I love baseball card shows! There’s something about going to a card show that is forever memorable. Whether it’s the simple mass quantity of cards in one room or the amazing cards that are too expensive to own, the show is an experience.
I started going to baseball card shows back in the early 1990s. Even when I go to a show today, I enjoy that same sense of excitement. A lot of people ask me if they should go to a show, where can they go to a show and what should they expect when they go to a show. I wanted to take this time to offer my thoughts about why going to a show is not only fun but an experience for the whole family. It is a good time both for serious and casual card collectors.
Technically, a card show is just an organized group of people selling baseball cards or other cards to one another. But in reality there are essentially three types of card shows. Large national shows typically only happen one or two times a year. Regional shows can be held several times a year in different regions around the country. Finally, smaller local shows are often held someplace like a mall, VFW and so on.
At a large national show, you might expect 500 or more dealer tables and maybe 150-plus autograph signers. Tickets to the show itself can cost hundreds of dollars. The longest running and most famous national show is “The National” (the National Sports Collectors Convention). This kind of show is usually held in a major convention center with as much as 500,00 square feet of show space.
A regional show may have 200 to 400 tables and could have anywhere from no autograph signers to 100 or more. These are typically not as expensive to attend. Dallas, Southern California, Las Vegas and Chantilly, Va., host some of the most well-known regional shows. Regional shows are often held in hotels, casinos and smaller convention centers. These regional shows are usually put on by the same show promoters in the same venues several times a year and thus typically have many of the same dealers at every show.
Local shows are hard to schedule as consistently because oftentimes the dealers at these shows are not professional dealers who have a full-time business selling cards. Instead, the dealers are personal collectors and sellers who use the show as an opportunity to make some extra money but may not make a commitment to every show that a promoter puts on.
This makes it hard for a small-show promoter to guarantee how many dealers will be at every event. However, one of the upsides to a small show is you can typically find more time to speak directly with the dealer. You’ll find a variety of cards and dealers you may not see on a regional circuit, and oftentimes the shows are a closer drive than the regional shows and certainly a national show.
Once you have decided to go to a show, prepare for the trip. Decide if you are just going to the show to browse or if you are going for a specific purpose. Maybe you are taking your son or daughter? Talk about certain player cards that they can look for at the show. Try to buy a few packs of cards for them to open after the show and continue the fun.
However, most importantly, just go to a show! There is no wrong way to enjoy a show. A room full of like-minded people creates an energy and environment that is pure fun. It doesn’t matter if you even buy anything. The show itself is entertaining.
I have attended a few shows this year and plan on attending as many as possible. In fact, at one recent show my son and I attended, neither one of us bought anything. It did cost $15 to enter, but it was much more fun and bonding than going to a movie. The most important thing is that I will return again next year. Enjoy collecting!
Have you had cards since you were a kid and now you want to sell them? Please email any questions to Danny@SportsBalt.com or visitSportsBalt.com
Photo Credit: Danny Black/PressBox