The NSCC: Who’s signing in Baltimore this year?
By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor
We’re presently prepping The Show Issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly, which will include all the pertinent details about this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention set for Aug. 1-5 in Baltimore, Md.
There will be more than 80 former sports stars will be on hand at this year’s NSCC to sign for fans during the week. Here’s the rundown of who and when and their starting autograph fees for a basic item. (All times are p.m. unless noted with *)
On Friday, the NSCC and TRISTAR, the organizer of the autograph pavilion at the show, announced that New York Yankees relief pitcher and MLB career saves leader Mariano Rivera has been added to the lineup.
See all the signers — and see their starting fees — after the jump.
AUG. 1
Name — Time — (Fees start at)
Jack Morris — 4:30 — FREE
Bobby Grich — 4:30 — FREE
Qadry Ismail — 5:30 — ($20)
John Smoltz — 5:30 — ($59)
Rocket Ismail — 5:45 — ($59)
Ron Hansen — 6 — ($20)
Gale Sayers — 6:30 — ($59)
OLDS’ PICKS: Sayers and Smoltz might be your best bargains here. Smoltz has just 204 different certified autographs out there according to the Beckett.com OPG, while Sayers has 451. More can equal more affordable ones out there, so I’d take Smoltz.
—
AUG. 2
Name — Time — (Fees start at)
Roger Wehrli — 11* — ($29)
Dexter Manley — 1:30 — ($20)
Chris Hoiles — 2 — ($20)
Jack Youngblood — 2 — ($39)
Tom Matte — 2:15 — ($20)
Tippy Martinez — 2:30 — ($15)
Darryl Dawkins — 3 — ($29)
Jennie Finch — 4 — ($39)
Norm Snead — 4 — ($29)
OLDS’ PICKS: Of all of these athletes, the most-unique is probably Finch, though she’s no stranger to certified autographs. With an added “Chocolate Thunder” inscription ($10), Dawkins could be a fun and affordable one.
—
AUG. 3
Name — Time — (Fees start at)
Steve Largent — 11* — ($59)
Wes Unseld — 11:15* — ($39)
Steve Carlton — 11:30* — ($69)
Ron Turcotte — noon — ($49)
Jean Cruguet — 12:15 — ($35)
Steve Cauthen — 12:30 — ($35)
Buster Douglas — 12:30 — ($39)
Red Schoendienst — 12:30 — ($49)
Elvin Hayes — 12:45 — ($39)
Juan Marichal — 12:45 — ($49)
Roy Jones Jr. — 1 — ($79)
Ozzie Smith — 1 — ($69)
Bob Gibson — 1:30 — ($69)
Rod Woodson — 1:45 — ($69)
Lou Brock — 2 — ($79)
Jim Bunning — 2 — ($49)
Jamal Lewis — 2:15 — ($49)
Whitey Herzog — 2:30 — ($55)
Milt Pappas — 2:30 — ($20)
Bruce Sutter — 2:30 — ($49)
Bill Mazeroski — 3 — ($69)
Joe Washington — 3 — ($20)
Dominique Wilkins — 3:15 — ($49)
Al Bumbry — 3:30 — ($20)
Ozzie Newsome — 4 — ($39)
James Worthy — 4:30 — ($69)
OLDS’ PICKS: While Wilkins is a good value here, Rod Woodson just doesn’t do the whole certified autograph thing much, which means there ain’t as much of his ink out there for casual collectors to chase. He’s signed just 71 different cards through the years, according to Beckett.com.
—
AUG. 4
Name — Time — (Fees start at)
Rod Carew — 11* — ($79)
John Havlicek — 11:30* — ($99)
Barry Larkin — 11:30* — ($79)
Brooks Robinson — 11:30* ($69)
Barry Sanders — 11:45* — ($119)
Reggie Jackson — noon — ($99)
Cal Ripken Jr. — noon — ($149)
Emmitt Smith — noon — ($249)
Carlton Fisk — 12:15 — ($79)
Frank Robinson — 12:15 — ($89)
Rickey Henderson — 1 — ($109)
Jim Palmer — 1:15 — ($39)
Eddie Murray — 1:30 — ($99)
Gary Payton — 2:15 — ($59)
George Starke — 2:15 — ($20)
Jim Rice — 2:30 — ($59)
Earl Weaver — 2:30 — ($39)
Mike Hargrove — 2:45 — ($25)
Gordie Howe — 3 — ($99)
John Montefusco — 3 — ($20)
Mariano Rivera — 3:15 — ($249)
Randy White — 3:30 — ($29)
Paul Blair — 3:45 — ($15)
OLDS’ PICKS: This is the biggest day on the schedule with the four most-expensive guys signing. It’s a tough choice – because some of those $100-plus guys still seem like good deals. Meanwhile, Palmer is a bargain and a guy like Howe ain’t bad, either. (I’d probably go with Henderson, myself, since I still need a Rickey. )
—
AUG. 5
Name — Time — (Fees start at)
Fergie Jenkins — 11:15* — ($49)
Ralph Kiner — 11:30* — ($49)
Joe Morgan — 11:30* — ($79)
Robin Yount — 11:30* — ($99)
Ken Griffey Sr. — 11:45* — ($35)
Tommy Lasorda — 11:45* — ($89)
Bob Griese — noon — ($69)
Phil Niekro — noon — ($59)
Pete Rose — noon — ($79)
Ivan Rodriguez — 12:15 — ($79)
Johnny Bench — 12:30 — ($89)
Tony Perez — 1 — ($60)
Cesar Geronimo — 1:15 — ($39)
Billy Williams — 1:15 — ($49)
George Foster — 1:45 — ($35)
Gaylord Perry — 2 — ($49)
Larry Sheets — 2 — ($15)
Dave Concepcion — 2:15 ($55)
Goose Gossage — 2:15 — ($59)
Ricky Sanders — 2:15 — ($20)
Brian Mitchell — 2:30 — ($25)
Don Stanhouse — 2:30 — ($15)
OLDS’ PICKS: Love ’em or hate ’em, Rose is a bargain price compared to other players even though his autographs aren’t all that rare.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
