SPECIAL

REPORT

WELCOME TO

SportsAntiques101.com's

annual coverage of the

25th Annual

2004

NATIONAL SPORTS COLLECTORS CONVENTION

July 21^st- 25^th2004

Cleveland OH.

FIRST HAND

ON LOCATION COVERAGE

OF THE NATIONAL

BY

CARLTON HENDRICKS

169 PHOTOS · 169 PHOTOS

PHOTOS	PHOTOS	PHOTOS	PHOTOS
PHOTOS	PHOTOS	PHOTOS	PHOTOS
PHOTOS	PHOTOS	PHOTOS	PHOTOS

169 PHOTOS · 169 PHOTOS

SET UP DAY

OF THE 25th NATIONAL

click photos to enlarge

Dealers vehicles lined up for

setup day Tuesday July 20th 2004

click photos to enlarge

*Dealers bringing in memorabilia* *during set up*

*Above left: Convention registration* *desk , right: Convention security personnel*
*Bill Mastro of Mastronet in red hat,* *stops to talk to National promoter* *Mike Berkus upon arrival.* click photos to enlarge

click photos to enlarge *Entrance of I-X Center convention site*


*Crowds waiting to get in* *on first day of convention*	*Crowds just let in* *5:00pm opening day*
click photos to enlarge

Sports Antiques 101

with Carlton Hendricks on

Vintage Athletic Display

A LOOK AT EXCEPTIONAL DISPLAY PIECES

found at shows, auctions and elsewhere

TODAY'S SPECIAL FEATURE
CARLTON COVERS THE
NATIONAL IN CLEVELAND
AND FILES THIS REPORT

click photo

THIS IS A 7 PAGE STORY

You may go directly to any page by

clicking the page link below

This year’s 25th National Sports Collectors Convention was held in Cleveland Ohio at the International Exposition Center, better known as the I-X Center. The event took place from Wednesday July 21st thru Sunday July 25th. Most of the old guard were present and accounted for it seemed. Typically each year, among the thousands of attendees who come to the National, there is a core group of veteran dealers and advanced collectors you always see. They come from all over the country to attend the hobby’s cornerstone event. Not a formal group, and not a clique, just hardcore enthusiasts, who wouldn’t want to miss anything, and come with the thought, anything could show up at the National! In many instances it’s the only time they see one another, and much good camaraderie is enjoyed. It’s not a large group I refer to; say thirty to forty in number. Out of the millions of people in the United States, somehow this small fraternity has the intuition and vision to make their way there. On opening day of the National, which is when you want to get there, the rest of the rest of America goes about everyday life. From Miami to Seattle, from Mane to San Diego, people are at work in skyscrapers; babies are being fed in homes, taxi’s honk in midtown Manhattan. The 405 is backed up in L.A., roofers are roofing in Des Moines, jackhammers are hammering Dallas. Court cases proceed in Chicago, people take their cars for repair in Phoenix, others are getting haircuts in Salt Lake, and golfers are teeing off at Pebble Beach. All across America on opening day, the last thing on most people’s minds is the National. Only those with a special vision are there. As far as we’re concerned, it’s the epicenter of the world…at least it’s supposed to be the epicenter.

As I’ve previously stated, the National is made up mostly of contemporary sports cards and memorabilia. One look at the mammoth sized booths of the major producers of these contemporary items, tells you where the real money is! Well, I don’t know if you’d call them booths, more like mini city blocks. Even as big as they are, the old dogs hardly even notice them. The only thing we really know is, they’re in the way of Dave Hunt’s booth, and we have to keep walking around or thru them, the duration of the show. It’s a strange mix of collecting tastes, and focus.

The state of the hobby for us, the antique collectors, was unfortunately seen at the convention. Simply put, great antique sports items are getting harder and harder to find, and the 25th National reflected this trend. A few opinions on the subject surfaced as I traveled the convention floor. Terry Knouse senior, of Tic and Tic fame, from Wapwallopen, Pa., felt that the good pieces are locked up in collections of people with no need to sell. John Kanuit, of Vintage Sports Collector from Los Angeles, felt the great pieces aren’t showing up because they get auctioned in the big sports auction houses. I ran into legendary collector Gary Cypres of Los Angeles, at the airport on the way out of town. As we discussed the convention, Gary shared his feeling that eBay has had an affect. I’m sure everyone would agree eBay has had a major impact on the hobby. These reasons, and the fact that the great pieces could simply be drying up are all good explanations why this years National lacked punch. There seemed to be less quality than last years National in Atlantic City. For instance, I didn’t see one power advertising sign, (that I couldn’t afford), like say, a large die-cut stand up of Red Grange endorsing sports equipment, or, an early sports related tri-fold tobacco window display. Frankly, I didn’t see anything ground shaking at the show. In the old days, before eBay, you expected to see stuff like that when you went to a National.

Well, anyway, enough of what I didn’t see, lets take a look at what I did. Please note, the dealers mentioned, had much more than what I mention. I’m only highlighting the pieces that stood out. Basically, I’m bringing you the best of what I saw in antique sports display pieces as I cruised the isles.

We begin with the booth of Steven Galletta who came from the New York City area. Steven brought a nice, large, 1930’s generic advertising sign for Langendorf Bread, showing a boy wearing a leather football helmet, 50” wide by 23 ½” tall, $400.00, Cool sign, sold opening day. Next Galletta piece, a very nice one sheet movie poster with Red Grange starring in “The Galloping Ghost”, 27 3/8” wide by 40 ¾” tall, $950.00, fairly rare, classic must have for a Grange collector. Next, Galletta had a nice 1928 football broadside game poster for the West End Athletic Club of Reading vs. Boyertown, nice little poster, note “foot ball” in two words, 14” wide by 11” tall, $250.00 .