The One Million Baseball Card Collection in Ballwin, Missouri
Nestled in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri is a 1.3 million square foot warehouse known for housing the largest privately owned collection of baseball cards in the world. With over one million individual cards, this trove of baseball nostalgia located in Ballwin is truly a sight to behold. The owner, Maurice “Junkyard Willie” Sieloff, began collecting cards as a child in the 1960s and amassed his massive collection slowly over the decades. In the 1990s, as the value of vintage cards skyrocketed, Sieloff realized he had an American treasure on his hands.
Rather than sell off his prized collection piecemeal, Sieloff decided to share his love of the game and cards with others. In the early 2000s, he renovated the warehouse space in Ballwin to accommodate visitors and properly store and display his ever-growing collection. Under strict climate control and security measures, the cards are preserved for generations of baseball fans to appreciate. The collection spans over 150 years of baseball history from origins in the 19th century to modern day. Rarities abound with specimens including Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth rookie cards, and many more iconic pieces in pristine condition.
Beyond the extreme value of individual cards estimated in the tens of millions, it is the sheer scope and depth of Sieloff’s One Million Baseball Card Collection that makes it truly unique. Organized by team, player, year, and brand, the collection acts much like a living baseball encyclopedia. Visitors are welcome to peruse the stacks and shelves, pausing to admire heroes of the game past and present. For serious collectors and casual fans alike, it is purely awe-inspiring to take in the magnitude and diversity represented in one location. Sieloff employs full-time staff to constantly catalogue, organize, and maintain his prized assets, preserving them for future generations.
While general admission is free, appointments are required to tour the facility due to space limitations. Private tours and event rentals are available for an additional fee. For those unable to visit in person, Sieloff features select items from the collection on his website and has authored books and documentaries about his preservation efforts over the decades. Proceeds from tours and multimedia projects go toward continued expansion, care, and cataloguing of the collection. It is Sieloff’s fondest hope that this treasure trove of baseball nostalgia housed in Ballwin, Missouri will educate and inspire lovers of America’s pastime for years to come. Truly one of the most impressive sports collections in the world is right in America’s heartland, thanks to the dedication and passion of Junkyard Willie Sieloff.
