Shown below are some of the activities at the 2011 National in Chicago. Check back regularly for 2012 Activities

2011 ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

  • 32nd National VIP Party - The Kick-Off event for the 32nd National is the annual VIP Party, hosted by Memory Lane Inc. from 2:30-4:00pm, Wednesday August 3 and is held exclusively for VIP and SuperVIP ticketholders. It will be held in Room 1 in the Conference Center at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center. In addition to receiving your week-long credentials and cram-packed gift package there will be free autograph from several guests.
  • Topps VIP Exclusive Auction - An auction of 10 different one-of-a-kind rare items from the Topps Vault will be held during the 32nd National VIP Party. Bidding is limited exclusively to attendees who purchase any week-long VIP Package. For details on this event, click here
  • 32nd National Sneak Peek presented by Legendary Auctions - The National will hold its Grand Opening, for all consumers, on Wednesday night August 3, 4-8 PM for a special Sneak Preview of the world's most famous sports collectibles show. 1968 Olympic Gold MedalistDick Fosbury, inventor of the "Fosbury Flop" used by all high jumpers since then will sign free autographs. An additional Free Autograph Guest will be announced. Autographs will be one per person, 1st come-1st served, as time permits. The Show Floor will be open and admission is free for all VIP and SuperVIP Admission attendees. One day Admission Tickets (good for any day of the National including Wednesday Sneak Peek) may be purchased at $18 each in advance through this web site or $20 at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center
  • TriStar Productions National Autograph Pavilion - The Autograph Pavilion will be hosted by TriStar Productions and will showcase celebrities and athletes over the five-day period of the consumers' show August 3-7, 2011. To see the complete list of celebrities signing at the Autograph Pavilion, CLICK HERE

  • 32nd National Olympic Pavilion - The first-ever Olympic Pavilion at the National will host 100 exhibitor booths. The Pavilion is located in Hall B of the Convention Center. Exhibitors will be buying, selling and trading Olympic collectibles of all types. The Pavlion will also have a special exhibit of Olympic stamps as well as a USPS booth with a special cancellation for the event.

  • Wrapper Redemptions at the National - Here is the information we have received about the various wrapper redemption programs taking place at the 32nd National.

    • Leaf

      Open ANY box of 2011 Leaf Product at the Leaf Booth #838 and get ONE FREE METAL Promo Card! 5 Promo cards in all:  Muhammad Ali, Pete Rose, Vince Lombardi, Nolan Ryan & Cam Newton

      Open ANY of the following at the Leaf Booth and receive ONE 2011 Leaf Pop Century Autograph Pack!

       6 boxes of 2011 Leaf Pop Century

      One Case (12ct) of 2011 Leaf Cut Signature Edition

      One Case (12ct) of 2011 Leaf Metal Draft Football

      One Case (12ct) of 2011 Leaf Ultimate Draft Football

      One Case (12 ct) of 2011 Leaf US Army All-American Football

      One Case (12ct) of 2011 Leaf Muhammad Ali Trading Cards

      One Case (12ct) of 2011 Leaf Family Guy Trading Cards Seasons 3, 4 & 5

      One Case (3ct) of 2011 Leaf Best of Baseball

    • In the Game
      • In The Game will have a Redemption Program at the National featuring our latest product – Decades The 80s. Open any box of Decades – The 80s at the In The Game Booth #648 and receive a game-used memorabilia card stamped 1/1 especially for the 32nd National.There will also be a Special Decades National Exclusive version for sale at the show. The specially marked box not only qualifies for the Redemption Program but will also get you a free autograph of Miracle on Ice Legend – Mark Wells. In addition, Dominik Hasek Autograph Cards will be found randomly, in the Special National Version of Decades. Mr. Hasek’s autograph cards were received too late to pack out with the other autographs and now collectors have a chance to add this hard-signed autograph card to their collections. Remember, you can only find Dominik Hasek’s Decades autograph card in the Special National Version of Decades. In the Special National Version of Decades one of the three memorabilia inserts will be replaced by a Chicago Blackhawks Decades Quad Card. There are eight different Chicago Blackhawks Decades Quad cards. This Special National Version of Decades is the only place to find these cards.
    • Topps
      • Topps  is creating a special 5-card 2011 Topps Heritage Set. Each card will be sequentially numbered to 299 and will feature 5 Rookies who did not appear in the original 2011 Topps Heritage Set.
        • Card NC1- Dustin Ackley
        • Card NC2- Dee Gordon
        • Card NC3- Mike Moustakas
        • Card NC4- Michael Pineda
        • Card NC5- Zach Britton
      • Number of wrappers needed for redemption and schedule will be available at the Topps Booth #630 at the National.
    • Tristar
      • Tristar will provide VIPs with the additional 3 cards needed to complete the 10-card 32nd National Exclusive OBAK 10-card set with a purchase of a hobby pack of TRISTAR Obak Baseball '11 or TRISTAR's Signature Impact Wrestling Trading Cards from a show dealer; Open the wrapper at the designated TRISTAR Booth in the Autograph Pavilion. Each wrapper can be redeemed for one card. 
    • Press Pass
      • Press Pass is offering one free blind-wrapped autograph or memorabilia card, one invitation to pack wars, and one ticket to Press Pass Buzz with each 2011 Press Pass NASCAR box purchased. Just bring your box by the Press Pass booth (#618) and open your box with us! Press Pass will be giving away special 1 of 1 National cards during pack wars, a box of Press Pass Five Star, and special memorabilia prizes!

  • Conlon Collection Vintage Photography-A selection from the famed Conlon Collection of early baseball photography will be on display at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, August 3-7, 2011. The collection will be presented by the copyright holder, Rogers Photo Archives of North Little Rock, which acquired the full Sporting News archives in 2010. The glass negatives of Charles Conlon were the gem of the archives, and for baseball fans, is the equivalent of Mathew Brady’s Civil War photography. The full collection numbers some 8,400 images. Booths 277-279.

  • Negro Leaguers to appear - Several former Negro League players will appear at the National during the week of 8/3-8/7. These players will be available at Booth 867. Some of the names we've been told may appear include: Hank "Baby" Presswood, John "Lefty" Washington, Nathan "Sonny" Weston, "Ernie" Westfield, Bob Riggins, Louie "The Grey Cat" Clarizio, Julius "Satchel" Sledge and Heron "Lee" O'Neal. For more information on this group visit their web site at www.NegroLeagueLegends.org

  • Million Dollar Mickey Mantle Collection - Memory Lane will have a display of the finest Mickey Mantle cards ever. The 21 card collection features a Gem Mint PSA 10 1951 Bowman Mantle. All of the cards are either PSA 9 or PSA 10. Visit Memory Lane at Booth 1000.

  • Kids Free Week at the 32nd National - All youngsters 12 and under will be admitted at no charge all 5 days of the show, courtesy of The National.

  • Santa to Sign on Sunday - Cardboard Connection Radio has announced that Santa will be signing at the Corporate Booth #659 on Sunday, August 7 from 1-3 PM. Cardboard Connection Radio will be broadcasting live all week from the National
  • Family Day at the 32nd National - Sunday, August 7, has been designated as Family Day at the 32nd National Sports Collectors Convention. One $25 admission charge will allow a family (up to 4 people) to attend the closing day of the National. Tickets will be sold onsite on Sunday only.