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My Friday at The National - Thoughts, Pics, and Pickups
scotgreb
Posts: 808 ✭✭✭
This was my second National - the other being in 2010, as I live about 20 minutes south of Baltimore. There seemed to be more dealers this year, certainly taking up more space than 2010. The facility was nice, parking was easy, and security was visible. In other words, it seemed pretty organized.
With respect to the experience, I was just as overwhelmed as last time. I had more of a "game plan" this year, as I wanted to at least browse every table. My initial run through took about 2 1/2 hours. I took notes on the tables that I wanted to revisit and took some pics (see below).
My goal was to buy something "impactful" to my collection. My collection is focused on Clemente and HOF baseball. My (2) primary targets were a 1933 Goudey Ruth #144 or a 1914/15 Cracker Jack Honus Wagner. I was looking for both in what I call "presentable lower grade" - PSA 1/2/3. While I found several nice cards, I couldn't reach the price I was looking for. Maybe for a SGC 30 Wagner but I was worried about crossing it. Being a slave to PSA definitely limited my options (I suppose that's good for the hobby). I did manage to add a few cards to my collection, including an "impactful" card that I was looking for. (scans below)
Other thoughts;
I don't know how people do this for four straight days -- 5 hours was about my limit
I don't think I could ever travel to do this -- just doesn't seem worth it
As another post suggested, there should be a better way to match buyers and sellers
Prices were comparable to ebay -- nobody discounting much or anxious to make deals
I was surprised by the number of SGC cards (at least for the cards I'm interested in) -- SGC seems much more prevalent in 19th century issues.
Following are a few photos --
A game used Clemente jersey - recently sold at auction
The 707 Museum
Topps pack rippers
BBCE honey hole
Black Swamp find
Now for my pickups . . .
A tough graded Clemente - didn't realize it was already on ebay til I got home
A very tough Clemente Memorial issue (1973) - soon to visit Newport Beach
Finally a card I've been looking to add to my collection for a while - presents incredibly well in hand
With respect to the experience, I was just as overwhelmed as last time. I had more of a "game plan" this year, as I wanted to at least browse every table. My initial run through took about 2 1/2 hours. I took notes on the tables that I wanted to revisit and took some pics (see below).
My goal was to buy something "impactful" to my collection. My collection is focused on Clemente and HOF baseball. My (2) primary targets were a 1933 Goudey Ruth #144 or a 1914/15 Cracker Jack Honus Wagner. I was looking for both in what I call "presentable lower grade" - PSA 1/2/3. While I found several nice cards, I couldn't reach the price I was looking for. Maybe for a SGC 30 Wagner but I was worried about crossing it. Being a slave to PSA definitely limited my options (I suppose that's good for the hobby). I did manage to add a few cards to my collection, including an "impactful" card that I was looking for. (scans below)
Other thoughts;
I don't know how people do this for four straight days -- 5 hours was about my limit
I don't think I could ever travel to do this -- just doesn't seem worth it
As another post suggested, there should be a better way to match buyers and sellers
Prices were comparable to ebay -- nobody discounting much or anxious to make deals
I was surprised by the number of SGC cards (at least for the cards I'm interested in) -- SGC seems much more prevalent in 19th century issues.
Following are a few photos --
A game used Clemente jersey - recently sold at auction
The 707 Museum
Topps pack rippers
BBCE honey hole
Black Swamp find
Now for my pickups . . .
A tough graded Clemente - didn't realize it was already on ebay til I got home
A very tough Clemente Memorial issue (1973) - soon to visit Newport Beach
Finally a card I've been looking to add to my collection for a while - presents incredibly well in hand
Focusing on baseball “playing years” HOFers. My HOF Set; https://psacard.com/psasetregistry/baseball/hall-fame-sets/hall-fame-players-managers-owners-executives-pioneers-commissioners-umpires/publishedset/77755
Always plenty of PSA-graded cards in my ebay store -- https://ebay.com/str/thelumbercompanysportscards
Always plenty of PSA-graded cards in my ebay store -- https://ebay.com/str/thelumbercompanysportscards
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Comments
Mike
Bosox1976
1. Awesome Clemente game used jersey, I have the exact same one in replica.
2. "707 Museum" made me laugh.
3. That Aaron has now made me officially want to collect Aarons!
Great job.
https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/pdub1819/othersets/6204
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
ebay id Duffs_Dugout
My Ebay Auctions
Thanks also for putting up those pictures. Good stuff there.
Did you meet up with anyone else from the boards btw?
I was a little disheartened yesterday at the National. I spent about 4 hours there, and looked at every table. Saw several copies of cards I want (PSA 8s of Frank Robinson and Reggie Jackson and Nolan Ryan), but some of the dealers were not coming down off of their above ebay prices. I wonder if on Sunday those dealers would come down. One dealer with a lot of inventory mentioned that he netted 14K the day before. I guess at the rate he was going, he did not see needing to lower the price on one of the cards I am seeking just to make a sale.
I did see more dealers with graded cards than the last time I was at the National (2010). But I also saw a handful of dealers who hand far more GAI and BCCG than combined raw, PSA, and SGC.
I was happy to see so many people at the National. I think that shows that at least for one day, people were feeling good about the economy.
Successful transactions with bouwob, lifeshouldbefun, SDSportsFan, Bkritz, tsalems1, kwtoz, johnny1976, Topps29, Calaban7, nascar20, bking, bedellsonics, Beck6, Dialj, Echocanyon, mdkuom, gosteelers, artimus.
al.
<< <i>great to hear you had a great experience, it reminded me that I need to start saving for NEXT year's National!!
al. >>
I completely agree, but how do you save up and at the same time not buy anything for a year?
https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/pdub1819/othersets/6204
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
To be honest, no direction, but...
1966-69 Topps EX+
1975 minis NrMt Kelloggs PSA 9
All Topps Heritage-Master Sets