I went into The National expecting pure, beautiful chaos,  the kind of shoulder-to-shoulder frenzy you brace for when thousands of collectors cram into one giant hall chasing the same grails. From the outside, that’s exactly what it looked like. But the moment I parked, stepped onto that skyway, and walked through those doors, my worries melted away faster than an ice cream on blacktop in July.

Zero wait time. Ice-cold AC humming. Wi-Fi strong enough to pull up every last eBay comp my rookie brain needed.

And the dealers? Absolutely phenomenal. As someone brand-new to the card side of collecting,  my world’s been comic book conventions for years,  I was a little nervous. But every table felt like a handshake and a smile. These folks wanted to talk. They wanted to share stories, show off grails, and swap memories just as much as they wanted to make a deal.

I’ll never forget walking down the escalator and the guy ahead of me turned around, asked me what I was hunting for, and bam: instant conversation. From that moment on, it was like being surrounded by old friends I hadn’t met yet.

I went with my dad he hasn’t touched a convention floor in decades, hasn’t chased a card in what feels like centuries  and he had the time of his life. I was so hyped I dragged my brother along the very next day. Two days at The National? They vanished in a heartbeat.

I got to stand ten feet away from some of the best athletes on the planet, stared slack-jawed at cardboard treasures I never thought I’d see in person, and even swapped stories with a cousin of one of Joe DiMaggio’s teammates because where else could that happen but here? You could feel the history swirling in that hall like electricity.

If I had two wishes for next year: bring in some panels like Comic-Con or Fan Expo.  I’d love to hear collectors, athletes, and hobby legends swap stories on stage and stick some water coolers out in the hallways so we can all hydrate between grail hunts.

To everyone who made my first National so unforgettable; the organizers, the dealers, the random collectors who asked me what I was chasing– thank you. See you next year. I’ll be the one walking through that skyway with a grin on my face and a pocket full of top loaders!

But for now, I can enjoy some of my favorite pictures I took of the show that will stay with me forever.