Baseball Cards in College Station, Texas
College Station, Texas has a rich history with baseball cards dating back to the early 1950s. Like many American towns during that time period, the hobby of collecting baseball cards first started gaining popularity among children and grew from there. Several shops over the decades have specialized in selling packs of new baseball cards as well as hosting meetups for collectors to trade, buy, and sell cards. To this day, College Station maintains an enthusiastic community of people involved in the baseball card pastime.
One of the earliest stores to deal in baseball cards was Sam’s Sport Cards, which opened in 1953 along Texas Avenue. Founder Sam Johnson had a passion for the game of baseball and wanted to share that enthusiasm with others in the Bryan-College Station area. In the store’s early years, it mainly stocked wax packs containing the iconic cardboard treasures from Topps, Bowman, and other manufacturers that kids could purchase for a few pennies apiece. Sam also organized the region’s first baseball card shows in 1956 that drew collectors from across Southeast Texas.
Sam’s Sport Cards remained a staple in College Station for decades, changing locations a few times but always specializing in the latest baseball cards, memorabilia, and supplies for collectors. Into the 1980s and 90s, the shop kept up with evolving trends like the increase of rare vintage cards and rise of online sales. Even with the internet offering more options, Sam’s was able to stay relevant through excellent customer service and knowledge of the local hobby scene. The store closed its doors in 2010 after 57 years when Sam Johnson decided to retire, leaving behind a rich legacy.
Taking its place, All-Star Sportscards opened in 2011 in a small strip mall along Texas Avenue. Run by College Station natives Chris and Katie Allen, the new store aimed to continue the baseball card tradition. All-Star featured the most up-to-date card releases and exclusives while also maintaining an impressive inventory of older cardboard to satisfy want lists. Beyond retail, Chris organized the area’s largest card shows that regularly drew hundreds of attendees each spring and fall. All-Star Sportscards became a one-stop-shop destination for the five county region’s collectors.
In the 2010s, the rise of online sales presented new challenges to brick-and-mortar card shops. All-Star was not immune and closed in 2018 after seven successful years. The passion from collectors in College Station refused to die. Former All-Star employee Zach Davis decided to fill the void by opening Z-Man’s Sportscards in a small office space along Texas Avenue in 2019. With a smaller retail footprint but large online presence, Z-Man’s aimed to be the new local hub, hosting weekly meetups and smaller shows. Davis’ personal collection expertise and friendly customer service kept the baseball card flame burning strong in College Station.
Beyond the retail shops, College Station’s love for the hobby grew through organized clubs and events. The Brazos Valley Baseball Card Collectors Club formed in the 1970s and continues meeting monthly at public libraries, hosting guest experts, competitions, and collection show-and-tell sessions. Texas A&M University also got involved, with various card collecting clubs springing up among students over the decades. The school’s card shops even stocked special A&M-themed releases exclusive to campus.
Some of the region’s biggest card shows took shape in College Station. Starting in the 1980s, local collector Buck Surdu organized mega sports card and memorabilia conventions each spring and fall that filled the local convention center with hundreds of tables. Surdu’s shows were a major attraction, drawing top dealers from across the state with their vast rare inventory. In the 2010s, All-Star Sportscards helped carry on that tradition with their own large-scale twice yearly events that kept collectors coming back.
Beyond the shops and shows, the hobby found a strong community online as well. Websites like BVBaseballCards.com and AggieCardTrader.com launched in the 2000s as places for area collectors to virtually trade, sell, and discuss collections. Popular Facebook groups like Brazos Valley Sports Cards and College Station Card Collectors now boast thousands of members to facilitate modern-day swaps and deals. Podcasts and YouTube channels by local collectors like CollegeStationCards help spread baseball card contagion to new generations.
College Station continues to be a hotbed for the baseball card pastime. While retail faces challenges, dedicated collectors keep the flame burning through clubs, online communities, and small local shops. Legacy businesses like Sam’s Sport Cards left an indelible mark, passing the torch to the next generation of shops and hobbyists. With over 65 years of rich history, it’s clear College Station will remain a baseball card town for many years to come.
