The wrapper redemption programs at the National Sports Collectors Convention are a challenge, a pastime and a must-do for many attendees every year.

But there are drawbacks, too, hence that challenge part. There can be long waits -- depending on how long the lines are and, more importantly, how early you got in them -- and there's the possibility that your line could get cut off before land your treasures.

But the wait can be worth it with the surprises in your packs -- or your boxes you grab to get said packs -- and that's what Buzz opted to try a few times this year. First up? The Topps program.

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The Panini America VIP Party roster has added some stars from the gridiron.

The newest star revealed on Friday night? Hall of Famer and Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders. Former Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick was revealed this afternoon, while two past college football greats will also be on hand for Saturday's exclusive event.

Joining them will be three previously revealed NBA guests as well as Texas Longhorns legend Vince Young and former Oklahoma Sooners star "The Boz," Brian Bosworth. 

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The clock is ticking on Day 3 but there's always plenty to see.

This year’s National Sports Collectors Convention is fueling fan interests inside the IX Center in Cleveland with collectors from around the world ripping into packs, digging through bargain bins, getting in on group breaks live from the show floor and checking out other show-exclusives with some often-impressive results.

Vintage? There's plenty of that -- and the biggest card of them all is in the building. You should know him even though you probably can't own him.

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Not a bad pull ...

The first full day is done -- and a new one is just hours away.

This year’s National Sports Collectors Convention is fueling fan interests inside the IX Center in Cleveland with collectors from around the world ripping into packs, digging through bargain bins, getting in on group breaks and checking out other show-exclusives with some often-impressive results. Want just one? See above ...

Buzz is battling some spotty early morning wi-fi, so we've got a smaller gallery than planned from our 1,000-plus images shot on Thursday, but we'll be back online in just a few hours with plenty more. For now, check out this new batch.

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In the hours before the official show opening, there had been a green tarp covering that section of the booth, but at the opening bell Blowout owner Thomas Fish personally greeted each and every buyer of the Blowout MegaMix to help them make their choice of one of 600 serial-numbered packages, see what was inside and help them collect their findings.

The scene you see above? That's The Boss in action with the collector to the left getting either a box lot of the pictured item or a sealed case. Other surprises in these $100 boxes -- besides the Blowout shirt, a VIP party drawing entry certificate (drawing is Saturday) and even a little sugary Megamix extra -- can include autographed jerseys from Hall of Famers, a guy you might know named Shohei Ohtani and even autographed baseballs from a few Atlanta Braves rookies. (That's all they would tell me in advance -- it's that top secret and the fun is in the mystery.)

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The calm before the storm is here.

On-floor preparation for this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention is nearing its finale as the booths fill up inside the IX Center in Cleveland. Booth No. 743, the home of BlowoutCards.com should be one of your first stops the show, which begins this evening and runs through Sunday.

But that’s not the only early scene seen so far …

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"Sir Charles" has his own Panini America promo card set at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention -- and it can only be found in one place.

That's at the Panini booth in Cleveland during the show that tips off tomorrow and runs through Sunday at the IX Center is the only place to find the newest Charles Barkley basketball cards.

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If you're headed to this year's National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland, odds are you have a few bucks in your pocket.

We want you to earmark $10 for a little something something at the show -- whatever you want from wherever you want, whatever you think is cool.

Why? We've got a package of 10 cards (see our gallery) that can be yours if you participate in the Blowout Buzz $10 NSCC Challenge. 

Keep reading for the details.

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The Panini America VIP Party will include some NBA flair from the past and the present.

Saturday's exclusive event will have at least three NBA stars involved as the company has revealed its first three stars appearing at the party who will meet and greet fans.

Cleveland Cavaliers first-round pick Collin Sexton, Orlando Magic pick Mo Bamba and former Boston Celtics star and NBA Slam Dunk Contest champ Dee Brown will be on hand at the event set for Saturday night in Cleveland.

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Panini America's National Sports Collectors Convention experience includes plenty of ripped wax -- if you want to partake of course -- and that begins within the first hour of Day 1 at the show beginning Wednesday in Cleveland.

It's via Box Wars and there are 31 battles scheduled for the show.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: National wrapper redemption basics and other discussions, a funky Trout and other big pulls.

