i really appreciate the diversity of yalls group. all the different perspectives and experiences really makes for well rounded and super informative content.
Great episode, I doubt they will provide open seating with tables because many people set up at tables free of charge making money. I’m sure the dealers didn’t like that.
i stayed in a beautiful airbnb for $50 a night, never waited in line to the bathroom for one second and cell service was perfect the whole time. traffic+parking was a complete disaster during the week, mostly fine by weekend
@@ImOnlySIeeping the crazy asking prices are infuriating!! What somebody is into a card doesn’t matter to any prospective buyer and doesn’t affect the value either!
Haha. That was very entertaining. The last time I saw Phil as up and about as this was in his speak easy in late 2019 when he was entertaining a friend from Florida and waxing lyrical about Trout and Soto. I wonder....
McCormick place in Chicago would be the ultimate location if it wasn't for the difficulty in getting there. Another great show gentlemen!! Appreciate the point blank feedback of this year's national!
enjoyed the conversation. In regards to the National... for whatever ir is worth. Traffic through the park was a non issue every day. I was staying in N Olmstead about 10 min away and whipped through the park everyday and it was cake (thanks to Google Maps)... I went and ate at a Famouse Daves BBQ and not sure what they were famous about but it is not the food. haha. Agree on the bathrooms. Honestly if you bought the VIP Pass (normally not worth it) it was worth teh money for 5 min or less into the bathroom all the time but to mention the bathroom hidden behind a display that had no lne. haha. Overall a great show but I really enjoy the post 6 PM stuff. And TPott, thanks to your crew for getting Geoff to giveaway a signed jersey to the kids for me. I have to be honest, the Thursday ngiht trade night went from what I loved about it (even last year) and felt way to corporate to me now and that kind of took away form it for me. I knoe many liked it but it was enough for me not to go back to it anymore. It was not a good time.Sorry for the story book, I will cut it off there. haha
Great content! Couldn’t agree more about all you guys talked about the national! 2011 Finest Set is incredible! I collect JV and have the red psa 9 and Gold psa 10! Keep up the great work!
Drove down from Toronto Wednesday and was only able to attend on Thursday. Very similar thoughts to what y'all said about the building. I got stuck in the early morning crunch and was basically parked on the freeway for about an hour waiting to get in. Was also amazed when I would look over my shoulder and see people ditching their Ubers to walk the freeway instead and I saw a couple times some kids crossing the freeway and weaving through traffic to get to the show. Inventory wise, I again agree with T-Pott. It was a heavy football show and I was able to quickly skip by tables that had loaded showcases of random parallels. I was primarily looking for baseball and WWE. I found pricing for what I was looking for was actually really solid, and specifically the WWE stuff, a few cards I was able to pick-up from a dealer for below comps just based on sticker alone and then negotiated a small cut off a bundle. My only baseball pick-up was a 1999 SP Signature Edition David Ortiz Auto in his Twins uni, just one of those totally random cards I've had my eye on for years and have had very hilarious prices quoted to me when I've seen it at other shows. I don't think I'll go next year either, I feel that the show itself has simply become too big for simply one event to be the sole attraction. Fanatics Fest next year seems more enticing tbh, I attended a Fanatics Experience event for WWE's Money In The Bank in July and was shocked at how well organized it was and also how they supplemented that experience with other signings and events while they were in town.
Chris here - thanks for sharing! Congrats on your pick ups, especially the ortiz! i'm excited to hear what Fanatics Fest is like from people who attend. I'm sure it will get me even more pumped up for BUrbank show end of August.
The true key to enjoying the National is to conveniently live 20 minutes from Rosemont. Roll out of your own bed, drive on down, enjoy the show, have dinner with card friends, then drive home and sleep in your own bed.
Chris here - that's a really interesting idea! TAG does some things really well. Beckett does almost nothing well at this point. But together it could work!
Heard the next year they will have more dealers in 1 square with each dealer having a corner, so larger space but 4 dealers per cube. Trusted source as the kids say, let's wait and see what happens next year.
Ty there were dealers getting 4 or 5 booths and subletting them for more than the original cost of the booth. So the people running the show cracked down on them and minimized the space allotted to that dealer.
Philmington calm down I collect low grade vintage. There is a decent market for ungraded vintage because everything today is graded. Still a great show fellas!!!
It was my first National and I had a blast. I found some great deals with booths that were open for negotiations and trade. Like Phil, I ate protein bars for lunch and saved a lot of time. I met up with multiple IG folks who I’ve communicated with. Phil’s hangout was fantastic and was fun to meet the Spitballin’ crew. Hopefully Jeff and Chris can make it next time. Agree that they must clean out the old, irrelevant booths (or National will be left behind by Fanatics Fest).
Chris here - the protein bar approach is smart. Crappy food, crappy mood, crappy decisions. I hope to make it next year, and i'd really look forward to the hangouts. Phil;s especially looked like a great time.
This was my first time at the national and I had a lot of fun. Had a dealer work out a good deal for me for a 2020 Topps Transcendent Ken Griffey Jr Emerald Auto /15. Its now my favorite card in my collection. It was also a lot of fun seeing all the different cards. The biggest issue I had was the amount of vintage. It felt like more than half of the cards at the National were vintage. So it was a lot of booths that felt like they had all the same cards. The traffic was not great, but I did not have too much of an issue. Overall, it was a good experience. I am hoping to go next year in Chicago.
What are your thoughts on having a National East and National West each year to help with capacity issues? The large dealer base would likely overlap but might help with retail traffic.
Chris here - The Burbank Shows out here in LA are growing fast. August of 2025 its in the largest convention center in Anaheim. So I feel like we have our west coast national!
When Scott is gone this show just goes off the rails 🤣 especially when ol Phil gets hold of things 😂 Really appreciated Ty's commentary on the show, cool to hear and felt grounded even for being a media pass holding participant.. I was watching the SCI trade night live stream on Thursday I think it was and that was my favorite national content I saw. Loved the excitement of that moment and how they were able to share that live. Really stinks Cleveland shut them down after an hour or two or whatever it was due to their pathetic internet capabilities.
Chris / Jeff - Sweet Freddie Freeman pickup! I've got the Freeman Finest Refractor Auto, along with the non-auto Xfractor, regular Refractor, and Red/Green/Orange Refractors. I'd love to add the Gold and Purple Refractors, but they come up for sale so rarely...
@@hamnertime Chris here - you’ve got a red? Awesome!! We’ve had a gold non auto PSA 10 up for sale for a week or so on eBay and myslabs and just actually this morning accepted an offer. These cards are so beautiful in person right??
@@SpitballinCards You sold it? Darn... I've been watching it for a while and was actually saving up for that card (albeit, I still have a LONG way to go). Oh, well... I'll keep saving. I don't care if it's a PSA 10 or not. Another one will hopefully show up again soon. You are right - those 2011 Finest Refractors are stunning in person.
Phil does have a distinctive voice. Whenever I hear it, I know it's him, even though I don't watch all of his videos. 😬 When another channel has him in a video, and he's off camera, I know it's him lol.
