1572 - National Recap Chicago 2026

Dr. Beckett recaps his week at the 2026 National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, describing the event as maximally crowded, the biggest National ever, with long lines and high energy. He details his buying-focused approach centered on dollar boxes, especially with the Singles Club, noting which days and times produced the best finds and how dealer markdowns shaped his strategy. Beckett shares highlights including a YouTube content creator gathering, meetings (notably with COMC’s Tim Getsch), traditional hobby dinners, and Jeremy Lee’s well-produced Shark Tank presentation where Dr. Beckett gave brief remarks paying tribute to deceased National co-founder Mike Berkus. He discusses skipping trade nights, signing autographs without charging, losing his voice from the crowd, travel/packing tactics, and returning home tired but enthusiastic about next year’s National and the hobby’s continued momentum. 01:48 Staying Fueled and Ready 02:28 Wednesday Arrival Plan 02:51 Singles Club Routine 05:52 Best Times to Buy 06:53 YouTube Creator Meetup 08:07 Friday Meetings and OG Dinner 09:48 Saturday Shark Tank Event 12:04 Sunday Deals and Awkward Checkout 13:15 Autographs and Show Observations 15:05 Packing and Card Plans