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Below is a great article & review of the WSSCA 2002 Show.  Written by Kirt Schmidt of the SPORTS COLLECTORS DIGEST.  This appeared in July, 2002.  It is reprinted below (with the permission of the author) in it's entirety (photos not included). 

                From the moment you walked into the Seattle Center’s Snoqualmie Room, you had the feeling that this was going to be a different type of sports card show.  After “making the rounds” and spending time with some of the three dozen dealers there, you knew you were attending more than a show--this was more like a family event.  As one attendee said, “this is more like a true sports card show--one that goes back to the grassroots of collecting.”

                The event in question was the Washington State Sports Collector’s Association’s (WSSCA) 30th annual convention, held the weekend of June 1 and 2, 2002.  According to Dave Peterson, WSSCA Secretary/Treasurer and Convention Vice President, “we started these conventions in 1973 so a bunch of us could get together and swap our duplicate cards.  Also, because we started in August of that year, we’re a couple of months ahead of another show in Cincinnati.  This is the longest continuous sports card show run by the same promoters in the United States.”

                This year’s show was smaller than some mall shows; however, the social value for dealers and attendees alike far outweighed the monetary aspects.  To be sure, there was business being done.  Items offered included everything from a complete 1894 Mayo football set to the latest memorabilia insert cards.

                All sports were represented at the tables, with a special emphasis by many dealers on Northwest teams and sporting events.  For example, Pete Brown of Brown’s Cooperstown, lamented that he didn’t have more programs from the Seattle SeaFair celebrations, but that his 1928 Seattle Indians ZeeNuts cards were selling well.  On the other hand, Drew Edwards of Keystone Sports, reported that Ichiro autographs and Mariner game-day promotional items were selling well. 

                Regional sports memorabilia was working well for other dealers, too.  Mike Blaisdell of Blaisdell’s Sports Cards and Memorabilia, singled out former Seattle Seahawk Steve Largent, former University of Washington Husky footballers and high-end football cards in general as being hot for his table.

                Keith Schneider of Gasoline Alley Antiques said that Pacific Coast League items in general and Seattle Pilots items in particular were big sellers for him.  Mike Livingston of U-trading Cards stated that high-grade baseball cards from the 60s and 70s were doing well, but that basketball cards of the same type and years were not. 

                Instead of autograph guests at the convention, the WSSCA instead offers both attendees and dealers chances at quality autographed memorabilia as door prizes.  Hourly drawings this year included autographed items of Ernie Banks, Sammy Sosa, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds as well as Mariner favorites Lou Piniella and Bret Boone.  The two most anticipated giveaways were the autographed Mickey Mantle baseball on Saturday and the autographed Edgar Martinez bat on Sunday.  As each door prize drawing was held and the winning number announced, all activity in the showroom came to a complete stop until the lucky recipient had claimed the prize, followed by genuine and appreciative applause for each winner.

                In order to attract newer, younger collectors to the hobby, the Association distributed 4000 complimentary tickets to local Little Leaguers and coaches.  According to Dave Peterson, “we had  more new faces in the room on Sunday than we’ve seen in years.  We also had several new, first-time dealers at this show who will be back next year.  We even welcomed five new members into the Association.  We think we were successful in trying to recapture the spirit of what our hobby should be:  collect what you like and like what you collect.”

                In that spirit, the dealers interviewed for this article were asked to name their favorite sports card.  Their responses would make a fairly eclectic topical set in itself:  a Joe Namath rookie card, 1961 Post Joe Torre, 1956 Roberto Clemente, 1964 Philadelphia Jim Brown (with Cadillac!), 1971 Nolan Ryan  (with RC Cola in the background), 1953 Bowman color Mickey Mantle and Fatty Arbuckle biting a baseball in the ZeeNut collection.  As Pete Brown said, “there are collectors behind the tables here, too.”

                Many of the dealers exhibiting were also long-time members of the Association.  Several charter members were also in attendance.  For them, the convention is less a business opportunity than a once-a-year reunion with old friends who share similar interests.  One can find considerable swapping, horse trading, reminiscing and the occasional rubber band flying through the air at this annual gathering.

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