Sports has

become a big business in America and as its popularity

has risen, sports collectibles have become increasingly

popular and profitable as well.

Baseball

cards have gone from something holding a stick of gum in

place to a form of supplemental income. The National

Sports Collectors Convention is coming to offer its wares

to the people of Atlanta July 22-25.

This will

be the convention's 20th year, offering everything from

figurines to autographed equipment. In addition to the

1,000 dealer booths, celebrity autograph guests will be

in attendance during the show.

Atlanta

will serve as the introduction for the first

international edition of the "Bammers." These

bears will include Larry Walker (Canada) Mark McGwire

(U.S.A.), Sammy Sosa (Dominican Republic), Chan Ho Park

(S. Korea), Juan Gonzalez (Puerto Rico), and Andruw Jones

(Curacao). This set of six will be limited to 6,000 and

will bear the 20th National logo on the sleeve making it

a unique collectible.

Seven women

who participated in the All American Girls Professional

Baseball league in the 1940s and 1950s will be on hand to

sign autographs, talk baseball and pose for pictures. The

seven women are Sophie Kurys and Pepper Paire from the

Racine Belles, Nickie Fox and Dottie Kamenshek of the

Rockford Peaches, Marge Wenzell of the South Bend Blue

Sox, Lefty Hohlmayer of the Kenosha Comets, and Dollie

Niemic Konwinski of the Grand Rapid Chicks. As a special

offer, there will be an All American Baseball Bear set

and individual Bean Bears (limited to 500) available for

sale.

This is the

first time in seven years that the National Sports

Collector Convention has come to Atlanta. The expo will

be at the Georgia World Congress Center, noon to 8 p.m.

Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10

but will be free to children under 15 on Thursday. To

purchse tickets, call 404-249-6400.

<!--##############