Complete Guide to the 2015 National Sports Collectors Convention

The following promotions are available to all attendees of the 2015 National Sports Collectors Convention.

Beckett Media

An exclusive 15-card set, featuring current and iconic Beckett magazine cover art, are available FREE of charge. Each card is randomly distributed to specific dealers and case breakers on the event floor. Can you collect them all? This year, if you do, there is a special autograph reward in store for you. Visit www.Beckett.com for complete details.

Benchwarmer Trading Cards

For each box of trading card product listed on the “Mystery Redemption” flyer opened at the Leaf Trading Cards booth, collectors will receive a special “MYSTERY BONUS PACK”. These packs contain at least seven cards which may contain autographs, show promos or randomly inserted memorabilia cards!

Leaf Trading Cards

Purchase one (1) box of select product, including 2015 Pop Century, 2015 Legends of Sport, 2015 LEaf Clear Football, 2015 In The Game Used Hockey and 2015 Leaf Masterworks: Sports Edition and receive – a 2015 National 7-Card Bonus Pack for every box purchased. Autographs are randomly inserted at a rate of 1:7 packs.

Collectors choosing to purchase cases of the above products, will receive the appropriate Bonus Packs for each box in the case, plus a National Exclusive Autographed Bonus Pack from 2015 Legends of Sport. Each of these autographs are #’d to 10 or less. For more information including, eligibility rules visit the Leaf National Redemption promotion page on their website.

As an added BONUS, collectors willing to be recorded on video sharing what they like or love about Leaf Trading Cards, will receive (2) BONUS PACKS per box opened versus  the (1) per box previously announced. These testimonials will be used in upcoming media celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the legendary 1990 Leaf set!

Panini America

Panini will be offering a massive, 50-card multi-sport base set for their annual wrapper-redemption program. Rookies cards, comprising almost half the set, will be #’d to 499. In addition, there will be 25 Memorabilia Rookie Cards #’d to 99 that will be randomly inserted into packs. A 15-card subset titled, College Variations, is highlighted by college baseball photographs of NFL quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.

Qualifying purchases of eligible products are still TBD so check back with GoGTS.net or Panini America’s official blog, The Knight’s Lance, for further details in the days ahead as well as an expanded image gallery.

Topps

Allen & Ginter Box Redemptions – Celebrating  Allen & Ginter’s 10th anniversary, Topps has created exclusive Allen & Ginter die-cut cards featuring baseball, football and other figures, which are only available at the National.

Each sealed hobby box of Allen & Ginter brought to the Topps booth will yield one exclusive pack of either baseball or football subjects with the chance at special autographs. The hobby box must be opened at the Topps booth in front of a Topps employee. Available while supplies last.

Gypsy Queen Box Redemption – Collectors get a chance to get a three-card pack of Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton on the 2015 Gypsy Queen design. To get one of these exclusive packs – which may contain rare parallels – bring one sealed hobby box of select 2014 or 2015 Topps products.

Hobby boxes eligible for the Gypsy Queen redemption include:

Baseball: All 2015 Topps and Bowman Baseball hobby boxes, excluding Opening Day.

Football: 2014 Bowman Football; 2014 Bowman Chrome Football; 2014 Bowman Sterling®Football; 2014 Topps Chrome Football; 2014 Topps Chrome Mini Football; 2014 Topps Platinum Football; 2014 Topps Prime Football; 2014 Topps Supreme Football; 2014 Topps Finest Football; 2014 Topps Fire Football; 2014 Topps Football Jumbo HTA; 2014 Topps Museum Collection Football; 2014 Topps Triple Threads Football; 2014 Topps Valor Football; and 2015 Bowman Football.

Soccer: 2015 MLS Soccer hobby box

UFC: 2015 Topps UFC Knockout hobby box

Games – Topps will be holding Pack Wars and other games throughout the National with prizes given out to winners. Stop by the Topps booth for a schedule of games.

Topps Q&A – A two-hour, question-and-answer session during the show on Saturday morning. The session is available for the first 150 people to sign up at the Topps booth.

Upper Deck

This year, Upper Deck is bringing back its, highly regarded, Prominent Cuts multi-sport set. Randomly inserted into these packs are limited edition autograph cards. Collectors will also have the opportunity to locate six (6) one-of-one cut signature cards from deceased Chicago legends!

