Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby for collectors since the late 19th century. As the popularity of collecting cards has grown over the decades, so too has the baseball cards retail industry. Today, there are many dedicated retailers where collectors can find supplies to build and organize their collections, as well as purchase new packs, boxes, and individual cards to add to their collections.
Some of the largest and most well-known baseball cards retailers include Cardboard Connection, Blowout Cards, Steel City Collectibles, and Dave & Adam’s Card World. Cardboard Connection has been in business since 1987 and operates primarily as an online retailer, though they also have a retail location in Ohio. They offer a massive inventory of new and vintage baseball cards for sale, as well as supplies, memorabilia, and collectibles from other sports. Blowout Cards is another leading online retailer that started in 1999. In addition to individual cards, boxes, and packs for sale, they produce original content like podcasts, checklists, and price guides to serve the collector community.
Steel City Collectibles is a retailer local to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area that also operates an online store. Founded in 1991, they have two retail locations stocked with new releases as well as vintage inventory for collectors of all eras. Dave & Adam’s Card World is a large chain of LCS’s (local card shops) with over 50 locations across the United States. In addition to carrying new sealed product and singles, they host events like group breaks and tournaments. Both Steel City Collectibles and Dave & Adam’s Card World aim to provide the in-person experience of an LCS alongside an expansive online inventory.
While the large national retailers dominate much of the online baseball cards market, many collectors still support their local card shops (LCS). An LCS provides the benefit of immediately being able to view inventory in person before purchasing. Many also run additional services like consignment, want lists to alert customers of new arrivals, and group breaks that are fun social events. The smaller scale of LCS’s means their inventory and selection is usually not as large as the big national retailers. Some highly respected LCS’s around the country include Sports Cards Plus in California, Gray Flannel Cards in New York, and The Bullpen Cards and Comics in North Carolina.
In addition to the large chains and LCS’s, there are also many specialty baseball card retailers that focus on a specific player, team, product line or era. For example, Steiner Sports is renowned for their autographed memorabilia and for being a top seller of items from Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, and other star athletes. The Atlanta Braves Shop sells exclusive Braves cards, autographed items, and collectibles. Other specialty shops concentrate on vintage cards from the early 20th century up to the 1980s-1990s boom period. Sites like The Cardboard Connection specialize in high-end vintage inventory for advanced collectors.
The growth of internet retail has been a double-edged sword for the baseball cards industry. While online retailers have made the hobby much more accessible nationwide, it has also led to the closure of many small local card shops that couldn’t compete. Dedicated LCS’s continue to serve a vital role in their communities by fostering the social aspects of the hobby and allowing collectors to experience the thrill of the hunt for new acquisitions in person. As collecting remains a popular pastime, the retail industry will likely continue to evolve through both national chains and local specialty shops. The variety of retailers ensures baseball card collectors today have many excellent options to find treasures to add to their collections.
