Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has become a hotspot for baseball card collectors and dealers over the past few decades. With its warm climate, beautiful beaches, and family-friendly atmosphere, Myrtle Beach has attracted people from all over the country for vacations. Many baseball card collectors have begun spending their winter vacations in Myrtle Beach, perusing the shops for new additions to their collections.
The warm weather in Myrtle Beach allows for year-round baseball card shows and flea markets. Some of the largest and most well-known shows include the Myrtle Beach Baseball Card Show, which takes place every January, February, and March. This massive show occupies the entire Myrtle Beach Convention Center for a weekend each month during the winter season. Hundreds of dealers from across the East Coast bring their entire inventories to display and sell to eager collectors.
Another major show is Coastal Carolina Baseball Card and Memorabilia Show. Held in April and November each year, this show is held at the Myrtle Beach Sports Center. While smaller than the Convention Center show, it still attracts over 150 tables of dealers selling and trading all eras of baseball cards and memorabilia. Local collectors look forward to this bi-annual event to see what new items have become available.
When shows aren’t taking place, dedicated baseball card shops keep the hobby alive year-round in Myrtle Beach. One of the most well-established and largest shops is Sports Cards Unlimited, located along Highway 17 Business in the heart of Myrtle Beach. Sports Cards Unlimited has over 5,000 square feet of retail space dedicated entirely to baseball, basketball, football and other trading cards, as well as memorabilia from those sports. Their massive inventory includes items from the earliest days of the hobby up to the present day. Knowledgeable staff members are on hand to assist collectors of all experience levels.
A bit further north along Highway 17 is All Star Sports Cards, Hobbies and Collectibles. While smaller than Sports Cards Unlimited, All Star still packs their store with new and vintage cards, supplies for collectors like boxes and sleeves, and a wall filled with memorabilia items like signed balls and jerseys. Friendly owners are always happy to help customers put together their wish lists or locate harder to find items. All Star is also a dealer at most of the local shows.
When walking through the stores or browsing tables at card shows, it’s easy to get a true sense of the history and growth of baseball cards in America from the late 1800s to present. Complete sets from the earliest tobacco cards like 1909-11 T206 can be seen alongside complete rainbow foil sets from the early 2000s. Rarities like mint condition Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams rookie cards draw as much attention as boxes of the latest 2021 releases. There is truly something for every era and level of collector represented in Myrtle Beach.
While the shops and shows are destinations all year, the summer months bring outdoor flea markets and expos that baseball card collectors look forward to as well. Every Saturday and Sunday from May through August, the Market Common outdoor shopping area in Myrtle Beach hosts a huge flea market. Dozens of dealers set up canopies in the parking lots, with everything from clothing and toys to antique furniture and local crafts. It’s also a hotspot for sports memorabilia and cards, with tables showcasing collections organized by team, player, or era. Bargain hunters enjoy rummaging through boxes in hopes of finding a hidden gem.
The Myrtle Beach baseball card scene has grown exponentially since the 1990s. With the internet opening up the entire hobby for online sales, trading, and communities, interest in card collecting surged nationwide. Warmer weather destinations like Myrtle Beach saw an influx of both seasonal residents and tourists who added card shopping and attending shows to their vacation itineraries. Local card shops and multi-dealer shows thrive due to this increased traffic. For serious collectors, a Myrtle Beach baseball card pilgrimage during the winter and early spring has become a tradition. The wide array of inventory and friendly, knowledgeable dealers create an enjoyable experience for hobbyists of all ages and interests. It’s easy to get immersed in Myrtle Beach’s vibrant baseball card community.