Unlike previous years, the packs will be sealed in foil and include random cards so you will not need to attend each day of the show to put together the set. Qualifying purchases include the following products:

Five (5) packs of:

• 2014-15 NHL® Fleer Showcase
• 2014-15 NHL® O-Pee-Chee Platinum
• 2014-15 NHL® Masterpieces
• 2014-15 NHL® SP Authentic
• 2015 Goodwin Champions
• 2015 Upper Deck Dinosaurs

To receive one (1) 2015 Upper Deck Prominent Cuts Promotional Pack

One (1) pack of:

• 2014-15 NHL® SP Game-Used
• 2014-15 NHL® UD Premier

To receive three (3) 2015 Upper Deck Prominent Cuts Promotional Packs.

Packs must be purchased from a Certified Diamond Dealer who will provide collectors with an Upper Deck issued voucher for the redemption program. The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. each day starting on Thursday and run as long as supplies last. Collectors can take advantage of the promotion up to four times per person, per day. Visit the official Upper Deck Blog for more details.

Collectors who choose to attend the 2015 National Sports Collectors Convention as a VIP, can choose from three available packages, each with different levels of perks. These include: exclusive trading card sets, free autographs and more. Complete details can be found at www.NSCCShow.com.

All VIPs are invited to attend the VIP Reception & Sneak Peek. Grab a plate, eat and get in line for your opportunity to meet and get free autographs from Hockey Hall of Famer Pierre Pilote, Baseball Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers, Detroit Lines Hall of Famer Lem Barney and 2-Time Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen.

This event starts Wednesday afternoon of the 29th, at 4pm CST, and you must be a credentialed VIP to attend and participate.

Exclusive Trading Card Sets

Panini America is providing VIPs an exclusive six-card rookie set that includes Kris Bryant, Marcus Mariota, Jahlil Okarfor, Joc Pederson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jameis Winston.

Topps is producing a 5-card VIP exclusive set in the style of 1953 Bowman Color. As has been the case in the last several years, VIPs will receive a 4-card pack.The complete set includes 5 “cards that never were”. Pre-rookie cards of Chicago Cubs favorite Ernie Banks and Detroit Tigers great Al Kaline as well as iconic images of Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays.

Upper Deck will be offering VIPs an exclusive, five-card set from some of the biggest names in sports – Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Jerome Bettis and Jonathan Toews.

ONYX Authenticated and Super Break have teamed up to provide VIPs with a 6-card set featuring some of baseball’s hottest prospects.

Once again, case breaking takes center stage at the Amazon.com Sports Collectible Main Stage. This is your chance to participate and learn about this great collecting option. Dozens of case breakers will be exhibiting and running breaks throughout the show. This year also marks the first Vintage Case Break.

The National Case Breaking Pavilion, sponsored by Amazon.com and hosted by RippingWax.com, will feature more than 25,000 square feet of exclusive space for breakers. It will be conveniently located, directly adjacent to the Tri Star autograph pavilion.

The stage itself will feature professional lighting and three surrounding 70-inch video screens complete with full audio. The National Case Breaking Pavilion will feature five full days of case breaking activities. These activities will include Grand Opening Ceremonies, Sports Celebrity Appearances and much more.

The schedule for Manufacturer & Special Event Case Breaks are as follows:

• Wednesday – July 29th – 5:00pm: Topps Tier One
• Wednesday – July 29th –  6:00pm: Media Break by RippingWax.com/Super Break Sports
• Thursday – July 30th –  11:00am: Leaf Pop Century
• Friday July 31st –  2:00pm: Upper Deck Case Break
• Saturday August 1st –  11:00am: Panini National Treasures Basketball Grand Case Break
• Saturday August 1st – 12:00pm: Heritage Auctions/RippingWax.com Vintage Break
• Saturday August 1st –  4:00pm: Panini Kids Break

SPECIAL EVENT: Wednesday , July 29th at 4:30pm features Hall of Famer Bret Saberhagen at booth 1429 in the Pavilion, and World Series MVP Rollie Fingers on the Main Stage. Both stars will be signing free autographs for National attendees.

Additionally, Emmy Award winning radio personality Chet Coppock will be making numerous appearances on the Breaker Pavilion main stage.

Hosted by Heritage Auctions and RippingWax.com the Vintage Case Break will take place Saturday, August 1st at Noon. Complete details on how to participate are available at www.NSCCShow.com.

