Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby for collectors of all ages for decades. As the birthplace of legendary players like Don Mattingly and Jim Thome, Evansville, Indiana has always had a special connection to America’s pastime. This city’s rich baseball history is reflected in its vibrant community of baseball card collectors and traders.
Evansville’s baseball card scene began gaining popularity in the late 1980s as the hobby experienced a nationwide resurgence. Local card shops like Pastime Cards and Comics sprang up to meet the growing demand. They stocked the latest packs, boxes, and supplies to fuel the collecting craze. Kids flocked to these shops after school and on weekends to trade, buy, and sell with others in the community.
Throughout the 1990s, Evansville developed into a true hotbed for the baseball card trade. Weekly trading sessions regularly drew hundreds of collectors of all ages to local venues like the Eagles club and Burdette Park pavilions. People would spend hours poring over boxes full of duplicates, searching for needs to complete sets or acquire new stars. The social aspect was just as big of a draw as the cards themselves. Lifelong friendships were forged through a shared love of the hobby.
By the late 90s, the rise of eBay opened up even more opportunities for Evansville collectors. Suddenly, they had access to a worldwide marketplace to buy, sell, and trade cards. Local collectors like Dan Miller and Todd Hudson gained national reputations among the hobby’s top traders online. Their meticulously organized collections featured some of the rarest vintage and modern gems in the industry.
As the 2000s rolled around, the baseball card scene in Evansville continued to evolve. While online sales boomed, local brick and mortar shops still played a vital role. Pastime Cards stayed at the forefront, run by lifelong collectors like owner Randy Smith. They hosted signings, group breaks, and contests that kept the community engaged. Newer stores like Sportscards Etc. and The Trading Post also welcomed collectors with the latest releases and events.
During this era, the hobby began to splinter into specialized niches. While set collecting remained popular, subsets focusing on specific players, teams, uniforms, and more emerged. Local collectors developed reputations for excelling in certain areas. Jim Schmitt amassed one of the finest collections of Don Mattingly cards in the world. Darin McGlothlin dominated the market for vintage Cincinnati Reds pieces. Their extensive research and obsessive dedication pushed their collections to the highest levels.
As the 2010s rolled around, the local scene remained as strong as ever. Weekly trading sessions and national conventions like National Sports Collectors Convention still brought collectors together. While online sales boomed on platforms like eBay, Facebook, and COMC, local brick and mortar stores found innovative ways to stay relevant as well. Pastime Cards began hosting group breaks of high-end modern products that were livestreamed worldwide. Stores like Sportscards Etc. and The Trading Post found success focusing on exclusive releases, personalization, and unique customer experiences that the online world couldn’t replicate.
Evansville’s baseball card scene today remains one of the most vibrant hobby communities in the country. While the internet opened up a massive worldwide marketplace, local collectors still flock to shops, shows, and social media groups centered around the Tri-State area. An upcoming generation of kids, fueled by the resurgence of the sport during players’ strikes and COVID, has reignited interest as well. Places like Pastime Cards and The Trading Post welcome collectors young and old to continue building upon Evansville’s rich baseball card history and culture for decades to come. Whether hunting vintage gems or chasing the latest stars, the hobby’s passion runs as deep here as the city’s connection to America’s pastime.
