My National Reports

[LuckyLarry]

I left the Hilliard Homestead about 11am JAX-ORD beautiful direct flight on United. Called the hotel and the shuttle was waiting for me by the time I made it to the pickup point and I checked in. I’m staying with Spike and Taylor again. 2 queen beds but I took the sofa bed it’s nice and the coffee machine and TV #2 with a door I can close so I think it’s perfect for me cause I normally get up early. Taylor and Spike soon roll in and we catch up and exchange handshakes (cards). Spike and I take the short shuttle ride to the Chicago Dogs game Taylor needs to rest after the long drive from NC. I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast so my first stop was the snack bar where I ate two Chicago Hot Dogs And a Coke Zero wow those Chicago Hot Dogs are AWESOME! Good times at the game went 10 innings and the home team won with a game winning single down the left field line. Right to the sleeper sofa and up at six am we went downstairs for the free breakfast decent enough the price is right. Taylor and Spike left at maybe 8:30 for the show utilizing dealer badges (I’m gonna head over about 2 pm to secure my VIP ticket with early entrance at 3:30). I recently bought an Apple Watch and I’m in a challenge with my daughter so I walked on the tread mill for an hour watching you tube videos and finished with 10 minutes on the elliptical. Time to shower and get organized before heading out to day #1 at the National! Larry

[buymycards]

I can't wait to hear your updates. Thank you for doing this!

Rick

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by buymycards

I can't wait to hear your updates. Thank you for doing this!

Rick

+1 Agreed

We are living it thru You.

[samosa4u]

And don't forget to post some pictures! Thanks

[ocjack]

You should have invested in a go-pro camera so we could be there with you.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Would love to meet you Larry. Booth 1058.

[LuckyLarry]

I took the hotel shuttle to the convention center arrived at 2pm picked up VIP pass autograph tickets and promos no line for that. The promos I’m kind of excited about because there are at least two Trevor Lawrence cards! Went to the VIP lounge/mixer it was very crowded and just promoting an upcoming auction I think. I left right away even before pizza was served. The VIP line to get in the show at 3:30 was at least 1/2 mile long wrapping around several conference rooms then back towards the entrance door, I took my place in line about that time they opened the doors to the show and I made a 180 and walked right in. The show was very crowded from doors open until closing at 8pm. I started out in the back of the show tried to make a loop of sorts got distracted by this and that and didn’t really have much of a plan the whole show but of course running into OBC members and dealer friends I haven’t seen in two years so awesome. With the VIP package you get some autographs, and I was interested in getting a Billy Shaw (Bills HOFer) card signed. Long line moved slow I left for awhile still a long wait forget it I’m done with autographs at the National. PS before the show some guy offered me $20 for three of the autograph tickets he needed and I gladly sold. I was ready to spend some money today started out with $2225 cash and got a lot of cards but mostly low grade bargain stuff and just counted what I have left $1,997 I only spent $228 shocked me, I spend more at our local monthly show! I’ve got to get a more organized plan tomorrow. Pickups included 53 different 1952 TOPPS Look N See cards $15 plus discount then 33 different 1959 TOPPS Wacky Plaks for $12 plus discount then 15 1951 Bowman Jets Rockets and Spacemen $8 plus discount all low grade. I have these sets already but they are so cheap I couldn’t help myself. Bought 30+ 1971 OPC baseball cards they have yellow backs $1 each. Eights hits to my 1964 Rosen US Army in Action these were priced $3 each fair price dealer discounted some too. Finished 1980 You’ll Die Laughing set 3 cards $3 a couple hits 1963 Post baseball including #36 Nellie Fox no bat showing $6 I’ve been looking got this card awhile. Lots of other cards plus 1954 Wheaties Musial in action and George Mikan in action also 1951 Berk Ross hit Dick Sisler. Closed the show down at 8 and ate dinner with about 11 or 12 OBC guys at a reported “biker bar” which is right next door to our hotel thanks Bob B picked up the tab. Tomorrow will be a longer day at the show I hope to be more organized in the search no time at the autograph area either I’m done with that. Time now 12:36 and time to pull out the sofa bed. Larry

