2019 National Main

The 2019 National

presented by Carlton Hendricks

Including these special features

he 2019 National Sports Collectors Convention took place July 31st-August 4th 2019 at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont....For me personally the last six months have been so incredible for finds I almost didn't come...(like the Cherry Diamond Cigars sign below)...But when I found out John Gennantonio was coming, which he rarely does...and Pat Nester...and Mark Steinberg...and of course the three Bills'n Dave...I couldn't help myself...I just didn't want to miss out on all the fun so bit the bullet and bought a ticket...I got a room right next to the three Bill's room at the Embassy Suites across from the convention center...super convenient...and nice to have great neighbors...

If you recall, in last years 2018 National story I lamented the lack of antique display material...and the dealers who deal in them...Well it seems I was wasting my breath as I think there was even a little less stuff this year...But again the Lord blessed my endeavor and I did ok...

Other than the 700 or so photos I'm posting there wasn't a whole lot to report on different than last year...Paul Montesano wasn't there, heard he had a wedding to go to in California...Mat Hart couldn't make it...Jeff Mann was there...John Kanuit was set up...after taking a break last year...and Mr. Party, Jeff White made it out from southern Calif...Jeff and I have very similar tastes in stuff...Let me tell you a story...

So John Gennantonio got into the show before I did...I was still having breakfast across the street...and he sends me a text with this photo of a display case...So I look down at the photo and see an incredible silver plaque that appeared to feature a bunch of athletes of different sports...So I'm enlarging it and the heart starts thumping...and I'm thinking...get me in that show now!...so I rush over and find John...who's booth was that, I said...so he takes me to Corey Leiby's booth and it's not there...he goes, I guess it's already gone...then we jet down the isle a little ways to Brett Lowman's booth and there it was...I go over and it's a knock out...I was so nervous I glanced at the price tag on the back and thought it said $175.00, I was so enthralled...But after taking time to look more carefully it turned out to be $1,750.00...A big chunk of what I brought...and I balked...walked away without it....I figured it wouldn't be around long...within an hour I came back to Brett's booth and Jeff White was there...Soon as I saw Jeff I figured good chance he'd get it...Sure enough next time I came by it was gone...Not one to pry I didn't ask who bought it but figured it was Jeff...later someone told me he got it...Jeff has an exceptional eye...The consolation is I have a similar one I like a way more anyway...

Dave Perry of Aurora IL was another collector that cleaned up....heck he moped the floor...First he shows up at the Three Bill's party and pretty much bought all the football trophies in the room...that blew me away...I had invited him...I figured he'd just enjoy the party but he took it by storm...Then he goes to the National and bought a bunch more stuff...You may remember Dave from the feature I did on him in my 2008 National story...Let's get to the nearly 600 photos I took of the show...see below...