Editor's note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's Saturday morning newscast, The Weekender. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, subscribe here.
Like his brothers, Tom Pepdjonovic has been collecting baseball cards for decades. His expert tips for keeping your sports card in good shape?
“Don't stick them on your bike spokes,” he said with a laugh.
The statement evokes a nostalgic image – and perhaps even sound – for many, including myself. It is the same feeling of love that is at the center Northeast Sports Card Expoa card collecting convention that Tom organizes with his brothers, Steve and Giorgos Peptjonovitsfrom 2022.
Happening today and tomorrow at the Marriott Hotel in Quincy, the Northeast Sports Card Expo is currently one of the largest trading card shows in the state. (The brothers plan to secure the official title of “largest in New England” with an even larger 400-table card display Marlborough this June.)
I spoke with Tom and Steve, two-thirds of the team behind the convention, to find out more about what curiosities visitors can see at the Northeast Sports Card Expo this weekend, whether you're new to the collecting game or have more cards that you can measure. They also passed on some tips for seasoned card collectors.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Hanna Ali: How long have you been in the baseball card business? What inspired you and your siblings to organize this event in the first place?
Steve Pepdjonovic: So there's a story there, with the three of us, that goes back decades. When he was 20 years old, [my brother] George opened a baseball card store in Quincy. Tom and I were teenagers at the time, and we worked for him behind the counter. This was our first job, apart from the paper routes we had a few years back.
Tom Pepjonovich: It's been something we've always enjoyed, so doing these card appearances together is a nice way to have fun with it. That's our main goal, really, is to have fun with everyone else who attends our shows.
HA: What can people expect when they come to the Northeast Card Expo?
Stephanos: Visitors can expect a lot! We have something for everyone. There are sports and non-sports cards, such as Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh. We have vendors selling all kinds of memorabilia including vintage toys, VHS tapes and collectibles. We will also have some celebrity autograph guests and raffles on both days.
One of our other goals is to try to stay local. Our artist who designed the show's original poster [for the Expo] he is from Weymouth. We will also be headquartered in New England [card] rating company, The Grading Authority, on the website. They will receive grading submissions.
And sports mascots! In the past, we had Wally from the Red Sox. This time, we have the New England Revolution and Boston Bruins mascots.
HA: What are some of the rarer cards on display at the Show?
Someone: We don't really know what the vendors are bringing before the show, but we've had some iconic cards in the past. We've had one of the most iconic cards in the hobby, a 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie card, before. And there are old tobacco cards from the early 1900s that are very expensive.
HA: Are there any coveted sports cards featuring younger players?
Someone: Shohei [Ohtani] it's obviously a big name. It has a variety of cards, which are in high demand and also very expensive. Luca [Dončić], from the Dallas Mavericks, is a very popular basketball card. And Jayson Tatum, obviously a local guy, is also very popular.
It all depends on the card itself and what you are looking for. Some people like numbered cards and others like autographed cards. But these are probably some of the most popular now.
HA: Will card collecting ever go digital?
Someone: I hope not. I'm sure there will be some type of digital cards that will definitely be out there. But as a collector myself, I would like to hold the object and I would like to look at the object, whatever it is. I think this is the most enjoyable part of the hobby.
Stephanos: When you have something, you want to be able to hold it to display it. I'm sure you can display digital stuff, of course. But there is a connection that people must have [physical] items that are really evident with collectibles because there is so much nostalgia and so much emotion attached to these things.
HA: Card collectors need to get their precious cards was graded?
Someone: It really depends on the card — when it was produced, how [many of them] were produced. It depends on the collector, but if it's in good condition and if it's a rare card, you should probably rate it.
Old papers, usually, are valuable — something from 1952, for example — even if they're in good, not great, condition, they're still valuable. Also look out for autographs or numbers.
On average, grading can cost $15 to $40. However, if it's a high value card like $10,000 or something like that, it can cost around $1,000 to score. But this is a rare case.
HA: How legit are the apps that claim to scan your cards and give you value?
Someone: Some of these apps can give you an idea of a card's value, but if you want a hard score, you're better off handing it over to someone who can physically look at it and see if there are any flaws the app didn't catch.
HA: What if I don't know much about trading cards? Do I still have to go to the Exhibition?
Stephanos: We think people will really enjoy the experience. The atmosphere is fun. It is energetic. And if they're not a collector, they might leave as one!
PS — Speaking of baseball, the Red Sox are set to play their first game of the 2024 season this Thursday in Seattle. They will also mark the 20th anniversary of their 2004 curse-breaking World Series victory in their first game on April 9, which will include a pin giveaway as a tribute to the late Tim Wakefield. Read more about the details here.
