The Dugout in Pigeon Forge

A snow storm has swept through the south this week.  Being raised in the North Country and then living in Chicagoland it didn't bother me so much.  Driving was a bit tricky.  My work let out at noon on Tuesday and then we were closed on Wednesday.  School let out Tuesday morning.  Just got the call.  School is closed again on Friday.

The sun has melted most of the snow on the main roads and getting a bit stir crazy, Caroline went out and ran some errands.  What do you know?  Trying to find some Topps 2014 was on that list.

Wal-Mart was first on the list.  They had cereal boxes and jumbo rack packs, but not the single retail packs I was hoping for.  We went on farther down the road to a NASCAR/Autograph store.  It was closed and from the looks of things they won't be reopening.

Deeper into Pigeon Forge we went.  At traffic light #6 (yes, we use traffic light numbers as points of reference) I turned in and found The Dugout.  I knew it was there, I just hadn't been to it in a number of years.

The store was empty of customers but full of cards.  And signed memorabilia.  And figurines.  And graded cards.  And supplies.  And gnomes.  And... Well, you get the idea.

All major sports.  Baseball, football, basketball, hockey, racing.  I didn't ask about curling.

The owner, Rick Rollar, was very eager to talk, and was very helpful. We exchanged a bit of pleasantries.  I asked about 2014 Topps and he was sold out.  He got six boxes in and now they're gone.  He didn't open any for himself.

After going through my main list of collections he pulled out some interesting items from a box behind the counter.  Some press proof sheets for the 1984 Fun Foods pins that several players had signed, including Orel Hershiser.

And then he pulled out these beauts.

1914 B18 Blankets.  One Wheat and two Sweeneys.  These are in great shape.  I've never actually seen them before.  A bit smaller than I had imagined.  They are 5-1/4" square, but I thought they'd be bigger.  I don't know why.  He offered me a very good price for the three of them, but I don't need all three.  He offered me the Wheat for a very good price as a single piece.  I almost bought it but thought I'd take a breath before pulling the trigger.  I'm trying to stay away from impulse buying, even if it is a good deal on a good product.

So, if you want a knowledgeable dealer with a well lit and well stocked store, visit Rick at The Dugout in Pigeon Forge.  22 years of going strong.  Traffic Light #6.

Kam's OTW Cards

I've shown some cards that I purchased at Kam's OTW Cards in Evansville.  We were going to be in the area for a few days.  I searched online and found them.  I gave a call to verify the address and hours then showed up on Saturday morning.

I had no trouble find the store.  When we arrived there was just one other customer.

Unassuming gateway to hours of fun

Glen, the shopkeeper and part owner, was glad to talk. I tossed him questions for about a half hour while I looked for McHale cards.  The store does video blogging, sponsors the puck for the Evansville Icemen, is involved in the community.

Glen

Pennants seem to be big.  Well, all sorts of signage.  Clocks, license plates, tee shirts.

Pennants.  Cheap pennants.

Supplies?  He's got 'em.  Glen's big on supporting other area businesses.  He's aware that kids need to be drawn into the hobby.

My father-in-law, Jim.  He's not for sale.

 I could have stayed for a few more hours.  I never did open the NASCAR boxes.

Dime boxes.  All sports.  

So, that's the visual tour, here's the post-visit interview:

Q: How long have you been in the sports card business?
A: Going on 1 year (We have had a store in Evansville, Indiana back the 80's & 90’s)

Q: What changes have you seen in that time period?
A: Game-used and Auto’s taking the place of everybody looking for Rookie Cards!!

Q: What is the state of the hobby in southwestern Indiana? What do people collect?
A: Baseball and Football are really strong. Very little Basketball & Hockey Cards.

Q: What direction do you see the hobby going?
A: Going up (depends on Draft Class)

Q: On the visit to your shop you seem to have more of the newer cards and not so much vintage. Is there a reason why?
A: We love to turn cards quick, a lot of vintage just sits!!

Q: Do you have any card shows in the area?
A: Yes, there is a show at one of malls here…a lot vintage!!

Q: Do you collect?  What is your favorite card or piece of memorabilia?
A: NO

Q: Any advice for a new or seasoned collector?
A: The market is getting stronger, jump aboard!!!

Q: Do you sell on ebay? What's your user or store name?
A: Yes, offthewallcards


Want to know how to get in touch with Kam's OTW Cards?

Kam's OTW Cards
4903 Monroe Ave.
Evansville, IN  47714

But they're moving.  Here's their new address, still in Evansville: 825-A Greenriver Road

phone: 812-402-2231

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• ebay

So, if  your traveling through Evansville, give Glen a call, make sure he's open and drop in.  Spend some time digging through his cards.  Support a decent shop.

