Baseball Cards at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is well known among bargain hunters for its constantly rotating selection of closeout merchandise from a wide variety of categories. While shoppers typically flock to Ollie’s for deals on home goods, clothing, books, toys, and more, the store is also a baseball card collector’s paradise. Ollie’s stores receive shipments of sports cards on a regular basis, with new products hitting the shelves every few weeks. Avid collectors make frequent trips to their local Ollie’s, knowing full well that you never know what gems could be uncovered amongst the boxes and packs at seriously slashed prices.
Whether you’re a seasoned card hunter or just starting a collection, Ollie’s is worth a look for finding bargains on both vintage and modern baseball cards. Their stock varies greatly from store to store, but some consistently well-stocked card categories you may find include:
Recent and older wax packs/boxes from mainstream brands like Topps, Bowman, Donruss, and Fleer. Packs from the past few years can often be had for $1-2 each, a steal compared to MSRP.
Vintage wax packs and boxes from the 1950s-1980s. Ollie’s pricing on these older sealed products is very reasonable considering what you’d pay on eBay. Be prepared to dig, as the really valuable vintage stuff goes quick.
Loose vintage and modern singles in penny sleeves or magnetic holders. Prices usually range from 10 cents to a few dollars depending on the player/year.
Complete factory sets from the past 5-10 years for a fraction of the original cost. Recent Topps Update and Heritage sets are commonly under $10.
Specialty/niche products like Allen & Ginter, Stadium Club, Leaf, and Prize & Game cards.
Boxes of discounted team/player lots containing a few hundred assorted commons and stars from a certain year or set. Great for filling gaps.
Unopened special promotional packs, tins, and boxes from overproduced runs that didn’t sell well initially.
Vintage team/league sets from the 1970s-1990s like the infamous ’87 Topps baseball complete set.
While the selection varies widely, Ollie’s is a go-to for bargain hunters because their low prices are extremely enticing compared to the current hot secondary market. Here are a few tips for maximizing your baseball card finds:
Check frequently, as new shipments are unloaded without notice. Weekends tend to have the most stock out.
Look everywhere – shelves, endcaps, seasonal aisles. Cards may be mixed in with other sports.
Bring a phone to research valuable vintage years/players on the spot if needed.
Ask employees to check stockrooms, as boxes often get stashed away before hitting shelves.
Be the first to dig through boxes just unloaded from the truck for the best selection.
Consider buying multiples of something really underpriced to trade/resell later online.
Don’t forget to check other departments like toys, books, and DVDs for sports card lots mixed in.
While the thrill of the hunt keeps collectors coming back to Ollie’s, there’s no question the store delivers incredible deals on a wide range of baseball cards both old and new. With diligent searching, you’re highly likely to uncover gems that will add value and enjoyment to any collection. So be sure to check your local Ollie’s the next time you’re bargain hunting – you never know what diamond in the rough could be hiding amongst the stacks of closeout merchandise.