Considering autograph signings at the National? Here’s a rundown of who is appearing …
By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor
The National Sports Collectors Convention is set for Chicago beginning on July 29 with more than 100 signers from the four major sports and beyond.
One highlight this year will be the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team reunion, while notables such as Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Allen Iverson and Greg Maddux also will be signing.
Here’s a rundown of this year’s schedule with beginning prices for each signer. (Click here for more info.) Note: All times p.m. except where noted by *. Tickets for autographs from all members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team in attendance start at $399.
WEDNESDAY, July 29
| Name | Time | Signing Fee |
| Rollie Fingers | 4:30 | Free |
| Pierre Pilote | 4:30 | Free |
| Bret Saberhagen | 4:30 | Free |
| Lem Barney | 5:30 | $39 and up |
| Ed Belfour | 5:30 | $60 and up |
| Tom Gordon | 5:30 | $39 |
| Tony Esposito | 5:45 | $50 and up |
| Eric Hinske | 5:45 | $29 and up |
| Bobby Hull | 6 | $50 and up |
| Paul Konerko | 6:15 | $80 |
| Fergie Jenkins | 6:30 | $40 and up |
| Chris Chelios | 6:45 | $50 and up |
| Jeremy Roenick | 7 | $60 and up |
Olds’ Bargain Pick: It’s hard to beat free, so I’d go with Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers. His penmanship is as slick as his famous mustache.
The High-end Pick: There are a few hockey legends here but I’d go with Hall of Famer Chris Chelios.
THURSDAY, July 30
| Name | Time | Signing Fee |
| Curley Culp | 11* | $39 |
| Dan Dierdorf | 11* | $50 and up |
| Jon Matlack | 11* | $29 |
| Ben Grieve | 11:15* | $29 |
| Aeneas Williams | 11:15* | $49 and up |
| Willie Roaf | 11:30* | $49 |
| Jim Craig | Noon | $69 and up |
| Dermontti Dawson | 12:15 | $59 |
| John Harrington | 12:15 | $29 |
| Mick Tingelhoff | 12:15 | $50 |
| Neal Broten | 12:30 | $29 |
| Ken Morrow | 12:30 | $29 |
| Mike Ramsey | 1 | $29 |
| Mark Wells | 1 | $29 |
| Eric Strobel | 1:30 | $29 |
| Phil Verchota | 1:30 | $29 |
| Steve Christoff | 2 | $29 |
| Bob Griese | 2 | $69 and up |
| Jack O’Callahan | 2 | $29 |
| Rob McClanahan | 2:30 | $29 |
| Dave Silk | 2:30 | $29 |
| Dave Christian | 3 | $29 |
| Steve Janaszak | 3 | $29 |
| Mike Eruzione | 3:30 | $49 and up |
| Craig Patrick | 3:30 | $29 |
| Vince Ferragamo | 3:30 | $29 |
| Bill Buckner | 4 | $29 |
| Paul Hornung | 4 | $50 and up |
| Mark Johnson | 4 | $29 |
| Mookie Wilson | 4 | $29 |
| Steve Largent | 4:15 | $60 and up |
| Buzz Schneider | 4:30 | $29 |
Olds’ Bargain Pick: Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner will forever be paired in baseball history. The combination of them here is appealing.
The High-end Pick: This is the day of the 1980 U.S. hockey team reunion, so the high-end ticket would be a team-signed item.
FRIDAY, July 31
| Marv Levy | 11* | $39 |
| Frank Robinson | 11* | $99 and up |
| Dave Winfield | 11* | $89 and up |
| Rod Carew | 11:15* | $79 and up |
| Manny Sanguillen | 11:15* | $29 |
| Barry Larkin | 11:30* | $79 and up |
| Robin Yount | 11:30* | $99 and up |
| Jim Kelly | Noon | $99 and up |
| Dennis Rodman | 12:30 | $70 and up |
| Lawrence Taylor | 12:30 | $89 and up |
| Dennis Eckersley | 12:45 | $59 and up |
| Manny Ramirez | 1 | $100 and up |
| Jim Palmer | 1:30 | $39 and up |
| Thurman Thomas | 1:45 | $60 and up |
| Wade Boggs | 2 | $69 and up |
| Gale Sayers | 2 | $79 and up |
| Bruce Smith | 2 | $79 and up |
| Carlton Fisk | 2:15 | $79 and up |
| Frank Kaminsky | 2:15 | $50 and up |
| Nate Archibald | 2:30 | $39 |
| Jim Rice | 2:30 | $49 and up |
| Jim Bunning | 3 | $59 and up |
| John Riggins | 3 | $100 and up |
| Randy Gradishar | 3:15 | $29 and up |
| John Havlicek | 3:30 | $99 and up |
| Dominique Wilkins | 3:30 | $40 and up |
| Jim Langer | 3:45 | $39 |
| Bob Gibson | 4 | $79 and up |
| Tim Raines | 4 | $39 and up |
Olds’ Bargain Pick: “The Human Highlight Reel” Dominique Wilkins was a big deal in the early days of the dunk contest. He’s not priced that way. An impressive photo with ink could make for a nice item.
