Current Auctions

69/99

First graded on EBAY: 62/99

72/99

13/99

42/99

Ended Auctions

Ten highlights of the show (in no particular order):

1.) Josh working his magic to getting us some display cases. I originally thought we were all good going into the show without any, and just getting them there.  I went to the vendor who would supposedly have some, and then they had NONE to rent out.  Luckily Josh knows a guy who knows a guy, or something, and he got us three.  And then thenwhatjk hooked us up with one more.  Whew!

2.) Watching in amazement as mswift tears through case after case of products. It seriously like watching an artist at work.  He has his way of opening product, and you can see when I opened my case of All Time Greats, he even teaches me how to open those properly.

3.) HobbyKings dinner on Friday night. It was crazy because originally there was going to be just 5 or 6 of us, which would have been totally fine.  But as the day went on, more HobbyKing members came to the table and I would invite them, and they were game.  The 5 quickly turned to 20.  It was crazy, but I was glad that they all could come and enjoy some Chicago food! The lively discussion of current NBA players was well handled by our buddy bdrr.  It’s just like we were on the boards, just awesome.

4.) thenashcollector streak! Everyday he got a big hit!  It was ridiculous! Thursday – Jordan auto; Friday – Sidney Crosby 1/1 auto from the Panini redemption packs; Saturday – Magic Johnson Logoman.  The dude was just on fire!

5.) Interview with Tracy Hackler. It was a very fun time interviewing Tracy at our table.  I tweeted him last week about coming by and having an interview, but I kind of figured he just might be too busy to do one being it was the National and all.  But on Sunday when things were really dead, he just walked over a couple of times just to chat and he even came back for the interview.  He was very accessible the entire time, and it’s something that I believe is very important for any business.  In addition, I think the Panini pack redemption was a roaring success!

6.) Chatting with the Blowout Cards crew. Met a couple of guys over there and they were just incredibly nice.  And they were so polite to their customers regardless of who they were.  Great guys to do business with.  Once they found out that I was part of HobbyKings, they wanted to talk about other things we could do for each other.  More to come on that later…

7.) Talking about the hobby with people I didn’t know. There were times when people that came up to our booth saying that they have heard of our site, and just wanted advice on cards that they had.  I was actually pretty shocked that these people knew us, but also very glad because it gave me a better understanding about why sites like HobbyKings are so important to the hobby.

8.) The craziest group break I have ever been a part of. We were hoping for a lot more participants, but we just had 9 people.  As I talked about in the Saturday blog, one guy (Adam) got one spot while the rest of us got 4 spots.  In fact MJCredentialKing, SDouble, thenashcollector, and someone else decided to share their teams in hoped to get the Wizards.  After 3 randomizations, Adam ends up with the Wizards.  A different guy from the break each breaks a box, and Adam opens the last box and he personally pulls his Wall! Unbelievable!

9.) The dad and kid that liked James Johnson.  I mentioned them in our Friday post.  Josh and the kid talked for what felt like hours about basketball and who he thought was good.  It was just awesome that this kid knew his stuff about the hobby and the NBA.  And I mean he knew things about trades and stuff like that.  If there are more kids just like that out there, I have no worries about this hobby surviving.

10.) Hanging with Josh and Imran.  As cheesy as it is, it feels like these guys are my real good friends.  Year after year of communicating over HobbyKings, we finally are able to all hang out together at the show.  And even though we may have never all met in the past, we were a well oiled machine.  It was a blast being in the trenches with these guys and I think as long as we’re all around, HobbyKings will be doing just fine.

See ya in Baltimore!

4:54pm – Also broke the free Totally Certified box for the site. And pulled another Aldrich auto! My bad guys! Haha.

4:50pm – Seriously had no sales today. Next year we will have the most stuff planned on the Sunday. It was so dead here! So we just goofed around the whole time and stacked all o the NT boxes we had around us. This is probably Swift in 15 minutes haha

12:58pm – Had an awesome interview with Tracy Hackler. Very fun time! Can’t wait to get that video out to you all!

9:51am – I wish I could find my James Johnson autos. I would give them to that kid who kept asking Josh how much his JJ Exquisite was (from Friday’s post)

8:17am – Just posting some more pictures from the past couple days I didn’t have time to. This is the Panini table during one of their raffles

7:47am – It has been a great experience for us. Josh and I are already thinking o things we can do for next year. We would love to have a bigger representation of HobbyKings at the show next year in Baltimore. I know at least we’ll have JDC there with us. Maybe we shouldn’t tell him about it, haha.

I have some errands I gotta run in the morning but should get back to the how around 11am or so. Here’s the pull that Josh and David got from their case yesterday that I didn’t have time to post:

8:50pm – So we just did the National Treasures team break between 9 of us. One guy just got one team, the rest of us did four teams. Of course the guy got the Wizards. And amazingly, he got…

6:34pm FINALLY I pulled an MJ auto!!

4:35pm – whoa! There’s been a chrispaul_collector sighting!! Crazy! That dude has grown!

