Decide what type of cards you want to search for. This could include specific players, teams, years, sets, etc. Having a clear idea of what you are looking for will help guide your search. Two good places to start are researching players or teams you like or cards from your childhood that you remember owning.
Check your local card shops. Many areas still have specialty baseball card and collectibles shops where you can browse cards in person. Going to local shops allows you to look through collections and find things you may not have been searching specifically for online. Ask the shop owners for help finding cards you want.
Search online marketplaces. Websites like eBay, COMC, and Sportlots are massive online marketplaces where collectors buy and sell cards. On these sites, you can search for cards by name, team, year, set, card number and other filters. Be ready to spend time browsing through search results. Use very specific search terms for the best results.
Check with card shows in your area. Many cities regularly host card shows, conventions and flea markets. These are great places to browse big collections from multiple sellers in one trip. At shows, ask dealers if they have your desired cards in stock before browsing large boxes. Card shows give you the benefit of seeing cards in-person before buying.
Search online communities and forums. Baseball card forums like TradingCardDB and Sports Card Forum are top places for collectors to discuss cards, post collection photos and request help locating cards. Make a wanted post with your desired cards and see if anyone can help find them for you or point you to sellers. Forums are also good for price checks and researching rare or unique cards.
Utilize price guide websites. Sites like BaseballCardPedia, eBay, and PSA SMR Price Guide can help with baseline value research for modern and vintage cards. Check recent eBay “sold” listings to gauge current market prices. Price guide sites won’t find exact cards for you, but provide helpful context on what similar or comparable cards have sold for price-wise.
Check with sporting goods stores. Larger stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Modell’s sometimes have rotating stock of recent cards in stock. It’s worth a quick look, as you may get lucky finding a card you need. Scan endcaps, impulse buy sections close to register. Don’t expect extensive vintage selection at mainstream stores, but decent for new releases.
Talk to your local card shop owner. The owner likely sees tons of collections come through and may be able to keep an eye out for your desired cards or help connect you with sellers locally. Leave your name and phone number in case anything comes in. An owner’s experience and network can uncover hidden gems not plainly listed online.
Search online classified ads. Websites like Craigslist let people sell locally. Check the sports cards/memorabilia sections for people potentially unloading singles, boxes or full collections in your area. Facebook Marketplace is worth browsing, too. Be cautious meeting online sellers in person, stick to public, populated meeting spots.
Stay patient and keep checking back periodically. The card market is very fluid, with new cards surfacing frequently from newly discovered collections. If initial searches don’t turn up exactly what you need, check all sources routinely. Sign up for any dealer/site notifications for when desired cards are newly posted. Don’t give up – with enough browsing your search will eventually pay off. Enjoy the process of seeking out elusive cards!
