2018 National Sports Collectors Convention Guide
Overview
Cleveland rocks for sports collectors! The 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention calls Ohio home for the 39th annual mega-event. No matter what it is that you collect, the sprawling NSCC is very likely to have some (or lots) available for you to peruse and take home. Plus, it gives many the chance to meet up with their collecting friends. And you can't forget the many in-person signers, exclusive cards and hobby events taking place in "the Cleve" at the beginning of August.
While sports collectible shows may seem like a thing of the past, there are actually quite a few going on throughout the year and in many different regions. However, the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention stands above the rest based on the sheer size of the event and the exposure from the rest of the collecting world.
Looking ahead, after Chicago hosted the 2017 National, it gets the call again in 2019. Following that, in 2020, it's Atlantic City, which was also the site for 2016.
As there is a lot to see and do, it can be an overwhelming experience, especially for first-timers. With that in mind, be sure to check out our National Sports Collectors Convention Survival Guide so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
Important 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention Details
Date: Wednesday, August 1 to Sunday, August 5
Where is it?: International Exposition Center (I-X Center) in Cleveland, Ohio. See complete directions and parking info for the I-X Center as well as the NSCC schedule of events. The National site also provides discounted hotel rooms and rates if you book ahead.
If you like to be able to see exactly where you are going, review a detailed Google map for the area around the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention below.
2018 National Sports Collectors Convention Show Dates and Hours
- Wednesday, August 1 - 4PM to 8PM (sneak peek)
- Thursday, August 2 - 10AM to 6PM
- Friday, August 3 - 10AM to 6PM
- Saturday, August 4 - 10AM to 6PM
- Sunday, August 5 - 10AM to 5PM
Admission Details: *Ticket Sales Start March 5, 2018*
Obviously, you need a ticket to get into the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention. If you want the most basic option, it's $19 per day if pre-purchased (or $22/day at the show), and don't forget that kids 12 and under get in free for the entire event. There are also more expensive packages which come with extra perks, so you have to decide what works best for you.
In addition to exclusive freebies and show admission for all five days, VIP tickets offer free autographs, as well. The main VIP package is good for 12 autographs from a designated group, while the Super VIP includes all 18 signers. The Super VIP also features a free hat, double the VIP cards, and free parking in a special parking lot, so that might be especially appealing for some. Even more expensive, the All-Access packages match the VIP perks and have first-in-line privileges.
Collectors can get a better price on most ticket options by purchasing before they get to the show.
Full details for the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention ticket pricing and packages can be viewed on the National's website. 2018 NSCC admission tickets officially go on sale Monday, March 5.
2018 National Sports Collectors Convention Tickets Snapshot
- General Admission: $19/day in advance, $22/day at the show
- Children (12 and under): Free all week
- VIP Package: $139 in advance, $149 at the show
- Super VIP Package: $199 in advance, $209 at the show
- All-Access VIP: $259
- All-Access Super VIP: $309
Other Events Around Cleveland During NSCC 2018
Topps is also having its annual VIP party for VIP ticket holders. This gets going at 2:30 PM on Wednesday and includes free autographs from Calvin Murphy (NBA Hall of Fame), Mike Hargrove (former Cleveland Indians Manager), and Luis Tiant (former Cleveland Indians pitcher).
Another fun aspect of the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention being in Cleveland is that collectors can explore the city. If you are looking for something else to do in addition to the NSCC festivities, there are several options.
Baseball fans are in luck as the Los Angeles Angels are in town to play the Cleveland Indians on August 3, 4 and 5. In fact, the Sunday game has a giveaway for a Topps promo set.
Another sports-based option nearby, the WGC Bridgestone Invitational about 40 miles away in Akron features some of the top golfers in the world, including Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day and Bubba Watson.
It is also worth noting that the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement is the same weekend in Canton, Ohio, which is only around 60 miles away. The actual Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens is on August 2.
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Autograph Guests
2018 National Sports Collectors Convention Autograph Signers Schedule
The TriStar Autograph Pavilion is a top draw at the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention. While most autographs cost extra, this is where the VIP tickets can be used for free autographs from a select group.
The tentative 2018 NSCC signers list schedule is shown below. Please note that all signers are subject to change. The TriStar website has full information posted, including specific prices, signing times and details on ticket sales. Late changes to the schedule are compiled here.
*VIP guests are noted below. **Hargrove, Petrocelli, Tiant and Calvin Murphy signing free during Sneak Peak on Wednesday.
2018 NSCC Autograph Signers List
Subject to change.
Baseball
Al Kaline
Alan Trammell
Albert Pujols
Andre Dawson
Benito Santiago *
Bob Gibson
Brooks Robinson
Cal Ripken Jr.