4:15pm – Best deal of the day, 2 pizza for the price of one! Also thenashcollector and Josh busted another case of National Treasures. Dual tag of Hedo and Dwight Howard! Nice piece! And of course thenashcollector pulls another sweet card from the Panini redemption packs! Cam Newton patch autograph. Amazing! Can’t believe how many nice hits he’s gotten!

3:53pm – Been talking with some guys at Blowout all weekend. We’re gonna try and partner up with them to get some

3:37pm – Lunch…what’s lunch? I have a feeling tomorrow will be a better selling day for us. Today is actually going pretty well today.

2:57pm – Dude just asked if we’d consider selling whole collection. Nice, so we don’t have to pack anything up tomorrow! I’m sure Josh would be down with that. What do you think? $100? LOL

2:50pm – Josh and Imran left me at the table by myself. I’m going to sell all of Josh’s stuff for $10/card. Think he’ll be mad

2:24pm – Imran’s pull from the contest at Blowout!

2:04pm – huge crowd by Blowout for a raffle. Also someone announced there was a Shoeless Joe Jackson auto somewhere.

12:15pm – Sorry for the late start. Got here kinda late. Had to run some errands and went on a Whole Foods for Josh. Got some challah, raspberries, and chicken. That bread is good!

6:50pm – about to bust a case of NT for appetizer at Gino’s East

5:28pm About to close up shop to head over to dinner with the HK crew. But first…this guy came up to us asking for some advice about a card and pulls out this ridiculous Jordan collection. I’m sure @huperoyalty will know this guy.

4:27pm – chatted with more HK members like leximo, 41mvp, juventus77. Where’s bdrr been all day?

2:56pm – easily my favorite customers here. Josh told the kid to save his money to buy James Harden. The kid said he wants to save up and buy something crazy like Blake Griffin auto…in red ink. Awesome…

1:58pm – Both Imran and I stepped away for lunch. Josh won’t be happy

1:51pm – got my cards back from Beckett. Two Gold labels…excellent! Talking with a bunch of HobbyKings members. Crazy putting faces to names. You know what’s web more crazy? Thenashcollector’s luck continues! His latest pull…

11:47am – I sent in my cards to Beckett on Wednesday and they still aren’t back?! They were just getting raw graded. Not good Beckett…

11:19am – First HK member to show up at the table – MJCredentialsKing

10:49am – Just got to the show. Josh and Imran are all setup already. They’re good. I moved the NT signup sheet so you can actually see our website and not just Kings.com. Friggin’ sak…lol

9:01am – I’ll be sporting my Monta Ellis jersey like I did the last time the national was in Chicago. Already wore my Lakers Karl Malone jersey on Thursday and my USA Charles Barkley jersey yesterday. Hope to sell some more goodies, as well as get my cards back from Beckett. Seriously, TWO days for four raw grades? The other case of National Treasures is with Josh and Imran, I’ll see if I can get Josh to open it. I know there’s something good in there. We got the HobbyKings dinner tonight after the show. Should be some good pictures from there!

6:09pm so I busted that case of National Treasures. That…was…epic LOL

3:38pm hanging out with Hobbykings members. This is awesome.

1:40pm just waiting to crack this case. I’m nervous. LOL

1:22pm I’m bored…maybe time to get a box…

12:47pm mswift was getting filthy on some National Treasures cases! From what I saw he pulled a Blake Griffin and Andrea Bargnani logoman autos. Not sure if they are manufactured

12:40pm Gonna try to do some live blogging from the national. Keep refreshing the page! Haha.

Configuration: 12 boxes per case. 1 pack per box. 8 cards per pack.
Leaf Trading Cards is pleased to present its first exciting offering in its multiyear licensing relationship with Muhammad Ali Enterprises. This release chronicles the living legend that is Muhammad Ali. From his 1960 Gold Medal win to his classic fights of the 1970′s and 1980′s, this product is sure to touch every Muhammad Ali fan in a special way.

THIS RELEASE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EXCITING CONTENTS:
- 100 card base set featuring classic images of Ali in battle, as well as images showing the personality that is Muhammad Ali.
- Event worn, Fight worn and Autographed ON-CARD Fight worn cards of Muhammad Ali
- Cut Signature cards of Muhammad Ali
- 1/1 Printing plates of Muhammad Ali (for all 100 base cards- 400 total)
- Autographs of many of Muhammad Ali’s finest opponents including: Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes and more
- Autographs of Muhammad Ali’s associates including: Angelo Dundee, Ruben “Hurricane” Carter and more
- PLUS An exciting autograph insert set featuring “Fans of Ali”, including: Donald J. Trump, Magic Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Roy Jones Jr, Mickey Rourke and Hulk Hogan.

