John Broggi vividly recalls the first year he was one of the show managers for the National Sports Collectors Convention.
The previous promoter, Bob Byer, had his contract terminated, and SMI LLC — which consisted of Broggi, Mike Berkus and Bob Wilke — was taking over for the 2006 show.
SMI was put in a tough situation that first year in Anaheim, Calif.
“We had no website, no dealer list. We had nothing,” Broggi said. “Yet, we were able to put on a show, and I think it was successful. We learned so much from doing that show and subsequent shows that by the time we got to the 2010s, 2015s, I think we started to put on some of the best shows that The National has ever seen.
“The 2021 show right after the pandemic was the best attended show since Anaheim 1991. And, I still don’t believe the numbers they throw out for that show, but that’s neither here nor there. The last three shows that we’ve done
