crap but the caffein worked. The avocado toast was surprisingly good.

The show was very crowded today but action at my booth was the slowest it had been all week. Sales were still good and better than Saturday last year in Cleveland but just not as good as the previous three days.

Donny was an excellent helper. Thanks Donny!

On the buying front, a near set of 1966 Dexter Press walked up and included a graded Mickey Mantle and Elston Howard — what a fun purchase!

After the show and on our way to the parking garage, I noticed the line wrapped around the building for trade night. There was all sorts of stuff to do each night after the show but I was much too tired and hungry to attend any of them. I took Donny over to Russell’s for dinner. He had never been and we had some great food and called it a day.