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DEAN’s SPORTS CARDS BASEBALL

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Dean’s Sports Cards has been a leading hobby shop for collectors of sports cards, memorabilia, and other collectibles for over 30 years. Located in a small town in Ohio, Dean’s began as a small storefront operation started by Dean Miller, an avid baseball fan and collector himself. Over the decades, Dean’s has grown into one of the most well-known and trusted sources for collectors across the country. While they carry items from many sports, their extensive collection of vintage and modern baseball cards remains the heart and soul of their business.

Baseball cards have been collected for over 130 years, beginning with the earliest tobacco cards of the late 1800s. Dean’s prides itself on having one of the most extensive archives of vintage baseball cards in existence, with examples dating all the way back to those original tobacco issues. Some of their rarest and most prized possessions include honors cards of legends like Cy Young, Honus Wagner, and Babe Ruth from the very earliest days of the hobby. Dean’s basement vault is a veritable museum paying homage to the history of the sport.

In addition to one-of-a-kind vintage rarities, Dean’s also carries extensive selections of modern baseball cards from the past several decades. Their inventory is massive, with unopened boxes and cases of sets from the 1970s all the way to the present day. Whether a collector is looking to fill in the holes in their childhood collection or start a new project, Dean’s vast selection makes it easy to find what you need. Their staff is also exceptionally knowledgeable about the nuances of different eras and sets, able to offer guidance on value and collectibility.

While their brick-and-mortar location remains the heart of their business, Dean’s also operates a robust online storefront. This allows collectors from around the world to access their inventory without needing to visit in-person. The online store makes the entire collection searchable and available with the click of a button. Items can be shipped anywhere, opening up Dean’s reach far beyond their local customer base. Condition guides, set checklists, and in-depth historical articles also enhance the online experience.

In addition to ready-to-buy singles, wax packs, and boxes, Dean’s also offers a variety of custom slabbed and graded cards. They have relationships with all the major grading services, allowing consignments to flow smoothly. Slabs protect valuable vintage and modern cardboard in pristine condition while also establishing verified grades. This adds confidence for serious investors and elevates pieces to museum quality. Dean’s staff can also assist with custom submission needs for collectors.

For investors and high-end collectors, Dean’s runs regular public auctions throughout the year in conjunction with industry-leading auction houses. Rarities from their own inventory are made available alongside external consignments. Online and in-person bidding options cater to all collector budgets and preferences. Previous auctions have featured seven-figure sales of iconic cards like the T206 Honus Wagner and items from the personal collections of baseball legends. All auctions are an event for the card collecting community.

In the store and online, Dean’s also focuses on exclusive memorabilia to complement their extensive card offerings. Game-used bats, jerseys, balls, photos, and other authentic pieces of baseball history can be found. Many items come directly from retired players, coaches, and other VIPs. The store also sells collectibles from other sports, movies, music, and more. But baseball will always remain the true heart and soul of Dean’s extensive collection.

After three decades, Dean’s Sports Cards continues to be run by Dean and his family with the same level of passion and dedication to their customers that began it all. The store has become a local landmark and national destination. Dean’s massive collection, expertise, and personalized service have made it the most trusted name for collectors pursuing the hobby of baseball cards and beyond. Their impact on the sports memorabilia industry is immense and will ensure Dean’s legacy continues for generations to come.

DEAN’s BASEBALL CARDS OF CINCINNATI OHIO

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Dean’s Baseball Cards: A Cincinnati Institution

Dean’s Baseball Cards has been a staple of the Cincinnati sports card and memorabilia scene since it first opened its doors in 1976. What started as a small hobby shop run by owner Dean Kinney out of his home has grown into one of the largest and most well-known card shops in the Midwest. For over 45 years, Dean’s has been the go-to place for collectors in the Cincinnati area and beyond to find rare and valuable cards, meet with other enthusiasts, and participate in the vibrant local card collecting community.

Dean had always been a huge baseball fan and card collector himself. In the early 1970s, the hobby of sports card collecting was taking off, especially among baby boomers nostalgic for their childhoods. Dean saw an opportunity to combine his passion for the game with the growing market, and decided to start his own business selling cards out of his basement. Word quickly spread among the local card collecting scene about this new shop in town. Before long, Dean’s collection had outgrown his home and he needed to find a commercial space.

