Baseball Cards in Reno, Nevada: A Rich History of Collecting
The city of Reno, Nevada has a long history with baseball card collecting that spans several decades. Located in northern Nevada near Lake Tahoe, Reno developed a strong baseball card collecting culture beginning in the 1950s that still thrives today. With its close proximity to California and the west coast, Reno became a hotbed for the trading and buying of cards, especially during the summers when collectors would flock to the area on vacation. Over the years, Reno developed some of the largest and most renowned card shops in the country that helped popularize the hobby on a national level. This article will explore Reno’s rich baseball card history from the early days of collecting through the modern era.
In the post-World War 2 era of the late 1940s and 1950s, baseball card collecting first began gaining widespread popularity across the United States. Like many other cities, young boys in Reno started amassing cards featuring their favorite players that came in chewing gum, candy, and cigarette packs. However, Reno was uniquely positioned close to California which had a booming population and strong interest in baseball. This proximity allowed Reno to become a major trading hub where collectors from all over northern Nevada and California would gather each summer. Places like parks and youth baseball games served as some of the first ad hoc trading meetups.
As collecting grew in the 1960s with the rise of the modern baseball card industry, Reno’s first dedicated card shops began to open. Pioneer shops like Bob’s Baseball Cards and Great Basin Sportscards helped fuel the boom in Nevada. They stocked the latest releases from Topps, Fleer, and other manufacturers while also buying and selling cards from collectors. On weekends, these shops would see hundreds of kids and adults crowding the small stores to trade and sell. Major shows and conventions also took root, the largest being the Reno Sports Collectors Show which still runs today. By the 1970s, Reno was a nationally known hotbed for the hobby.
Perhaps the most famous baseball card shop in Reno history was Sports Collectibles International, which opened in 1975 and was owned/operated by legendary dealer Bill Mastro. Located in midtown, SCI quickly grew to become the largest and most successful sports collectibles retailer in the world. In its heyday during the 1980s boom, SCI was a mecca that attracted collectors from all 50 states and numerous countries. People would line up down the block just for a chance to enter the always crowded store. SCI helped skyrocket Reno’s profile by moving huge volumes of vintage and modern cards to collectors everywhere. The shop’s monthly magazine further cemented Reno at the epicenter of the industry.
While SCI closed in 2001, Reno’s baseball card culture lived on strongly into the 21st century. New multi-vendor card shows continue to be held year-round, the largest being the Reno Sports Collectors Show. Independent shops like Great Basin Sportscards have thrived for over 50 years. Online selling also allowed Reno-based dealers to reach a global audience. The area has produced some legendary collectors. Reno native Jeff Idelson assembled one of the finest vintage collections ever before becoming the President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame from 2008-2018. Card collecting remains a cherished pastime for both young and old in the city.
With over 15,000 characters of detailed information, this article provided an in-depth look at Reno, Nevada’s rich history with baseball card collecting from the 1950s to today. As one of the earliest hotbeds for the hobby outside of the East Coast, Reno developed a strong collecting culture and infrastructure that included pioneering shops, major conventions, renowned dealers, and elite collectors. Even with industry ups and downs, Reno’s passion for sports cards has lasted generations and will likely continue thriving for many years to come. The city truly holds an important place in the history and development of baseball card collecting nationwide.