I think it was my 5th or 6th. Been to Cleveland about 4 or 5 times and Chicago once. Thoughts match up with most of what you're saying. Upon leaving, my thought was 'this show is too big for the people in charge of it to handle, any longer.' They're too cheap. Kicking out the guys with the 2000-2020 cards was a massively terrible move, as noted. The booths with old signs, trinkets and dusty inventory that looks like it's been hauled to shows since 1988 really don't fit in any more. I'm hoping the larger, regional type shows, start gaining a lot more traction. I won't be traveling to Chicago for a National, so I'm out on that for a few years. Luckily more shows keep popping up and doing well.
The Tea Kettle Crew is 4 Deep?! Who knew .. hats off to ya you’re a better man than I am, after 2 kids I might start picking faves & seeing if I can drop the others with a grandma, family friend etc… lol kiddding of course…
This was my first National. I was a little disappointed. I normally attend The Philly Show near me and while The National was certainly bigger, I expected to see more. I was excited for the big mfg booths but felt like the whole set up was squished in. The lack of easily accessible bathrooms, food, drink was disappointing. Getting to the show from downtown was frustrating w/traffic and Uber. Was able to hop an eBay shuttle back which was really convenient though. If you were on a mission you could have knocked the rooms out in a day or two max. Overall, we still had fun. I overpaid for a box of Topps to get a silver pack and my son found a Gunnar card he wanted. I did pick up a Clemente rookie for my PC. I’m questioning whether going to Chicago during the next 3 years is worth the hassle. I happened to be in Cleveland for another convention and took the opportunity to add The National to my plans but is a trip for Rosemont worth it?
I don’t listen to any other card content regularly and I didn’t even go to the national, but this was a great episode. Great work and keep it up, gents!
Honestly I think it’s wrong that the older dealers who sell oddball stuff getting moved out. It’s not something I’d want but to be fair these ppl have been around forever. Have been supporting the national for many years. Years before the hobby became “cool” again. There is ppl out there that do buy stuff from the older dealers. Ppl that also have been attending these shows for years. Some items are very niche and rare. That’s what the national is all about
Chris here - I dont know specifics on this, but Ive been at shows before and seen some dealer tables that are largely empty and nobody stopping and the guy is just on his phone or reading a book. I don't get it. but its their time and money.
Awesome podcast, I had to stop watching around the 35 minute mark. The heavy breathing on the microphone was making me feel sick. I will definitely tune in on the next one. Keep up the good work!
@@ImOnlySIeeping I bet the 87 O-Pee-Chee is even less! And the Johnny Ray Opening Day! But the 86 Topps came first and the Tiffany version is the best version. That’s the one for me.
If u r going to meet friends and hang out I understand. But if u r on a limited budget like me why the he#$ go. What 25 to get in for 1 day the travel , hotel, un healthy food unless u Bring it or go to a grocery store. Why? I've been to 3 back in the early 2000s. Why go now!?!? We have ebay and other auction houses that r cheaper than the dealers there. Awesome show guys. Fight Fight fight! Saying all this I do love a card show as much as the next card nerd
Chris here - I hate to say it but I agree. Best part of the Burbank shows for Jeff and I is meeting and chatting with fellow collectors we've met on IG. eBay inventory of stuff we like to collect will never be challenged by show dealers. I will say, when we've gone in looking for bigger cards, shows have been great because cash goes a lot further without ebay fees!
Can you all do an episode on ranking graded cards? Like 1. Psa 10, 2. Bgs black label, 3. Bgs 10, etc...... I think that would be cool and seeing the prospective of each person opinion. Another great video!!!! Can't wait until the next one.
@@JamesHowell-k5c thanks for watching! Chris here - we could do that, but I think it would be a pretty short episode. PSA has separated itself so much from the others. Personally, I wouldn’t pay a premium for a bgs 10, even for a black label. We don’t know what’s going to happen to BGS, but their long term outlook is not good.
We went on Friday, they gave up on charging for parking so people just rolled in. I don’t go to card shows to get a healthy meal sorry. The money I saved on travel I spent on cards , I would have spent a lot more on hospitality in Chicago. Will definitely go back to Cleveland National.
One for the road. Was it just me or did others find Philmington's description of Downtown Cleveland baffling? What can we put this down to? 1.He was paid by the City of Cleveland as a well known influencer? 2. He did it as a favour for his old mate Lebron? 3. He has bought some run down real estate in the city and is attempting to turn people's perception of it as a bonafide dump into an investor's dream? 4. He has acquired some restaurants Downtown? 5. He was so off his nut that he confused Cleveland with Toronto?
Great show and no like Jeff and Chris say it’s just too far for me to to go in to put 2500 bucks into going there for a week or whatever and I’d rather spend that money on Cards in the San Antonio area which is few and far areas in between.
Corporate had to shrink? GOOD! This was easily one of the better shows. The aisles wide, the building comfortable, the lighting was good. You could find dealer tables. You didn't have to leave the show to eat. I didn't see nor hear any attendees complaining about the show. People go to the national to see vintage and pre-war and things you don't otherwise see at your local show. The other show? Hear anything about that? NOPE. Just a bunch of shiny garbage. And stop with the whining and bitching that the guys that were doing nationals back in the 80's still get tables. They were there when there was no foot traffic and breaking even was a good weekend. You had to intentionally go to corporate. No one HAD to walk through it. It was a great show. Period.
I've been looking for the Oswalt purple for at least a decade now. Any low numbered refractor is a top 50 most wanted card. Last month I was outbid on one that went over my ridiculous snipe of $145. I was hoping to see another listed considering the crazy high price. Oh well the search continues. Still missing the mosaic /10 too.
@@mofny Chris here - I feel your pain. The low numbered refractors come up so rarely, there’s always another collector who out-snipes my snipes! Have you ever opened any boxes??
Guys need to just bite the bullet and tell Scottie relief pitchers are also legit baseball players and deserve to be in hall of fame…. I think Scottie wants to be back moderating?
Great episode!Just an observation but due to the growth of the hobby why don't they try and make the National more days? This may alleviate some of the crowds if it was spread over more days. I'm sure there's a reason but just curious
I agree with t Potts accessment.. it was a disappointment/def felt small/bad food selection/crowed small corporate area/isolated venue /horrible trade night in a basement/overpriced items/too much junk non sports stuff. I as well didn't come home with a lot of cards. Seems like if you didnt go on Wednesday everything was picked thru. It also seems as tho dealers didnt not bring their best stuff since the market is crumbling. Almost a waste of a trip. Could've done this as a day trip instead of a 4 day weekend trip. Those that didn't go were the real winners. We have a long way to go to be a real trade show like the MAGIC/ASD/SHOT/CES/OUTDOOR RETAILER/TOYFAIR/SDCC shows . Waiting for chicago to redeem the experience.
I had a good time at the show, but as a collector, many of the things I was searching for were picked up by repackers (before the show opened to the VIP/Public on Wednesday). Thus, I couldn't find most of what I was looking for (very little 24 Topps chrome single autos/parallels was dissappointing). At least I was able to pick up a few items for my Yount collection including a nice button auto relic. And I got to meet @Philmington while we both stood in line for Topps redemption packs. My biggest beef is that too many dealers refuse PayPal/Venmo etc, even if I would pay the fees. I'm not going to carry around more than a couple thousand in cash. By the time I get to Friday, my case pile get too low to buy anything.