In 1976, Dean opened the first official Dean’s Baseball Cards location in a small storefront in suburban Cincinnati. Right from the start, it was clear this would be much more than just a store – it would become a true gathering place and hub for the city’s collectors. People would flock not just to buy and sell cards, but also to meet up, look through each other’s collections, and talk baseball. On weekends especially, the shop would be packed with enthusiasts of all ages bonding over their shared hobby.

Over the decades, Dean’s Baseball Cards has grown right along with the sports memorabilia industry. The shop has had to relocate to larger spaces multiple times to accommodate its expanding inventory and customer base. In 1990, Dean’s moved to its current location – a spacious store in the heart of Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood. Spanning over 5,000 square feet, this flagship location features walls of cards and collectibles as well as ample room for events and meetups.

While the online marketplace has greatly impacted brick-and-mortar card shops in recent years, Dean’s has adapted and thrived and remains the premier local destination. In addition to its massive selection of new and vintage cards available both in the store and on its website, Dean’s has established itself as the place to go for special releases, exclusive signings, group breaks, and large conventions that draw collectors from across the region. Some of the hobby’s biggest stars have made appearances at Dean’s over the years.

The store also prides itself on its knowledgeable and passionate staff. Many employees are long-time collectors themselves who can provide expertise on valuing collections, tracking down hard-to-find items, and discussing the latest news and trends. For novice collectors just getting into the hobby, Dean’s offers a welcoming environment to learn the ropes. Whether you’re a casual fan or a serious investor, the friendly staff is always happy to help customers at any level.

Beyond its retail operations, Dean’s has played a major role in cultivating the local card collecting community. It has sponsored and hosted numerous leagues, tournaments, charity events, and annual card shows that bring together thousands of attendees. The shop also runs a highly active website forum where collectors can buy, sell and trade with one another online as well as stay up-to-date on the latest Dean’s news. For loyal customers, it truly feels like a second home.

After over four decades in business, Dean’s Baseball Cards remains family-owned and operated by Dean Kinney and his family. As one of the longest continually running card shops in the country, it has become an institution and a staple of Cincinnati sports culture. For generations of collectors young and old, Dean’s holds a special place in both their collections and their memories. Whether you’re a new fan or a loyal customer since the beginning, Dean’s doors will always be open with friendly faces, stacks of wax boxes, and stories to share about America’s pastime.

DEAN’s CARDS BASEBALL CARD

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Dean’s Cards were a popular brand of baseball cards produced from 1972 to 1981. During their decade of production, Dean’s Cards carved out a niche by focusing on detailed photography and statistical information at a time when the larger card companies emphasized flashy artwork and promotions. While they never achieved the widespread popularity of Topps or Fleer, Dean’s Cards earned a devoted following among collectors interested in well-crafted cards that showcased the statistical side of the game.

The man behind Dean’s Cards was Dean Shaffer, a lifelong baseball fan from Cleveland who had worked as a photographer for minor league teams in the 1950s and 1960s. In the early 1970s, Shaffer saw an opportunity to produce cards targeted specifically at statistic-oriented collectors frustrated by the major brands’ increasing emphasis on cartoonish illustrations over facts and figures. He utilized his photography background and contacts within the game to produce detailed action shots paired with comprehensive player stats on the back.

Shaffer’s first Dean’s Cards set was released in 1972 and featured all 26 Major League teams. The photos showed players in action during games and the card backs included each player’s complete season and career stats. While the front designs were simple and used a standard template for all players, the photos and stats were a breath of fresh air for collectors wanting information over flashiness. The 1972 set was a success and helped establish Dean’s Cards in the growing secondary market.

In the following years, Dean’s Cards expanded their offerings while maintaining their focus on photography and stats. Their 1973, 1974 and 1975 sets continued providing stats from the previous season on the backs of each card. They also began issuing annual highlight cards of that year’s All-Star players and award winners like Rookies of the Year. These highlight cards featured more vibrant color photos than the base cards and additional career milestones on the back.