Corey Kluber
Craig Biggio
Dale Murphy
Darryl Strawberry
Dave Concepcion
Dave Winfield
Dwight Evans
Eddie Murray
Francisco Lindor
Frank Robinson
Frank Thomas
Fred Lynn
Gaylord Perry
George Foster
Goose Gossage
Gregg Jefferies *
Jack Morris
Jim Rice
Jim Thome
Joe Charboneau *
Joe Morgan
José Rijo *
Ken Griffey Sr
Kenny Lofton
Len Barker *
Liván Hernández *
Luis Tiant **
Mark Grace
Marty Cordova *
Mike Hargrove**
Ozzie Smith
Pete Rose
Randy Jones *
Reggie Jackson
Rickey Henderson
Rico Petrocelli **
Robin Yount
Rod Carew
Roger Clemens
Rollie Fingers
Tim Raines
Tom Browning *
Tommy Helms *
Tony Perez
Wade Boggs
Football
Andre Reed
Andy Russell
Anthony Muñoz
Archie Griffin
Barry Sanders
Bernie Kosar
Billy Sims *
Bob Griese
Bob Lilly
Bobby Bell
Bruce Smith
Charles White *
Charlie Joiner
Curley Culp
Dave Casper
Deion Sanders
Dermontti Dawson
Dick Butkus
Donnie Shell
Earl Campbell
Eddie George
Emmitt Thomas
Eric Dickerson
Eric Metcalf *
Franco Harris
Hines Ward
Howie Long
Ickey Woods *
Isaac Curtis *
Jack Ham
Jack Lambert
Jack Youngblood
Jan Stenerud
Jason Taylor
Jerome Bettis
Jerry Kramer
Jim Brown
Jim Kelly
Jim Marshall
Joe Greene
Joe Theismann
Joe Thomas
Kellen Winslow
Ken Anderson
Lawrence Taylor
Lenny Moore
Marshall Faulk
Marv Levy
Mel Blount
Michael Irvin
Mike Wagner
Ozzie Newsome
Randall Cunningham
Randy White
Ray Guy
Rickey Jackson
Robert Brazile
Rocky Bleier
Rod Woodson
Roger Wehrli
Ron Yary
Ross Browner *
Steve DeBerg *
Steve Largent
Thurman Thomas
Tom Cousineau *
Tony Dorsett
Troy Smith
Warren Sapp
Willie Lanier
Basketball
Artis Gilmore
Calvin Murphy **
Charlie Scott
Christian Laettner
Dennis Rodman
Dominique Wilkins
Julius Erving
Kevin McHale
Lenny Wilkens
Mike Fratello
Oscar Robertson
Hockey
Brett Hull
Jim Craig
Phil Esposito
Ray Bourque
Boxing
Mike Tyson
Roy Jones Jr.
Wrestling
Hulk Hogan
Entertainment
Corbin Bernsen
Hanson Brothers
Henry Winkler
2018 NSCC Autograph Signers Schedule
Subject to change. * Notes VIPs, ** Notes free Sneak Peek signers.
Wednesday (Aug. 1)
Anderson, Ken
Brazile, Robert
Grace, Mark
Hanson Brothers
Hargrove, Mike**
Kramer, Jerry
Metcalf, Eric*
Moore, Lenny
Murphy, Calvin**
Stenerud, Jan
Tiant, Luis**
Woods, Ickey*
Yary, Ron
Thursday (Aug. 2)
Barker, Len*
Bell, Bobby
Bettis, Jerome
Blount, Mel
Browner, Ross*
Campbell, Earl
Carew, Rod
Casper, Dave
Cousineau, Tom*
Culp, Curley
Cunningham, Randall
Curtis, Isaac*
Dawson, Dermontti
Faulk, Marshall
Gilmore, Artis
Greene, Joe
Guy, Ray
Ham, Jack
Harris, Franco
Jackson, Rickey
Joiner, Charlie
Kelly, Jim
Kosar, Bernie
Lambert, Jack
Lanier, Willie
Largent, Steve
Levy, Marv
Lindor, Francisco
Long, Howie
Russell, Andy
Sapp, Warren
Smith, Bruce
Theismann, Joe
Thomas, Emmitt
Wehrli, Roger
White, Randy
Winslow, Kellen
Woodson, Rod
Youngblood, Jack
Friday (Aug. 3)
Boggs, Wade
Bourque, Ray
Craig, Jim
Dawson, Andre
DeBerg, Steve*
Dickerson, Eric
Dorsett, Tony
Esposito, Phil
Evans, Dwight
Fingers, Rollie
Gibson, Bob
Gossage, Goose
Hernandez, Livan*
Hull, Brett
Irvin, Michael
Kluber, Corey
Laettner, Christian
Lynn, Fred
Murphy, Dale
Murray, Eddie
Newsome, Ozzie
Perry, Gaylord
Raines, Tim
Rice, Jim
Robinson, Frank
Rodman, Dennis
Rose, Pete
Sanders, Deion
Smith, Ozzie
Taylor, Lawrence
White, Charles*
Wilkens, Lenny
Wilkins, Dominique
Winfield, Dave
Yount, Robin
Saturday (Aug. 4)
Bernsen, Corbin
Biggio, Craig
Brown, Jim
Clemens, Roger
Cordova, Marty*
Fratello, Mike
George, Eddie
Griffin, Archie
Henderson, Rickey
Hogan, Hulk
Jackson, Reggie
Jefferies, Gregg*
Jones, Randy*
Kaline, Al
Lofton, Kenny
McHale, Kevin
Morris, Jack
Pujols, Albert
Rijo, Jose*
Ripken Jr., Cal
Robertson, Oscar
Robinson, Brooks
Sanders, Barry
Scott, Charlie
Smith, Troy
Strawberry, Darryl
Thomas, Frank
Thomas, Joe
Thome, Jim
Trammell, Alan
Winkler, Henry
Sunday (Aug. 5)
Bleier, Rocky
Browning, Tom*
Butkus, Dick
Charboneau, Joe*
Concepcion, Dave
Erving, Julius
Foster, George
Griese, Bob
Griffey Sr., Ken
Helms, Tommy*
Jones Jr., Roy
Lilly, Bob
Morgan, Joe
Muñoz, Anthony
Perez, Tony
Reed, Andre
Santiago, Benito*
Shell, Donnie
Sims, Billy*
Taylor, Jason
Thomas, Thurman
Tyson, Mike
Wagner, Mike
Ward, Hines
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Exclusive Cards
2018 National Sports Collectors Convention Exclusive Cards
The NSCC is also a haven for card collectors, with many 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention exclusives available. Most of the brands offer special cards as part of the VIP ticket package for the event. In addition, there are more exclusives at the company booths, mainly wrapper redemption programs, which provide even more of a selection.