An amazing list of items will find new homes with lucky collectors, including:

• Babe Ruth signed baseball with Gary Cooper and the cast of “The Pride of the Yankees”
• Michael Jordan signed 1984 rookie style jersey
• Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris signed baseball
• Lou Gehrig signed album page
• 1955 Jackie Robinson signed World Series greatest thrill questionnaire
• Ted Williams signed baseball bat
• 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig #92 SGC 70 EX+ 5.5
• 2010 Albert Pujols game used bat
• Wayne Gretzky game used, signed hockey stick
• Mickey Mantle signed baseball bat
• 500 Home Run Club multi-signed baseball
• 1961 Topps Mickey Mantle #300 PSA NM 7
• 1932 Ty Cobb signed check
• Michael Jordan & Muhammad Ali Signed Oversized Photograph
• 1909-11 T206 Sweet Caporal Ty Cobb, Red portrait PSA VG 3

In addition, some of the most well known group case breakers in the hobby will be on-hand breaking hundreds of products. Some of the participants include: Nasty Breaks, Jaspy’s Hobbyland, Live Case Breaks, Ultimate Box Break and many more!

Visit RippingWax.com for more details.

As a way of thanking our case breaking and retail customers, GTS Distribution, will once again be hosting a lounge area for participants in the National Case Break Pavilion area.

Breaker Pavilion Hours

Tuesday – July 28th – 6pm – Midnight: Intro to Case Breaking Night (consumers/spot buyers are allowed free of charge during this time, up to 350 people, FIRST COME FIRST SERVE!)

Wednesday – July 29th – 3:30 PM-Midnight for VIPs, 4 PM-Midnight for General Admission: Up to 350 people from 8pm-midnight) Tickets for Wednesday night will be distributed by the pavilion exhibitors.

Thursday – July 30th – 10am-Midnight: (consumers/spot buyers are allowed for all hours, limited to 350 people from 6pm-midnight) Tickets for Thursday night will be distributed by the pavilion exhibitors.

Friday – July 31st – 10am-6pm

Saturday – August 1st – 10am-6pm

Sunday – August 2nd –  10am-5pm

Tristar Productions is the official organizer and promoter of the 2015 National Sports Collectors Convention Autograph Pavilion. This year’s autograph line-up includes a stellar roster of athletes including 18 members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medal winning men’s hockey team!

Tickets are available now or can be purchased at the show. Visit Tristar’s website for pricing and scheduling information.

Here is a list of just some of the names attending this year’s National.

Baseball – Frank Robinson, Rod Carew, Dave Winfield, Robin Yount, Manny Ramirez, Jim Palmer, Wade Boggs, Carlton Fisk, Dennis Eckersley, Bob Gibson, Tim Raines, Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken Jr., Mike Piazza, Reggie Jackson, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Andre Dawson, Jim Rice, John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Rafael Palmeiro, Eddie Murray, Johnny Bench, Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Joe Torre, Craig Biggio, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith

Football – Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Lawrence Taylor, Bruce Smith, Gale Sayers, John Riggins, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Brian Urlacher, Lou Holtz, Bob Lilly, Randy White, Fred Biletnikoff, Marv Levy

Basketball – Isiah Thomas, Joakim Noah, Scottie Pippen, Allen Iverson, Dominique Wilkens, John Havlicek, Dennis Rodman

Hockey – Chris Chelios, Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito, Mike Eruzione,, Jim Craig, Ed Belfour

Wrestling & Boxing – Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Mike Tyson

Tennis – Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors

Planned and impromptu events, both take place at the National every year. It’s important to be in the know and keep your ears open to where that private party hosting a famous athlete might be located. However, two events have become part of the National’s mystique in recent years. Here’s what we know so far about each.

Panini America VIP Party

Not for the budget conscious collector but instead a high-rolling affair for collectors and retailers with deep pockets. The venue is almost always a secret until the last minute and this year’s high class affair will be no different.

So just how can you attend this invite only event? Collectors purchasing $7,500 worth of select Panini trading card products on the show floor, are automatically eligible to attend. While that might seem like a steep price, those willing to step up to the plate in past years have been rewarded with a 5-star dining experience, music, entertainment, free product and the opportunity to mix and mingle with high-profile celebrity athletes. What’s in store for this year is anybody’s guess.

However, we do have some early details here.

Upper Deck Diamond Club Reception

Upper Deck annually rewards members of its Certified Diamond Club with their own high-profile event.  This is a more exclusive party limited to official dealers and retailers. More news on the exact details of this event will be announced in the coming days.