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by LuckyLarry

I took the hotel shuttle to the convention center arrived at 2pm picked up VIP pass autograph tickets and promos no line for that. The promos I’m kind of excited about because there are at least two Trevor Lawrence cards! Went to the VIP lounge/mixer it was very crowded and just promoting an upcoming auction I think. I left right away even before pizza was served. The VIP line to get in the show at 3:30 was at least 1/2 mile long wrapping around several conference rooms then back towards the entrance door, I took my place in line about that time they opened the doors to the show and I made a 180 and walked right in. The show was very crowded from doors open until closing at 8pm. I started out in the back of the show tried to make a loop of sorts got distracted by this and that and didn’t really have much of a plan the whole show but of course running into OBC members and dealer friends I haven’t seen in two years so awesome. With the VIP package you get some autographs, and I was interested in getting a Billy Shaw (Bills HOFer) card signed. Long line moved slow I left for awhile still a long wait forget it I’m done with autographs at the National. PS before the show some guy offered me $20 for three of the autograph tickets he needed and I gladly sold. I was ready to spend some money today started out with $2225 cash and got a lot of cards but mostly low grade bargain stuff and just counted what I have left $1,997 I only spent $228 shocked me, I spend more at our local monthly show! I’ve got to get a more organized plan tomorrow. Pickups included 53 different 1952 TOPPS Look N See cards $15 plus discount then 33 different 1959 TOPPS Wacky Plaks for $12 plus discount then 15 1951 Bowman Jets Rockets and Spacemen $8 plus discount all low grade. I have these sets already but they are so cheap I couldn’t help myself. Bought 30+ 1971 OPC baseball cards they have yellow backs $1 each. Eights hits to my 1964 Rosen US Army in Action these were priced $3 each fair price dealer discounted some too. Finished 1980 You’ll Die Laughing set 3 cards $3 a couple hits 1963 Post baseball including #36 Nellie Fox no bat showing $6 I’ve been looking got this card awhile. Lots of other cards plus 1954 Wheaties Musial in action and George Mikan in action also 1951 Berk Ross hit Dick Sisler. Closed the show down at 8 and ate dinner with about 11 or 12 OBC guys at a reported “biker bar” which is right next door to our hotel thanks Bob B picked up the tab. Tomorrow will be a longer day at the show I hope to be more organized in the search no time at the autograph area either I’m done with that. Time now 12:36 and time to pull out the sofa bed. Larry

Very Nice sharing and sounds like some nice pickups

Keep it coming

[NiceDocter]

Nice pickups…. your Mikan in action will go well with your portrait you bought a few months ago from Robert at the local show! Keep the reports coming wish I was there instead of the office …. Rocky in Jax

[Seven]

thanks for sharing your experience so far. I'm attending my first National next year, when it's in AC and I always wondered how the situation was like with the autograph guests. I'm most likely going to have to dedicate a day to the ones that I really want, when it comes to waiting in line for certain players that is.

On the subject of being overwhelmed, the Philly Show back in June, gave me that overwhelmed feeling, probably because it was my first show in a bit as well. I'm looking forward to what your experience will be today, and congratulations on the pickups.

[keithsky]

Any autograph guys cancel yet?

[LuckyLarry]

Apple Watch stats: sleep 6 hours 39 minutes; steps 18,704 or 8.4 miles walked. Money spent today $1,284. Normal morning routine and I’m in the show with the VIPs at 9:30
Yesterday I looked at a lot of 40 1932 Tattoo Orbit pins along with 3 pins from a supposed Cracker Jack set, obviously I don’t know much about these but what is neat is that the pins are attached to a vintage beanie it was a sight to see. I thought about that beanie all night and I went right for it at show opening and paid the asking price $400 I’ll post a picture when I get home and have access to a computer I am typing on my phone. That beanie is spectacular! Today I finished at least four sets 1954 Red Man with final card Willie Mays (a gift from my roommate Matthew) also finished 1948 Leaf boxing with a beautiful Sugar Ray Robinson also 1950 Topps Parade Flags of the World (I have been looking for #99 Japan for probably five years and found in one dollar binder) and 1967 Topps non sport Who Am I #27 Admiral Richard Byrd. Other cards include two tough 1935 National Chicle football cards, Topps football bucks, Civil War News, Several 1939 and 1940 Play Ball baseball cards, and it goes on and on. Really another great day at the show especially before it got very very crowded around 12:30. I did not exit the venue for a break as planned but went upstairs in a vacant hallway for awhile to escape the mayhem. The crowd thinned out some around 4, and I left as the show closed at 6. Met up with about a dozen OBC members for dinner across the street at Murray Brothers Caddy Shack good food great stories especially from one of our newest members Stewart O who tells tales of him opening packs of 1951 Bowman baseball cards had a good time! Tonight we are expecting roommate #4 last minute attendee who gets the pleasure of sleeping on the couch cushions I take off the sofa bed plus he will be banging on our door around 3AM after getting here from ORD. More of the same tomorrow I expect, and now that I know Caddy Shack is right across the street, I’d be a fool for not escaping the crowd I’m sure that will be there from 1-4

[LuckyLarry]

One more picture it"s a "jackpot" when the dealer invites you behind the table to go through his box of exhibit baseball cards. I'm sitting down (BONUS) and checking my want-list. I pulled over 20 hits (and my list isn't that long) some of these are tough to find. I paid $90 and pulled all the "Choo-Choo" cards he had. PS my roommate went back to this table on Sunday and purchased all the exhibit cards the dealer had I think around 900 total (there were some reprints).