Baseball Cards in Apex, North Carolina: A History of the Hobby
The hobby of collecting baseball cards has been popular in Apex, NC for decades. While the cards themselves have changed over the years, the joy that people in the community find in assembling sets and searching for rare finds has endured. This article will explore the history of baseball cards in Apex and how the hobby has brought local collectors together.
Some of the earliest baseball cards collected in Apex date back to the late 19th century. Tobacco companies like Allen & Ginter and Old Judge began inserting illustrated cards featuring baseball players into their products starting in the 1880s. While the quality was low, these early tobacco era cards ignited the collecting craze. Local newspapers from the early 1900s even mention Apex boys trading and discussing their card collections.
The hobby saw a lull during World War I and the 1920s, but experienced a resurgence in the 1930s with the rise of modern gum and candy cards inserted in packages as premiums. Goudey and Play Ball brands were especially popular among Apex collectors of the era. They would meet at the local drug store or candy shop to look through each other’s collections and discuss the latest baseball news. Swapping duplicates was also a big part of the social experience in those days.
World War II card production but the post-war years of the late 1940s and 1950s were a golden age for the hobby in Apex. Bowman, Topps, and Fleer were the dominant card manufacturers and locals couldn’t get enough of opening wax packs in hopes of finding star players. The annual release of the new season’s cards was a highly anticipated event. Younger collectors in Apex would also organize card shows and baseball card baseball games using the players and stats on their cards.
In the 1960s, the introduction of color to baseball cards, along with the rise of the NBA and NFL through sportscard sets, led to new heights of popularity for the hobby in Apex. Topps remained the sports card leader but competitors like Post also entered the market. The 1960s also saw the rise of graded cards and a collector focus on high grades and condition. Local card shops in Apex did big business in supplies like penny sleeves, toploaders, and albums.
The 1970s were a time of great innovation, including the advent of oddball and regional sets produced by companies for individual baseball teams and stadiums. Apex collectors enjoyed pursuing these unique cards featuring their favorite players. The 1970s also saw a rise in speculation as investors sought to profit from appreciating rare cards. This set the stage for the modern hobby of grading and consignment sales we see today.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the sports card boom took off as never before in Apex. Companies like Fleer, Donruss, and Score flooded the market with glossy cards in sets featuring oddball parallels and inserts. This also led to an industry crash as the bubble burst under its own weight. Still, the memories local collectors made during this time, from opening boxes to attending large card shows, remain strong today.
The modern era has seen the hobby stabilize in Apex around a core of dedicated collectors. While mass production of cards has declined, the emphasis is now on high-end memorabilia, autographs, and one-of-one cards. Online groups also keep the local hobby connected as people share collections and latest finds on social media. Grading services remain important to preserve condition and confirm authenticity.
Card shops in Apex have come and gone over the decades but a few mainstay businesses still cater to the community’s baseball card needs. Local collectors also organize annual card shows that draw visitors from across the state looking to buy, sell, and trade with their Apex peers. The future remains bright as new generations of children in Apex discover the fun and history contained in these small pieces of cardboard and join their families’ tradition of baseball card collecting.
This brings the history of baseball cards in Apex, NC to the present day. Over 130 years, the hobby has brought joy, social connection, and preserved memories for collectors in the community. While the cards and industry may change, the passion for the players and thrill of the chase shown by Apex’s baseball card fans undoubtedly remains. Their dedication continues passing the tradition to new generations and keeping the hobby alive for years to come.