Sports collectibles show to feature Rose, '85 Bears
Derrick Rose has been called the most exciting guard to join the Chicago Bulls since Michael Jordan, and now fans will have the chance to meet him in person.
Rose headlines the first day of the 38th annual Sports Collectible Show, which opens Friday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Fees for autographs will vary from player to player.
Promoters of the show say this is the first signing appearance of the year for Rose, and it is likely to be his last for a while, as the Bulls make a push toward making the playoffs.
"It's a rare chance to see him in midseason," says Brian Schwartz, president of Schwartz Sports in Northbrook, which is partnering with Mounted Memories of Sunrise, Fla., to host the show.
Rose will sign items from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Friday. Signing fees range from $25 for inscriptions, $79 for pictures and other flat items, and up to $99 for premium collectibles.
He is the first of an all-star lineup scheduled for the weekend long convention. Visitors will meet players, get autographs and visit some 300 dealers and vendors selling everything from vintage cards to bobble head collectibles and framed photos of favorite sports celebrities.
"It's one big card show," Schwartz says, "that features autograph guests."
Saturday's lineup features former Miami Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino in a rare appearance, along with Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Holmes, this year's Super Bowl MVP.
Other guests are Stan Mikita, Ozzie Smith, Rod Woodson, Joe Greene and Dennis Eckersley, among others.
On Sunday, 27 members of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears team will meet with fans. Schwartz said when he and the show organizers pulled several members of the 1985 team together five years ago, they met with so much interest that they had been looking to do it again.
Confirmed players include Jim McMahon, Richard Dent, William "Refrigerator" Perry, Dan Hampton, Leslie Frazier, Ron Rivera, Dave Duerson, Kevin Butler, among others, as well as Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan.
"They're still the most popular team in Chicago history," Schwartz says. "We've been working since last November to get them together."
The one player they could not get, was Mike Singletary, now head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. However, Schwartz and his colleagues met with Singletary at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, to have him autograph items for the show.
If you go
What: 38th annual Sports Collectible Show presented by Schwartz Sports and Mounted Memories
When: 5-9 p.m. Friday; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road in Rosemont
Cost: $10 daily; $5 for children 7 and under, $11 parking fee
Information: (954) 742-8544; www.schwartzsports.com