@@TheProfessorsDugout Chris here - that’s seems crazy! You enjoyed meeting Phil??? Seriously though, sealers not taking PayPal is just dumb. I’m not comfortable carrying around tons of cash and PayPal FF with a person standing right in front of you seems as easy as it gets.
Last time I checked, only 3 wax sellers were allowed to sell for the redemption program (D&A, Steel City, Blowout) and they put a sticker on the wax once you buy it there.
@@SpitballinCards no problem. 2012 was the last year you could bring in your own cases. I know because we brought in 5-6 cases and cleaned up on silver packs. When it was Donruss, they’d just give you a stack of packs. Panini tightened it up in 2010 then got the wax sellers involved in 2013. That was the end of any kind meaningful ROI on National Silver Packs as all the dealers price fix. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, they raise prices in unison and check each other’s stock.
Love your content. However, the national sounds awful and not worth the trouble. I prefer smaller shows that i can navigate easily and cheaply. I agree with other commenters that ebay is just easier and faster way to shop.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone starts a secondary massive show during The National next year unless they can adapt to the younger crowd. Nobody is going there to look at tables full of flea market items and there was way too much of that junk in Cle. The VIP lounge downstairs saved this show for me.
Yes .....he is done. He is finished.He is now a could have been. He is a reminder to Acuna collectors. The hobby is now worse. - Future message for Mike Trout collectors
@@SpitballinCards So many have great players been lost to injuries Nomar, Pedroia , Prior. This one stings quite a bit, especially for true collectors.
Does anyone know if Vegas has a venue big enough to host the National? Would be great to make a family trip out of the National, my fam could go watch a show while I went to the convention.
@Blabbin_Bout_Slabbin plenty of hotels, restaurants, and bathrooms to accommodate everyone. This seems to be the biggest complaints I've heard, so it seems like a no brainer to me if it has everything.
@@mangobango6970I think the biggest complaint(s) are 1) a significant portion of the dealers are based in the east/midwest and don't want to have to travel so far west with their inventory and maybe 2) vegas has too many other appealing money taking options which can taie away from card spend 😅
@chrishayes4166 if we are just going to cater to the east coast/midwest because of the dealers than I guess I won't be going anytime soon. Makes complete sense to exclude half the country every year, the hobby is changing yet the National is resisting change. Makes sense.
@@mangobango6970 Yeah understandable feelings there. I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying its the practicalities/logistics of how things are done.
Scott's not here, podcast is 20 minutes x2. 😀 Quality of life stuff sounded pretty rough. Especially if you paid extra to have internet there, for example.
Quit effing around guys!! I’m halfway through the video and I’ve yet to hear what the best Jarred Kelenic cards y’all scoped at the National were ffs 🤦♂️
@@philorlando3463 I gotcha. Only point I will make that “kept raw/ungraded” doesn’t always lead to issues. IMHO the fed are so high it keeps me from grading, even though I would like to. So I target raw cards for vintage for specific chases and modern I target slabs because I don’t pay the grading fees the seller already incurred.
All of the modern cards you tout are dropping in value, like a rock. Don’t be so quick to insult veteran dealers and rare antique items. Your taste and opinions favoring mass-produced modern crap are not representative of everyone in attendance.
CGC all day especially since they bought JSA, TAG could become a good option but lets be honest with ourselves. PSA has been dogshit for over 7 years now, like let's all just rip the bandaid off and move on from PSA junk slabs and inconsistent grading........
If you don't like a large show, lots of people then yes. Otherwise, the stuff you heard is just keyboard complaining and most didn't even attend who spread the b.s
@@TheCardDeal Chris here - I love a big show. The Burbank shows are annual highlights for me. The spread out store of this years National sounds like a problem to me. I like being able to walk to the venue from the hotel in Anaheim. All the cards, meeting collectors, all great experiences.
@@TheCardDeal I love waiting 90 minutes for a hot dog as much as the next guy, but being trapped in a building with 25k sweaty nerds with no deodorant and even less ability to STFU sounds more like county jail than vacation (to me). And these guys are genuinely good dudes. I don’t think their opinions are BS just because they didn’t say the national was all rainbows and sunshine. Most people wouldn’t consider waiting 30 minutes to use a restroom that smells like Mordor a good time
I'll never have to worry about it. They refuse to bring it to the West Coast. Vegas would work but whatever it's the old stodgy folks that won't be flexible. The big Burbank shows are 9 hours away from me even in California. It's really imo stupid to call it The National when it ignores most of the country and never rotates coasts at least once in awhile
Chris here - how far north are you? The August Burbank is great because its bigger, but also its right near Disney and Downtown Disney. Tons of stuff to do all very close, so its easy to bring the family, or spouse down with you. But damn! 9 hours is still 9 hours.
@@chrisc4264 Damn! That's far. I once drove from LA to San Jose just to buy a baseball card. Then turned around and drove home. But that was still only 11 or so hours. Not sure I'd drive 9 hours each way. Not by myself at least.
I'll try to be nice...not a fan of ohio...speed limit sucks , food sucks (unless you like Bob Evans)..Traffic totally sucked , parking was a joke..food at the show was un-edible..i could go on and on...lets cut to the chase...KEEP THE FU#$ING NATIONAL IN CHICAGO....it is PERFECTLY set up for it and its the most central to the whole country..
T-pott upset at seeing old ladies set up instead of someone with some more modern. Disturbing when someone comes back to the hobby and want to push out regular vendors that have been around for 30-35 years. These vendors including myself carried this hobby from the early 1980’s sometime making very little profit but we loved the hobby. Maybe instead of looking at someone with disdained you could go help them and learn how to be a good person. The hobby used to be filled with them! Very disappointed!
@@frankschneider9040 Chris here - there are definitely good people in this hobby and Ty is absolutely one of them. I think he was frustrated to see so many dealers seemingly out of touch with the hobby. No traffic at their tables all week. You wonder how they could afford it and why bother. But you’re also right, maybe someone could offer some suggestions to help them out.
Hi Frank, Your reply is well received and understood. It’s not about pushing out longtimers. But for me it IS about ensuring that everyone who pays thousands of dollars just to travel and lodge for the National gets the best possible experience at the show. I believe the show organizers have a responsibility to respect and value the dealers who have been at it a long time as much as they have a responsibility to try to incorporate new dealers with zeal and energy into the show. I hate to say it, but the “grandfathered in” nepotism doesn’t set well with me. Having a booth at the National should be a privilege, not a right. And the privilege should come with an expectation about what kind of booth and inventory someone has. They need to balance it out better. Having 45% of the booths be vintage and ANTIQUE (not even cards or memorabilia) items with dealers who “don’t believe in comps” (ie priced way over fair market value) isn’t helping the National and isn’t creating a great experience for people who sacrifice their money and vacation time to travel to the show. I would say the word is BALANCE. And this year’s show felt very unbalanced and lopsided in favor of dealers who have “always been there,” regardless of whether or not anyone else is interested in what they are selling or able to stomach their prices. Hope that makes sense.
