The National features megastar autograph lineup, promos, memorabilia and cards

ANAHEIM, CA (Bill Wagner) - The National Sports Collectors Convention, simply known as The National, returns to Southern California at the end of this month.

The 27th annual show is set for July 26-30 at the Anaheim Convention Center. It marks the fifth time Anaheim has played host to the show. Anaheim holds a special place in National lore.

"I was part of the team that founded the first National, but everyone still talks about the 1991 show in Anaheim, which drew over 100,000 people and forced fire marshals to repeatedly shut down the event until some of the crowd would exit," said Mike Berkus, one of the co-directors of the convention. "That was the height of the baseball card craze. There's a greater sanity to it all now; it's easier to spend time at dealer tables and take in the show."

Collectors looking for special promo cards will find plenty of opportunities at the Donruss/Playoff, Press Pass, Topps and Upper Deck booths. All four companies will have wrapper redemption offers throughout the show as well as producing special sets for VIP ticket holders. Details on all the promotions are available at my blog by visiting www.scrippsnews.com/waxpak. I'll also be posting some tips on how to navigate The National on my blog the week before the show.

This year Tri-star Productions is handling the autograph pavilion, which is always a highlight because collectors have a chance to choose from a lineup that is usually unmatched in numbers if not star power.

Baseball HOFers scheduled to be in attendance include Frank Robinson, Steve Carlton, Rod Carew, Dave Winfield, Duke Snider, Willie McCovey, Sparky Anderson and Gaylord Perry.

The autograph lineup, which will continue to grow, is already impressive with Magic Johnson, Pete Rose, Joe Montana among those scheduled to be on hand. Other signers should include Steve Young, Bo Jackson, Troy Aikman, Jerry Rice, Warren Moon, Lawrence Taylor, Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders, Dick Butkus, Jim Kelly, Dan Fouts, Tony Dorsett, Ken Stabler and Eric Dickerson. In addition, Brandi Chastain, USA women’s soccer star, who scored the World Cup-winning goal against China in 1999, will be on hand.

For the latest on autograph guests and prices, visit www.tristarshows.com/National/pavilion.htm.

There will also be a USC football theme to the show with special product releases planned from GameExclusives.com featuring Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, who are also part of the autograph lineup. The two former stars will make their only appearance at the Sneak Peak event Wednesday night (July 26).

The National always features a variety of cards, yearbooks, sports equipment, toys, photographs, autographs, figurines, vintage advertising, books or magazines and just about anything else a collector might be seeking spread over more than 700 hundred booths.

Once again serious collectors can pick up a VIP Premier Club weeklong package for $109 ($99 advance purchase). VIP ticket holders are admitted early daily through a special entrance, receive valuable gift packages and a special VIP Free Autograph package, which at this time includes Jeff Burroughs, Charles White, Tommy Davis, Willie Davis, Ken Forsch, Steve Sax, Ken Landreaux and Clyde Wright. The Sneak Peek will include free autographs (to be announced soon) on a first come, first served basis.

Single Day General Admission Tickets, good for any one day at the National, including the Wednesday Night Sneak Peek are priced at $15 in advance ($17.50 at the door Single Day General Admission Tickets, good for any one day at the National, including the Wednesday Night Sneak Peek are priced at $15 in advance ($17.50 at the door.) Children under 6 are free. Tickets for the 27th National Sports Collectors Convention can now be purchased through the National Web Site, www.nsccshow.com. Information about the convention is also available by calling toll-free 1-866-323-NSCC (1-866-323-6722).

Show hours will be: Wednesday’s "Sneak Peek" from 5 to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, July 27-29, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, July 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday will be "Kids Free Day," with all children 15 and younger admitted free to the Convention Center. Active members of the U.S. military, in uniform or with proper credentials, will receive a 50 percent discount on general admission and VIP tickets.

On Friday, promotions are being finalized for Boy Scouts and their families who attend as part of the MLB Players Association's Baseball Card Clubhouse program and a reduced admission program is in the works for military personnel and their families.

"We plan to host at least three baseball card workshops on Friday when kids are invited to attend for free. Each child who participates will receive free packs of cards in a collectible tin, learn about baseball cards and participate in some games of Pack Wars for bigger prizes including free Xbox game consoles," said Evan Kaplan, category director for trading cards and collectibles for the Major League Baseball Players Association. "We will have merit badge counselors on-hand to award those kids who build a collection of baseball cards."