Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has long been known as a popular vacation destination along the Southeastern coast of the United States. With its beautiful beaches and ample family-friendly activities, Myrtle Beach draws visitors from up and down the East Coast each year. What many people may not realize is that Myrtle Beach has also developed a very strong reputation in the world of collectible sports cards over the past few decades.
The history of Myrtle Beach in the baseball card world can be traced back to the 1970s, when the city first began establishing itself as a mecca for sports card collectors and dealers. Several important factors contributed to Myrtle Beach emerging as a hotbed for the baseball card hobby during this era. For one, its status as a tourist destination meant that sports card shows and conventions hosted in the city had the potential to draw big crowds. The mild climate also made Myrtle Beach an appealing offseason location for such events.
The city was located roughly halfway between the major population centers of the Northeast and South, making it very accessible for collectors from a wide geographic region. But perhaps most importantly, Myrtle Beach in the 1970s had a low cost of living and plenty of vacant commercial real estate available. This allowed sports card entrepreneurs to open shop relatively inexpensively and take advantage of the growing collector base. Some of the first dedicated sports card stores in the country were established in Myrtle Beach during this time period.
As the demand for collectible cards grew nationwide in the 1980s, fueled by the rise of the speculation-driven “hobby boom,” Myrtle Beach’s gravitational pull on the baseball card world became even stronger. Major card shows started being held in the city on a monthly basis, frequently drawing crowds of thousands. This further reinforced Myrtle Beach’s standing as the epicenter of the fast-expanding hobby. During the late 1980s, it wasn’t uncommon for monthly shows to generate over $1 million in total card sales.
In the 1990s, as the sports card market started to mature after the boom years, Myrtle Beach continued expanding its leadership position. New multi-day extravaganzas like the Sports Card & Memorabilia Show took the city’s convention business to another level. At their peak in the mid-1990s, these “Super Shows” might see attendance top 10,000 collectors. Meanwhile, a dense collection of card shop “strips” had also developed up and down Ocean Boulevard, the heart of Myrtle Beach’s tourism district.
The early 2000s brought new challenges as the sports memorabilia industry contracted after the dot-com bubble burst. However, Myrtle Beach persevered due to the loyalty of its customer base and by organizing events with an increased focus on value. The rise of internet sales also presented an opportunity, as brick-and-mortar Myrtle Beach shops established a strong online presence. By the 2010s, the city was as robust a trading hub as ever, anchored by multi-day extravaganzas like the National Sports Collectors Convention in summer months.
Myrtle Beach has also proven very supportive of preservation initiatives within the hobby over the years. For instance, the Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine & Wetland Studies, located along the Intracoastal Waterway, is now home to one of the most comprehensive sports card and memorabilia museums on the East Coast. Called the Sports Card & Memorabilia Museum, it holds tens of thousands of items chronicling the evolution of the industry since the late 1800s. The museum represents a prime example of how Myrtle Beach gives back to the hobby that has supported its economy for decades.
While Myrtle Beach is undoubtedly internationally known today primarily for its stunning beaches and plentiful family attractions, the city should also be recognized for playing an absolutely pivotal role in developing the modern sports collecting phenomenon. From the 1970s onward, Myrtle Beach shrewdly established and then expanded its position as a trading epicenter and major convention destination for baseball card collectors. Its central location, business-friendly environment, and year-round warm weather made it an ideal breeding ground for the blossoming hobby. Even amid industry downturns, Myrtle Beach maintained its standing due to loyal local enthusiasts—ensuring its place will always be securely cemented within the rich historical traditions of sports collectibles.
