Baseball Cards in Overland Park, Kansas: A Rich History of the Hobby
Located just outside of Kansas City, Overland Park has a long tradition of baseball card collecting and dealing. The city has been home to many notable card shops over the decades that have helped fuel the popularity of the hobby locally. With Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals just a short drive away, interest in baseball cards has always been strong among Overland Park residents both young and old. Whether looking to build a collection, find that elusive chase card, or simply enjoy talking baseball, Overland Park’s card stores have been community gathering spots for collectors.
One of the earliest and most prominent card shops was Sportscards Plus, which opened its doors in 1978. Founder Joe Berger began buying and selling cards out of his home before deciding to take the business full-time. He chose a storefront location in Old Town Overland Park near Metcalf Avenue and became the first true baseball card shop in the area. In the pre-internet era, Sportscards Plus was a hub for the local hobby scene. Kids would flock there after school and on weekends to trade and buy packs, boxes, and singles. The shop also hosted tournaments and organized trips to Royals games.
In the late 1980s, Sportscards Plus expanded to a larger space to accommodate the booming popularity of cards among both children and adults. This was during the peak of the junk wax era when production and speculation ran rampant. Berger’s shop was at the center of it all, offering the latest wax boxes, factory sets, and trade nights. Some of the most coveted and valuable rookie cards from sets like 1987 Topps, 1989 Upper Deck, and 1991 Stadium Club moved through his store. Sportscards Plus thrived for over 20 years before Berger made the difficult decision to close up shop in the early 2000s as the market began to cool off. His pioneering store left an indelible mark on the Overland Park hobby scene.
As Sportscards Plus was winding down, another prominent shop was just getting started. In 2001, longtime collector and former Sportscards Plus employee Dan Hickey opened Dan’s Cards near 87th Street and Metcalf Avenue. He aimed to carry on the tradition of a dedicated baseball card store that could also serve as a fun community gathering place. Under Hickey’s leadership, Dan’s Cards became a favorite spot for people of all ages to buy, sell, and trade. Like Berger before him, Hickey was passionate about the hobby and fostering enthusiasm for it in others. He sponsored local teams, organized charity drives, and welcomed anyone with an interest in cards through his doors.
During Dan’s Cards’ heyday in the mid-2000s, interest in vintage cards from the 1950s-1980s was peaking. Many collectors were seeking childhood favorites or high-dollar stars from the early years of Topps, Fleer, and other pioneering manufacturers. Hickey worked hard to build an extensive vintage inventory that was among the best in the region. His deep knowledge of the early years of the hobby allowed him to help many collectors complete sets or find chase cards to commemorate players and moments from baseball’s storied past. Dan’s Cards also participated in national card shows, further cementing Overland Park’s status as a Kansas City-area hub.
While the Great Recession slowed business for card shops everywhere around 2008, Dan’s Cards remained a staple in Overland Park for another decade thanks to Hickey’s dedication. Increasing competition from online retailers and changing collecting habits among younger generations made brick-and-mortar challenging. In 2020, Hickey made the tough call to close up after 19 years. His shop leaves behind a wealth of memories and an indelible mark on the local hobby scene much like Sportscards Plus before it.
Today, Overland Park collectors have fewer dedicated card shop options but the hobby remains strong. Card shows pop up regularly featuring vendors traveling through the Midwest. Local card collectors also organize Facebook groups and monthly meetups at restaurants and parks to trade, buy, and discuss the latest in baseball, football, basketball, and other sports. While the internet has decentralized collecting to some degree, Overland Park’s rich baseball card history endures. Places like Sportscards Plus and Dan’s Cards helped foster passion for the hobby locally for generations and ensured this suburb of Kansas City would always have a soft spot for the cardboard wonders inside baseball packs.