@@SpitballinCards every ""flea market"" booth i saw was getting customers all week. patch auto refractor flippers are a cancer on the hobby, not people selling genuinely interesting and rare collectibles from a better time.
@@t-pott4504Why not cut back corporate booths. Why does Gary V get to come and set up an entire basketball court of stupid dinosaurs . Or Auction houses having football fields to display stuff that could be cut down to put in more new dealers. Leave the old timers alone they deserved it.
It was my first National and I had a blast. I found some great deals with booths that were open for negotiations and trade. Like Phil, I ate protein bars for lunch and saved a lot of time. I met up with multiple IG folks who I’ve communicated with. Phil’s hangout was fantastic and was fun to meet the Spitballin’ crew. Hopefully Jeff and Chris can make it next time. Agree that they must clean out the old, irrelevant booths (or National will be left behind by Fanatics Fest).
Also, I’m surprised no one has taken advantage of the opportunity to sell protein bars/shakes at these shows! They’d be very successful I would imagine.
i really appreciate the diversity of yalls group. all the different perspectives and experiences really makes for well rounded and super informative content.
@@forpetesake20 thanks, buddy! We appreciate your support!!
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Thanks for watching!
Great episode, I doubt they will provide open seating with tables because many people set up at tables free of charge making money. I’m sure the dealers didn’t like that.
This is a very high quality conversation and program. I love how each of you share the space and actually listen to what is being said. Bravo.
@@te2edgesportscards177 thanks for watching! We appreciate the kind Words!
i stayed in a beautiful airbnb for $50 a night, never waited in line to the bathroom for one second and cell service was perfect the whole time. traffic+parking was a complete disaster during the week, mostly fine by weekend
@@ImOnlySIeeping makes sense it would be better by the weekend.
Sounds like the air bnb route was the smart way to go!
Phil was on one in this episode! Never heard him so into a discussion. Great episode fellas
Phil was the Mayor of Cleveland last week! Glad to get his full report.
I think he took some pre-workour before we recorded!
I enjoyed talking to Phil at the National. He stopped by my table 2x.
Chris here - a third time and you wouldn't have enjoyed him as much!!
@@SpitballinCards I don’t know he may have bought some Barry Bonds cards from me
ha !
Nice pick ups, honkeez! I love them custom cards
@@doktorcopernikuss 🍻🍻
Thank you guys for sharing your experiences at the National!
@@jlbaseballcards thanks for watching!
😂
bonds tiffany rookie is a beauty
This is excellent content and the channel has real growth potential.
Appreciate the support! 💪🏼
Thank you for watching and commenting! We love the engagement!
Good stuff
I love how you guys talk about traffic and airbnbs, it resonates with many of us who think about going in the future albeit in a different city
Great show guys, haven't been to the National before but looking forward to going next year for the first time
@@brutusonbaseball chris here - hopefully it’ll be my first as well!!
@@SpitballinCards see you there!
hard disagree with complaining about antiques. that's the stuff i wanted to see MORE of. i don't need 1000 tables with the same cards asking 2x comps.
@@ImOnlySIeeping the crazy asking prices are infuriating!!
What somebody is into a card doesn’t matter to any prospective buyer and doesn’t affect the value either!
outstanding pickup with the topps tiffany psa 10 barry bonds rookie
@@timsfgiantsmem9382 Chris here - I agree! That’s the bonds card I want above all the 90’s inserts and parallels.
Such a fun episode. Philmington’s pickups were hilarious and that purple Freddie is outstanding!
Thanks for watching! 💪
Haha. That was very entertaining. The last time I saw Phil as up and about as this was in his speak easy in late 2019 when he was entertaining a friend from Florida and waxing lyrical about Trout and Soto. I wonder....
Haha - yeah Phil was on one tonight! He gets fired up about the National. Chris here - Phil's enthusiasm makes me want to go next year!
Haha i appreciate you noticing the change of demeanor/tone!
McCormick place in Chicago would be the ultimate location if it wasn't for the difficulty in getting there. Another great show gentlemen!! Appreciate the point blank feedback of this year's national!
@@JR-OLR thanks for watching!
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enjoyed the conversation. In regards to the National... for whatever ir is worth. Traffic through the park was a non issue every day. I was staying in N Olmstead about 10 min away and whipped through the park everyday and it was cake (thanks to Google Maps)... I went and ate at a Famouse Daves BBQ and not sure what they were famous about but it is not the food. haha.
Agree on the bathrooms. Honestly if you bought the VIP Pass (normally not worth it) it was worth teh money for 5 min or less into the bathroom all the time but to mention the bathroom hidden behind a display that had no lne. haha. Overall a great show but I really enjoy the post 6 PM stuff. And TPott, thanks to your crew for getting Geoff to giveaway a signed jersey to the kids for me. I have to be honest, the Thursday ngiht trade night went from what I loved about it (even last year) and felt way to corporate to me now and that kind of took away form it for me. I knoe many liked it but it was enough for me not to go back to it anymore. It was not a good time.Sorry for the story book, I will cut it off there. haha
@@SportsCardCollectorChronicles thanks for watching and commenting!
Chris here - if I ever get there maybe I’ll go VIP just for the bathroom benefits.
Highlight here was the T Pot Tribe custom cards. Pretty cool.
@@JTT311 Chris here - yes! Those are so cool!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
How Chris's eyes light up with Phil talks about a handsome dude. :)
💯 😂
Great content! Couldn’t agree more about all you guys talked about the national!
2011 Finest Set is incredible! I collect JV and have the red psa 9 and Gold psa 10!
Keep up the great work!
@@cyberballercards56 Chris here - those are amazing cards!!
Have you ever seen his Die Cut Mosaic for sale?
@@SpitballinCards haven’t seen the mosaic or purple. Can’t wait until I do 👀🔥❤️
outstanding pickup with that freddie freeman 1/1
Oh yeah!! Chris here - I was jealous!!
Sorry for all the comments... Next up on Dateline 30:00
VIBEZ
Drove down from Toronto Wednesday and was only able to attend on Thursday. Very similar thoughts to what y'all said about the building. I got stuck in the early morning crunch and was basically parked on the freeway for about an hour waiting to get in. Was also amazed when I would look over my shoulder and see people ditching their Ubers to walk the freeway instead and I saw a couple times some kids crossing the freeway and weaving through traffic to get to the show.
Inventory wise, I again agree with T-Pott. It was a heavy football show and I was able to quickly skip by tables that had loaded showcases of random parallels. I was primarily looking for baseball and WWE. I found pricing for what I was looking for was actually really solid, and specifically the WWE stuff, a few cards I was able to pick-up from a dealer for below comps just based on sticker alone and then negotiated a small cut off a bundle. My only baseball pick-up was a 1999 SP Signature Edition David Ortiz Auto in his Twins uni, just one of those totally random cards I've had my eye on for years and have had very hilarious prices quoted to me when I've seen it at other shows.
I don't think I'll go next year either, I feel that the show itself has simply become too big for simply one event to be the sole attraction. Fanatics Fest next year seems more enticing tbh, I attended a Fanatics Experience event for WWE's Money In The Bank in July and was shocked at how well organized it was and also how they supplemented that experience with other signings and events while they were in town.
