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BASEBALL CARDS BEND OR

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Baseball cards are a beloved collectible item for many fans of America’s pastime. One of the biggest concerns collectors have is preventing damage to their prized cards, especially bending. While it’s impossible to entirely avoid bending baseball cards over the long run due to normal wear and tear, taking proper precautions can help minimize damage and extend the lifespan of any card collection.

The biggest cause of bending in baseball cards is simply the cards being exposed to pressure over time as they are stored, displayed, or transported in wallets, pockets, or other containers. Cardboard is a flexible material by nature, so repeated exposure to even light pressure can cause warping if not properly supported. This is why most experienced collectors stress the importance of stiff card holders, toploaders, magnetic sheets, or other protective sleeves for long-term storage and display of valuable cards.

Plastic holders like toploaders or magnetic sheets distribute any pressure evenly across the entire surface of the card, rather than concentrating it at single points which could cause dents or creases. They also prevent direct contact between the card surface and other potentially abrasive materials like cardboard that could scratch premium cards over time. Sleeving cards is especially important for gems graded by services like PSA/DNA that carry substantial monetary value, as even minor bends could drastically reduce a grade and resale price.

Preventing bending doesn’t have to involve expensive third-party holders for all cards. Many collectors find that penny sleeves, also known as “card savers”, offer an affordable solution for basic protection of common cards when stored in boxes. The thin, form-fitting plastic keeps cards separated while still allowing them to be easily viewed and sorted as desired. As an added bonus, penny sleeves are resealable so cards can be swapped in and out for displaying without risking fingerprints or other surface damage that occurs with bare cardboard.

For long-term storage of large card collections, sturdy cardboard boxes are still one of the most practical options available. The key is using boxes designed specifically for cards, not just any old storage container, as baseball cards require extra space and support compared to many other collectibles. Look for boxes with divided compartments or rows to keep piles of cards separated vertically as well as horizontally. Wax boxes from recent sets work well repurposed for this use.

Another storage method gaining popularity is custom-made card albums or binders. These allow cards to be safely stored in protective penny sleeves or magnetic sheets while still visible and accessible like a photo album. Rings or D-rings keep pages securely bound together, and most quality albums have reinforced cardboard or plastic covers to prevent bending of the pages inside. Binder styles offer flexibility to rearrange or add/remove cards down the road.

While proper storage solutions help minimize bending risks, there are also some steps collectors can take to prevent damage occurring during regular handling and use of their cards. Always handle cards by the edges or corners, avoiding contact with the card surface as much as possible to prevent fingerprints and other marks. Never leave cards laying loose where they could get bent, always store back in protective sleeves or boxes when not actively looking through them.

For transported cards, consider a portable card book or flip-n-tray system that keeps them neatly organized without risk of bending or sliding around loose in pockets or bags. Avoid cramming cards into overstuffed boxes, wallets, or containers where they have no room or support. And be extra careful with especially valuable vintage cards, as the cardboard stock of older issues can be more brittle and prone to damage over time compared to modern card stock.

Of course, despite collectors’ best efforts, some degree of natural bending is inevitable for cards that have been continuously handled and stored for decades. But by using the proper protective equipment and careful handling techniques, you can maximize any card’s lifespan and minimize depreciation due to physical damage. With a little preventative care, that mint condition rookie card could remain crisp for generations of fans to enjoy.

BASEBALL CARDS BEND OREGON

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Baseball cards have been collected by fans for over 150 years and the hobby of baseball card collecting remains popular today. The small town of Bend, Oregon has had a rich history with baseball cards dating back to the early 20th century. While not as large of a baseball card hotspot as some major metropolitan areas, Bend developed a vibrant local card collecting scene over the decades that helped fuel the popularity of America’s pastime.

One of the earliest mentions of baseball cards in Bend came in a 1912 newspaper article discussing young boys trading and swapping their recently acquired cards from cigarette packs and bubble gum. Brands like Fatima, Sweet Caporal and Allen & Ginter were popular inserters of baseball memorabilia in their tobacco products at the turn of the century. By the 1920s, the mass production of baseball cards really took off. Companies like American Caramel began inserting cards in candy bars and gum, making collections much more accessible to the youth of Bend.

Local drug stores and general stores started stocking full sets of cards that could be purchased. In 1929, the opening of Bend’s first hobby shop, Jim’s Sporting Goods, gave collectors a dedicated place to peruse cards and trade with other fans. Jim’s quickly became a popular weekend destination for card shows and meetups. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the store sponsored local Little League teams and gave cards as prizes to help grow the game. They also organized the first annual Bend Baseball Card Show in 1937, still held today as a beloved community event.

Top players of the day like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio had their likenesses proliferating in collections around Central Oregon. In the post-World War 2 boom of the 1950s, baseball card production went into overdrive with the advent of modern printing techniques allowing full color photos on thinner cardboard stock. Iconic sets from Topps, Bowman and others were readily available at local drug stores and supermarkets. This helped inspire a new generation of Bend kids to document their favorite players and teams in album books.

During the 1960s, card collecting expanded beyond just kids. Adults started joining the hobby in larger numbers, seeking out rare vintage cards to showcase the early history of the game. Shops in Bend dedicated more shelf space to accommodating the growing collector base. The rise of special Goudey and Kellogg’s 3D cards in the latter half of the decade also captured the imagination of collectors. In 1968, the first dedicated sports card shop, S&S Sportscards, opened in downtown Bend and immediately became a popular hangout.

Into the 1970s and 1980s, baseball card production and speculation reached a fever pitch. Iconic rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like George Brett, Mike Schmidt and Nolan Ryan were hot commodities. The rise of superstar athletes in other sports also expanded the cardboard collecting landscape beyond just baseball. Shops in Bend stocked full lines of NBA, NFL and NHL cards as well. The boom resulted in stores dedicating entire buildings to cards and related memorabilia. Regional card shows grew larger, drawing collectors from across Oregon.

The sports card speculative bubble would burst in the late 1980s with an oversupply of glossy but largely uninteresting cards. Many shops in Bend were forced to close or downsize. But the local collecting community persisted, with a core of dedicated fans keeping the hobby alive through local card shows and swaps. In the 1990s, there was a resurgence as collectors sought vintage cardboard from the golden era of the 1950s-1970s. Valuable unopened wax packs and sets fetched high prices at regional auctions.

Today, Bend has two dedicated sports card shops that have been mainstays for decades, Cascade Cards and Central Oregon Sportscards. They host frequent trading events, autograph signings with retired players, and price guide listings that help collectors appraise their vintage collections. The annual Bend Baseball Card Show, now in its 80th year, regularly draws hundreds of collectors from across the Pacific Northwest. While the industry has certainly evolved, baseball cards remain a cherished connection to summers past for collectors in Bend and around the world. The history of the hobby in Bend demonstrates how a small town can foster a rich cardboard collecting culture of its own.