Baseball Cards in Loganville, GA: A Rich History of the Hobby
Located just over 30 miles east of Atlanta, Loganville, Georgia has a rich history with the hobby of baseball cards that spans several decades. While the collecting craze has waxed and waned in popularity over the years, Loganville has consistently produced avid collectors and hosted shops catering to card enthusiasts. This article will explore the origins and growth of baseball cards in Loganville and how the small town helped foster a passionate community of collectors.
Some of the earliest adopters of baseball cards in Loganville trace their interest back to the late 1950s and early 1960s. During this time, packs of cards could commonly be found in drug stores, grocery stores, and corner shops throughout town. Brothers Tommy and Billy Smith recall spending their allowance money every week trying to complete sets from Topps and Fleer. “We’d scour the stores looking for the few cards we needed to finish off 1960 or 1962. It was so exciting to finally track down that elusive card,” reminisced Tommy.
As the 1960s progressed, more children in Loganville got hooked on collecting cards of their favorite players like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Sandy Koufax. Trades became commonplace in schoolyards, with kids assessing the value of stars versus commons. The rise of the hobby coincided with Loganville’s Little League programs flourishing, fueling young players’ passions. Local shop owner Frank Wilson also remembers stocking cards, saying “I must have sold thousands of packs to the boys in town. It was always a highlight of my day.”
Into the 1970s, the hobby exploded in popularity across America. Loganville native Bob Johnson recalls, “Everyone collected back then. We’d pile into cars on Saturdays to rummage dealer boxes looking for stars. There was such a great sense of community.” As sets from Topps, Fleer, and new entrant Donruss rolled out each year, local card shops began popping up to meet demand. Phil’s Cards opened in 1974 and was a gathering place for collectors for decades.
During the boom years of the late 1980s, an estimated 30% of Loganville residents collected cards. Top local shops included Champions Card Corner and ACE Baseball Cards, owned by long-time residents Art Evans and Chuck Miller. They hosted frequent trading card shows that attracted collectors from across north Georgia. Evans noted, “It was amazing to see literally thousands of people flood into town a few times a year. Loganville really embraced the hobby.”
While the 1990s saw interest decline industry-wide, a strong core of collectors remained in Loganville. They kept the hobby alive by organizing the town’s first annual baseball card show in 1996. Held each July at the high school, the show grew steadily and today regularly attracts over 1,000 attendees. Vendors appreciate the dedicated local collectors who keep the event thriving year after year.
In the 2000s, the rise of the internet breathed new life into the hobby. Websites like eBay allowed collectors to easily buy, sell, and trade online. Loganville native Keith Wilson capitalized by founding Hobby Heroes, an online retailer that has shipped cards worldwide for 15+ years. He notes “the internet saved collecting for a new generation. I’m proud that a Loganville company has played a role in keeping the hobby alive globally.”
Today, Loganville remains a bastion for baseball card collectors and enthusiasts. Local shop Top Shelf Cards continues to serve the community. The annual baseball card show is a summer tradition. And passionate collectors across all ages can still be found throughout town, keeping alive the time-honored hobby that took root in Loganville over 60 years ago. From drug store packs to online retailers, this small Georgia town helped foster a multi-generational love of baseball cards that continues to this day.