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NASCAR fans at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention have a reason to dig into new boxes of 2018 Panini Certified racing cards at the show.

Panini America revealed on Sunday that it has readied a special National racing promo pack that they'll get for each box of Certified they open at the company's booth during the show that's set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland.

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Collectors who are into American history beyond the sports realm have one destination to start with first at the National Sports Collectors Convention at the IX Center in Cleveland.

That spot is the Blowout Cards booth.

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If you have a long-standing redemption from Panini America, the company will let you trade it in at the National Sports Collectors Convention.

One of the company's priorities at the show running Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland is its "Live Redemption Trade-Up" that will allow those with redemptions more than four months old and still in the company's system to trade them in for something live at the show.

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Topps has its promo cards for this year's National Sports Collectors Convention ready to go.

The show, set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland, will begin with its VIP Party presented by Topps with autograph guests including Calvin Murphy, Mike Hargrove and Luis Tiant. The VIP ticket-holder gift bags will include a previously revealed 1983 Topps promo set. 

And now we have a teaser for the wrapper redemption plans for the show.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: We're just Jake Taylor (No. 7) days away from The National in Cleveland (where he and Roger Dorn are signing) and the chatter for the show is strong. Toss in some contracts and some pulls and that's today's edition.

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Panini America's National Sports Collectors Convention wrapper redemption plans are starting to come into shape publicly with the first glimpses of the cardboard to come revealed today.

And the key color of everything so far is pink.

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Wrapper redemptions are a big focus for many show-goers and BlowoutCards.com will be there at the center of it all for collectors at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention. 

In fact, products from all manufacturers that are part of this year's wrapper redemptions will be a heavy focus for the lineup at the Blowout booth for the show that's set for Aug. 1-5 at the IX Center in Cleveland.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: A Ginter box with two Rip Cards ... and a pack with two metal minis, one fishy break, NSCC chatter and Blowout Mega Mix anticipation are just some of the highlights today.

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The first details on a top-secret project at BlowoutCards.com dropped on Monday with nothing but pre-ordering and waiting coming between all of us and a 2018 Blowout Cards Mega Mix box. 

The waiting part is for the start of this year's National Sports Collectors Convention set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland, which is where this one will launch and be available -- but only for the first 600 buyers.

What does it include?

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"Pieces From the Trash" promo cards featuring pieces of cut documents will be just one of the promo cards given out by Historic Autographs at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention starting Aug. 1 in Cleveland.

The first 20 visitors to the company's booth at the show each day will get one of these cards -- a memorabilia card featuring the remnants from a signed document -- for free. Others may receive two cards if they one a sealed box of HA product at the company's booth. Other possible rewards for ripping will include presidential coin and stamp relics as well as some other surprises.

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You never know what you might find in a TRISTAR bonus bag at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention. 

The autographed memorabilia company is once again readying bonus bags for those who opt to open its packaged memorabilia products at the company's booth during the show in Cleveland set for Aug. 1-5.

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Onyx Authenticated is celebrating its new big signing by giving away that future star's autographs at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland.

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Leaf Trading Cards will be one place to grip and rip some packs at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland on Aug. 1-5 as the company will have three wrapper-redemption programs for collectors to consider.

The first is a retro Leaf set that can be chased via a box break at the company's booth. Those who open a box of 2018 Leaf In The Game-used or 2018 Leaf Pop Century will get a two-card pack of 1948 Leaf Metal cards. They'll be paralleled with cards as rare as 1/1 and the roster of names there will include Shohei Ohtani, Stephen Curry, Conor McGregor, Lionel Messi, Ken Griffey Jr., Pele, John Elway, Baker Mayfield, Shaquille O'Neal and Gordie Howe to name a few.

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Professional Sports Authenticator will have a number of things for fans to check out at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention that's set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland.

The leading authentication and grading company will have custom cards for fans who opt to get in on those at the show as well as contests for three notable Cleveland items that can be entered both at the show and online right now. The custom card options include Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers gear.

“Last year’s custom encapsulated card option was such a big success in Chicago that we are excited to bring the experience to collectors and sports fans in Cleveland, too,” said PSA Vice President Steve Sloan. “What better way to preserve your memory of being at the show than with a custom trading card from PSA?”

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