If you have a collection of baseball cards that you want to trade or sell, the first place you should look is within your local community. Thanks to the ongoing popularity of baseball card collecting, there are likely to be other enthusiasts living near you that would be interested in trading cards. Here are some of the best options for finding others to trade baseball cards with in your local area:

Local Card Shops – Brick and mortar card shops are still a mainstay for collectors looking to trade, sell or buy cards. Even in this digital age, having a physical space for collectors to meet up and check out product is invaluable. Search online for “baseball card shops near me” and see what comes up. Many card shops will host regularly scheduled trade nights where you can bring your cards to display and look through what others have brought as well. Most charge a small entry fee to help cover costs. Going to your local shop is one of the easiest ways to find other collectors face to face.

Card Shows – Larger card shows that bring collectors from a wider regional area are also very common places to find trading partners. Major national and regional card shows draw thousands of attendees and typically have designated areas just for trading cards. During trading sessions, collectors will lay out their cards on folding tables and browse up and down the aisles to see what other traders have brought. Be sure to bring a list of players or teams you collect so you can easily find potential trade matches. Some shows even host scheduled trading sessions and competitions to spur interactions. Search online for upcoming card shows in your state or neighboring areas.

Online Trading Forums – With the rise of the internet, many online communities and marketplace style forums have popped up dedicated to baseball card trading. Sites like TradingCardDB.com allow you to create a want/trade list and browse what thousands of other members have posted too. From there, you can reach out to strike potential card swaps solely through shipping. While it removes the face to face element, online trading forums dramatically increase the pool of potential partners. You’re able to trade with others anywhere in the world as long as you’re both comfortable shipping cards to each other. Just be sure to only trade with traders who have good feedback ratings.

Social Media Trading Groups – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are full of groups oriented around baseball card trading as well. Search terms like “baseball card trading group” paired with your location or team interests will surface local collectives. These social media groups function similar to online forums, but centered around a local geographic region. Members post regularly about trades, shows, and shop events too. It’s become a valuable resource for finding potential trading partners close by through scheduled meetups or shipping. Just be sure to verify the authenticity of accounts before trading any cards.

Local Sports Card Shops With Apps – Thanks to companies like Starstock, sports card shops now have modern tech tools too for bringing collectors together. The Starstock trading app allows local shops to host digital trade nights where members scan their cards and want/trade lists to easily match up. From there, trades are make either on the spot at the shop or through shipping. This blended online/offline model is effective for shops small and large. Check if your local favorites are Starstock partners yet.

MLB Fan Events – Major League Baseball teams increasingly host designated card show and trade night events throughout the season to engage local fans. Even minor league and independent league clubs will do so too. These events draw diehard collectors focused specifically on that given MLB, MiLB or IndyBall club. It’s an easy way to zero in on finding trade partners for your favorite team’s cards without sorting through thousands of other options. Sign up for your team’s newsletter or check social media for announcements.

Local Hobby Shops – Beyond just card shops, many hobby and game stores in your area with a CCG (Collectible Card Game) focus like Magic: The Gathering also cater to sports card traders. After their own game’s events, shop owners will commonly promote using the space for a baseball card trade night once a month or so. Check with local hobby shops that might have the room for such an event to see if they’d be open to hosting traders looking for a new meeting place option.

Word of Mouth – Lastly, one of the best ways is still just asking other collectors you meet. Tell the people you trade with at shops, shows or online that you’d like to find more local options. Chances are, they will know of specific collectors, shops or Facebook groups in your city or region that are active hubs. Pay it forward by then introducing new collectors you meet to those established networks too. The baseball card community runs on personal recommendations, so don’t hesitate to rely on the grapevine.

Thanks to modern technology there are now more ways than ever before to find active baseball card traders near your hometown. By utilizing a combination of local brick and mortar destinations like hobby shops alongside online forums, Facebook groups and digital show spaces, you’re sure to uncover opportunities for in-person swaps or shipping trades. With a little searching, you’ll have no trouble staying active locally even if larger conventions aren’t always within driving distance. Build relationships in your community to keep the card collecting tradition thriving for years to come in your area.