Kyle’s Baseball Cards: A Granite City Institution
Kyle’s Baseball Cards is an iconic hobby shop located in downtown Granite City, Illinois that has been serving the baseball card and memorabilia needs of collectors in the Metro East area for over 30 years. What started as a small side business run out of the owner’s home garage in the late 1980s has grown to be an institution in the community. Let’s take a deeper look at the history of Kyle’s Baseball Cards and what makes it such a special place.
The shop originally opened in 1988 when owner Kyle Peterson realized there was a need for a dedicated baseball card store in Granite City after enjoying the hobby himself for many years. Born and raised in Granite City, Kyle understood the passion local collectors had for the hobby. He started by selling cards out of his garage a few nights a week and on weekends. Word spread quickly and before long, he had regular customers stopping by each week.
In 1990, business was booming enough that Kyle decided to take the leap and open a full-time retail location downtown. He found the perfect 500 square foot space between a record store and jewelry shop. It was a tight fit but Kyle made it work, stocking the shelves floor to ceiling with cards, memorabilia, and supplies. On weekends, the small shop would be packed wall to wall with collectors browsing through boxes.
Over the next decade, Kyle’s Baseball Cards became ingrained in the community as “the” place to buy, sell, and trade cards in Granite City. Kyle prided himself on having the best selection in the area and maintaining deep connections with the local collecting scene. He sponsored youth league teams, ran tournaments at the shop, and gave back whenever he could. This community focus helped Kyle’s grow its reputation far beyond Granite City city limits.
As the collector boom of the 1990s heated up, Kyle realized he needed an even bigger space to meet demand. In 1998, he relocated Kyle’s to its current 1,500 square foot location a few blocks over. The new store featured more inventory space along with dedicated areas for game tables, a memorabilia display, and events. It allowed Kyle to host larger Friday Night Magic tournaments, card shows, and signings with big name players. The shop was truly becoming a regional destination.
By the late 2000s, Kyle had established Kyle’s as not just the top card shop in the entire Metro East, but one of the best known hobby stores in all of Southern Illinois. He cultivated strong relationships with the major card companies to always have sought after new releases and exclusive products. The shop sponsored many successful collectors locally who became prominent figures at the national level. Kyle’s reputation helped bring major conventions and industry shows to Granite City.
Today, under Kyle’s continued leadership pushing 60 years old, the shop remains vibrant. While the online marketplace has grown significantly, Kyle’s has adapted and still thrives through great in-store experience, events, and truly caring about the community. The expansive inventory spans the entire history of baseball cards from the 1880s cigars to modern mega boxes. The store also deals in a wide variety of other sports, non-sports, Wrestling, Pokémon, Magic, and pop culture collectibles.
Stepping into Kyle’s is like walking into a museum paying tribute to the joy, memories, and love that collecting brings. The crowded walls are lined with some of the most valuable vintage cards ever graded alongside remarkable modern rookies. But Kyle says it’s not about monetary value, rather celebrating the cards for what they represent – America’s favorite pastime. Even on a quiet weekday, you’ll likely find other collectors browsing and chatting with Kyle, reminiscing about years of this cherished hobby.
For over three decades now, Kyle Peterson has operated Kyle’s Baseball Cards as more than just a business but something truly meaningful to the Granite City community. Through great customer service, deep passion, and local philanthropic efforts, he has helped propel the hobby of baseball card collecting in the Metro East while bringing joy to many generations. Without a doubt, Kyle’s Baseball Cards fully deserves its reputation as an institution and local treasure for all those who love the game. With Kyle’s guiding the shop, its future remains bright for decades more to share in baseball’s history.