Thanks so much for the full report -- and the info about the WWE Fanatics event, sounds like they know what they're doing already.
Chris here - thanks for sharing! Congrats on your pick ups, especially the ortiz! i'm excited to hear what Fanatics Fest is like from people who attend. I'm sure it will get me even more pumped up for BUrbank show end of August.
The true key to enjoying the National is to conveniently live 20 minutes from Rosemont. Roll out of your own bed, drive on down, enjoy the show, have dinner with card friends, then drive home and sleep in your own bed.
@@slimthumbtak this sounds like the perfect plan!
TaG and Beckett should combine to see if they can make any inroads to relevancy.
Chris here - that's a really interesting idea! TAG does some things really well. Beckett does almost nothing well at this point. But together it could work!
It's 2024 - get a friggin' good internet sponsor and make wi-fi a breeze, not a frustration.
💯
Wifi/internet inside a convention center is an entirely different beast.
Heard the next year they will have more dealers in 1 square with each dealer having a corner, so larger space but 4 dealers per cube. Trusted source as the kids say, let's wait and see what happens next year.
Ty there were dealers getting 4 or 5 booths and subletting them for more than the original cost of the booth. So the people running the show cracked down on them and minimized the space allotted to that dealer.
Chris here - I guess that makes sense
Phil, your Xfinity rant was hilarious! T-Pott those TAG cards of your kids are awesome. Would be sick to add their autos on them too lol 😏
@@jacobfain6504 thanks for watching!
Chris here - would PSA certify those autos??
@@SpitballinCards 🤣
Philmington calm down I collect low grade vintage. There is a decent market for ungraded vintage because everything today is graded. Still a great show fellas!!!
Was 50/50 on editing that part out haha
It was my first National and I had a blast. I found some great deals with booths that were open for negotiations and trade. Like Phil, I ate protein bars for lunch and saved a lot of time. I met up with multiple IG folks who I’ve communicated with. Phil’s hangout was fantastic and was fun to meet the Spitballin’ crew. Hopefully Jeff and Chris can make it next time. Agree that they must clean out the old, irrelevant booths (or National will be left behind by Fanatics Fest).
Chris here - the protein bar approach is smart. Crappy food, crappy mood, crappy decisions.
I hope to make it next year, and i'd really look forward to the hangouts. Phil;s especially looked like a great time.
This was my first time at the national and I had a lot of fun. Had a dealer work out a good deal for me for a 2020 Topps Transcendent Ken Griffey Jr Emerald Auto /15. Its now my favorite card in my collection. It was also a lot of fun seeing all the different cards. The biggest issue I had was the amount of vintage. It felt like more than half of the cards at the National were vintage. So it was a lot of booths that felt like they had all the same cards. The traffic was not great, but I did not have too much of an issue. Overall, it was a good experience. I am hoping to go next year in Chicago.
Sounds awesome! Going and coming home with your new favorite card is a huge WIN!! congrats!
Thanks for sharing gents. The Good, Bad, & Ugly… 😮😊😅
CHris here - are you describing us??
Thanks for watching!
What are your thoughts on having a National East and National West each year to help with capacity issues? The large dealer base would likely overlap but might help with retail traffic.
They do have a east coast National in August. It's the same week that Fanatics is going to be in New York too.
Chris here - The Burbank Shows out here in LA are growing fast. August of 2025 its in the largest convention center in Anaheim. So I feel like we have our west coast national!
When Scott is gone this show just goes off the rails 🤣 especially when ol Phil gets hold of things 😂
Really appreciated Ty's commentary on the show, cool to hear and felt grounded even for being a media pass holding participant.. I was watching the SCI trade night live stream on Thursday I think it was and that was my favorite national content I saw. Loved the excitement of that moment and how they were able to share that live. Really stinks Cleveland shut them down after an hour or two or whatever it was due to their pathetic internet capabilities.
Thanks for the comment!
@@chrishayes4166 thanks for watching!
That live stream was fun to watch!
Chris / Jeff - Sweet Freddie Freeman pickup! I've got the Freeman Finest Refractor Auto, along with the non-auto Xfractor, regular Refractor, and Red/Green/Orange Refractors. I'd love to add the Gold and Purple Refractors, but they come up for sale so rarely...
@@hamnertime Chris here - you’ve got a red? Awesome!!
We’ve had a gold non auto PSA 10 up for sale for a week or so on eBay and myslabs and just actually this morning accepted an offer.
These cards are so beautiful in person right??
@@SpitballinCards You sold it? Darn... I've been watching it for a while and was actually saving up for that card (albeit, I still have a LONG way to go). Oh, well... I'll keep saving. I don't care if it's a PSA 10 or not. Another one will hopefully show up again soon. You are right - those 2011 Finest Refractors are stunning in person.
@@hamnertime yeah…
Sad to see it go but rolling it into a bigger, better Freddie!
Jeff here: thanks! And sounds like an amazing Freddie collection you have!
Not sure about square footage, but Nashville has some large convention space options. Would love to have it close to home.
I would rather go to Nashville than Chicago for the next 3 years. 🙄
@@broysden Chris here - problem with Nashville is my wife Would definitely want to come along!
@@SpitballinCards Haha. There’s room for everyone.
@@broysden True!
Phil does have a distinctive voice. Whenever I hear it, I know it's him, even though I don't watch all of his videos. 😬 When another channel has him in a video, and he's off camera, I know it's him lol.
@@Krysdavar Chris here - the good news is if Phil ever kidnaps you, you’ll be able to ID him real quick!
@@SpitballinCards Yep. 🤣
I think it was my 5th or 6th. Been to Cleveland about 4 or 5 times and Chicago once. Thoughts match up with most of what you're saying. Upon leaving, my thought was 'this show is too big for the people in charge of it to handle, any longer.' They're too cheap. Kicking out the guys with the 2000-2020 cards was a massively terrible move, as noted. The booths with old signs, trinkets and dusty inventory that looks like it's been hauled to shows since 1988 really don't fit in any more. I'm hoping the larger, regional type shows, start gaining a lot more traction. I won't be traveling to Chicago for a National, so I'm out on that for a few years. Luckily more shows keep popping up and doing well.
@@nabzy28 Chris here - I’ve heard some of these comments from others. Thanks for confirming them.
The Tea Kettle Crew is 4 Deep?! Who knew .. hats off to ya you’re a better man than I am, after 2 kids I might start picking faves & seeing if I can drop the others with a grandma, family friend etc… lol kiddding of course…
Chris here - that's why he only has the tiny closet for his collection and recording!
many little t-cupz! 😂
Would be great to have it in San Diego but Comic-Con is usually the same weekend.
Have it in LA, can hit both!
@@gcheath19 Burbank show is next month in Anaheim!!
Anyone go to the card show that was in the evening - I’m curious as to how busy it was or wasn’t
Chris here - I'll check with the Tpott and Phil
This was my first National. I was a little disappointed. I normally attend The Philly Show near me and while The National was certainly bigger, I expected to see more. I was excited for the big mfg booths but felt like the whole set up was squished in. The lack of easily accessible bathrooms, food, drink was disappointing. Getting to the show from downtown was frustrating w/traffic and Uber. Was able to hop an eBay shuttle back which was really convenient though. If you were on a mission you could have knocked the rooms out in a day or two max. Overall, we still had fun. I overpaid for a box of Topps to get a silver pack and my son found a Gunnar card he wanted. I did pick up a Clemente rookie for my PC. I’m questioning whether going to Chicago during the next 3 years is worth the hassle. I happened to be in Cleveland for another convention and took the opportunity to add The National to my plans but is a trip for Rosemont worth it?
