Sports convention a fan's dream
Grab your camera, bring your favorite jersey and dig out that box of baseball cards collecting dust in the attic and head out to Rosemont for The 29th National Sports Collectors Convention.
Attendees can get autographs from their favorite athletes, trade cards with other collectors and view valuable sports memorabilia at "The National" convention at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont July 30-Aug. 3.
"It's a sports heaven," said Ross Forman, spokesman for the convention, which he said is the biggest in the nation. "It's the Superbowl of sports memorabilia; there are more trading cards and memorabilia than you can possibly ever imagine. It's a hall of fame for all sports in one venue."
More than 100 sports stars - more than there have been at past conventions - will be available for autographs. The list includes Ryne Sandberg, Joe Namath, Dennis Rodman, Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Bo Jackson and Buddy Ryan.
But it probably will not include Steve Bartman, who was offered $25,000 to come to the convention and sign a photo of him in the stands at the 2003 National League Championship Series game between the Cubs and the Florida Marlins. ESPN.com reports that Bartman declined the offer.
"Nobody has seen or heard from him since 2003," Forman said.
The convention and SportsBuy.com made the offer last week that if Bartman were to show up at the convention at 1 p.m. Thursday and sign the photo, he would get the cash and the photo would be auctioned at SportsBuy.com for a Chicago-based charity.
But even without Bartman there, Forman said getting an autograph from the dozens of other stars at the convention is a unique opportunity.
"It's a way to meet a celebrity you've never met before," he said. "You could meet a guy from the '85 Bears and tell him about your memories of watching the Bears that year. It's a show of memories."
About 700 dealers and more than 40,000 collectors from around the world are expected to attend this year's convention. The fans range from "a corporate CEO working on a set from the 1950s to a 13-year-old kid buying a pack of cards for $3," Forman said.
What differentiates this convention from other hall of fames, Forman said, is that at The National, fans "can actually see and touch the stuff."
"You can actually wear that jersey, or you could buy it and leave with it," Forman said.
The convention, which was first held in 1980, is in a different city each year. The last time it was in the Chicago area was in 2005, and this year is the seventh time the show has been in Chicago.
The National Sports Collectors Convention
When: 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont
Admission: $18 per day; $15 in advance from www.nsccshow.com; children younger than 12 free; Family Day $25 for up to four people) is Sunday; VIP tickets ($129/$119 in advance) include free autographs, other benefits
On the Web: www.nsccshow.com