Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby for generations, allowing fans to collect pieces of the game they love. The small coastal town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts has long been a hotbed for baseball card collectors and traders on Cape Cod. With a population of just over 25,000 year-round residents, Yarmouth has produced some of the most avid collectors and hosted numerous shops and shows catering to this niche community.
Some of the earliest baseball card shops in Yarmouth date back to the 1970s, as the hobby began booming in popularity across the country. One of the pioneering stores was Ernie’s Sport Cards, which opened in 1972 in the tiny shopping plaza on Route 28. Owner Ernie Silva was an early adopter, recognizing that there was money to be made by catering to the growing number of locals who enjoyed collecting and trading cards. His small store became a gathering place for like-minded hobbyists.
Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Ernie’s Sport Cards thrived, expanding its inventory of new packs, boxes and supplies while also offering a bustling marketplace for collectors to buy, sell and trade with one another. Ernie became renowned for his vast personal collection and encyclopedic knowledge of the hobby. On weekends especially, his store would be packed wall to wall with enthusiasts of all ages poring over boxes of cards. Ernie’s passion helped transform Yarmouth into a New England hub for baseball memorabilia.
As the card craze intensified nationwide, other shops soon popped up around Yarmouth to capitalize. Stores like Bob’s Sportscards and Cape Cod Cards opened in the 1980s, joining Ernie’s in catering to the Cape’s collector base. All three shops became destinations for anyone serious about assembling complete sets or tracking down elusive vintage cards. They also hosted frequent trade nights that drew crowds for in-person swapping and socializing about the pastime. Throughout the 80s and 90s, Yarmouth was truly a hotbed for all things related to the baseball card industry.
In the late 90s and 2000s, the baseball card market contracted significantly amid competition from other collectibles and hobbies. Many shops around the country were forced to close as interest waned among younger generations. However, Yarmouth’s stores proved remarkably resilient through this difficult period. Ernie’s Sport Cards soldiered on under new ownership, continuing to serve a loyal, multi-generational clientele. Meanwhile, Cape Cod Cards transitioned to focus more on memorabilia and autographs of Red Sox stars to remain relevant.
Today, Ernie’s Sport Cards and Cape Cod Cards are still in operation, having survived for decades while many competitors have come and gone. Both have retooled their businesses to cater to modern collectors, offering the latest releases alongside vintage inventory and services like grading. They’ve also shifted to host showcases for local artists and craftspeople to diversify revenue. Meanwhile, the popularity of card collecting and sports memorabilia has seen a resurgence among younger demographics.
As a result, Yarmouth is once more experiencing a renaissance as a New England hub for baseball cards and collectibles. New shops like Diamond King Sports have recently opened to capitalize on renewed interest. Meanwhile, Ernie’s and Cape Cod Cards are busier than ever, having proven their model’s longevity through nearly 50 years of industry ups and downs. The town has also begun hosting larger collector shows and signings to draw visitors from across the region.
For nearly half a century, the small town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts has been at the epicenter of the baseball card scene on Cape Cod. Local businesses proved visionary in recognizing both the potential profits and passion projects of collectors. Though national interest has waxed and waned, Yarmouth’s shops have endured through multiple generational shifts. They stand as a testament to the enduring appeal of baseball cards as both a hobby and connection to sports history. For aficionados near and far, Yarmouth remains synonymous with the joy of the card-collecting pastime.