By the late 1970s, Dean’s Cards was producing multiple sets per year. Their flagship release continued to be the annual team set issued each spring. These provided a snapshot of every roster at the start of each season. They supplemented this with Traded Sets released during the summer that inserted photos and stats of players acquired via trade or waived during the season. Dean’s Cards was one of the first companies to rapidly produce traded players, helping collectors stay up-to-date on roster changes.

In addition to team and traded sets, Dean’s Cards released various insert sets focusing on special accomplishments. Their League Leaders series honored the top performers in various statistical categories. Players with milestone seasons earned Milestones cards. Dean’s Cards also produced the first extensive retired player sets, issuing cards of baseball legends no longer active to satisfy collectors’ growing interest in the game’s history.

While Dean’s photography and statistical focus kept their cards appealing to core collectors, Dean’s Cards also made some concessions to broader popularity over the late 1970s. Their designs incorporated more vibrant colors and occasional action shots replaced some of the posed photos. Short biographies were added to card backs in place of some stats. However, Dean’s Cards always prioritized comprehensive stats over promotional gimmicks, keeping their products tailored for statisticians.

The increased competition from larger companies with R&D budgets proved challenging. Fleer and Topps were producing flashy sets with oddball parallel variations and insert cards featuring current players. Dean’s niche approach struggled to compete, and the brand folded after 1981. However, Dean’s Cards left an indelible mark. Their photography and statistical detail influenced later niche producers. And they remain beloved by collectors wanting retro cards highlighting on-field performance over promotional gimmickry. After nearly a decade crafting detailed snapshots from the diamond, Dean Shaffer’s passion project helped shape how baseball cards could inform as much as they entertained.

DEAN’s LIST BASEBALL CARDS

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Dean’s List baseball cards were a unique type of baseball card produced in the early 1970s that highlighted the academic achievements of Major League ballplayers. At a time when most baseball cards solely focused on a player’s on-field stats and accomplishments, Dean’s List cards stood out by shining a light on the intellectual side of these athletes.

The idea for Dean’s List cards came from Topps, the iconic baseball card company that had been producing sets since the 1950s. In 1971, Topps executives wanted to try something different to appeal to new audiences and help change outdated perceptions that ballplayers were merely dumb jocks. They decided celebrating players who excelled in the classroom as well as on the diamond could help modernize the image of baseball.

Topps researchers scoured college records and media reports to find Major Leaguers who had earned spots on the dean’s list, an honor roll for students with high grade point averages, during their time in school. To qualify for a Dean’s List card, a player needed to have achieved at least a 3.0 GPA or been recognized for academic all-conference performances. A total of 36 ballplayers from across the big leagues made the cut.

The 1971 Dean’s List set included 36 cards, each featuring a color photo of an MLB player in uniform along with stats about his academic achievements. Information included the college or university attended, areas of study, academic awards earned, and grade point averages. For example, one card highlighted that Houston Astros pitcher Don Wilson graduated cum laude from the University of Illinois with a 3.4 GPA in business administration.

On the reverse, players’ standard career stats and bio details were also provided. This helped collectors and fans see the dual dimensions of these athletes as both scholars and ballplayers. The cards had a distinctive blue border and banner reading “Dean’s List” to distinguish them from Topps’ traditional red-bordered baseball offerings.

The Dean’s List set proved quite popular, so Topps continued producing small runs of the cards in 1972 and 1973 with new qualifying players each year. Some of the biggest baseball stars of the era like Reggie Jackson and Tom Seaver received Dean’s List cards after their college achievements came to light. The scarcity of only featuring 36 players each year added to the cards’ appeal for collectors.

While the Dean’s List cards were a novelty, they served the important purpose of challenging assumptions that ballplayers couldn’t also be intellectuals. The highlighted players came from a variety of schools and areas of study, showing baseball careers were accessible to student-athletes of all academic interests. Featuring accomplishments like graduating with honors helped make baseball seem compatible with scholarship.

Unfortunately, Dean’s List cards were discontinued after 1973 as baseball’s image transitioned again. As sports became a bigger business than ever, intellectualism came to be seen as less marketable than pure athleticism. The cards remain a fascinating historical artifact showing Topps’ progressive early efforts to portray well-rounded ballplayers and inspire young fans to pursue their education. For collectors today, finding a complete Dean’s List set from the early 1970s is a real treasure.

