Photo gallery from the National Sports Collectors Convention

Two baseball games in two cities

On Wednesday, Marie and I decided to catch a couple of baseball games instead of scouring the floor of the National Sports Collectors Convention.

We went to Milwaukee for the Cardinals game. Marie got to see her boy Albert Pujols (But he did go 0-for-5). Then we drove back to Chicago and hit the White Sox/Yankees where our team destroyed the White Sox.

The only bad part was not winning the 50/50 in Chicago. Ugh. I definitely could have used that money at the National.

Here are pics from both games.

Here is Milwaukee, obviously:

Here is Chicago ...

And the beautiful skyline from U.S. Cellular Field

Two Signa Cuts: Bronx Edition box breaks from the NSCC

After visiting the TriStar booth, I saw a display for Signa Cuts: Bronx Edition. I just had to try this product out.

Apparently, this was a pretty popular item because I had to a couple of dealers until I found the product. I got two boxes at $40 a piece.

You get one card of a cut auto of New York BRONX player (that's what it says on the box).

Here are my two hits:

Gil McDougald

Manny Banuelos

My first NSCC pickup

I went over and chatted with the nice fellas from Topps. They had some Topps Lineage sitting on top of its counter. As I searched through the cards, Clay Luraschi told me to take one.

So I did.

Going to the NSCC and plans

Tuesday morning and my flight leaves in about five hours for Chicago to hit the National Sports Collectors Convention with Marie.

I still haven't packed even though I need to leave in about two hours for the airport. It's a thing with me.

My first NSCC was last year. It was five days of cards and memorabilia. By the last day, I was so bored all I did was buy hobby boxes. I learned my lesson. This year, even though I am leaving today, I'm actually only going to the show for three days.

On Wednesday, Marie and I are doing a baseball double header. We're going to Milwaukee in the morning where the Brewers just happen to be playing the St. Louis Cardinals. To be that close to one of Marie's favorite players and not go to the game would have been a sin. So, Albert Pujols, here we come.

After, we're headed back to Chicago and going to the White Sox. Amazingly enough, they're playing the Yankees. Again, how could we not go to a game with the Yankees are in town.

Marie and I have done a split stadium double header before. Two years ago, we went to the Yankees home opener in the new stadium, then went to Citi Field for a night game against the Padres. Kevin Kouzmanoff was on the Padres then, so we had to hit the game.

Thursday will be our first day at the show. We're going to spend a lot of time walking around and checking out the different booths. There are always great things to see at the National because many dealers hold on to some of their big ticket items just for the show.

If we see anything cool, we'll post it here. I'm going to be tweeting (@yanxchick) with Marie (@baseballzoch) from the floor, as well as posting as often I can. It'll almost be like you're there.

You could also check out Freedom Cardboard's live streaming. I am sure Marie and I will make an appearance.

Thursday night, there is a meet up with people from FCB. After the friends I made last year at the show, I am looking forward to hanging out with everyone again. A card show is a card show. What made the NSCC special was the people I met and the friendships I made. It's a Hallmark card, but still true.

Friday and Saturday will be more show time.

Then, Sunday, I'm headed back home.

Wrapper redemptions at the NSCC

Wrapper redemptions can be a fun thing, if one of your players or teams is involved. Last year, was one of the craziest in recent memory because Topps had the redemption for a limited amount of Stephen Strasburg Heritage exclusive cards.

I had the idea that I was going to resell this card and become crazy rich! Well, at least make a few bucks back on the card. Instead, I got it graded - it came out a 9.5 with 9.5 sub-grades - and held on to it. Then, Strasburg broke himself and we're waiting on his return to MLB.

I don't see this year's wrapper redemptions being as exciting, but simply because there isn't much baseball other than Topps. I'm a baseball card collector and feel like I am missing out on something.

Upper Deck does actually have two baseball cards it's giving away in packs, including a Matt Szczur autographs, which I would really like to have. But there are only 35 of them and I think I would have a better chance of waiting for one of them to pop up on eBay instead of taking the wrapper redemption gamble.

Here's a breakdown from each company on what they're doing with their wrapper redemption programs.

Any of these interest you?

Panini America details on wrapper redemption
Upper Deck unveils its plans
Topps rookie Heritage redemptions
Obak cards