My first time at the National
 

Posted By: <b>Jim T</b><p>I am planning to attend the National on Friday with my 8 year old son. He loves baseball and has a small card collection of his own. While we are there I plan to have a Mantle auto ball authenticate (or not), pick up a few T206's for my collection, and get a few packs/cards for my son.<br /><br />Since this will be my first time at the National and first time in a long time for any significant card show, I would like some input on what to expect, any booths that I should check out while I'm there, or anything else worth checking out.<br /><br />Jim

My first time at the National
 

Posted By: <b>Alan</b><p>Jim -<br /><br />Excellent questions. Here's the short version:<br /><br />My advice to first timers is to wear comfortable shoes, carry a large shoulder bag or a pack for your cash, want lists, top loads, plastic cases, and a small box for graded cards. Bring a pen and a notebook to keep track of your purchases and to make a map of dealer booths, so you can remember where you saw particular items. Don't pay the listed price for anything. Many times the dealers will offer you a discount before you ask for one. It doesn't hurt to ask for a larger discount that the one that they offer. If you are looking for specific items in specific grades, make a list of the prices that you are willing to pay. It is easy to overpay at the show. If you look hard enough you will find a few bargains, but it may take some time. You and your son will have a fantastic time at the show, even if you don't buy anything. The variety and quality of the cards is amazing.<br /><br />I'll be at the show both Thursday & Friday & would love to say hello.<br /><br />If you aren't doing anything for dinner Friday night, I invite you & your son to come to a dinner that I'm coordinating at Shoeless Joe's restaurant at 6:15 pm (see the other threads for more details). I'd love for you & your son to stop by.<br /><br />Alan<br /><br /> <br />

My first time at the National
 

Posted By: <b>Jim T</b><p>Thanks Alan<br /><br />Great advice all around, definately must remember to print my T206 checklist as I want to pick up a few more commons and maybe a Lajoie throwing for my set. I will stop by and say hello but don't think I can make the dinner.<br /><br />Jim

My first time at the National
 

Posted By: <b>Darren</b><p>Lajoie throwing is a great card. Try to get it with a back beside piedmont or sweet cap, it just adds to the card. I think that pose fits well with a Sovereign reverse.

My first time at the National
 

Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>Can you explain how to get a discount to less than $0? I am trying to figure out how to make money without buying anything......So if a dealer offers me a card for $20 can I ask for $25 off? Really poor slobs like me want to know <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>....

My first time at the National
 

Posted By: <b>Jim T</b><p>Darren<br /><br />My wife thought the Lajoie throwing was a great card too. Collecting the monster on a budget, I usually only add a couple top tier HOFers every year and maybe 25 commons. So I put together a short list of HOFers for this year's pickups and let her choose which one I should get next. She picked the Lajoie throwing because she thought it stood out from the other choices. <br /><br />I am pretty excited about going to the national this year even though I will likely spend more on gas and tolls than I will on cards.<br /><br />Jim

My first time at the National
 

Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Jim- You are going to get lost more than once, we all do, and you will forget where certain cards you liked were located. The idea of a map and a pen to write down table numbers etc is a good one but no matter how meticulous you are, you will hit your head trying to remember where in the heck that notebook with T207 red cycle backs was....

My first time at the National
 

Posted By: <b>Jim T</b><p>Bob<br /><br />Sounds like you are speaking from experience (maybe even one in particular). <img src="/images/wink.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I found the map of the floor for the national on the website but I did not see a corresponding list of vendors for each booth. Is such a thing available?<br /><br />