Baseball cards have been a beloved part of American culture for over a century, chronicling the players, teams, and history of our national pastime. In the small coastal town of Jupiter, Florida, located just north of West Palm Beach along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, baseball cards have a dedicated following among collectors young and old.
Jupiter is home to Roger Dean Stadium, the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. With major league teams in town each March preparing for the upcoming season, baseball fever runs high in the community. Many locals grew up attending spring training games with their families and collecting the cards of their favorite players.
Today, several local shops cater to the baseball card collecting scene in Jupiter. Tom’s Sports Cards, located in the bustling downtown area, is considered the epicenter for the hobby. Owner Tom Wilson has been in business for over 30 years and prides himself on having the largest inventory of new and vintage baseball cards anywhere on Florida’s Treasure Coast.
“I started collecting as a kid in the 1960s and was always fascinated by the stats and photos on the cards,” says Wilson. “Opening a pack of cards was like a surprise present. You never knew what star player you might pull. I wanted to create a place for others in the community to share and enjoy their love of the game.”
Inside Tom’s Sports Cards, collectors of all ages can be found poring over boxes filled with the latest releases from Topps, Panini, and other top manufacturers. PSA-graded vintage gems dating back to the earliest T206 tobacco issues and pre-war Diamond Stars also draw lots of attention. Tom works closely with his suppliers to keep sought-after rookie cards, autographs, and memorabilia in stock.
For serious collectors, nothing beats the thrill of the hunt for elusive vintage finds in Tom’s back-issue bins. Everything from the 1950s on back can be unearthed, with gems occasionally rising to the surface. One customer struck gold a few years ago, discovering a pristine 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle among piles of commons – a card now worth thousands.
While Tom’s caters to dedicated collectors, the store also aims to introduce newcomers to the joys of the hobby. Free appraisals are offered and kids are welcome to rummage through discounted dime boxes, building their rosters with stars from past and present. Tom sponsors local Little League teams and donates cards to underprivileged youth.
“Baseball cards are more than just pieces of cardboard – they preserve history and bring people together,” says Wilson. “I want everyone who walks through that door to feel welcome, whether they’re a first-time browser or a card show grandmaster. This is a community gathering place as much as a business.”
Outside of Tom’s, Jupiter’s annual Spring Fling street festival each March features a large baseball card show. Hundreds of dealers descend on the downtown riverfront park for a weekend of intense trading and bargaining. Vintage tables display some of the rarest pre-war tobacco issues in existence while autograph attractions sign memorabilia.
The Spring Fling show attracts collectors from around Florida and beyond. Some use it as an opportunity to scout the spring training teams practicing just a short drive away. Others come simply for the camaraderie, chatting for hours about the game, players, and eras they love. For two full days, the park becomes a mecca for all things related to America’s favorite pastime.
While the internet has allowed the hobby to expand globally, local card shops and shows remain crucial gathering spots. In a digital age, they provide that important face-to-face interaction that first drew many collectors in. In Jupiter, Florida – with its close ties to spring training baseball – that tradition lives on through dedicated fans and entrepreneurs like Tom Wilson. From dime boxes to six-figure rarities, baseball cards continue connecting communities to the national pastime.
