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New York Times

Recording-breaking cards and Willie Mays' personal collection: What you'll find at The National

Walking shoes and wallets. Don't attend the country's biggest and most well known sports card and collectibles show this week without them. The 45th annual National Sports Collectors Convention, often referred to simply as 'The National,' will open its doors Wednesday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, anticipating at least 100,000 people in attendance for the five-day event. Advertisement The show will present more than 600 dealers for buying, selling and trading cards or memorabilia, including large displays from some of the hobby's most notable power players like Topps/Fanatics, Panini, Upper Deck, eBay, Goldin, Heritage, PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) and others. Also nearly 200 current or former athletes and celebrities will hold autograph sessions and photo opportunities. Featured signers include current stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo (and all his brothers), Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker and Shota Imanaga to hall of famers like Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Ray Lewis, Lawrence Taylor, Mariano Rivera, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Julius Erving, Allen Iverson and Patrick Ewing to eventual Hall of Famers like Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera and Adrian Peterson. 'It's pandemonium,' Mark Laird of Las Vegas based Paradise Card Breaks said. 'If you're brand new to The National, it's a little overwhelming, and you'll never see everything. Even if you're there for four days, you still won't see everything. Expect to be overwhelmed, expect to have crowds in front of booths. So have a game plan, know who you want to see and where you want to go.' While, baseball, basketball, and football cards still command the lion's share of interest from sports card collects, some new categories are emerging in a big way that is likely to be reflected on the show floor this year. During the first half of this year, searches rose for WNBA cards (170 percent), WWE cards (more than 50 percent), and F1 cards (more than 50 percent) compared to the same time last year, according to eBay. Combine that with the massive rise in popularity of Pokemon cards that is commanding more and more space at sports card shows and this edition of The National could contain its most diverse array of collectibles yet. Advertisement Here's a snapshot of what some of the more prominent companies within the hobby will present at The National: Heritage Potentially the most expensive basketball card ever will be showcased by the auction house. The one-of-a-kind Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman (the NBA logo patch from each of their game-worn jerseys) autographed patch card will be on display and is currently up for auction, ending in late August. The price currently stands at $3.4 million with the buyer's premium, meaning it will be the most expensive basketball card publicly sold. The all-time record for any basketball card sale is currently held by a one-of-one Stephen Curry 2009 Panini National Treasures Logoman autographed patch card that sold for $5.9 million in a private sale. That record seems likely to fall too. History in the making! 26 days of bidding left . . . 👀 — Heritage Auctions Sports (@Heritage_Sport) July 28, 2025 eBay The online marketplace will feature 'The Hunt,' where collectors can search for 50 cards (each card ranging from $100-$500) hidden across the convention floor. Each day of the convention, eBay will reveal 10 new cards up for grabs. Other activities within the eBay booth include the 'Grade Your Grail' challenge to see how well you can grade a trading card's condition and the chance to shoot baskets to win eBay Collector Packs or unlock access to the 'search bar' to scour for cards you're chasing. The eBay Live stage will feature former athletes and celebrities like Dwight Howard and Rob Gronkowski to join the booth for sports card breaks with top sellers. There will also be panels with notable sports figures to discuss sports and the hobby. Goldin The auction house will showcase some of the most iconic trading cards and memorabilia in the hobby at both their booth and the eBay booth. Most notably, Goldin will highlight the Caitlin Clark Immaculate one-of-a-kind autographed Logowoman patch card inscribed 'ROY 24' from the 2024 Panini WNBA Rookie Royalty set. (A similar card from the set sold recently for more than $600,000, smashing the all-time record for a sale of a women's sports card.) One of the BEST Caitlin Clark Cards! 🤩🤩 BID NOW: This is the 2024-25 Panini Instant Rookie Royalty Immaculate Collection WNBA Logo Autograph Caitlin Clark Signed, Inscribed "ROY 24" Patch Rookie 1/1 Card. The Indiana Fever superstar has placed her… — Goldin (@GoldinCo) July 12, 2025 Other cards on display will be the 2023-24 Panini Flawless Victor Wembanyama/LeBron James Dual Logoman one-of-one card and the E-X2001 Essential Credentials Future Derek Jeter card serial numbered 03/09. Hunt Auctions Willie Mays' personal collection will be on display as the items will be auctioned off in late September with the proceeds going to education, training and health services for youth through the Say Hey! Foundation. The items will include: Panini The card company will offer a variety of products and activities catered toward children and teenage card collectors. Panini will host a series of 'Kids Case Breaks,' as well as 'Kids Crates' packs. The eight box breaks spread across three days will include some of the company's recognizable products like Contenders Football and Mosaic Basketball. Advertisement PSA The hobby's leading grading company will display the card collection from DJ and music producer Steve Aoki, along with housing a breaker studio and offer onsite card grading and vaulting services. Topps/Fanatics 'Topps Stadium' will host a variety of activities from trading card themed specialty game shows to surprise box breaks and live giveaways. 'Collecting 101' will offer a tutorial on the basics of card collecting. A wrapper redemption will be offered where collectors can bring eligible sealed Topps boxes in exchange for exclusive Topps National silver packs. Upper Deck The card company will provide its own wrapper redemption program. Attendees can buy Upper Deck products from select hobby shops at the show and receive a ticket to redeem at the booth for various prizes depending on the product purchased. The company will showcase its recently launched rookie patch autograph authentication system that debuted with '23-'24 The Cup. Plus, Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II will hold a Saturday autograph session. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (Top image: Hunt Auctions)