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The 5 most mind-blowing items at the National Sports Card Convention in Cleveland

CLEVELAND — Some of the coolest items of sports memorabilia you'll ever have the chance to see are currently on display at the I-X Center in Cleveland, home to the 2024 National Sports Card Convention.

Some of these mind-blowing items could be yours, if you bring your wallet (and the wallet of everyone you know).

Ranking the most mind-blowing items that can be found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is being held at the IX Center in Cleveland July 24-28.
Ranking the most mind-blowing items that can be found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is being held at the IX Center in Cleveland July 24-28.

Amongst the rows and rows of booths and displays housing cards, autographs, helmets, pictures and anything else you can think of, the NSCC, via Heritage Auctions, has some truly insane pieces of sports history that can be purchased for anywhere from a few thousand to tens of millions of dollars.

Here's a ranking of the five most mind-blowing items at the IX Center right now (along with the top items under $50 and how I broke $100 at the convention).

Honorable mention: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods signed picture

Having a framed picture of golf's three most iconic legends, and their signatures, is a dream item for any golf enthusiast. And at just under $3,000, it's by far the most attainable collectible on this list. Now, if you thought that price tag was jaw-dropping, strap in.

Ranking the most mind-blowing items found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is at the IX Center in Cleveland, July 24-28.
Ranking the most mind-blowing items found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is at the IX Center in Cleveland, July 24-28.

5. Signed Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle baseball

Let's start off with one of the items that you might think of as most traditional when ranking an all-time iconic collectible: an autographed Babe Ruth baseball.

But this isn't any ordinary Babe Ruth signed ball (I hope you're thinking of The Sandlot right now), this one is also signed by Yankee legends Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and more. Heritage Auctions is expecting to get $25,000 for it — or more.

Ranking the most mind-blowing items that can be found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is being held at the IX Center in Cleveland July 24-28.
Ranking the most mind-blowing items that can be found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is being held at the IX Center in Cleveland July 24-28.

4. Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods signed picture

It's pretty insane that these three signatures can be found in one place. I believe this item is going for $50,000, but after I asked for the price, I might have passed out.

Ranking the most mind-blowing items found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which isat the IX Center in Cleveland, July 24-28.
Ranking the most mind-blowing items found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which isat the IX Center in Cleveland, July 24-28.

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3. Jackie Robinson uniform from 1951

Jackie Robinson is one of the most important figures in not just sports history, but American history. The idea of having one of his actual uniforms that he wore is pretty crazy. Then again, at least to me, so is having $6 million, which Heritage Auctions expects to get for it.

2. Hank Aaron base from his 715th home run

If you're reading this, you've undoubtedly seen the video of Hank Aaron rounding the bases after his historic 715th home run, which set the all-time record and moved his name past Babe Ruth. Here's one of the bases he stepped on along his jog to history.

Ranking the most mind-blowing items that can be found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is being held at the IX Center in Cleveland July 24-28.
Ranking the most mind-blowing items that can be found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is being held at the IX Center in Cleveland July 24-28.
Ranking the most mind-blowing items that can be found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is being held at the IX Center in Cleveland July 24-28.
Ranking the most mind-blowing items that can be found at the 2024 National Sports Card Convention, which is being held at the IX Center in Cleveland July 24-28.

1. Babe Ruth uniform from the 'Called Shot' home run

You just knew something Babe Ruth-related was going to be No. 1 on this list, right? Heritage Auctions has the actual uniform that The Babe wore during his historic "Called Shot" home run during the 1932 World Series.

And what's the expected price tag on this item? Get ready for it: north of $30 million.

I decided to just look through the glass rather than bidding.

When is the 2024 National Sports Card Convention at the I-X Center?

The '24 NSCC will be at the IX Center in Cleveland through Sunday, July 28.

Tickets for 2024 National Sports Card Convention at the I-X Center

Tickets for the NSCC are available for $30. Early-entry tickets for all five days can be purchased for $149.99.

Parking for National Sports Card Convention at I-X Center

Parking for the NSCC is available for $10.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: The National card show in Cleveland, top 5 breathtaking rarities