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 … [Read more...] about Minnesota Shop Heads Into 31st Year
sports card store
Notes: 30 Years for MN Shop; Gehrig Contract; BoSox Bats Featured; Hugs for Homers
It’s one of the longest continuously operating sports card stores in the country. The Ballpark, a fixture in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since 1988, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Owner Calvin Havercamp moved his shop once, but that was 17 years ago and he remains entrenched in Apple Valley, MN. The Ballpark is popular with old school collectors … [Read more...] about Notes: 30 Years for MN Shop; Gehrig Contract; BoSox Bats Featured; Hugs for Homers
Notes: Maris MVP Award Also Stolen from Mall
Fargo, North Dakota police have released surveillance pictures of the person believed to have stolen Roger Maris’ 1960 American League MVP award and 1961 Hickok belt. Both were taken during a smash-and-grab burglary early Tuesday morning. Early media reports indicated only the belt had been taken but police now say the MVP plaque was also taken by someone who broke … [Read more...] about Notes: Maris MVP Award Also Stolen from Mall
Louisville Sports Cards Fills Void With New, Old
Chris Buckler of Buckler Sports Cards has been a fixture behind the tables at some of the hobby’s major shows. He’s a regular at the National Sports Collectors Convention. He also buys and sells online through eBay and his own established website. Over the winter, though, he took on a new venture: co-owner of a card shop near his home in Louisville, … [Read more...] about Louisville Sports Cards Fills Void With New, Old
Owner of Small Oregon Shop Maintains Even Keel
Bill Clews opened his sports card shop in Salem, OR about the time the hobby was beginning its “correction phase”. He must have done something right. Twenty years later, the shop is still going strong. Clews opened “The New Hobby” in 1996 and despite a burglary that cost him $20,000 in inventory, he’s managed to thrive. The 70-year-old retired military recruiter … [Read more...] about Owner of Small Oregon Shop Maintains Even Keel
Big Card Dealer in a Small City
The third largest eBay store for sports cards and memorabilia is located in…Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Not being located in a major population center or a city that houses professional sports doesn’t matter these days, with the internet putting just about everyone on a level playing field. Owner Dennis Worden also sells on the Beckett Marketplace, but he’s not online … [Read more...] about Big Card Dealer in a Small City
Notes: Progress Shuts Oklahoma Shop
Scoreboard Sports Cards has been a fixture in the suburbs of Tulsa, OK since the baseball card boom of the 1990s. It survived the rocky road that decade became and the consolidation that has followed but now the end is near. The owner of the building plans to tear it down as the city moves to revitalize its main drag and hopefully attract more people to town. Paul … [Read more...] about Notes: Progress Shuts Oklahoma Shop
Philadelphia Area Card Shop a Family Affair
We’ll continue our Q&A sessions with sports card shop owners with Lee Goldinger, owner of SwamiLee’s Sportscards in Mt. Laurel, NJ, outside Philadelphia. How did you come up with the name Swamilee? People often ask me what is a Swamilee? In the mid 1990s, I produced S.L.A.M., The Starting Lineup Advisory Magazine. I had more than 500 subscribers and the … [Read more...] about Philadelphia Area Card Shop a Family Affair
Ramblings: PA Shop Owner Still Going After 24 Years
Sometimes Facebook lets us reconnect with family, friends or hobby acquaintances from the past. Recently, thanks to a post on the Sports Collectors Daily Facebook page, we were able to catch up with long-time store owner Warren Wolk. I have known Warren for almost 20 years now as he was one of the first dealers to be an active poster on hobby news groups which was one of the … [Read more...] about Ramblings: PA Shop Owner Still Going After 24 Years
Ramblings: Things to Think About Before You Open a Shop
We recently received an email from Dave Henry who wrote: I want to start selling cards. I'm thinking about a store here in Rochester NY as we really don't have a true hobby shop anymore. Do you have some advice for an inexperienced seller/dealer? Dave, first of all I want to thank you for writing us and I’m glad you value my opinion. A few ideas are below but it’s far … [Read more...] about Ramblings: Things to Think About Before You Open a Shop