Marty's Sports Card Exchange Superstore

A few weeks ago, before the end of last year, I took my wife to Chattanooga for a few days away to celebrate our 22d anniversary.  We got a nice suite and went our own ways.  She brought her sewing machine and spent the time quilting.  I headed to the library for some baseball research.  Oh, we did some stuff together.  Dinner at P.F. Changs.  A bit of shopping.  Dinner at Olive Garden and then the movie Moneyball.  I was able to head out to a card shop not far from the hotel.

I've showed some of the packs that I bought there in posts earlier this month.  Now I get to show you the store.

I got there about 45 minutes before they were scheduled to close.  The store was spacious, with lots of memorabilia for sale.

Jerseys, helmets, prints, cards.  Lots of cards.

The owner, Marty, asked if I was interested in anything.  Standard line: "Hershisers".  Then I added: "But I'm guessing that based on the selection of cards you have out that you probably don't have boxes sorted by players."  Marty replied: "Yep.  That's right.  There might be a rookie or something in the baseball rookies box."

The baseball rookies box was near the boxes of vintage football, racing, and basketball.  They were stuffed with more modern era hits.  I don't quite consider cards from the 1980s as vintage.  A few cards from the 1960s were sprinkled in, but nothing caught my eye.  The prices seemed fair enough, but nothing really grabbed my attention.

Marty and his wife have plenty of modern wax, as well as boxes of much older product.

It wasn't quite closing time, but Marty asked if I wanted to buy anything because they had a meeting to attend and then were going on the road.  I snagged a few packs from the dollar box.  Marty included the tax in the price.  I asked if I could take a few photos and put them up on the blog.    His wife said yes.  I asked if they had an internet presence.  She said, "No.  We use the internet sometimes, but not too often."

Based on the customer traffic I saw, which was considerable for the end of the day, right before a major holiday, this is one old school brick and mortar store that isn't going away anytime soon.  Next time you're passing through Chattanooga, give them a call to make sure they're open and say "Hi" to Marty.

Marty's Sports Card Exchange Superstore
6851 Lee Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-648-7037 (map)

Cards-R-Fun

I'm in the Nashville area, attending a conference. I did my homework before I got here and found a sportscard shop about three miles from the hotel. It is just of I-65, on Trousdale Rd.

This is John Dunphy. He owns the shop. He's owned it for about 20 years. He's been at this location for about the last eleven years or so. According to him, he's the only card dealer currently in Nashville. Some have come and they have gone. Business is slow for him right now. He was glad to talk about life, to help me look for some Hershisers, to talk about the business and to show me any item I asked to see.

When I walked in, U2 was blaring on a cd boombox. It was never turned down and I got to hear John sing along with Bono. You don't hear that everyday. The shop is small and crowded. He carries mostly stuff from the early 1950s to the present. Baseball. Golf. Racing. Basketball. Hockey. Football, both American and English. He also has some Magic, Pokemon and YuGiOh cards. Some books, DVDs and videocassettes. A bit of everything.

Cards. Floor to ceiling. Boxes on boxes. Eight foot ceilings. Probably 20 or more feet on the walls. Stuff you couldn't get to because it would take you ten minutes to unload all the cards on top of them. Most of it was organized, but some of it... well, not so much.

John doesn't have a web presence. You can find him at:

Cards-R-Fun

4825 Trousdale

Nashville, TN 37220

615-832-3216

Updated: February 7, 2012
Cards-R-Fun
16125 Old Hickory Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37211

615-832-3216

I picked up a few cards...

1990 Baseball Major League All-Stars Playing Card, Rickey Henderson (King of Clubs)

1990 Baseball Major League All-Stars Playing Card, Andre Dawson (9 of Hearts)

2001 Topps Archive, Orel Hershiser (# 268)

2007 Upper Deck Masterpieces, Yogi Berra / Jackie Robinson (# 54)

2008 Donruss Threads, Carl Erskine (# 14)

a pack of Fleer 1991 baseball cards

a pack of 1988 Score baseball cards

a pack of 1992 Donruss baseball cards (Series II)

All for a few pennies over $5. And that includes tax.

And John made a few phone calls and I'll be picking up some T206 card holders on Saturday. He's a good shop owner. I'd like to thank him for his time and his generosity of letting me snap some photos. When asked if I could blog about his shop his reply was; "Blog the h*ll out of it."

Remember, Cards-R-Fun. Now go and enjoy them.