Saturday, April 12, was all about the St. Francis Card Show for me. Despite coinciding with the Minnesota Card Show, this event still managed to attract 20 dealers spread across 23 tables. The focus was primarily on sports cards, with all 20 dealers showcasing them, though a few also carried some TCG. I’ve attended previous St. Francis shows where TCG-only dealers were present as well.
One of the standout aspects of this show was the impressive vintage on display. Six dealers featured vintage cards, including a plethora of vintage slabs – one dealer had hundreds of them. I scored a 660-count box of 1978 Topps baseball cards in VG/EX condition for just $7. Adding to my haul, I picked up a complete set of 1976 Wonder Bread football cards in mint condition for only $6.
Modern sports cards were also abundant, and I picked up a few inexpensive items for my PC. Highlights included a mint-condition 1993 Topps football set for $11 (comps at $60) and a Brooks Lee player-worn patch card for my son for $5. I also scored a rack pack of 1988 Topps baseball cards for $2 to display, and a Chuck Knoblauch Topps rookie for $4 to get autographed for my ’91 team set.
Beyond the cards, what truly sets the St. Francis Card Show apart are the onsite bar and grill and the people. The setup is brilliantly convenient—you place your order on the restaurant side, and they’ll call your name over at the show when your food is ready. It’s an unbeatable touch that levels up the experience. Two mainstays of the St. Francis show are DC (who runs the show), and Craig (always setup with two tables). People like that are what’s great about the hobby – they take time to help educate young collectors and are doing good things to grow the hobby.
All in all, the St. Francis Card Show delivered a great mix of vintage and modern with a uniquely enjoyable atmosphere. I would say it might be the most friendly show around for new collectors and new dealers. It’s the kind of event that reminds me why I love this hobby so much.