Complete details for each company will be listed here as info is revealed.
2018 Panini NSCC Cards
Panini is the first to release their VIP card lineup. The multi-sport set totals 10 cards from recent or upcoming baseball, basketball and football rookies. Each VIP receives the full set.
2018 Panini National Convention VIP Set Checklist
Football
Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma Sooners
Sam Darnold - USC Trojans
Saquon Barkley - Penn State Nittany Lions
Baseball
Ozzie Albies - Atlanta Braves
Rafael Devers - Boston Red Sox
Rhys Hoskins - Philadelphia Phillies
Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Angels
Basketball
DeAndre Ayton - Arizona Wildcats
Luka Doncic - International
Marvin Bagley III - Duke Blue Devils
2018 Panini National Convention Charles Barkley Redemption
Panini also announced a surprise Charles Barkley Tribute set in honor of his recent autograph deal with the company. The 10-card lineup, limited to 399 copies apiece, covers his college and pro career with numbered parallels (199 or less) and even autographs. The two-card packs are earned by purchasing 2017-18 Mosaic Prizm Basketball boxes at the Panini booth.
2018 Panini National Convention Wrapper Redemption
In addition, Panini adds exclusive sets for those at the convention. That includes the silver foil NSCC packs and the special gold foil VIP party packs.
2018 Topps NSCC Cards
For the 2018 Topps National VIP set, it's all local MLB favorites from the Cleveland Indians. The five-card lineup uses the 1983 design with notations for the 35th anniversary of the product and the National Sports Collectors Convention logo.
2018 Topps National Convention VIP Set Checklist
Bob Feller - Cleveland Indians
Corey Kluber - Cleveland Indians
Francisco Lindor - Cleveland Indians
Jim Thome - Cleveland Indians
Omar Vizquel - Cleveland Indians
2018 Topps National Convention Wrapper Redemption
Topps also has their NSCC wrapper redemption program featuring the 2018 Bowman Chrome design. The 50-card set is joined by limited autographs for many of the subjects.
2018 Upper Deck NSCC Cards
For the VIP ticket-holders, Upper Deck has a five-card set honoring some of their biggest exclusives from basketball, tennis and golf. The full Gold VIP Prominent Cuts base set is issued for each VIP.
2018 Upper Deck National Convention VIP Set Checklist
VIP-1 Michael Jordan - Basketball
VIP-2 LeBron James - Basketball
VIP-3 Serena Williams - Tennis
VIP-4 Ben Simmons - Basketball
VIP-5 Tiger Woods - Golf
2018 Upper Deck National Convention Wrapper Redemption
Distributed to those who make specific UD purchases through an Upper Deck Certified Diamond Dealer at the National, there is also a 2018 Upper Deck NSCC Wrapper Redemption set featuring Prominent Cuts and Top Shelf Rookies cards. These have limited signed versions, as well. A special case break promotion takes that up another level with more exclusive cards.
Finally, there is the Legend of Cleveland promo awarded to those who purchase five 2017-18 UD Hobby packs at the show. Highlighting LeBron James, collectors receive two LBJ cards.
2018 Leaf NSCC Cards
Leaf joins the fun with their own VIP set featuring past stars of the gridiron, diamond and court. In addition to the four-card VIP set, the 39-card Leaf 2018 NSCC National Promo set is found only at their booth (#555).
2018 Leaf National Convention VIP Set Checklist
Bo Jackson
Brett Favre
Mariano Rivera
For those looking to bust some wax, Leaf has a wrapper redemption program centered around specific purchases of 2018 Leaf Pop Century Metal, 2018 Leaf In the Game Used and 2018 Leaf Metal US Army All-American Football.
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Brian Cataquet
Hi Interview with TCMA Founder and Photofile founder Mike Aronstein. Hobby History
https://soundcloud.com/kmet-1490-am/sets/the-card-king-sports-variety