In summarizing, Dean’s List baseball cards were a unique 1970s offering from Topps that highlighted the academic achievements of Major League players, helping change outdated views of ballplayers as merely athletes. By celebrating student-athletes who earned spots on the dean’s list, the cards modernized baseball’s image and inspired fans to pursue their education. Though short-lived, Dean’s List cards made an impact challenging assumptions and portraying dual dimensions of scholarship and sports. They remain a prized find for today’s collectors.

DEAN’s BASEBALL CARDS FOR SALE

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Dean’s Baseball Cards: Your Source for Vintage and Modern Cards for Sale

Since 1985, Dean’s Baseball Cards has been a leading online and brick-and-mortar retailer of new and vintage baseball cards. Whether you’re looking for unopened packs from the latest season or rare vintage singles, Dean’s has what you need at competitive prices. Let’s take a deeper look at the history of Dean’s and the wide selection of baseball cards for sale.

Dean’s Origins: A Love of the Game

Dean’s Baseball Cards was founded in 1985 by Dean Smith, a lifelong baseball fan from New Jersey. From a young age, Dean collected cards and followed the sport avidly. After graduating high school, he decided to pursue his passion and opened a small shop in his hometown selling new packs and commons from the 1970s and 80s. Word of mouth and Dean’s expertise and fair prices led the store to grow steadily.

By the late 80s, Dean had expanded his inventory significantly to include high-grade vintage singles from the 50s and 60s. He cultivated relationships with collectors nationwide to source some of the rarest gems in the hobby. In the 90s, Dean made the transition to online sales as the internet began to take off. This allowed him to reach a global customer base and further expand his selection of inventory.

Today, Dean’s Baseball Cards remains family-owned and operated. Dean and his son Ryan run the bustling online storefront as well as two brick-and-mortar locations in New Jersey. They pride themselves on maintaining the small shop feel while offering the widest selection of new and vintage cards available anywhere. Let’s look more closely at some of their extensive inventory available for collectors.

New Sealed Products: The Latest Releases

Dean’s stocks all of the newest baseball card releases from Topps, Panini, Leaf, and more. This includes both high-end products and value packs. Some highlights of what can currently be found include:

2021 Topps Series 1 Hobby Boxes: Fresh off the printing press, rip into the latest standard issue release.
2021 Topps Chrome Jumbo Packs: Shiny refractors and parallels abound in these oversized packs.
2021 Bowman Mega Boxes: The annual prospect release, look for future stars.
2021 Topps Heritage Mini Boxes: Retro design pays homage to the vintage era.
2021 Stadium Club Blaster Boxes: Elegant photography and premium stock in these fan favorites.

They also carry exclusive hobby-only parallels and autograph editions to satisfy the highest-end collectors. With pre-orders taken for releases months in advance, Dean’s is your one-stop shop for getting in on the ground floor of the newest cardboard.

Vintage Singles: Decades of Selection

While new product moves off the shelves each season, Dean’s extensive vintage singles selection only grows deeper with time. Some notable decades and categories include:

1950s: Iconic stars like Mantle, Mays, and Aaron. Complete high-grade sets also available.
1960s: Affordable commons and key rookie cards to chase like Clemente and Yastrzemski.
1970s: Stars like Bench, Jackson, and Murray. The onset of modern design era.
1980s: Rookie gems like Clemens, Ripken, and Maddux at affordable prices.
Graded Gems: BGS/PSA slabs of the all-time greats like ’52 Mantle, ’57 Aaron, and ’75 Rose.
Autographs: Signed pieces from the deadball era to modern issues.
Rookie Cups: RC’s of future Hall of Famers like Pujols and Chipper in top condition.

With new additions daily, it’s a collector’s paradise to piece together sets or hunt specific key pieces. Dean’s vintage singles are expertly curated and priced fairly.

Additional Services

In addition to housing one of the largest inventories online, Dean’s offers collectors valuable extra services:

Grading: Use their in-house grading service for vintage or get group submission deals.
Consignments: Turn your duplicate cards into cash by consigning through Dean’s.
Want Lists: Stay updated on new arrivals by submitting your most wanted list.
Auctions: Participate in the weekly online auction featuring rare lots.
Resources: Educational articles, checklists and a price guide help navigate the hobby.

