The National
Baseball card collecting runs hot and cold because everything seems like the same old cardboard, but the upcoming National in Anaheim gives me an opportunity to see why [or why I’m not collecting].

I want to go to the National and milk the $99/$100 pass for all that it is worth. I have philosophical problems with it though that didn't stop me from purchasing a pass. It is going to be my third National - all have been in Anaheim.

1.) The promos are likely going to be mass produced cards that you are going to put away in junk boxes. I don’t think any of the card companies participating in the National is really willing to put value in their [VIP package] promos by producing high-end versions [ particularly with autographs and/or GU materials]. You take what you can get, but you don’t want to be stuck with crap.

2.) Tiered VIP Packages – you aren’t really guaranteed to get one star, superstar, legend or icon in the $99 package. I don't even know if I'm getting the same one because I purchased my $99 VIP package from the official National website as opposed to Tristar. You get a bunch of loosely termed semistars from the Dodgers and the Angels, with perhaps some other guests, blah, blah, blah - seems like the same names a local promoter [naxcom.com] has been trotting out for the last six years to their autograph shows.

3.) Unless you are willing to pay $$$ - Tristar Productions or a company like Upper Deck is not likely to give you opportunities for casual meet and greets with a star, superstar, legend or icon at the National.

4.) The autograph guest lists has its share of heavy hitters, but any particular sports guy [for example: Magic Johnson, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana] has already done every imaginable show. Those are among the cream of the crop of athletes and there is just seems less elite sports icons [maybe Jim Brown perhaps] you really would pay for, while Johnson, Rice and Montana continue to pimp themselves down to Bob Feller levels [autographs signed, certainly not in fees].

5.) Tristar is known for locking down youngsters to sign autographs at their shows around the country. Where are the local rookies like Russ Martin, Andre Ethier, Mike Napoli or maybe a young, rising star like Ervin Santana? All I see is Matt Kemp and he was already sent down two weeks ago.