2024 National Free Signer - JT Thomas

According to pro-football-reference.com, there were three football players with the name JT Thomas.  One of them was one of the free signers at the National. 

I had picked this 1978 Topps football card up from the same vendor with the signers cards, but was in line for one of the other free guys while Michael got Thomas for me.  So, I didn't actually meet Thomas.

Thomas (b. 1951) played professionally from 1973 to 1977 and 1979 to 1982 for the Steelers and Broncos.  He had 20 interceptions in his career.  He won the Super Bowl with the Steelers in 1974, 1975 and 1979.

2024 National Free Signer - Dick Ambrose

The next signer from this year's National was Dick Ambrose, who I got on this 1978 Topps football card. 

Ambrose (b. 1953) played professionally from 1975 to 1983 for the Browns.  He had 5 interceptions and 9 fumbles recovered in his career.

I got the card from a vendor at the show who had cards of all of the free signers. He overcharges at $5/card, but when you think about it, it saves the pain of looking for needles in haystack.  Normally, I'd trade away the free vouchers of guys I didbt have cards of, but I ended up keeping all but one of them.

2023 National Free Signer - Doug Plank

The next free signer at the National was former Chicago Bear, Doug Plank.  I had zero cards of him, so I had to take advantage of the ones a dealer had for sale at $5/card. A definite overpay, until once realizes how hard it would have been to get into a table and search for Plank's cards at the show. My time was worth $5/card for sure.

I went through the line for Plank with my brother's buddy, Nick, who had come to the show for the day.  Nick had the platinum pass that gets you to the front of the line, so he let me use it with him.  He went with me to see several of the Saturday signers, and I helped him get one of his.  I'll probably post that later.  Had my brother come to the show, he probably would still be talking to Plank.  Plank was very personable and animated while telling stories.  I enjoyed meeting him.

Plank (b. 1953) played professionally from 1975 to 1982 for the Bears.  He had 15 interceptions across 101 games in his career.