When you were a kid, did you have a local candy store, or local baseball card shop, that you could walk to or bike to, in order to check out the gems they called baseball cards under the glass counter? A place where you could buy a pack or two of cards for a quarter or two?
I did. And it was a great part of my youth. I don’t see these places anymore though. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places, but I just don’t see baseball cards for sale in the local shops, or local baseball card shops too often anymore. Sure, there’s a card shop in the mall, but it’s more of a memorabilia dealer now, with autographed pictures and jerseys hanging on the wall. Cool to check out, don’t get me wrong, but not a baseball card shop, per se.
You can always find cards at Target and Wal-Mart, which is good to know, but it’s just not the same as a local shop, with an owner you know and can talk with.
How about you? Do you have a local baseball card shop, or other kind of shop that sells cards near to you? Again, maybe I’m just not looking in the right places. Let me know what you’re seeing in your area when you’re looking for baseball card shops.
In the city I grew up in Lincoln, Ne, there are only two shops. I usually only visit them for their bargain packs bin. However, “Wes’ Baseball Cards” has a really solid singles collection. The owner probably has ten glass cases packed with hard to find autos/parallels.
Back in Montana, I’m looking forward to visiting the only shop I know of in the state (though there are probably some others) in Helena. One of the owners is a member on The Bench and I’ve spoken to him a few times.
I wished I lived in bigger cities sometimes just to have more options with cards. But with the internet and ebay I guess I don’t really need to.
Thanks for the comment, bozemanbreaker. Yeah, I think the internet has really helped us collectors, but also has taken away some of the nostalgia of collecting from local sources.
I have a 1 shop that is ok nearby. and a couple of others a lil furhter away. but my best bet has been local card shows held at malls each wkend. they run a circuit and about once a month one is near me. I try to get out to one if I have a free wkend.
That is definitely another option, the local card show. They do run fairly frequently, and you can always check the back of the latest issue of Beckett for the upcoming shows. Good option, if you want to buy in person, but don’t have a local baseball card shop.