This Month at the Hobby Hotspot...

Welcome to the latest column from RIPPED senior writer Greg Bates. Each month, he examines The Hobbys current and emerging trends and offers expert opinions on all things collecting.

With the National Sports Collectors Convention just eight weeks away, Im brimming with excitement. The top show in The Hobby year in and year out is going to be the place to be. Cleveland is the host for the 44th annual event. At RIPPED, we are going to get you prepared for every aspect of The National through weekly stories. Keep logging onto the RIPPED website to check out the latest pieces.

Growing up in Minnesota, I always hit the latest card shows in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis. The shows were quite large in my mind, but then again, Id never heard of The National. The 1991 convention in Anaheim, California, put The Hobby back on the map for collectors.

At the end of July, I will be covering my seventh National as a journalist. Ill always remember my first show in 2015. It was a massive spectacle at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. I ran into one collector in search of his Holy Grail, and he wanted to find it at the right price.

- C. Rison is interested in picking up a popular card for her grandson

Drop me a line at and let me know your favorite new hobby trend.