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Go behind-the-scenes at the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention here in Chicago! Just Collect peels back the curtain as we set up for the big show! From sports cards to steaks, let's open the back door for a tour.

Just Collect is here at the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention buying and selling collections in booths 401 and 403. The show does not begin until Wednesday, July 30th, but we want to show you something unique - a behind-the-scenes view of the show before the building is open! We took pictures and video as we arrived. Are these photos allowed to be seen publicly? Probably not, but we won't tell if you won't. From rare uncut rack packs that we have NEVER seen before to a Rolls Royce with an ...interesting color choice, welcome to the National Sports Collectors Convention. 

Our Vice President, John, was tasked with the U-Haul van with all of our collections, display cases, tables, etc. into the building. Yes, John drove the van directly into the building, right up to our booths:

Leighton, our owner, stepped onto the floor for the first time today and took a deep whiff - ah, that beautiful National smell. Leighton compared the first waft of a National is like opening a new pack of tennis balls (his favorite sport), and breathing in the delight. What about you? What do you think of when you take you first breath in from the main lobby?

After walking through the main lobby of the convention center, Leighton walked under the "Welcome to the National" sign you see in the first photo below, and headed over to the registration booths. With info in-hand, Leighton, John, and our acquisitions associate, Dan, ventured to the booths to start the build our displays. Our tables, display cases, cards, t-shirts, etc. all carefully placed for you! The third and fourth photos below are in-action shots and a sneak peek at a few cards available for purchase.

Once the setup was done, we walked the floor a bit, and while doing so, we found some incredible pieces, and helpful bits for you! The fifth photo will be your friend - next to booth 600 is an ATM! No matter how well you plan, sometimes you'll see a card you just have to have, and that ATM will come in handy. Next is a photo of the Expoteria Restaurant. From the Just Collect booths, just walk straight and take a left by before the service area; this is nestled between booths 322 and 326. If you hit Upper Deck, you've gone too far. This place for a bite to eat and a drink is hidden well and not easy to spot! 

After cash and eats, we found a RARE baseball card. The National has the cream of the crop each year, but this 1925 Exhibits Lou Gehrig rookie card made us stop in our tracks. Graded by SGC, only 32 copies have been authenticated and graded by SGC. The eight photo is something we've never seen before, and Just Collect has 50 years of combined experience buying and selling collection for a total of over 50 million dollars. You can see three 1977 Topps football rack packs each still joined together. These rack packs were never cut! We have purchased and sold more rack packs than you could fathom, but these joined rack packs are new to us. Have you ever seen such a thing? Tell us in the comments!

Geoff Wilson of Sports Card Investor was doing a live show from his booth. Geoff joined Just Collect at the 2022 National and opened a 1952 Bowman baseball pack with Leighton that you can watch HERE. We hope to collaborate with Geoff again this week!

Photo 10 is the marinated skirt steak at Gibsons next to the convention center. Make a reservation, order the steak, and you'll never look at another steak the same way again. If you need someone to join you for dinner, we're always available. 

Aqua? The last photo below is a Rolls Royce that Leighton saw parked outside of Gibsons. Check out that color! Monte loved it. Leighton loved it. Not as much as the steak, but we could get down with an aqua-colored Rolls. Have you seen a car that color before?

Behind-the-scenes photos from the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention: 

We are BUYING collections! If you're coming to the National and are interested in selling your collection, we are here to offer you a . Looking for that special card? From Babe Ruth to Michael Jordan, Just Collect will have the best vintage cards and widest variety of vintage at the show! We can't wait to meet you at booths. If you're the owner of the Rolls Royce, we might be able to work out a nice trade for a ride around town.

WHEN:

July 30th - August 3rd 

WHERE:

Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

If you're attending the National and are interested in selling your vintage cards, we are BUYING! Here is how you can find us at the show and receive a free appraisal:

• Use THIS MAP of the show floor
• Come to booths 401 & 403
  • From the River Road entrance into the Main Lobby, take a left. Walk straight. Bathrooms are on your left and as you approach the concessions stand, you'll see our booths! We are right on the aisle and easy to find.

WE ARE ALWAYS BUYING

Just Collect is always buying vintage sports and non-sports cards from 1879 to 2009 as well as select modern cards. If you have a collection that you are considering selling, contact us today to discuss or get our industry-leading purchase offer. If you have a collection that you want appraised, please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your collection and help you understand the real cash value of your collection in the current marketplace. Check out the Just Collect Buy List.

We always offer a FREE APPRAISAL for your collection here at the Just Collect site. Just click here:

We offer may ways to evaluate your cards other than or using our website, too.

• Come to convention

We keep a LIST of card shows we'll be attending.  Come stop by the Just Collect table and chat.

• Meet in-person

If you have a valuable collection and want us to come to you, we'll hop on the next plane out.

• Meet in New York City

If you're near New York City and would like to meet in a public place, our owner, Leighton, would be happy to meet you; read all the information here.

• SHIP your collection 

If you choose to mail your cards for an appraisal, we will evaluate your cards for FREE still. If you choose not to sell the cards, we'll ship them back shipping fees paid by us!  We can offer our FedEx account with 2-day shipping, fully insured, all covered by us. Simply contact the office to set up this option.

OUR BUYING PHILOSOPHY

We've run into a wide range of people and collections over the last 25 years. Although Just Collect is known for buying vintage sports cards and especially vintage baseball cards, we are also extremely interested in buying non-sports cards, too!  

Every collection and every collector is different and we treat EVERY collection with the respect and attention that we show for our own collections. We understand that many have put their heart and souls into building their collections. So when you're ready to sell, we understand the feelings that you're going through and will work with you to help you reach a decision that is a WIN/WIN, because if you're not happy, we're not happy.

CONTACT US ANY TIME

Whether you have vintage cards or modern wax you want to sell, you can reach out to us any time! 

• JustCollect.com
• (732) 828-2261
• info@justcollect.com
• Facebook 
• Twitter
• Post right here on the blog!