RIPPED is Live from Cleveland
Editor’s note: Each day of the National Sports Collectors Convention, Topps RIPPED senior writer Greg Bates will highlight three things he saw while roaming the show floor at the I-X Center in Cleveland.
CLEVELAND – Friday of The National traditionally is extremely hectic as collectors come in droves to catch the action over the weekend.
This year’s Day 3 was no different. There were some really cool pieces on hand. What I got to see really boggles the mind.
Memory Lane’s Dan Wulkan holds a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner. The card estimated at $5 million was on display at Memory Lane, but not for sale. (All Photos by Greg Bates)
Best Auction House Item at the 2024 National
A Honus Wagner 1909-11 T206 graded PSA 2 at the Memory Lane Inc., booth.
The rare Wagner is one of just 34 examples graded by PSA.
“It’s by far the holy grail image and, I guess you’d have to say, a household name that everybody can relate to,” said Dan Wulkan, auction director at Memory Lane.
The historic baseball card is not for sale. It is owned by one of Memory Lane’s clients who wanted to let collectors get a chance to see the epic card.
“We wanted to present it at the show, let people hold it,” Wulkan said. “You hear over and over this week, ‘Holy cow, I’ve never seen a Honus Wagner in person.’ That’s something that Memory Lane wants to bring to the people.”
The Wagner is valued at $5 million. It’s a card that rarely sees the light of day at auction or through a private sale.
“But as they surface and resell, they just keep going up and up and up,” Wulkan said. “They’re in deep pockets, so anybody who owns one doesn’t need the money. It’s very tough to buy one.”
A pair of Tom Brady 2000 Bowman Chrome rookies in a BGS 10 were spotted at the PC Sportscards booth.
2024 National’s Best Dealer Item
Two 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady rookies graded BGS pristine 10.
Those beauties can be found at the booth of PC Sportscards out of Long Island, New York. Priced at $12,000 each, PC Sportscards co-founder Josh Cohen said Brady prices keep going up after his retirement.
Also at PC Sportscards’ booth was a pair of 2007-08 Bowman Chrome BGS pristine 10 Kevin Durant rookie cards.
“I would guess you’d have these cards and the Durants, and you will probably see zero others in the entire show,” Cohen said.
Aubriella Kelso, with her dad, Joe, was the youngest girl wheeling and dealing at Trade Night on Friday.
Best Overall Scene at the 2024 National
A young girl trading and selling at the second day of Trade Night.
The second night of Trade Night was just as packed as Day 1 — maybe even crazier. Nearly lost in the endless amount of young boys and men trying to wheeling and deal was a 12-year-old trying to make her own deals.
Aubriella Kelso had some cards set up with her dad, Joe, on a high table. She had a fun time trying to make some deals happen.
“I get to learn more about people skills and stuff, and getting able to know more about certain cards that people want,” said Kelso, who lives in Meadville, Pennsylvania.
Kelso’s favorite cards on hand were a 2017 Topps WWE autographed relic card numbered 05/05 of Asuha valued at $1,000 and a 2018 Topps UFC Knockout Tier I relic of Daniel Cormier.
Kelso has loved being at her first National. It’s something she’ll keep coming back to year after year.
“It’s really cool. She gravitated to it herself, which is awesome,” Joe Kelso said. “I’ve come to find with the kiddos that if I try to encourage sometimes, they kind of push against it. So, she just naturally kind of gravitated toward cards and collectibles. We’ve had a blast at (The National).”
