Big Lots is a chain of discount retail stores known for offering name brand products at low prices. While they sell a wide variety of merchandise, their trading card selection has long been a draw for collectors. Baseball cards in particular have been a staple at Big Lots for decades.
The history of Big Lots carrying trading cards dates back to the late 1980s. As the baseball card craze was in full swing, retailers of all kinds looked to capitalize by stocking packs and boxes in their stores. Big Lots saw an opportunity to undercut competitors on price while giving customers a chance to build their collections. Their discounter model was a perfect fit for the trading card market.
In those early years, the selection at Big Lots focused heavily on recent and opening day series from Topps and Fleer. Stores received regular shipments of 1989, 1990, and 1991 cardboard that fans could pick through. Prices were around half of what a card shop might charge. For kids with limited budgets, Big Lots was an affordable way to get their card fix.
As the 1990s progressed, the trading card market began to cool. Fewer kids were getting into the hobby as alternatives like video games grew in popularity. Manufacturers overproduced to try and maintain sales numbers. This led to a glut of surplus stock that ended up in the discount bins of stores like Big Lots. Their shelves became loaded with 1990s commons from every brand.
By the late 90s, Big Lots found themselves as one of the last places still actively carrying cards. Many retailers had gotten out of the business altogether. For collectors of this era, Big Lots became a destination to find unopened wax from the early and mid-1990s still sitting on pegs years later. Boxes of 1993 Fleer, 1994 Leaf, and 1995 Upper Deck could be had for mere dollars.
Into the 2000s, Big Lots maintained their baseball card selection but scaled it back significantly. Space was at more of a premium in their stores. Instead of full aisles dedicated to cards, they might have a single endcap display or peg rack. The selection shifted from mostly new product to remnants of the late 90s/early 2000s in penny sleeves and dollar boxes.
While the selection changed, the value proposition remained the same. Savvy collectors knew to always check the Big Lots closest to them as you never knew what gems from the past might turn up. An unsearched box from 1997 Pinnacle Series 2 baseball could be discovered for a song. With patience and some luck, there were deals to be found among the dusty remnants.
In more recent years, Big Lots has had to adjust their trading card offerings again due to shifts in the industry. The sports card market underwent a resurgence around 2010 that made vintage wax and singles highly collectible. With increased scrutiny from resellers, Big Lots boxes and dollar bins received less overlooked treasure troves from the past.
At the same time, the proliferation of online sales made it harder for Big Lots to compete on new release pricing. Today their baseball card selection is much more curated, focusing on licensed memorabilia and curio items rather than current wax packs. Their discounted older stock and clearance merchandise still provides opportunity.
For those hunting deals rather than chasing hits, Big Lots endcaps are worth a look. Penney sleeves from the 2000s can be had for well under book value. Complete factory sets from the late 90s sell for mere dollars above cost. With the right find, you could walk out with a valuable forgotten gem from the past. The discount chain may be past its heyday for cards, but bargains remain for savvy collectors willing to dig.
After decades as a destination for affordable baseball cards, Big Lots continues serving budget-minded hobbyists today. While the selection has changed over the years, their discounter prices have made them a mainstay for those seeking older cardboard on the cheap. One never knows what the next great find might be lurking on their shelves.
