Baseball cards have been an integral part of American pop culture and childhood nostalgia for over 150 years. While the hobby has evolved significantly since the earliest tobacco cards of the late 1800s, one thing has remained constant – the joy that baseball cards bring to collectors across the country. In West Des Moines, Iowa, the history of baseball cards is deeply rooted in the community.
Some of the earliest adopters of baseball card collecting in West Des Moines can trace their passion back to the 1950s. During this post-World War II era, the modern baseball card boom was just beginning as new sets from Topps and Bowman started to reach the hands of eager young fans. Places like Walgreens, Clark’s Drug Store, and West Des Moines News Stand became popular haunts for kids hoping to find the latest packs to build their collections.
Throughout the 1950s and 60s, the hustle and bustle of downtown West Des Moines made it a prime spot for the card collecting craze. On any given Saturday, you could find groups of teenagers and pre-teens trading and discussing their newest acquisitions on the sidewalks near 6th Avenue. Local card shops also started to pop up, like Bill’s Sport Cards which opened in 1962 and became the first dedicated baseball card store in the city.
As the 1970s rolled around, card collecting in West Des Moines entered a golden age of innovation and expansion. Newer sets from Topps, Donruss, and Fleer captured the attention of both younger and older collectors. The rise of specialty shops made finding rare and valuable cards much easier. Stores like The Baseball Card Shop and Sports Fanatics catered specifically to the growing hobby. Local card shows also became popular meetup spots for traders every few months.
Two pivotal events in the early 1980s had major impacts on the baseball card scene in West Des Moines. The first was the debut of the hugely popular Topps Traded set in 1981 which contained star rookies like Fernando Valenzuela. The other was the opening of Hawkeye Card & Comic in 1982, which quickly became the premier destination for all things trading cards, comics, and memorabilia. Under the guidance of owner Gary Hulsebosch, Hawkeye Card helped cultivate a true community of collectors.
As the 1980s rolled on, two phenomena swept through West Des Moines – the junk wax era and the rise of online collecting forums. With overproduction diluting rarity from 1987-1994, the “junk wax” boom meant every kid had boxes upon boxes of commons clogging basements. Meanwhile, early internet bulletin boards in the 1990s allowed local collectors to easily stay engaged and make trades even when shops closed. Sites like SportsCardForum kept the hobby thriving during off hours.
In the 2000s and 2010s, West Des Moines collectors adapted to the evolving industry. The rise of card shows catering to vintage and high-end investments attracted many. Shops dwindled due to online competition, with Hawkeye Card shuttering in 2013 after 31 years. E-commerce sites like eBay made buying and selling effortless. Social media also connected the local community in new ways on platforms like Facebook groups.
Today, the baseball card scene in West Des Moines remains dedicated to preserving the past while embracing new frontiers. Local collectors organize frequent card shows and meetups to trade, buy, and sell. Vintage shops like Old Time Memorabilia sell nostalgic relics to new generations. Meanwhile, the digital revolution continues with breakers, livestreams, and online-only startups. Through it all, the timeless appeal of baseball cards keeps the hobby thriving in West Des Moines and beyond.
From their humble origins in the tobacco era to today’s digital age, baseball cards have provided decades of enjoyment for collectors in West Des Moines. Along the way, the city has fostered a robust community spirit around the hobby. Whether connecting over vintage wax packs or hunting through online group breaks, the baseball card collecting tradition in West Des Moines looks poised to continue inspiring new fans for many years to come. The history of the past century shows how deeply embedded cards are in the local cultural fabric.
