Maximize Your Collection: Shreveport’s Ultimate Guide to Sports Card Shops, Shows, & Secrets

Sports card collecting has become "cool" again - especially in Shreveport-Bossier. Whether you hit Circle K or Walmart, you can find packs and boxes of the latest releases from Topps and other companies. Card shows are happening in and around the community pretty regularly. There's all kinds of hobby shops in town.

But, whether you're a long time collector or thinking about getting started, the sports card world can be overwhelming - from singles to breaks to all the different kinds of boxes.

So, here's some of the things to keep in mind to maximize your fun and to navigate the massive world of sports card collecting.

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Beginner's Guide to Shreveport Collecting

The first step to any hobby, regardless of what it is, is you have to figure out what you want and set goals. So, identifying what you want to collect is a big first step. Some people collect certain sports, others just collect their favorite players. I'm a huge baseball fan, so that's what the majority of what I collect is. But, since Shreveport-Bossier turns out so many great players, I also collect cards from locals - from vintage Terry Bradshaw to modern cards featuring Seth Lugo.

Once you figure out what you're looking for, you have to know where to get it, right? If you're just looking to collect certain players, buying a hobby box of cards probably isn't the best route. For you, it may be easier to buy single cards featuring what you're looking for. If you're looking to build a collection for sports/teams, buying boxes or getting into breaks may be the best move for you.

No matter how you want to collect, here in Shreveport, there's some great options to build your collection. On the store front, places like Excalibur Comics & Sports Cards Louisiana sell boxes and single cards with PLENTY of options when it comes to players, teams, boxes and price levels. If you want to get out into the card community, we have some great events like the Shreveport Card Show - who regularly puts on events in town. At a card show, you can buy boxes, singles or even trade with fellow collectors. It's a great way to meet folks and grow your collection.

READ MORE: The Time Babe Ruth Came to Shreveport for Spring Training

Tips For Building Your Card Collection

As I mentioned, whether a seasoned vet or new to the card scene, there's a LOT of options. From single packs to blaster boxes to hobby boxes to graded cards. So, again, it all depends on what you want to do and what you're trying to put together. Below is a brief explanation of what each thing is and maybe the best way to approach:

• Breaks - Breaks are cheaper way of buying into a product at a lower price. Typically, you buy a player or team, and the breaker opens up a case of product. You get to keep the cards that are pulled of your player or team. The plus side - some boxes of product are super expensive and highly limited, so this may be your only way to get your hands on a certain series. The downside - this is a lot like gambling because you're not guaranteed to hit anything. So, you could drop $100 on the Rangers and end up with nothing. Or you could end up with a 1/1 autograph from Nolan Ryan. You just never know.
• Hobby Boxes - Hobby boxes have 'guaranteed' hits. So, if you buy a hobby box of Topps Series 2 for instance - you're guaranteed to get either a relic card or a player autograph. There's no guarantee you'll get what you want, but unlike blasters or single packs, you will for sure get something. Not every hobby box is the same, so you have to read the box to see exactly what is or isn't guaranteed.
• Blasters, Monster Boxes, etc. - The boxes don't feature 'guaranteed hits', but do often come with exclusive parallel cards or some kind of special insert. You can still pull an autograph or relic, but they're not guaranteed. Because of that, these options are significantly cheaper than a hobby box.
• Singles - these are single cards. If you're on the hunt for a Mike Trout autograph or a certain player's rookie, this is the way to go. You may have to invest a good chunk of change to get what you want, BUT it cuts down having to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars buying boxes chasing something that's extremely limited or hard to find.
• Graded Cards - These cards have been shipped to a grading service that 'guarantees' the authenticity of what you're buying, the condition and whether or not it's legitimately signed by the player. There's a lot of 'fakes' online, so buying a graded card guarantees that you're getting what you think you are. These are especially handy when it comes to vintage cards. Graded cards typically cost more but also have a higher resale/trade value.

Ensuring You Don't Get Ripped Off

Unfortunately, in the world we live in, there's a lot of scammers out there. And in this hobby, it's very easy to get ripped off - forged signatures, fake cards, over-inflating price by calling something rare, etc..

So, how can you avoid getting taken advantage of? The first step - buy from someone legitimate. I mentioned a couple of great local shops and a card show above. These folks are trust worthy and have a track record of providing legitimate service. Unless you're a bit more seasoned and know how to spot a fake, I would avoid making any purchases from Facebook Marketplace or Reddit.

Also, until you get a sense of how much something should cost, you can always check recent sales on resources like 130 PT. That way you don't spend $200 on a card that should have cost you $20.

But, the cool thing about the card community - with the exception of a few scumbags, members are very welcoming and helpful. I can't tell you how many times someone has worked with me on a price or went digging for something I REALLY wanted.