The 1st National Sports Collectors Convention

[Chris-Counts]

I went to the Anaheim show in '74, and I believe it was advertised as the "West Coast" show. I still have a badge from it lying around somewhere. Two years later, I attended a show in Michigan I distinctly remember being called a "national show." I believe it was in Plymouth. I'll never forget walking up to the first booth and rifling through a shoebox of 1953 Bowman Hall of Famers in Ex-Mt. There were a stack of Mantles about two inches thick, and they were $11 each. If only I had a time machine ...

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

I went to the Anaheim show in '74, and I believe it was advertised as the "West Coast" show. I still have a badge from it lying around somewhere. Two years later, I attended a show in Michigan I distinctly remember being called a "national show." I believe it was in Plymouth.

Last night I was looking at an issue of The Sport Hobbyist from 1977 on which the cover was trumpeting the upcoming "national show", with a list of previous "national shows" that were really just various prominent regional shows, including the Detroit-area show that started in 1970. Charles Brooks, editor of The Sport Hobbyist, seemed to really want to promote the idea of a national convention over the years. In the August 1956 issue of The Sport Hobbyist and Journal, from which I posted Lionel Carter's article on T207s last night, Brooks (who was still in high school at the time) mentioned that plans for a national card convention had been postponed.

There were several prominent regional shows in the 70s that often attracted collectors from around the country -- the Detroit show, the Philly show, the West Coast show -- and for all I know some of them may have occasionally been called a "national" show. But the idea didn't really catch on or become explicit until the 1980 show in Anaheim, which helpfully came at the start of a big boom in card prices and hobby interest.

[jcmtiger]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

I went to the Anaheim show in '74, and I believe it was advertised as the "West Coast" show. I still have a badge from it lying around somewhere. Two years later, I attended a show in Michigan I distinctly remember being called a "national show." I believe it was in Plymouth. I'll never forget walking up to the first booth and rifling through a shoebox of 1953 Bowman Hall of Famers in Ex-Mt. There were a stack of Mantles about two inches thick, and they were $11 each. If only I had a time machine ...

Yes, the Michigan shows were great. Thanks

[5-Tool Player]

Bring the National back to Anaheim, its been too long. We will bring the numbers (attendance) and with that we will bring the $$,

[GasHouseGang]

They've already decided we don't get to have it anymore. I think someone is just going to have to develop their own left coast national. I guess we can get all the dealers west of the Mississippi.

[ocjack]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

They've already decided we don't get to have it anymore. I think someone is just going to have to develop their own left coast national. I guess we can get all the dealers west of the Mississippi.

Who is the almighty "they" and maybe we need a new group of "them."

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by ocjack

Who is the almighty "they" and maybe we need a new group of "them."

"They" are the NSCC (National Sports Collectors Convention) board. A cursory look on the internet didn't turn up the names. I'm sure many people here know a lot more about the decision making of the NSCC than I do. In an interview from 2012 "they" were identified as Mike Berkus, together with his partner John Broggi. But I have no idea who the board is in 2021 and how they make the decision of where to hold the convention. I'd just like to see one on the west coast again someday.

[ocjack]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

"They" are the NSCC (National Sports Collectors Convention) board.

I know who "they" are. And I assume "they" have decided that there won't be a West Coast National for purely financial (for them) reasons. But I also wonder if the major East Coast dealers had a say in the matter - like "I won't attend a West Coast show"?

mr2686 "Looks like the closest we'll get to a "large" card show near SoCal is the show associated with the Industry Summit in Las Vegas. Looks like it will be 200 plus (with a goal of 400 plus) tables every year, which will be cool. They just had it last week I believe."

That would be a possibility, but frankly, I had to look up the show now that you mentioned it. I know I'm no longer in the mainstream of collecting, but I would think for it to compete with a "national" show, one would start with better advertising.

[isiahfan]

Originally Posted by jcmtiger

Yes, the Michigan shows were great. Thanks

Michigan used to have great shows run by Jim and Mark Hawkins...They were/are not the greatest of humans however unfortunately.

[rebelsart]

Great memories! I was there on Saturday and purchased a T206 Ty Cobb, red portrait, from Lew Lipset. His price was $100.00 and I was happy to pay it. Still have the card too! Stopped at Hollywood Park for Western Harness racing on the way home and won $100.00 so the Ty Cobb was basically "free". Thanks for posting Leon!