Baseball Cards in Destin, Florida: A Rich History of the Hobby
The small beach town of Destin, located along Florida’s Emerald Coast, has a rich history with the hobby and business of baseball cards that goes back over 50 years. While the area is best known as a popular tourist destination for its beautiful beaches and fishing, many locals and visitors alike may be unaware of Destin’s deep connections to the baseball card industry over the decades.
The earliest baseball card shops in Destin can be traced back to the late 1960s, during the peak of the original baseball card bubble. In 1968, Al’s Sportscards was opened on Harbor Boulevard by local resident Al Roberts, making it one of the earliest dedicated baseball card storefronts in the Florida Panhandle region. Al’s Sportscards became a popular hangout for kids and collectors in the area looking to trade, sell, or buy cards. During the 1970s, it expanded its inventory to include other sports cards as interests grew in football, basketball, and hockey cards as well.
As the baseball card craze continued to explode nationwide in the 1970s, more shops began to open in Destin. In 1973, brothers Jim and Bob Davis opened Davis Bros. Sportscards in a small strip mall on Highway 98. Davis Bros. became known for its vast inventory that included unopened wax packs and boxes from the 1960s and 1970s that were highly sought after by collectors looking to build complete sets. The shop also became a destination for shows and organized trading events that drew collectors from all over Northwest Florida.
During the 1980s, when the first major baseball card bubble began to burst, the industry in Destin consolidated somewhat but remained strong. Al’s Sportscards and Davis Bros. Sportscards were still going strong through the decade. A new shop, Emerald Coast Sportscards, opened in 1985 and was run by long-time collector and former Davis Bros. employee Mark Johnson. Emerald Coast specialized in high-end vintage cards from the early 20th century tobacco era and helped fuel a growing interest in the antique end of the hobby.
The 1990s saw another renaissance in the baseball card industry, fueled by the boom of the junk wax era with ultra-affordable packs and sets and the rise of the independent grading companies like PSA and BGS that added another speculative element to the market. In Destin, this led to the opening of several new shops, including Topps Cards, House of Wax Packs, and Beckett’s Baseball on Main Street. These shops helped keep the area buzzing with activity as the national sports card market reached new heights.
In the late 1990s and 2000s, the rise of eBay opened up new possibilities for collectors and shops alike. Many Destin shops like Davis Bros. and Emerald Coast began using eBay as another sales avenue and it helped turn the area into a true baseball “card hub.” Collectors from around the country were buying and selling through Destin-based shops and individuals, greatly expanding the town’s reach and reputation in the hobby. Regional shows grew larger and the shops were bustling.
Today, while the national sports card market has declined from its 90s peak, baseball cards remain deeply ingrained in the culture of Destin. Al’s Sportscards, after 50 years, is still owned and run by the Roberts family and continues to be a staple of the community. Davis Bros. Sportscards is now in its fifth decade of operation under third generation owner Bobby Davis. Emerald Coast Sportscards is also still going strong under Mark Johnson after 35 years. And while some shops have closed, new ones like AllStar Cards and Memorabilia have opened in recent years, keeping the hobby alive for new generations.
Throughout its history with baseball cards, Destin has developed a well-earned reputation among collectors as a true “card town.” The numerous shops have helped make the area a baseball card destination for decades. Major shows still regularly draw collectors regionally and the shops provide a vital social hub, especially for younger collectors just getting into the hobby. With its deep roots and continued passion from multi-generational collectors and shop owners, it’s clear that baseball cards will remain forever intertwined with the fabric of Destin for many years to come. The small town’s impact on the baseball card industry has been immense.