With decades in the business, Dean’s has proven itself a trusted name. Their unparalleled selection, fair prices and extras make them a one-stop shop for any collector, from kids opening packs to advanced investors. So whether browsing vintage singles or hunting the latest releases, Dean’s Baseball Cards is the place to turn for all of your baseball card needs.

DEAN’s BASEBALL CARDS OHIO

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Dean’s Baseball Cards: A Ohio Institution

Dean’s Baseball Cards is an Ohio institution that has been collecting and trading baseball cards for over 50 years. What started as a small hobby shop in Akron, Ohio in the 1960s has grown into one of the largest and most well-known baseball card retailers in the state. Dean’s Baseball Cards has been a staple of the Ohio baseball card scene for generations of collectors.

Dean’s was founded in 1968 by Dean Smith, an avid baseball fan and collector from a young age. Dean started collecting cards as a boy in the 1950s and was one of the early adopters of the growing baseball card hobby. In his teenage years and young adulthood, Dean organized informal card swaps and trade days with other local collectors. Seeing the enthusiasm of others, Dean decided to turn his passion into a business and opened his first storefront in Akron.

Those early years saw Dean’s Baseball Cards catering to the burgeoning youth market. Kids throughout Northeast Ohio would flock to Dean’s to buy packs of the latest baseball cards to add to their collections. The store quickly became a gathering place where young collectors could trade, talk shop, and look through the bins sorting out their duplicate cards. Dean’s grew its inventory beyond just the latest packs, building an extensive back stock of older and rare cards to serve the evolving collector base.

By the 1970s, Dean’s had outgrown its original Akron shop and opened a much larger location in nearby Cuyahoga Falls. This new store gave Dean’s the space needed to expand its inventory and develop into a true destination for collectors. In addition to carrying all the latest baseball card releases, Dean’s built an impressive selection of vintage cards dating back to the earliest days of the hobby in the late 1800s. Serious adult collectors now made up a significant portion of Dean’s customer base, coming to search for that elusive find to complete a set or add a key piece to their collection.

The 1980s saw two major developments that cemented Dean’s status as an Ohio institution – the opening of additional stores and the arrival of the modern sports card boom. In 1981, Dean’s opened its third location in Canton, bringing its brand of card shop to another major Northeast Ohio city. Then in 1985, Dean’s made the bold move of opening its flagship store in suburban Columbus. Located near the intersection of two major highways, this new Dean’s location became the epicenter of the central Ohio card scene.

Meanwhile, the entire sports card industry was exploding in popularity thanks to the rise of the modern era in the mid-1980s. New technologies like color printing on cards and the introduction of sports stars like Ken Griffey Jr. attracted a whole new youth audience. Dean’s was perfectly positioned to capitalize, stocking shelves with every new release from Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. The Columbus superstore became a required pilgrimage for collectors throughout Ohio and the surrounding region.

By the 1990s, Dean’s Baseball Cards had grown to include six total locations across Northeast and Central Ohio. In addition to the original Akron shop and stores in Cuyahoga Falls, Canton, and Columbus, Dean’s opened new branches in Massillon and Mansfield. This coverage allowed Dean’s to truly dominate the Ohio baseball card market. The stores hosted frequent card shows, autograph signings, and other collector events that brought people from all over the state. Dean’s also started an ambitious mail order business to reach customers nationwide.

The over-expansion and 1990s sports card crash forced some difficult changes. The Akron, Canton, and Massillon locations were shuttered in the late 1990s. But Dean’s remained committed to their flagship stores and restructured their business model. Into the 2000s and beyond, Dean’s has continued to thrive with locations in Cuyahoga Falls, Columbus, and Mansfield. They have adapted to changes in the hobby, from the rise of online retailers to the introduction of new card games. Dean’s still holds regular public card shows and special events.

Today, Dean’s Baseball Cards carries on Dean Smith’s original vision of providing a place where all collectors feel welcome. Spanning generations, Dean’s is still a favorite local shop of many Ohioans. Whether you’re a kid buying your first packs or a dedicated vintage collector, Dean’s vast selection and knowledgeable staff aim to please. As one of the longest continually running card stores in the country, Dean’s is truly an institution and a landmark of Ohio’s vibrant baseball card community.

