NSCC signers: Whose autograph would you pick first?

This year’s National Sports Collectors Convention begins on Wednesday with more than 100 autograph guests signing for those who opt to get a ticket and stand in line for their “inkredible” moment.

Some of those signers are actually free if you’re at the VIP reception on Wednesday or buy a VIP ticket package — a bonus for taking the time to hit the entire show or buy the full package for all of the other bonuses — but other signers will take some planning to land the ones you want.

>>> NSCC Want even more? Click here to see all of our past pieces previously revealing nuggets of news for the show and keep up with newer stories tagged NSCC by clicking here.

It’s tough to see everything at the show — it’s that big — and the time it takes to work through autograph lines is valuable in that it impedes your shot at seeing it all. With that said, here are my picks — one per day — to grab off the autograph list. (Keep reading for the full signers list in a gallery at the end.)

Alex Rodriguez to sign at National Sports Collectors Convention

There’s a new big name among the first wave of autograph signers for this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago.

It’s Alex Rodriguez.

Once baseball’s highest-paid player, he’s a member of the 3,000-hit club and a player who hit 696 home runs during his at times controversial 22-year MLB career with the Mariners, Rangers and Yankees.

First Buzz: 2017 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Chicago North Side autographed baseballs

What: 2017 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Chicago North Side autographed baseballs
Arrives: March 1
Box basics: One autographed baseball of a current or former Chicago Cub per box (12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: TRISTAR’s autographed baseball chase goes to the north side of Chicago with some chase baseballs and memorabilia items to be found in some boxes.

Keep reading for more.

What surprises may be found in 2016 Topps baseball card packs?

An early version of the 2016 Topps Series 1 baseball checklist arrived on Tuesday and that first glimpse offered a few surprises before its arrival on Feb. 3.

But there are also undoubtedly more still to come.

The First Pitch cards showing celebrities making ceremonial appearances? They’re not on the checklist but are confirmed as still coming. There’s no note of variations or short-printed cards for the release — we all know those are coming. They always do.

What else? Keep reading for a rundown of what’s known and notable from the checklist