Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby for collectors of all ages for decades. The suburban town of Eagan, Minnesota has developed a vibrant baseball card collecting community of its own over the years. Located just south of Minneapolis, Eagan is home to over 66,000 residents and has emerged as a hotspot for fans seeking vintage and modern baseball cards.
Several local card shops have popped up in Eagan to serve the growing collector base. Arguably the most well known shop is Bob’s Baseball Cards, which opened its doors in 1985. Bob’s Baseball Cards is located in the busy Burnhaven Shopping Center and occupies around 1500 square feet of retail space. Inside, collectors will find row after row of cards neatly organized in boxes by sport, team, player, and year. Bob prides himself on having an immense inventory of vintage cards from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s in particular.
In addition to individual cards for sale, Bob’s also offers complete sets, autographed memorabilia, and boxes of factory sealed packs from years past. They work directly with authenticators like PSA/DNA to slab and grade important rookie cards and relic cards. Bob is passionate about the history of the hobby and enjoys chatting with customers young and old. Many lifelong friendships have been formed over the years between regulars at Bob’s shop. During the summer, Bob even hosts youth baseball card tournaments with prizes for participants.
Another popular destination is Dave’s Sportscards, which opened in 2004 in the Eagan Towne Center. At 2500 square feet, Dave’s boasts one of the largest retail footprints of any card shop in the Twin Cities area. In addition to an immense stock of cards on display, Dave’s also differs by offering a full-service online store. This allows collectors worldwide to browse their constantly updating inventory and place orders from the comfort of home. In the physical store, cards are organized by sport along with dedicated sections for supplies, memorabilia, and sealed wax boxes.
Dave prides himself on having some of the most sought after vintage rookie cards in mint condition. Examples include a 1969 Nolan Ryan rookie PSA 8, a 1952 Mickey Mantle PSA 5, and a 1987 Griffey Jr. rookie PSA 9. For modern cards, Dave works directly with distributors to acquire cases of the latest releases as soon as they hit the market. This ensures the shop always has the hottest NBA, NFL, MLB and soccer cards to satisfy today’s collectors. Given its large size and selection, Dave’s has become a premier destination shop where collectors from throughout the Midwest converge.
While Bob’s and Dave’s lead the way, Eagan is also home to a few other notable card shops. Mike’s Cards opened in 1995 and occupies a 1200 square foot storefront along Yankee Doodle Road, near the Eagan Civic Arena. Mike prides himself on having a vast inventory of hockey and football cards to serve those collector bases. The Hockey Card Shop opened in 2013 in the Promenade at Eagan shopping center and exclusively focuses on all things related to the NHL. Owner Nick works directly with pro teams and players to acquire autographed memorabilia, jersey cards, and other exclusive items.
In addition to brick and mortar shops, Eagan collectors also stay connected through social media groups. One of the most active is the “Eagan Baseball Card Collectors” Facebook group, created in 2010 and now boasting over 1500 members. Here, locals discuss the latest card shop sales and shows, trade and sell cards amongst each other, and share nostalgia about the hobby. During the pandemic in 2020, the online group provided an important virtual gathering place for collectors. Eagan residents also come together each spring for the annual Eagan Baseball Card Show, held over two days at the civic center.
The vibrant baseball card community in Eagan can be attributed to the town’s family-friendly atmosphere and proximity to world-class sports. Situated a short drive from Target Field, Target Center and TCO Stadium, Eagan residents of all ages have grown up passionate about Minnesota’s professional teams. This local fandom has translated into a love of collecting related memorabilia. While the hobby has evolved tremendously over the decades, Eagan’s card shops continue preserving its nostalgic roots one customer at a time. For collectors in the south metro, Eagan has established itself as a premier baseball card destination with all the inventory and community anyone could ask for. Its thriving scene promises to engage future generations of fans for many years to come.