DEAN’s BASEBALL CARDS

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Dean’s Baseball Cards is one of the largest and most well-known baseball card shops in the United States. Founded in 1980 by Dean Smith in Portland, Oregon, the store started small but grew rapidly as the baseball card collecting craze took off in the 1980s. What began as a hobby for Dean soon turned into a full-fledged business with multiple locations across the country.

Dean’s passion for the game of baseball and collecting cards started at a young age. He would spend hours poring over his collection and learning everything he could about the players and teams from that era. This passion continued into adulthood and in 1980, at the age of 30, Dean decided to take the plunge and open his first card shop in a small storefront in downtown Portland. Those early years were a struggle as Dean worked tirelessly to build up inventory and attract customers. His extensive knowledge and friendly demeanor helped establish a loyal customer base.

Word of Dean’s shop and his fair business practices started to spread throughout the local card collecting community. Soon he was bringing in new customers on a daily basis and outgrowing the small storefront. In 1983, Dean made the leap and opened a much larger location in a strip mall on the outskirts of Portland. This allowed him to vastly increase his inventory and offer customers a much more expansive shopping experience. It was around this time that the modern baseball card boom truly began, fueled by the rise of superstar players like Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan, and Reggie Jackson.

Dean’s was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the red-hot market for sports cards. He worked hard to get the newest and most coveted card releases, keeping his shelves fully stocked on release days. For many collectors, a trip to Dean’s became a weekly ritual. In addition to singles, Dean’s also offered a wide variety of wax boxes, factory sets, and team/player collections. Dean took great pride in maintaining an organized store where customers could easily find what they were looking for. His deep knowledge was also an asset, as he could recommend cards to customers based on their interests, budgets, and collection goals.

The success of the Portland stores allowed Dean to begin opening additional locations in other cities. In 1985, the first Dean’s Baseball Cards outside of Oregon opened in Seattle. This was followed by shops in San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles over the next few years. Dean took an active role in managing all the stores and maintained the same high standards across the entire business. Word of Dean’s fair practices, customer service, and unparalleled inventory continued to spread nationwide. By the late 1980s, Dean’s Baseball Cards had become a household name among sports card collectors across the United States.

As the baseball card market continued to skyrocket through the late 1980s, Dean’s business boomed. Additional flagship stores opened in major cities like Chicago, New York, Houston, and Atlanta. Smaller “satellite” stores also sprouted up in suburban areas across the country. At its peak, Dean’s Baseball Cards had over 50 locations in operation. This made it one of the largest sports card retail chains in the world. Maintaining such rapid expansion came at a cost. Dean took on additional investors and shifted to more of a corporate structure. While this allowed further growth, some argued it diminished the “mom and pop” feel of the original stores.

By the early 1990s, the sports card market had started to experience a significant downturn. Several factors contributed to the collapse, including overproduction of cards, loss of player exclusives to other companies, and speculation driving up prices beyond reason. As demand fell, many smaller card shops went out of business. Dean’s, with its large corporate structure, was hit especially hard. Difficult decisions had to be made and locations started closing across the country in the mid-1990s. By 1995, only 20 Dean’s Baseball Cards remained open, mostly in major metro areas.

Dean opted to take the business in a new direction, focusing more on the high-end memorabilia market. Stores were remodeled to emphasize exclusive and rare game-used items alongside the traditional card offerings. This shift helped Dean’s stabilize over the next few years despite the struggling card market. In 1999, Dean made the decision to sell the majority stake in the company to a private investment group. He stayed on initially as CEO but stepped down in 2001 to spend more time with his family. The new ownership group continued to pare down unprofitable locations over the next decade.

Today, only four Dean’s Baseball Cards remain in operation – in Portland, Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta. They remain iconic destinations for serious collectors. Under new ownership, the stores have re-emphasized their roots by bringing back many of the displays and store designs from the 1980s/90s golden era. Dean also visits the stores regularly and is still revered by longtime customers. While the chain will never return to its peak size, Dean’s Baseball Cards continues to play an important role in the hobby and serves as a reminder of the heyday of baseball card collecting in the late 20th century. Dean’s passion created an empire and forever changed the sports memorabilia industry.