I remember being 15 years old and begging my dad to take me on a 2 hour car ride to the Hillside, Illinois Holiday Inn where Bruce and Bonita (i think that was her name) Paynter but on the monthly Chicago area card show on Saturdays. I believe this would have been about 1976 or so and those were still the days of no price guides, condition was of relative importance and the pricing was usually whatever someone wanted to charge versus whatever someone would pay. I remember turning down a BEAUTIFUL '53 Mantle for 20 bucks as I thought the seller was nuts for asking that much.

IIRC (and I often don't), it was the 1992 National at Atlanta.

My first National was 1982 in St. Louis. I have been to the vast majority since then.

1984 in Parsippany, NJ. I was a “dealer” at 15 years old as my dad who knew nothing about sports cards had to contract for the table as I was still a minor.

I think 2002 in Chicago. I had dinner with Marshall Fogel, Doug Allen and Scott Brockelman, as I recall.....
.

My first show was Thanksgiving 1976 in NYC:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...20Show%201.jpg

Finished my run of Topps Willie Mays cards at the show (boy do I wish I still had that 1952...).

My first National was 1991 Anaheim. Stood in line for four hours the first day in the broiling sun. Totally worth it but I wasn't keen to repeat it the next day. I ended up making a tentative trade with a dealer there and conditioned my coming back to close the deal on him getting me into the show. He walked me in on his dealer pass (yeah, this was pre-lanyard days) and I had a hell of a buying day at the discounters tables.

My next one was 1996 Anaheim. Then 2000 Anaheim. By that point I was on eBay and active on nascent chat boards, so in 2004 I decided to travel to a show for the first time and meet the N54 crew. Cleveland. I made it to every National after that through 2019. In '21 I chickened out because of COVID. In '23 I had a trial that conflicted with the date (we settled it on the courthouse steps but by then it was too late). I hated AC with a passion the first time I went there and was not going to go back so I skipped ‘22. This year, I had to choose between visiting my daughter in NYC or going to the show...it was close :) but the dealer pass crackdown and lack of a central hotel complex and amenities clinched it for me. At least I am getting the East Coast National and Fanaticsfest as a consolation prize. Then I have the 800-table Anaheim show the week I get back and Front Row's Pasadena show the first weekend in September, so lots of card shows for me in a four-week span.

Definitely plan on Chicago next year; I miss you guys (well, most of you anyway).

Chicago
 

Chicago, 1983

Wow, when you list all the shows and I realize how many I attended it's like a walk down memory lane. Attended the 1980 L.A. show, set up at the
'85, '87 and '91 shows (I still have nightmares about the crowd in '91), then '96, 2000 and 2006. I did venture out of state one time to attend the '86 show in Texas. I had business in the area and coordinated my travel with the convention dates. I know, but it really was "business."

Afraid that at my age and the problems with the airlines and travel in general, I won't be attending any more shows outside of Southern California. So pretty much guessing my National days are over.

That is a cool show card.
See ya next year, Adam! I already booked my hotel from Thurs through Sunday in Chitown...

I've been to the three Nationals held in Texas, Arlington in '86 and '90, Houston in '94(?). I am in Chicago to visit family each summer but I don't ever seem to be there when the show is going on. Maybe next year.

1991 - If I remember correctly, a dealer (I think from Baltimore area) got heisted, real bad. In today's value, the theft (of baseball cards) probably would have been the largest I'd be able to recall.

Only 5 Nationals on the west coast and none since 2006. I get it, it's a long haul for the dealers that probably have the best material, but it's almost been 20 years. Most of the Nationals I've been to have been middle America.

I've been fortunate enough to make a few east coast shows (not nationals) that could rival a national.

One of my collecting buddies that I used to hang with at a few nationals passed away a while ago so it's not been as much fun. I keep telling myself to get to another one, maybe next year (as Lucy pulls the football away, again).

The Baltimore Dealer who got heisted was our own Dan McKee's father. And IIRC it was done overnight so even the best efforts of Dan and Dad could not really help them.

Tbe Burbank Card Show under the aegis of Rob Veres and his team has a shot of becoming a West Coast Natoinal if it is not one already.

My first national was 1988. 2nd was 2024.

First national
 

I guess I’m one of very few who attended the first in 1980

First national.
 

Forgot to identify myself. ..the old geezer..better known as Kit young

Hey Kit,

I remember buying from you out of your place around the Crown Point area in San Diego (long time ago). If memory serves me correctly, there was also a place up in Washington (I think it was the Tacoma area) that I bought a few cards from your inventory. Hope your doing well and wondering if Nacho's still working with you. Nice to see Kit Young making a post!

You are only as old as you feel Kit! You and your guys bought a lot of cards from me at Chicago show. Glad you are still in the hobby.

I have never attended the National.

I believe 1995 was my first. I roadtripped from MD to St Louis...checked out the ozarks on the way. I'm sure I still have the pass in my ticket stub collection.

You and me, still on the outside looking in.

Maybe we'll get there some day!

And when we do, we can sit in the VIP lounge like ballers and trade 33 Goudeys all day long...

2010 Baltimore was my 1st national and had a blast! Stayed at the Hilton walked out of the hotel in the am with a few Chi Sox who were playing the O’s that day. After the National my wife & I went to the game. Camden Yards was great place to watch a game!! Had few drinks with Joe Montana at the Hilton bar that evening, then caught the fireworks from my window after the game.

Here’s a Net54 pin from 2014, wish I hung onto the Net54 d304 Cobb shirt

Fred. Great memory. All true

1980-1984 & 1991
 

My first National I believe was in Cleveland although I can't recall the date. I do recall attending a Net 54 function at a former train station that, if memory serves, had been converted into a restaurant/bar.

My first National was 1997 in Cleveland.
I went to sell some vintage cards to fund my expenses for college tuition and funds for a low paying internship.

Attended my second National this past month in Cleveland again. I only went for one day, Thursday, but glad I did. A lot has changed in the 27 years especially with the increase in vintage prices. Just glad I took the advice from older collectors when I was 14 to buy and stick with vintage cards (pre-war, unique card sets, and rare Detroit Tigers items)

Wish I held onto my Cobb cards that I sold in 1997 - had the T202 Hassan Cobb/Jennings, E95 Cobb, 1914 Cracker Jack Cobb, and T206 Cobb with bat on shoulder still but as I drove back home after Thursday's show - I look at what those 4 cards provided for me to be where I am at today. One of my goals is to get a T202 Cobb/Jennings again within the next few years.

Planning on attending next year's National in Chicago and be selective on what I will purchase.

now if I could only find my wrestlemania stub!!!

A

i bet u still have it frank!

1992 in Atlanta. Drove up from Jacksonville.
While in Jacksonville, went to a small little strip mall around this time and Chipper Jones was the autograph guest just out of high school at Bolles School.

5th Annual Midwest Sports Collectors Convention, Troy, MI July 19-21 1974. Still have the program booklet.

Not to derail this thread, but 1962 Corvette is probably the best looking automobile ever made, period.

Only been to 2 of them. 2013 in Chicago. I only went to get a couple items authenticated. I would go back in 2017 in Chicago. Got Robbie Alomar and bought a few items.

Have set up at all since 1997 in Cleveland...