Baseball cards have been a beloved pastime for collectors across the United States for over a century. In Portland, Maine and its surrounding areas, baseball card collecting remains a popular hobby for both seasoned veterans and those just starting out. Whether you’re looking to build your collection, trade duplicates, or find rare vintage gems, southern Maine offers several excellent options for baseball card enthusiasts.
One of the top destinations for baseball cards in the Portland area is Maine Sports Cards, located in South Portland. For over 30 years, Maine Sports Cards has been the premier shop for all things sports cards and memorabilia in the state. Stepping into their spacious store is like entering a baseball card lover’s paradise, with shelves upon shelves of new and vintage packs, boxes, and individual cards spanning all eras. Their knowledgeable staff can help you find exactly what you’re looking for or make recommendations based on your interests. In addition to an immense inventory of cards on-site, Maine Sports Cards also facilitates online sales and runs a robust consignment program to continuously bring in new items. Regular events like group breaks, autograph signings, and card shows make it a fun place to meet the local collecting community too.
For a more curated vintage card shopping experience, consider visiting That’s Entertainment in Portland’s Arts District. While smaller than Maine Sports Cards, That’s Entertainment punches above its weight with a carefully selected stock of higher-end older cards. Proprietor Matt Gagnon has over 30 years of experience in the hobby and takes pride in finding condition-graded gems from the early 20th century bubblegum era all the way up to the 1980s. Prices tend to be higher to reflect the quality, but collectors serious about building a true vintage collection would be remiss not to check out what That’s Entertainment has to offer. Matt also buys collections and individual vintage cards, so it’s a good spot for seasoned collectors looking to sell.
Another Portland-area destination is Pastime Cards & Collectibles in Westbrook. Located in the Maine Sports Cards building, Pastime focuses specifically on vintage cards from the 1960s through the 1980s. While they don’t carry the breadth of newer products that Maine Sports Cards does, Pastime more than makes up for it with the depth and selection of their vintage stock. Whether you collect stars from the Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays eras or want to track down oddball issues and regional variations from the 1970s, Pastime is very likely to have what you’re after. They also hold periodic vintage card shows and buy collections, making them a valuable resource for collectors in the greater Portland region.
For those in more rural areas outside of Portland, Scarborough, and Westbrook still have options. In Biddeford, the recently opened All Star Sports Cards provides a smaller but well-curated selection of new and vintage baseball cards. Owner Chris takes pride in finding unique and condition-graded vintage gems to bring to his shop. Meanwhile, up in Brunswick, collector Dan Gaudet runs a home-based business called Dan’s Sportscards out of his garage. While appointment-only, Dan has an immense stock of reasonably priced vintage cards from his personal collection spanning the 1950s to 1990s. He’s happy to work with collectors throughout southern Maine to find what they need.
When it comes to actually building a collection from cards purchased locally, the greater Portland area also has resources for supplies, storage, and accessories. Hobby shops like Time Warp Comics in South Portland carry trading card supplies like toploaders, binders, magnetic holders and more. Meanwhile, The Card Saver in Westbrook specializes exclusively in supplies for collecting, grading, and protecting all types of trading cards. They’re an invaluable partner for any serious collector looking to properly store and showcase their growing collection. For those wanting to show off their prized cards, several local businesses like That’s Entertainment and Maine Sports Cards also facilitate consignment and displays at their stores.
Between the extensive brick-and-mortar options and talented local collectors and dealers, baseball card fans in Portland, Maine have all the resources they need right in their backyard. Whether just starting out or with a lifelong collection, this coastal city and its surrounding towns provide a thriving community and top-notch shops to fuel any collector’s passion. With such a variety of inventory and expertise available, southern Maine has truly become a baseball card lover’s paradise.
