2026 National Free Signer - Gene Hiser

Gene Hiser was the next free signer at this year's National. I had sent to him TTM a while back and never got my card back. So, at the show, I found a vendor who had an album of 1974 Topps. I picked up a replacement for the card I had sent and got it signed. 

Hiser (b. 1948) played in the majors from 1971 to 1975 for the Cubs. He had 53 hits, 1 home run and a .202 batting average. 

2026 National Free Signer - Grant Mulvey

A former hockey player was next on the lost of free signers at the National, Grant Mulvey. I don't follow hockey much, but i reappy enjoy old hockey cards. I found enough of his cards at the show to cover the vouchers I accumulated, starting off with the above 1979-1980 Topps. I liked the blue border, and I was right that it would look great signed in blue.

I also found the above left 1976-1975 Topps and above right 1977-1978 Topps. All of the cards turned out great, and Mulvey was pretty cool. 

Mulvey (b. 1956) played from 1975 to 1984 for the Black Hawks and Devils. He had 149 goals with 135 assists, for 284 points.

2026 National Free Signer - Chuck Knoblauch

Chuck Knoblauch was the next free signer at this year's National. I was excited to get him because I had found so many of his cards in the lead up to the show. I had gotten him once before; by way of TTM back in 2021. I also had met him at a past National when I had a free photo voucher with him. I couldn't find my photo before I left for the show, however.

I had gotten a couple Knoblauch vouchers and then was able to get a bunch more cards signed when they called wild cards on him. That was great, because it helped me not to have to put a bunch of stuff back in my boxes. 

Knoblauch was nice enough. He didn't really say a whole lot, but wasn't rude or anything like that.

2026 National Free Signer - Wendell Davis

The next free signer at this year's National was former Bear, Wendell Davis. I ended up with a few vouchers for him and picked up some cards from a vendor that I have seen at several past Nationals who always has cards of the signers. It made life so much easier when I could just go by his tables and pick up the guys I needed. We ended up making a coupke trades later in the show, and then I also got him some of his own cards signed.

Davis (b. 1966) played professionally from 1988 to 1993 for the Bears. He had 207 receptions for 3,000 yards and 14 touchdowns receiving.

Davis was pretty cool and talked to everyone. He seemed really happy to be there.

2026 National Free Signer - The Godfather

While walking around the show floor at the National on the Wednesday Sneak Peek day, I walked by the Ebay booth and saw retired WWE superstar, The Godfather, signing a bunch of cards. I stopped by and asked the folks in the booth what was going on and they told me that The Godfather was going to be handing out signed cards and photos to folks during an Ebay live event. I joined in on the event and bid on a few things, but didn't win anything. It was a lot of fun, though. I ended up getting a signed 8 x 10 and a signed card. They were both really cool, and I also got to meet him and talk to him for a bit. I also posed for a photo

The Godfaher (Charles Wright) (b. 1961) was a professional wrestler from 1989 until his retirement in 2002. He is best known as The Godfather, but also wrestled in WWE as Papa Shango and Kama. He never held the World title, but was the Intercontinental Champion once. He was elected to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016.

He was really nice, and I'm glad that I stopped in the Ebay booth and checked on what was happening.

2026 National VIP Party Free Signer - Jerome Walton

The next free signer, Jerome Walton. He was really cool and signed a card the first time through the line.

After the VIP party, we went back through his line, and I had him sign the other cards I had. He took the two I had, signed them and said "That's all you got?". Unfortunately, I didn't have anything else.

Walton (b. 1965) played in the majors from 1989 to 1998 for the Cubs,  Angels, Reds, Braves, Orioles and Devil Rays. He had 423 hits, 5 home runs and a .269 batting average. He was the 1989 NL Rookie of the Year and finished 13th in the NL MVP race.

2026 National VIP Party Free Signer - Cecil Cooper

The next free signer at the VIP party at this year's National was Cecil Cooper. He was a free signer at two past Nationals that I had been to, 2015 and 2021.

At the past shows, I had gotten Cooper on a 1983 All Star Game ball, 1987 Topps and a 1986 Donruss. He also signed TTM for me, which added a  1976, 1984 and a 1988 Topps. I was running very low on Cooper cards, but found a few that I didn't already have.

Cooper was really nice and commented on my hat. I was glad to get him again. I'm out of his cards now, so if he comes back, I'll need to add some more.