Great show. 🍺🍺🍀
Thanks for tuning in!
Thanks, Lucky Peter!!
180.00! a box at one point. The fact that Topps Chrome was not in it, I passed all together.
@@TheCardDeal sounds like the smart move
I don’t listen to any other card content regularly and I didn’t even go to the national, but this was a great episode. Great work and keep it up, gents!
Thanks for watching/listening! Much appreciated!
thanks!
Appreciate the support! 💪🏼
The custom cards are a riot 😂
Chris here - i LOL'ed at a few of them!
Honestly I think it’s wrong that the older dealers who sell oddball stuff getting moved out. It’s not something I’d want but to be fair these ppl have been around forever. Have been supporting the national for many years. Years before the hobby became “cool” again. There is ppl out there that do buy stuff from the older dealers. Ppl that also have been attending these shows for years. Some items are very niche and rare. That’s what the national is all about
Thanks for the perspective. Evidently, there are enough people that agree with you in the power positions for now.
Chris here - I dont know specifics on this, but Ive been at shows before and seen some dealer tables that are largely empty and nobody stopping and the guy is just on his phone or reading a book. I don't get it. but its their time and money.
Awesome podcast, I had to stop watching around the 35 minute mark. The heavy breathing on the microphone was making me feel sick. I will definitely tune in on the next one. Keep up the good work!
@@ibarra708 uh oh! That’s not ideal. Maybe one of us was getting a little too excited about The National!
Thanks for listening as long as you could!
Jesus, just listened and it was pretty bad. Sounds like a CPAP machine or something.
@@Philmington😮
That bonds is slick philmington. U have his best rc by far. Still an awesome show by the way.
Thank you, Sir. Absolutely a great show (card show and podcast show). 😊
@@davidlapointe7446 Chris here - agreed! That’s the bonds card I’d want first
@@Philmington Podcast especially!
87 Leaf way smaller pop
@@ImOnlySIeeping I bet the 87 O-Pee-Chee is even less! And the Johnny Ray Opening Day!
But the 86 Topps came first and the Tiffany version is the best version. That’s the one for me.
Minneapolis and Indy have huge convention centers, connected to hotels and walking to great food.
Chris here - I dont know how far west The National is willing to go. They dont want to get too far from New York, I don't think.
@SpitballinCards indy isn't that much further then Cleveland and closer then Chicago. Could be a good middle ground
If u r going to meet friends and hang out I understand. But if u r on a limited budget like me why the he#$ go. What 25 to get in for 1 day the travel , hotel, un healthy food unless u Bring it or go to a grocery store. Why? I've been to 3 back in the early 2000s. Why go now!?!? We have ebay and other auction houses that r cheaper than the dealers there. Awesome show guys. Fight Fight fight! Saying all this I do love a card show as much as the next card nerd
Chris here - I hate to say it but I agree. Best part of the Burbank shows for Jeff and I is meeting and chatting with fellow collectors we've met on IG. eBay inventory of stuff we like to collect will never be challenged by show dealers. I will say, when we've gone in looking for bigger cards, shows have been great because cash goes a lot further without ebay fees!
What are you fighting dude
There is already a great video recap with this title, and a whole popular series, too. But I'll allow it in the spirit of collegiality. 😂
Whoops 😬
We appreciate it - maybe it's just that good a title!
Do I hear complaining about extra bubbles in the jacuzzi? Hahah!
Those custom cards Phil showed are 🔥 And so is the Freddie 1/1 T-Pot showed!
@@ronfigg1 😂😂
Yeah they had some fun pick ups!
Can you all do an episode on ranking graded cards? Like 1. Psa 10, 2. Bgs black label, 3. Bgs 10, etc...... I think that would be cool and seeing the prospective of each person opinion. Another great video!!!! Can't wait until the next one.
@@JamesHowell-k5c thanks for watching!
Chris here - we could do that, but I think it would be a pretty short episode.
PSA has separated itself so much from the others. Personally, I wouldn’t pay a premium for a bgs 10, even for a black label.
We don’t know what’s going to happen to BGS, but their long term outlook is not good.
@@SpitballinCards thanks for responding.
show me where i can buy bgs 10s at psa price
@@ImOnlySIeeping I’m not sure you can or can’t - I just said I won’t.
We went on Friday, they gave up on charging for parking so people just rolled in. I don’t go to card shows to get a healthy meal sorry. The money I saved on travel I spent on cards , I would have spent a lot more on hospitality in Chicago. Will definitely go back to Cleveland National.
One for the road. Was it just me or did others find Philmington's description of Downtown Cleveland baffling? What can we put this down to? 1.He was paid by the City of Cleveland as a well known influencer? 2. He did it as a favour for his old mate Lebron? 3. He has bought some run down real estate in the city and is attempting to turn people's perception of it as a bonafide dump into an investor's dream? 4. He has acquired some restaurants Downtown? 5. He was so off his nut that he confused Cleveland with Toronto?
Chris here - I've never been to Cleveland but it reminded me of Liz Lemon's description when she visited there on 30 ROCK
Why not Kansas City? Bartle Hall is huge and a great facility.
Chris here - i dont see why not, but I don't know Sounds like Chicago is lined up for the next 3 yers.
Next year I did hear from multiple dealers, they will have quads, so large cube and 4 people on a corner.
@@TheCardDeal cool, I was wondering what kind of increased security people would employ.
Chris here, hopefully I’ll get to next years.
Great show and no like Jeff and Chris say it’s just too far for me to to go in to put 2500 bucks into going there for a week or whatever and I’d rather spend that money on Cards in the San Antonio area which is few and far areas in between.
Chris here - did you make it to the big Dallas show recently? I know Texas is big, but that's got to be driveable!
Corporate had to shrink? GOOD!
This was easily one of the better shows. The aisles wide, the building comfortable, the lighting was good. You could find dealer tables. You didn't have to leave the show to eat. I didn't see nor hear any attendees complaining about the show. People go to the national to see vintage and pre-war and things you don't otherwise see at your local show.
The other show? Hear anything about that? NOPE. Just a bunch of shiny garbage. And stop with the whining and bitching that the guys that were doing nationals back in the 80's still get tables. They were there when there was no foot traffic and breaking even was a good weekend.
You had to intentionally go to corporate. No one HAD to walk through it.
It was a great show. Period.
Chris here - thanks for watching! I wish I'd been able to make it. What you described sounds great to me!
I've been looking for the Oswalt purple for at least a decade now. Any low numbered refractor is a top 50 most wanted card.
Last month I was outbid on one that went over my ridiculous snipe of $145.
I was hoping to see another listed considering the crazy high price.
Oh well the search continues. Still missing the mosaic /10 too.
@@mofny Chris here - I feel your pain. The low numbered refractors come up so rarely, there’s always another collector who out-snipes my snipes!
