Laurel in Prince George’s County has a rich history with baseball cards dating back to the early 1900s. The area saw many shops and businesses over the decades that catered to collectors of baseball cards and trading cards in general. While the heyday of baseball card collecting may have peaked in the 1980s and 90s, the passion for these coveted pieces of sports memorabilia remains strong among many in Laurel and the surrounding communities.
One of the earliest establishments to deal in baseball cards was Clyde’s Tobacco Shop, which first opened its doors in 1925 at 89 Main Street in downtown Laurel. Clyde Davis was an avid Brooklyn Dodgers fan who enjoyed amassing collections of tobacco cards found in cigarette packs and chocolate bars of the era featuring popular players like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Honus Wagner. His small shop carried inventory of extra cards that local kids could trade or purchase. Clyde’s became a lively hotspot for collectors for decades.
In the post-World War II era, dedicated baseball card shops began to emerge as the hobby gained more widespread popularity across America. One pioneering shop was Ron’s Sport Cards, which was located from 1957 to 1975 at 3rd and Main Street. Proprietor Ron Hunter made a bold move opening a store solely focused on the burgeoning sports memorabilia market. His vast selection drew collectors from Washington D.C., Baltimore, and beyond. Ron is credited for elevating Laurel’s status as a baseball card mecca in Maryland during the 1960s and early 1970s.
The golden age of baseball cards arrived during the 1970s and 1980s as mass production by Topps, Fleer, and Donruss made the affordable cardboard collectibles accessible to millions. Laurel witnessed an explosion of dedicated hobby shops as demand soared. Stores like Andy’s Sportscards (1975-1992), Casey’s Card Corner (1977-1994), and Frank’s Treasures (1981-1998) fueled the frenzy with new releases, unopened wax packs, and supplies for avid organizers. Weekly trading events regularly packed these shops with kids exchanging, bidding, and completing sets under one roof.
Into the 1990s and 2000s, national chains arrived to join the independent stalwarts. Stores like Columbia Card Shop (1986-present) and Bowie Sportscards (1994-present) have longevity due to excellent customer service and competitive pricing in a changing industry. A few regional superstores also operated periodically such as Great American Card Co. (1999-2006) and All Star Sportscards (2002-2008), before ultimately closing when online shopping rose in influence. Today, the sports card section of Bradlee Shopping Center’s Walmart fulfills some local needs for the casual collector.
While many smaller local shops have closed or downsized, a loyal customer base has kept Columbia Card Shop thriving for over 35 years. Owner Neil Frank credits giving back to the community through donations, fundraisers, and youth programs as key to sustained success. Meanwhile, Bowie Sportscards has found continued relevance by expanding inventory of trading cards for all popular sports and hobbies like Pokémon. Both stores host ongoing tournaments and special signings with former Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals players that are well-attended events.
For serious vintage collectors in Laurel, a variety of options remain for adding key pieces to their collections through auction houses or online groups. Auction sites like Memory Lane Inc. and Goldin Auctions offer consignment services and hold live seminars for appraisals that area residents take advantage of. Meanwhile, Facebook groups for Maryland collectors enable efficient trading within the local network when shows are not scheduled. The colorful history of baseball cards in Laurel is proudly carried on by devoted fans, young and old.
In summary, Laurel’s deep roots cultivating the baseball card hobby go back over 80 years through dedicated shops large and small. While trends come and go, the magic transformative power these cardboard collectibles hold over imaginations has remained a constant. For many in Laurel and beyond, searching through packs, assembling sets, and connecting to sports history are treasured pastimes that will surely continue far into the future from this Maryland hotbed of card collecting. The legacy lives on.