The High-end Pick: It seems like Frank Robinson doesn’t sign as much as he used to, so he’s the headliner here as far as I am concerned.
SATURDAY Aug. 1
| Rickey Henderson | 11* | $119 and up |
| Dexter Jackson | 11* | $29 |
| Bill Mazeroski | 11* | $69 and up |
| Derek Bell | 11:15* | $25 |
| Mike Piazza | 11:15* | $149 and up |
| Allen Iverson | 11:30* | $100 and up |
| Reggie Jackson | 11:30* | $99 and up |
| Randy Johnson | Noon | $199 and up |
| Cal Ripken Jr. | Noon | $159 and up |
| Pedro Martinez | 12:30 | $169 and up |
| Barry Sanders | 12:45 | $125 and up |
| Emmitt Smith | 1 | $225 and up |
| John Smoltz | 1 | $99 and up |
| Jimmy Connors | 2 | $99 and up |
| Andre Dawson | 2 | $59 and up |
| Greg Maddux | 2 | $199 and up |
| Frank Thomas | 2 | $69 and up |
| Scottie Pippen | 2:15 | $150 and up |
| Cecil Cooper | 2:30 | $29 |
| Rafael Palmeiro | 2:30 | $69 and up |
| Mike Tyson | 2:30 | $159 and up |
| Brian Urlacher | 2:30 | $100 and up |
| Jan Stenerud | 3:15 | $39 |
| Isiah Thomas | 3:30 | $79 and up |
| Lou Holtz | 4:30 | $60 and up |
Olds’ Bargain Pick: Frank Thomas is a Hall of Famer but he’s been signing a lot more recently, making him affordable.
The High-end Pick: There are many top-dollar signers here, so it’s a tough call. I think Barry Sanders on a good-looking photo could make for the best option at the basic price.
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SUNDAY Aug. 2
| Eddie Murray | 10:45* | $99 and up |
| Johnny Bench | 11* | $89 and up |
| Fred Biletnikoff | 11* | $39 and up |
| Steve Carlton | 11* | $69 and up |
| Roger Clemens | 11* | $199 and up |
| Todd Hollandsworth | 11* | $29 |
| Tony Perez | 11:15* | $59 and up |
| Dontrelle Willis | 11:15* | $29 |
| Tony LaRussa | 11:30* | $69 and up |
| Pete Rose | 11:30* | $79 and up |
| Maury Wills | 11:30* | $39 and up |
| Brooks Robinson | Noon | $89 and up |
| Joe Morgan | 12:30 | $89 and up |
| John Randle | 12:30 | $49 |
| Randy White | 12:45 | $40 and up |
| Joe Torre | 1 | $149 and up |
| Craig Biggio | 1:15 | $99 and up |
| Ozzie Smith | 1:30 | $59 and up |
| Lou Brock | 1:45 | $79 and up |
| Whitey Herzog | 2 | $59 and up |
| Rickey Jackson | 2 | $49 |
| John Candelaria | 2:15 | $29 |
| Tom Glavine | 2:15 | $69 and up |
| Ray Guy | 2:30 | $49 |
| Bruce Sutter | 2:30 | $39 and up |
| Bob Lilly | 3 | $39 |
Olds’ Bargain Pick: Tom Glavine seems underpriced compared to his Braves teammates signing this weekend.
The High-end Pick: There aren’t a lot of top-tier signers compared to Saturday. I’d consider Johnny Bench a good auto for the price.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
And- I would have thought that Chris’ bargain pick was that baseball player signing at 11:30 AM on Saturday, August 1st. Well, at least, I can bet that Chris has his camera-and extra lunch money-in case he wants another picture of that signee.
Randy White, Bob Lilly, or Fred Biletnikoff are better bargain options for Sunday than Glavine. While baseball is more collected than football, all 3 were not just HOFers, but stars on legendary teams. [Ray Guy might be included, but it’s an ugly signature.]
David: No need.
Wow, Great line up of signers, but man you would feel the pinch in your wallet after getting 4 or 5 autographs. I wish I could afford to make it out there and get all the autographs.
I notice they are way higher in most cases than the prices for the guys are at most shows. It may be the National but still can get most of those guys cheaper elsewhere.
Seriously they should call “the National” “the east coast/midwest sports collector’s show” instead.