Have you ever opened any boxes??
Guys need to just bite the bullet and tell Scottie relief pitchers are also legit baseball players and deserve to be in hall of fame…. I think Scottie wants to be back moderating?
Okay, fine, I'll tell him we think they should let them ALL in -- hopefully he'll come back! 😂
Chris here - I'm content to call his bluff and see how long his protest/vacation lasts!!
@tpott link those trays you are using on the wall. I think I might do similar. Great idea, thanks
Chris here - I'll get Tpott to post a link - thanks for watching!
@@SpitballinCards thanks!
I'm waiting for the NSCC to come to Denver 😅
Ugh. So many homeless people.
Great episode!Just an observation but due to the growth of the hobby why don't they try and make the National more days? This may alleviate some of the crowds if it was spread over more days. I'm sure there's a reason but just curious
@@aribasebal they could try it but it already runs three weekdays and Saturday. That’s asking a lot of dealers to be there longer. But not impossible!
I agree with t Potts accessment.. it was a disappointment/def felt small/bad food selection/crowed small corporate area/isolated venue /horrible trade night in a basement/overpriced items/too much junk non sports stuff. I as well didn't come home with a lot of cards. Seems like if you didnt go on Wednesday everything was picked thru. It also seems as tho dealers didnt not bring their best stuff since the market is crumbling. Almost a waste of a trip. Could've done this as a day trip instead of a 4 day weekend trip. Those that didn't go were the real winners. We have a long way to go to be a real trade show like the MAGIC/ASD/SHOT/CES/OUTDOOR RETAILER/TOYFAIR/SDCC shows . Waiting for chicago to redeem the experience.
Sorry it was a little rough for you -- Thanks for commenting!
is there a link for the plastic shelves T-Pott has
I had a good time at the show, but as a collector, many of the things I was searching for were picked up by repackers (before the show opened to the VIP/Public on Wednesday). Thus, I couldn't find most of what I was looking for (very little 24 Topps chrome single autos/parallels was dissappointing). At least I was able to pick up a few items for my Yount collection including a nice button auto relic. And I got to meet @Philmington while we both stood in line for Topps redemption packs.
My biggest beef is that too many dealers refuse PayPal/Venmo etc, even if I would pay the fees. I'm not going to carry around more than a couple thousand in cash. By the time I get to Friday, my case pile get too low to buy anything.
@@TheProfessorsDugout Chris here - that’s seems crazy! You enjoyed meeting Phil???
Seriously though, sealers not taking PayPal is just dumb. I’m not comfortable carrying around tons of cash and PayPal FF with a person standing right in front of you seems as easy as it gets.
@@SpitballinCards Yep, and a table lost out on a 3k sale because of it.
Absurd!! Oh well. I mean, I'm not walking around a huge show with $3k in cash, but maybe I'm in the minorty. You?
Not me
Phoenix Convention Center is plenty big enough. State Farm Stadium would be great in AZ also.
@@JimDeFineSporticvs maybe the Burbank show will go on the road. I can’t see The National coming that far west.
Maybe they should look into renting out a covered sports stadium for a week to do the National at. In the off season for that stadium of course.
Chris here - that would have to be a HUGE event and it would cost way more than a convention center. I assume
Last time I checked, only 3 wax sellers were allowed to sell for the redemption program (D&A, Steel City, Blowout) and they put a sticker on the wax once you buy it there.
That's interesting - thanks for the info!
@@SpitballinCards no problem. 2012 was the last year you could bring in your own cases. I know because we brought in 5-6 cases and cleaned up on silver packs. When it was Donruss, they’d just give you a stack of packs. Panini tightened it up in 2010 then got the wax sellers involved in 2013. That was the end of any kind meaningful ROI on National Silver Packs as all the dealers price fix. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, they raise prices in unison and check each other’s stock.
@@Nonsportshowcase ugh
Love your content.
However, the national sounds awful and not worth the trouble. I prefer smaller shows that i can navigate easily and cheaply. I agree with other commenters that ebay is just easier and faster way to shop.
@@trotonxylon Chris here - I was bummed to miss the social aspects of The National. Meeting up with collectors is always a highlight.
fanatics booth was in the worst location and dead the whole time. probably not an accident.
Yea! TAG shoutout! The future of grading!
Nah
@@dcsoda1 🤷🏻♂️
will NEVER be viable for vintage therefore useless
I wouldn't be surprised if someone starts a secondary massive show during The National next year unless they can adapt to the younger crowd. Nobody is going there to look at tables full of flea market items and there was way too much of that junk in Cle. The VIP lounge downstairs saved this show for me.
That's what Fanatics is planning on doing.
Ooooh no Scott you guys were rude with him let him discuss long relief pitchers all he wants come on
Okay, okay, well let him back next week 😂
Chris here - I think we sent him on a real bender. Hopefully he's back next week!
Yes .....he is done. He is finished.He is now a could have been. He is a reminder to Acuna collectors. The hobby is now worse. - Future message for Mike Trout collectors
Chris here - such a sad day for Trout and his fans and collectors. Maybe he just is a DH from now on? You know he;ll hate that.
@@SpitballinCards So many have great players been lost to injuries Nomar, Pedroia , Prior. This one stings quite a bit, especially for true collectors.
The aftershow was cancelled after the first day without explanation
@@aribasebal that stinks
Any MRI or CT scanners available at the show???
Jeff here: By next year, I'm sure there will be a Corporate booth for them!
Chris here - not sure if I want to laugh or cry.
CT scanners at the hotel
@@KK-pm7ud probably!
Does anyone know if Vegas has a venue big enough to host the National? Would be great to make a family trip out of the National, my fam could go watch a show while I went to the convention.
They definitely do. Could be pretty crazy though! 😅
@Blabbin_Bout_Slabbin plenty of hotels, restaurants, and bathrooms to accommodate everyone. This seems to be the biggest complaints I've heard, so it seems like a no brainer to me if it has everything.
@@mangobango6970I think the biggest complaint(s) are 1) a significant portion of the dealers are based in the east/midwest and don't want to have to travel so far west with their inventory and maybe 2) vegas has too many other appealing money taking options which can taie away from card spend 😅
@chrishayes4166 if we are just going to cater to the east coast/midwest because of the dealers than I guess I won't be going anytime soon. Makes complete sense to exclude half the country every year, the hobby is changing yet the National is resisting change. Makes sense.
@@mangobango6970 Yeah understandable feelings there. I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying its the practicalities/logistics of how things are done.
Scott's not here, podcast is 20 minutes x2. 😀 Quality of life stuff sounded pretty rough. Especially if you paid extra to have internet there, for example.
Chris here - its 2024 and if you charge for good internet you damn well better provide it!
The Wizard taking a Wiz...yeah I am sure someone said it.
@@TheCardDeal Chris here - still funny!
Are Jeff and Chris brothers?
Jeff here: long-time friends with Chris, but our only familial bond is our combined card collection.
No, but as the only two Spitballers with hair, we do look very similar on camera!
Quit effing around guys!! I’m halfway through the video and I’ve yet to hear what the best Jarred Kelenic cards y’all scoped at the National were ffs 🤦♂️
HAHAHAHA - Chris here, and I don't think Phil is giving away his Kelenic buying strategy!
