Some of the biggest, best, most successful and most well-known athletes ever—as well as one of the most controversial athletes off all time—converged at the 32nd annual National Sports Collectors Convention ("the National"), held Aug. 3-7 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
The event attracted more than 10,000 collectors, with about 100 autograph guests representing all four major professional male team sports, as well as professional wrestling. In addition, boxing legend Mike Tyson made his first-ever card show appearance, signing autographs and posing for photos on the final day of the four-day card fest that feature about 600 dealer tables.
In addition to Tyson, other top autograph guests included wrestling legend Ric Flair, former Chicago Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi, baseball legends Cal Ripken Jr. and current Chicago Cub infielder Starlin Castro. Also appearing at the show: Joe Montana, Reggie Jackson, Bo Jackson, Bart Starr, Rafael Palmiero and others.
"I was happy with the results of the show. We sold a lot of [trading] cards—by the team and by the player," said New York-based dealer Lisa Stellato, of Never Enough Cards, Inc.
The National, as the show is known within the industry, is the largest annual sports memorabilia show, featuring millions of trading cards, photos, relics and more, plus tens of thousands of game-used memorabilia items, such as jerseys, hats, skates, gloves, balls and more. The National travels to different cities every summer, and has been held in Chicago more times than any other city. The event will be held in Baltimore in 2012. The 2011 National was not without controversy as the head of a sports memorabilia company in Minnesota was charged with orchestrating a scheme to sell fraudulent merchandise, including jerseys said to be worn during games by baseball players like Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire and Albert Pujols, the Associated Press reported.
Steven Jensen, 40, of Osseo, Minn., was arrested Aug. 4 at the show and was charged in federal court in New York with mail fraud and wire fraud.
Jensen was escorted out of The National in handcuffs, by U.S. postal inspectors who allege the scheme has been going on for about four or five years, according to the Associated Press.
On The National website, organizers issued the following statement: "[Thursday], the National Sports Collectors Convention supported the efforts of the U.S. Postal authorities who removed one exhibitor from the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The National continues to cooperate with any and all national-local authorities when it comes to protecting the integrity of the sports and entertainment collectibles industry."
The National was last held in Chicago in 2008 and the event's co-founder is Mike Berkus—the father of gay interior designer/talk-show host Nate Berkus. Nate has appeared at The National in the past alongside his dad, but never as an autograph guest.
Pro wrestler Tara, who moved to the North Side of Chicago this summer, was the lone female signing autographs at the show.
