Baseball cards have been an integral part of the sport of baseball for over 120 years. They allow fans to learn about players, build collections, and even potentially find valuable vintage cards worth reselling. While physical card shops may be fewer than in the past, today there are still many excellent options available for acquiring baseball cards whether it be online, through retailers, or by attending card shows.

One of the most straightforward methods for obtaining baseball cards is to purchase them directly from sporting goods stores, big box retailers, drug stores, and discount retailers. Chains like Walmart, Target, CVS and Walgreens will usually have a trading card section stocked with the current year’s baseball offerings from the major manufacturers like Topps, Panini, Leaf and others. Buying cards off the rack this way is convenient but the selection will be limited to just the latest products.

For a wider selection of both new and older baseball cards, a good option is to shop at specialized hobby shops and local card stores. Many independent comic book shops and memorabilia emporiums will carry an assortment of wax packs, boxes, and supplies in addition to loose singles from various years graded and ungraded. Stopping by local card shops on the weekends is a great way to not only find what you want but also talk cards with other collectors, get advice, and see what collectibles may be available for trade.

Speaking of supplies, beyond just the cards themselves, stores whether local or online also offer accessories for collectors like various sized trading card holders, magnetic sheets to keep organized, toploaders and sleeves to protect valuable finds, and binders, pages, and boxes for storage and display. Picking up this extra gear makes the collecting experience more fun and helps preserve any cards worth holding onto long term.

For anyone trying to build their baseball card collection with a focus on a specific player, team, or season, a better option than retail is often to search the individual cards wanted on online marketplaces like eBay. There, you’ll find dedicated sellers and hobby shops with large inventories of loose singles available to purchase 24/7. While postage fees apply, buying desired cards individually this way allows for meticulously filling in any wants lists. Just be sure to check feedback on sellers.

In addition to brick and mortar, shopping online also opens up the opportunity to purchase factory-sealed retail packs, boxes, and cases from baseball card specialty websites. Sites like Steel City Collectibles, DA Card World and Blowout Cards let you get product at potentially lower prices than local stores and bring the thrill of the rip or fresh pack experience right to your home. Just be wary of unscrupulous sellers trying to pass resealed duds as untouched wax.

Another great way for collectors looking to grow their collections or find especially rare vintage gems is by visiting regular baseball/sportscard shows held on weekends around the country. Here, dozens of professional card dealers will have tables piled high withorganized singles, sets and sealed wax for sale. It’s the place to browse, haggle, or potentially stumble upon that one-of-a-kind childhood chase card still in your wishlist. Shows hosted by national hobby organizations like the Sports Collectors Digest offer collectors a fun day of shopping and networking.

Lastly, especially for collectors focused more on team affinity than monetary value, another effective method can be to score baseball card packs, boxes or commemorative items as promotional giveaways from ballparks. Many MLB teams hand out packs or special inserts to fans on certain game days or offer items in their team shops. It’s a unique way to add game-used relic cards or parallels only available directly from your favorite franchise to your personal collection.

In the end, while methods may change over the decades, the thrill of the cardboard chase remains just as strong for baseball fans and collectors today. Whether buying singles online, ripping fresh wax, or rummaging dealer tables at a card show, with some effort all collectors can continue steadily growing their hoard of players, moments, and memories from Summers past.