You won’t find many sports card shops that launched in the 1980s still in operation today.
The Ballpark in Apple Valley, MN is one of them–and not because they carry all of the “latest products.” Owner Calvin Havercamp has done it his way–with a heavy emphasis on vintage cards and memorabilia.
The shop opened on July 5, 1988 and sold plenty of current material during the boom years that followed but these days you’re more apt to find a few 1913 Fatima Team Cards than you are a $300 box of new product. However, he’s also known for bringing in some autograph guests including former Vikings and a very well-known current member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The shop’s genesis is one of the better stories you’ll find–one that involves his older brother’s desire to become an entertainer. WCCO-TV stopped by to find out more about the shop’s history and what makes it successful.