Mint Musings: Card Shows Still an Enjoyable Part of The Hobby – A lot has been made of the internet’s damaging effects on the local card markets, most notably with brick and mortar hobby shops and local sports card shows. While some have said that card shows are an archaic, irrelevant part of the hobby in today’s world, I find that I have to disagree.
Whether it’s the biggest shows of the year or one at your local high school or VFW, the card show remains one of the more enjoyable experiences for any hobbyist. I’ve been fortunate enough to have one within a reasonable driving distance for several years. Even if I haven’t been in the market for anything in particular, I’ve found myself making the trip just for laughs. Unfortunately for my wallet’s sake, I’ve usually ended up finding something to add to my collection.
While the internet may provide convenience and sometimes cheaper prices, it can’t beat the atmosphere and feeling of community card shows. While card shows vary in size and quality, I still love seeing the row of tables and display cases featuring a variety of trading cards and memorabilia. A truly good one will feature a bit of everything, whether it’s those last few singles you need to finish off a set or perhaps a Mickey Mantle autographed baseball to pick up for your dad as a gift.
My favorite piece in my collection actually came from a card show in Connecticut several years ago. Looking for something to celebrate a recent milestone, I ended up picking up an autographed item featuring both Mickey Mantle and Stan Musial. Even better, the dealer I bought it from has since become a close friend.
As far as tips for attending shows, there are a few that typically apply any time. The first is to call up and make 
sure the show is actually happening. The last thing you want to do is put aside your day or make a long trip only to find the show has been cancelled. Being in a part of the country where the weather is highly unpredictable, especially in winter, this is something I wish I did more often. Another is to be sure you bring cash. While many dealers now accept credit cards, most still prefer to take cash and may offer you a better deal on your purchase if you use it.
Also, don’t be afraid to haggle over prices or ask if the dealer can go down in price. While it doesn’t pay to be unreasonable with what you offer, most dealers will be willing to knock a little bit off of their asking prices, especially if it’s a higher-priced item they’re looking to move. Some dealers won’t be willing to budge on a price, and there’s nothing wrong with that as it’s their call as to what they can accept on an item.
Finally, I’d have to recommend that you give yourself plenty of time to look around. Even if your local show is a smaller one, it’s good to have at least a few hours to be able to browse, especially if you’re looking to shop for single cards. Some of my more useful finds, including some unsigned official American League Baseballs, have come about because I took the extra time to scrutinize a dealer’s table.
Even if you don’t buy anything, it can be fun just to look around and see what’s up for sale. One of my local area shop owners had a pretty cool bat in one of his display cases at the show I attended this past weekend. Upon further examination, it turned out to be a Mike Trout game-used bat from Spring Training with a full certification letter from PSA. That alone made the trip worthwhile for me as that’s not an item you see every day.
Most card shows charge an admission fee, usually only a few dollars. Similar to group-breaking, I’ve noticed that a number of them offer some type of incentive besides admission to the show. For example, the dollar I paid to get into a show a few years ago earned me the right to pick a card from an assorted selection. While it wasn’t the most exciting thing I acquired, I was actually pretty pleased to add that David Dellucci certified autograph card to my collection. Many of the bigger shows, including a number in New York, offer the chance to get a free autograph from a former noteworthy player.
Whether it’s getting an autograph from one of your favorite players growing up or even getting the first autograph ever for a younger collector, it can be a nice reason to head out.
While I’ve lost count of the number of card shows I’ve attended over the years, I’ve never lost that feeling of excitement and anticipation when entering one. Whether it was getting a 1971 Topps Jim Palmer base card at the first card show I ever attended or getting to talk to Pittsburgh Steelers great Jack Ham at another, they’ve provided me with some of my most prominent collecting memories.
If you are fortunate enough to have one close to you, I highly recommend taking a day and attending. You never know what you may walk away with.
Kelsey’s ability to bring hobby coverage to the mainstream sports fan as the producer of ESPN’s Mint Condition has been a true asset. GTS is happy to feature his thoughts on the hobby in Mint Musings. The opinions expressed are his and do not necessarily reflect those of GTS Distribution.
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