Baseball Cards in Richmond, Virginia: A Rich History

Richmond, Virginia has a long and rich history with baseball cards that spans over a century. The city has been home to many notable card collectors, dealers, and even a few major card manufacturers. Let’s take a look back at some of the key people and events that have shaped the baseball card scene in Richmond over the years.

One of the earliest known serious baseball card collectors from Richmond was William “Billy” Poe, who began amassing cards as a young boy in the 1890s during the early days of tobacco cards. By the 1910s, Billy had one of the finest collections of 19th century tobacco era cards in the country. Unfortunately, much of his prized collection was lost over the decades. A few of his rare specimens have surfaced at auction over the years, giving collectors a glimpse into one of Richmond’s first major card accumulations.

In the 1950s, brothers Bobby and Tommy Reynolds opened Reynolds Baseball Card Shop, the first serious retail outlet dedicated solely to baseball cards in Richmond. Located downtown, Reynolds Baseball Card Shop became a popular hangout for both young collectors and adults. The Reynolds brothers were early proponents of the hobby and helped grow the collecting community in Richmond throughout the 1950s and 60s.

During the late 1950s, Topps, at the time one of the biggest baseball card manufacturers, operated a production plant in Richmond. For several years, thousands of Topps baseball cards were cut, stamped, and packaged at the Richmond facility before being shipped nationwide. Having a major card maker based in the city further cemented Richmond’s place in the history of the hobby.

Into the 1970s and 80s, two brothers – John and Jim Haislip – took over the baseball card retail business in Richmond. Operating stores under the name Haislip’s Sportscards, the brothers sold the latest packs, boxes, and supplies to a new generation of collectors. They also pioneered the model of running a card shop as a hub for trading, interacting with other collectors, and organizing tournaments and events. Haislip’s Sportscards helped popularize the social aspect of the hobby.

The 1990s saw an unprecedented boom in the hobby, driven by the upper deck brand and the rise of stars like Ken Griffey Jr. and Cal Ripken Jr. In Richmond, Michael’s Sportscards, located in a small shopping center, was a bustling hotspot. Owner Michael Shearin worked tirelessly to keep up with skyrocketing demand. His shop helped fuel the frenzy and introduced new collectors to the addicting allure of ripping open fresh wax packs.

As the internet emerged, Richmond native Aaron “Slabbed” Watkins became one of the earliest influential figures online through his Slabbed Graded Card Forum, launched in the late 1990s. Slabbed helped drive awareness of the growing phenomenon of third-party card grading through companies like PSA and BGS. He educated collectors worldwide on the benefits of slabbing and maintaining the condition of their prized cards.

In the 2000s, Richmond saw the emergence of major card shows that drew top dealers from around the country. Promoters like Mark Gray and the Virginia Sports Card Collectors Club organized large-scale expos that filled convention centers with tables of vintage and modern cards. These events gave local collectors access to a wide array of rare inventory and sparked many a collecting obsession.

Today, Richmond continues to be home to passionate collectors, knowledgeable dealers, bustling card shops, and organized events that keep the hobby thriving. Stores like Sportscards Plus, Heroes Comics, and Collector’s Cache ensure collectors have a place to socialize, trade, and pick up the latest releases. Meanwhile, annual mega-shows like the Richmond Summer Spectacular keep the city buzzing with card activity.

Richmond’s rich history with baseball cards spans over a century, from the earliest tobacco era collectors to today’s online influencers and big expos. The city has seen card manufacturers, retailers come and go, but through it all a dedicated community of collectors has remained. Baseball cards are ingrained in Richmond’s sports culture and will surely continue to be a big part of the city for generations to come.