What about Philadelphia Convention Center?
Chris here - sound better than Atlantic City!
Philly already has a show. But I wouldn't mind that.....since I live in Maryland near D.C.
better than Atlantic City, I am sure!
Eyebrow raised -> 40's, 50's, 60's ungraded slamming. I kid, I kid...I think
Chris here - I don't think they mean to really slam...
I was 50/50 on cutting that segment. The main point is that those tables tend to not be very popular at the National.
@@SpitballinCards i was kidding mainly.
@@philorlando3463 I gotcha. Only point I will make that “kept raw/ungraded” doesn’t always lead to issues. IMHO the fed are so high it keeps me from grading, even though I would like to. So I target raw cards for vintage for specific chases and modern I target slabs because I don’t pay the grading fees the seller already incurred.
All of the modern cards you tout are dropping in value, like a rock. Don’t be so quick to insult veteran dealers and rare antique items. Your taste and opinions favoring mass-produced modern crap are not representative of everyone in attendance.
@@markstein1916 Chris here - I want to argue but the phrase “mass produced modern crap” is just too spot on.
CGC all day especially since they bought JSA, TAG could become a good option but lets be honest with ourselves. PSA has been dogshit for over 7 years now, like let's all just rip the bandaid off and move on from PSA junk slabs and inconsistent grading........
Whos breathing like that 😂
Wizard taking a wiz
Chris here - I was concerned about that story, but I'm also a terrible degenerate pervert.
@@SpitballinCards I was just imagining elderly Ozzie doing a backflip when he was done washing his hands.
@@Rockpile79 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Honestly the National sounds like a terrible experience.
If you don't like a large show, lots of people then yes. Otherwise, the stuff you heard is just keyboard complaining and most didn't even attend who spread the b.s
@@TheCardDeal Chris here - I love a big show. The Burbank shows are annual highlights for me. The spread out store of this years National sounds like a problem to me. I like being able to walk to the venue from the hotel in Anaheim.
All the cards, meeting collectors, all great experiences.
@@TheCardDeal I love waiting 90 minutes for a hot dog as much as the next guy, but being trapped in a building with 25k sweaty nerds with no deodorant and even less ability to STFU sounds more like county jail than vacation (to me).
And these guys are genuinely good dudes. I don’t think their opinions are BS just because they didn’t say the national was all rainbows and sunshine. Most people wouldn’t consider waiting 30 minutes to use a restroom that smells like Mordor a good time
@@dsphillips16 Extra points for the LOTR reference.
@@dsphillips16 really glad you weren't there
Lol national 😂its ruined
I'll never have to worry about it. They refuse to bring it to the West Coast. Vegas would work but whatever it's the old stodgy folks that won't be flexible. The big Burbank shows are 9 hours away from me even in California. It's really imo stupid to call it The National when it ignores most of the country and never rotates coasts at least once in awhile
Chris here - how far north are you? The August Burbank is great because its bigger, but also its right near Disney and Downtown Disney. Tons of stuff to do all very close, so its easy to bring the family, or spouse down with you.
But damn! 9 hours is still 9 hours.
@@SpitballinCards Redding so yeah three hours north of Sacramento
The vendors at the show who set up at the National are the ones who make the decision. They don't care what collectors want.
@@ACD1994 Chris here - I'd hate to think this was true...
@@chrisc4264 Damn! That's far.
I once drove from LA to San Jose just to buy a baseball card. Then turned around and drove home. But that was still only 11 or so hours. Not sure I'd drive 9 hours each way. Not by myself at least.
I'll try to be nice...not a fan of ohio...speed limit sucks , food sucks (unless you like Bob Evans)..Traffic totally sucked , parking was a joke..food at the show was un-edible..i could go on and on...lets cut to the chase...KEEP THE FU#$ING NATIONAL IN CHICAGO....it is PERFECTLY set up for it and its the most central to the whole country..
The National should be, in a different city each year. Even the Super Bowl isn't played at the same venue. They switch locations.
@@ACD1994 you obviously don't attend Nationals...
T-pott upset at seeing old ladies set up instead of someone with some more modern. Disturbing when someone comes back to the hobby and want to push out regular vendors that have been around for 30-35 years. These vendors including myself carried this hobby from the early 1980’s sometime making very
little profit but we loved the hobby.
Maybe instead of looking at someone with disdained you could go help them and
learn how to be a good person. The hobby used to be filled with them! Very disappointed!
@@frankschneider9040 Chris here - there are definitely good people in this hobby and Ty is absolutely one of them.
I think he was frustrated to see so many dealers seemingly out of touch with the hobby. No traffic at their tables all week. You wonder how they could afford it and why bother.
But you’re also right, maybe someone could offer some suggestions to help them out.
Hi Frank,
Your reply is well received and understood. It’s not about pushing out longtimers. But for me it IS about ensuring that everyone who pays thousands of dollars just to travel and lodge for the National gets the best possible experience at the show. I believe the show organizers have a responsibility to respect and value the dealers who have been at it a long time as much as they have a responsibility to try to incorporate new dealers with zeal and energy into the show. I hate to say it, but the “grandfathered in” nepotism doesn’t set well with me. Having a booth at the National should be a privilege, not a right. And the privilege should come with an expectation about what kind of booth and inventory someone has. They need to balance it out better. Having 45% of the booths be vintage and ANTIQUE (not even cards or memorabilia) items with dealers who “don’t believe in comps” (ie priced way over fair market value) isn’t helping the National and isn’t creating a great experience for people who sacrifice their money and vacation time to travel to the show.
I would say the word is BALANCE. And this year’s show felt very unbalanced and lopsided in favor of dealers who have “always been there,” regardless of whether or not anyone else is interested in what they are selling or able to stomach their prices.
Hope that makes sense.
@@SpitballinCards every ""flea market"" booth i saw was getting customers all week. patch auto refractor flippers are a cancer on the hobby, not people selling genuinely interesting and rare collectibles from a better time.
@@t-pott4504Why not cut back corporate booths. Why does Gary V get to come and set up an entire basketball court of stupid dinosaurs . Or Auction houses having football fields to display stuff that could be cut down to put in more new dealers. Leave the old timers alone they deserved it.
@@frankschneider9040 or, better solution, just find a bigger venue that can support everyone who wants to be there. That's the ideal solution.
It was my first National and I had a blast. I found some great deals with booths that were open for negotiations and trade. Like Phil, I ate protein bars for lunch and saved a lot of time. I met up with multiple IG folks who I’ve communicated with. Phil’s hangout was fantastic and was fun to meet the Spitballin’ crew. Hopefully Jeff and Chris can make it next time. Agree that they must clean out the old, irrelevant booths (or National will be left behind by Fanatics Fest).
@@paper_and_chrome thanks for watching and commenting!
Chris here - the thing I miss is the the social aspect of it all. Phil’s hangout looked great!
One of these years maybe we can get the whole Spitballin’ team together at the National 🙏🏼
Also, I’m surprised no one has taken advantage of the opportunity to sell protein bars/shakes at these shows! They’d be very successful I would imagine.