Baseball Cards in Eugene, Oregon: A Rich History of Collecting and Community
The city of Eugene, Oregon has a long and rich history with baseball card collecting that dates back to the early 20th century. What started as children swapping and trading cards in school yards has evolved into a vibrant community of collectors, shops, and events centered around the hobby. For over 100 years, baseball cards have brought Eugene residents together through their shared passion.
Some of the earliest documented baseball card collecting in Eugene can be traced to the 1910s and 1920s. Local newspapers from this era include advertisements for stores selling packs of cards from companies like American Caramel and Cracker Jack. They also feature stories of young boys organizing neighborhood trades. One article from 1922 profiles a group of friends who meticulously organized their combined collections in homemade scrapbooks.
As baseball grew in popularity nationally in the 1930s and 1940s following the rise of radio and televised games, so too did card collecting in Eugene. Many local shops started dedicating more shelf space to wax packs from Topps, Bowman, and other manufacturers. Teenagers and young adults also began amassing larger personal collections, sometimes numbering in the thousands of cards.
In the post-World War II era, Eugene saw a boom in the hobby as GIs returned home and the American economy surged. New hobby shops opened carrying supplies for model building, coins, and cards. Stores like Eugene Hobby House and Larry’s Sporting Goods became regular weekend destinations for collectors. Regional card shows also started in the 1950s, drawing hundreds of attendees across Oregon.
The 1960s was a pivotal decade that saw new innovations in baseball card design and production, as well as new collecting strategies like focus on specific players and teams. In Eugene, dedicated card shops started to replace general hobby stores. Paradise Card Shop opened in 1962 and was an instant success, remaining a staple in the community for decades. Teenagers flocked there after school to trade and compete to complete full sets.
In the 1970s, the rise of specialization accelerated as collectors pursued rare cards, complete team sets, and proof/test issues with fervor. Eugene native Bill Haber started one of the first sportscard price guide books to help collectors properly value their collections. Local card shows and conventions grew larger and more sophisticated. The University of Oregon campus also joined the hobby zeitgeist with the formation of baseball card collecting clubs.
The late 1980s saw unprecedented growth and commercialization of the hobby. New superstores like Sports Collectibles opened in Eugene to house tens of thousands of cards at a time. High-end auctions drew wealthy collectors from around the world to the city. The burgeoning memorabilia market also took root, with autographed balls and bats joining the displays in shop cases. The overproduction of the early 1990s caused a market crash that shuttered some stores.
In the 21st century, the hobby has undergone another renaissance in Eugene driven by renewed nostalgia and new technologies. While online sales dominate, local brick-and-mortar shops have adapted their business models to focus on in-person events, team sets, and vintage inventory. Websites like EugeneCardCollectors.com have brought together the widespread community. Annual card shows still draw hundreds, and the University of Oregon hosts a sports card club for new generations of collectors.
Over a century, baseball card collecting in Eugene has evolved from childhood pastime to sophisticated pursuit. The city’s collectors, shops, and organizations have helped chronicle baseball history while fostering community connections. And with new generations discovering the allure of cards, Eugene’s rich tradition shows no signs of slowing. Whether chasing rare vintage issues or teambuilding with today’s young collectors – the hobby lives on.