Each pack/box of 2011 Leaf Muhammad Ali Trading cards will include:
- 5 Base Cards
- 1 Muhammad Ali themed insert (Event worn, Fight worn, AUTOGRAPHED fight worn, Cut signature or 1/1 printing plate
- 2 Autographed cards from among the Opponents, Associates or “Fans of Ali”

Production Level is 399 cases (each case is individually numbered)
12 Boxes (packs) per case, 8 cards per box (pack)

Configuration: 12 boxes per case. 1 pack per box. 8 cards per pack.
Leaf Trading Cards is pleased to present its first exciting offering in its multiyear licensing relationship with Muhammad Ali Enterprises. This release chronicles the living legend that is Muhammad Ali. From his 1960 Gold Medal win to his classic fights of the 1970′s and 1980′s, this product is sure to touch every Muhammad Ali fan in a special way.

THIS RELEASE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EXCITING CONTENTS:
- 100 card base set featuring classic images of Ali in battle, as well as images showing the personality that is Muhammad Ali.
- Event worn, Fight worn and Autographed ON-CARD Fight worn cards of Muhammad Ali
- Cut Signature cards of Muhammad Ali
- 1/1 Printing plates of Muhammad Ali (for all 100 base cards- 400 total)
- Autographs of many of Muhammad Ali’s finest opponents including: Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes and more
- Autographs of Muhammad Ali’s associates including: Angelo Dundee, Ruben “Hurricane” Carter and more
- PLUS An exciting autograph insert set featuring “Fans of Ali”, including: Donald J. Trump, Magic Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Roy Jones Jr, Mickey Rourke and Hulk Hogan.

Each pack/box of 2011 Leaf Muhammad Ali Trading cards will include:
- 5 Base Cards
- 1 Muhammad Ali themed insert (Event worn, Fight worn, AUTOGRAPHED fight worn, Cut signature or 1/1 printing plate
- 2 Autographed cards from among the Opponents, Associates or “Fans of Ali”

Production Level is 399 cases (each case is individually numbered)
12 Boxes (packs) per case, 8 cards per box (pack)

Picture via http://www.blowoutcards.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_104&products_id=5251

-Shawn

Fast forward to yesterday and I walked into Finish Line in the mall and notice they have a pair of the Jordan 3s on their wall.  I was shocked that they had any left.  Before I had a chance to ask a salesperson about them, someone asked if they had them in a size 11.  The salesman said they only had one pair left in size 13.  Guess who’s a size 13! I called my wife over to give her the veto ability…and she said “Well if they are the last ones left, it’s a sign you have to get them”

…and that’s why I married her.

Jordan 3 Retro (finger not included)

SHAWN breaks Razor Cut Signature Edition

SHAWN breaks a case of Topps Tribute Baseball

I got a phone call from my brother on Wednesday night that Derrick Rose was going to be at a Nissan dealership in the suburbs of Chicago on Friday between 6-8pm.  I of course posted it on HobbyKings in case anyone was interested in going.  Richie (MJCredentialKING) said he would meet me up.  I planned on getting there about an hour and a half early to get in line – hoping there would be only 50 or so people in front of me.  Friday morning comes, and my friend Abby is getting an oil change in the same Nissan that Rose would be signing at later that day.  She sends me a message that there’s someone lining up already at the dealership, at 9AM! Hard core! Apparently they had a cooler and everything.  I admit, I was a bit worried knowing that people were actually camping out for Rose.  I mean he was easily the best player on the team last year, but seriously? Waiting 8 hours in line for him?

Richie texted me at 3PM and told me that he had just called the store and found out there was already 50 people in line.  I planned on being there an hour and a half, so I was just hoping we’d be there in time to even get an autograph at all.  I zoomed through traffic from my work and got there at around 4:45PM to find a line of about 150 people.  I wasn’t quite sure I would make it or not.

Richie got there shortly afterwards and we were just chatting about the hobby and catching up on life and such.  He’s actually friends with my brothers too.  Soon enough, it was 6PM, but the line wasn’t moving.  Finally at around 6:30PM the line started moving.  The guys that were in front of the line at 9AM came out with their signed goods.  But then they went to the back of the line in hopes to get a second shot at some more autographs.  Wow.  They just spent 8 hours to get an autograph so they figure they would try for another one?  Sorry, I would just go home.  Behind us was about another 75-100 people waiting and hoping to get an autograph.  I don’t know if all of them ever got in.

We started talking to some of the guys in front of us and they were telling us about some of the regulars at these types of events.  Apparently there are some older grandparent-like couple that get their autographs and then try to bribe some kids behind them in line to get more autographs.  Another guy brings four of his kids so he can get multiple autographs.  Being that I am not really into the whole in-person autograph community, I am not sure what to think about this.  But it does sound kind of shady business going on, and some of the guys in line would tend to agree.

Anyways, we finally got inside the building around 7:15PM.  I completely forgot that B.J. Armstrong is Derrick Rose’s agent.  I totally wished I had a sweet B.J. Armstrong picture for him to autograph too, but Richie and I settled for a picture:

We got to Rose, but weren’t able to get a picture with him, while he was looking at the camera.  Seriously, would it have taken THAT long? Anyways we were happy with the items he signed, turned out real nice!

…and here are the final results:

It was definitely a much longer line from when Nissan had Ben Gordon a few years back! It really did open my eyes to this new community and side of the hobby that I had never known about.  Needless to say, I am glad that this experience was a pleasant one!

- joe