2026 National Free Signer - Otis Wilson

Otis Wilson was the next free signer at this year's National. I found this card at the same vendor who had cards of the signers. It is a 1983 Topps football card, and it turned out pretty well. 

Wilson (b. 1957) played professionally from 1980 to 1987 and 1989 for the Bears and Raiders. He won Super Bowl XX with the Bears.

2026 National Free Signer - Mike Hartenstine

Former Bear, Mike Hartenstine was the next free signer at this year's National. 

I didn't have anything of him before I left for the show, so I was glad there was a vendor there with cards of the free signers.

Hartenstine (b. 1953) played professionally from 1975 to 1987 for the Bears and Vikings. He won Super Bowl XX with the Bears.

2026 National Free SIgner - Sheryl Swoopes

The next free signer at this year's National was a different one. Former WNBA star and Hall of Famer, Sheryl Swoopes was at the show signing for VIPs. She was very friendly, even when she paused the line right when she got to us to order her Door Dash. She was really funny, and genuinely seemed happy to be at the show signing. 

I had found the above card at the card shop a few days before I left for the show. I pulled it from a dollar box and had it signed in gold paint pen. The signature didn't show up as well as I thought it would, but it's ok.

Swoopes (b. 1971) played professionally from 1997 to 2000, 2002 to 2008 and 2011 for the Houston Comets, Seattle Storm and Tulsa Shock. She had 4,875 total points across 12 seasons. She was a three-time MVP (2000, 2002, 2005) abd a four-time champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) with the Comets. She was elected to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA. She won three Olympic gold medals and an NCAA championship (1993, with Texas Tech).

2026 National Free Signer - Jerry Korab

The next free signer at the National was Jerry Korab. I had never heard of him, but that's normal since he was a hockey player back in the 70s and early 80s. He was cool when I met him. I got him on the above card that I found at the show.

Korab (b. 1948) played from 1971 to 1985 for the Black Hawks, Canucks, Sabres and Kings. He had 114 goals, 341 assists, for 455 points.

2026 National Free Signer - Mike Squires

Another guy that I had gotten in the past via TTM was a free signer this year at the National. I had gotten Mike Squires on a few cards back in 2024, but luckily didn't get him on a 1982 Topps. I forgot to check if I had gotten him before, but it worked out anyway.

I only had one voucher for Squires, so I got only one card signed. It was fine, though, as I got through the line really quickly and went back to looking through bargain boxes.

2026 National Free Signer - Randy Martz

Randy Martz was the next free signer at this year's National. I had him sign the above 1982 Topps and the 1983 Donruss and 1983 Topps shown below. 

Martz (b. 1956) played in the majors from 1980 to 1983 for the Cubs and White Sox. He had a record of 17-19 with 78 strike outs and a 3 78 ERA.

Martz was pretty friendly, and his line moved quickly. Something I noticed this year was how much better the VIP lines moved. I went through **most** of the lines very fast.

2026 National Free Signer - Steve Trout

Steve Trout made his return to the National this year as a last-minute replacement signer. I can't remember who he replaced, but it was one of the football guys. Jim Osborne maybe. Well, I scoured my boxes for Trout cards, and came up with a few that I didn't yet have in the autograph album. 

He was cool, as always. I've gotten him 3 or 4 times now.

I didn't mind that several of the signers were guys that I had gotten before, since it still helped me get cards out of the boxes. It would be nice, though, if there was a little more variety of the signers. Oh well.