30 Years of Sports Card Collecting: A Conversation With Erik Richards

What can more than 30 years in the sports memorabilia hobby teach us about collecting?

I recently sat down with longtime Powers Sports Memorabilia customer and fellow collector Erik Richards for a conversation about sports cards, autographs, rare memorabilia, and how the hobby has changed over the years.

Erik has been collecting since the 1980s, attended National Sports Collectors Conventions throughout the 1990s, and has built one of the more unusual collections I've come across.

His collection includes everything from vintage baseball cards and signed hip-hop cards to rare movie memorabilia and game-worn high school football jerseys.

But what makes Erik's story especially interesting is his career outside the hobby.

Erik helps select players for the Navy All-American Bowl, formerly known as the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Through that work, he's developed relationships with some of football's biggest names, including Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young, and Caleb Williams.

We talked about his experiences, the cards he wishes he'd kept, why he collects unusual items, and what he thinks today's collectors are getting wrong.

Here are some of my favorite takeaways from our conversation.

How a $100 Rickey Henderson Rookie Card Started Everything

Erik's collecting journey started with a purchase that many longtime collectors can probably relate to.

As a teenager working as a busboy in the mid-1980s, Erik took an entire $100 paycheck to a flea market and purchased a Rickey Henderson rookie card.

That was a significant amount of money for a teenager at the time.

But Erik wasn't buying the card because he thought he could sell it the following week.

He bought it because Rickey Henderson was his favorite player.

He eventually joined the Marines, spent four years away, and returned to discover that his card had become more desirable.

That early experience helped shape his collecting philosophy.

He wasn't constantly checking prices or trying to turn every purchase into a quick sale.

He simply enjoyed owning something connected to a player he admired.

It's a philosophy that would come up repeatedly throughout our conversation.

What the National Sports Collectors Convention Was Like in the 1990s

One of the topics I was most interested in discussing was the National Sports Collectors Convention.

Erik attended and set up at Nationals throughout the 1990s, back when the hobby looked very different.

Today, the National is an enormous event filled with collectors, dealers, manufacturers, content creators, and thousands of different collectibles.

According to Erik, the National of the 1990s was a much smaller and more traditional experience.

Most dealers were older collectors who had been involved in the business for years.

There were no social media influencers filming purchases, no elaborate trade nights, and certainly no constant checking of recent sales on smartphones.

Erik remembers being able to walk the entire convention in a single day.

Today, he believes someone wanting to see everything could easily spend four full days exploring the show.

One of the biggest changes he's noticed is the growing popularity of trading card games, commonly called TCG.

Pokémon and other non-sports trading cards have brought an entirely new audience into collecting.

Although Erik admits he doesn't fully understand the appeal of collecting characters like Pikachu and Charizard, he believes their popularity has helped expand the hobby.

And he welcomes that growth.

The Cards Collectors Didn't Appreciate Back Then

Perhaps my favorite part of our discussion about the 1990s involved the cards Erik remembers treating as ordinary inserts.

He specifically mentioned opening 1992 Stadium Club basketball packs and pulling Beam Team inserts.

Today, certain Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal Beam Team cards are highly sought after.

But back then?

Erik remembers putting them into dollar boxes.

At the time, collectors didn't necessarily understand how important some of these inserts would eventually become.

He also remembers the opportunities to obtain autographs from legends like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays.

Looking back, he wishes he had taken advantage of those opportunities more often.

It's a reminder that collectors don't always recognize which items they'll wish they had kept.

From Sports Card Collector to Working With Football's Biggest Stars

Erik's career is almost as interesting as his collection.

After spending time in the automotive industry, he became heavily involved in youth football around Gwinnett County, Georgia.

The area was producing an enormous amount of high-level football talent, and Erik developed relationships with players, coaches, and families.

Eventually, those connections helped lead him to his current work with the Navy All-American Bowl.

His responsibilities include evaluating and recruiting some of the best high school football players in the country.

The competition to secure these athletes can be intense.

Many players receive invitations to multiple prestigious high school football games, and Erik spends years developing relationships with prospects before they make their decisions.

In some cases, he begins following players as early as ninth grade.

Through that work, he's developed friendships with athletes including Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young, and Caleb Williams.

He even attended Trevor Lawrence's wedding.

For a sports memorabilia collector, having those relationships creates some extraordinary opportunities.

But what impressed me most was how Erik approaches them.

He isn't simply trying to obtain autographs from athletes before they become famous.

He's interested in preserving meaningful pieces of their careers.

Why Erik Collects Game-Worn High School Football Jerseys

One of the most fascinating parts of Erik's collection is his selection of game-worn high school football jerseys.

Most collectors focus on NFL or college game-worn memorabilia.

Erik takes a different approach.

He looks for jerseys from athletes' high school careers, often from championship seasons or other important moments.

His collection includes high school memorabilia connected to Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young, Nick Chubb, and other major football players.

One particularly special item is a game-worn Trevor Lawrence jersey from his time at Cartersville High School.

Erik explained that high school teams often have only a few jerseys available for each player.

Unlike professional athletes, who may wear numerous jerseys throughout a season, a high school player might use the same handful of jerseys for years.

That makes surviving examples particularly interesting.

But rarity isn't the only reason Erik collects them.

These jerseys represent relationships he's built with athletes and their families.

He told me that he has no intention of selling many of these pieces.

In fact, he'd rather return them to the athletes than sell them to another collector.

I thought that was a great perspective.

Sometimes the most meaningful memorabilia isn't necessarily the item everyone else wants.

It's the item that has a personal connection to you.

Why Pop Culture Autographs Have Become His Favorite Collectibles

Another major part of Erik's collection has nothing to do with sports.

He collects signed movie cards, musicians, rappers, television personalities, and other pop culture figures.

And some of these items are incredibly unusual.

Erik explained that after years of buying and selling traditional sports cards, he started noticing something.

If he sold a Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Mickey Mantle card, he could often find another similar example fairly quickly.

But when he sold an unusual signed movie card or an obscure music collectible, replacing it could take months.

That difference attracted him.

He began focusing on items that collectors rarely see.

Signed Hip-Hop Cards From the Early 1990s

One of Erik's favorite collecting categories is early hip-hop trading cards.

He discussed collecting cards featuring artists such as:

• Dr. Dre

• Snoop Dogg

• Ice Cube

• Other influential musicians from the early hip-hop era

These aren't necessarily the cards most people expect to see at a sports card show.

But that's exactly why Erik likes them.

He mentioned early rap trading card releases, including cards associated with artists from N.W.A.

Through his football connections, Erik has also gotten to know Snoop Dogg, which has helped him obtain autographs on certain pieces.

To Erik, an early signed Dr. Dre or Ice Cube card can be more exciting than another traditional sports collectible.

Not because of what someone else thinks it's worth.

Because it's unusual, difficult to replace, and connected to music he enjoys.

Rare Rolling Stones and Movie Cards

His collection extends well beyond hip-hop.

During our conversation, Erik showed me a 1965 Swedish candy card featuring members of the Rolling Stones, including Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

He described it as the highest-graded example among the major grading companies.

He also collects unusual cards featuring actors such as John Travolta, Sylvester Stallone, and Will Smith.

One of the cards he showed me was a signed 1991 Hoops Will Smith card.

That particular item had a special connection to Powers Sports Memorabilia because we helped arrange the autograph.

Erik also mentioned obtaining an Emilio Estevez autograph through one of our signing opportunities.

These are exactly the types of collectibles that make the hobby interesting.

Not every great collection needs to revolve around baseball Hall of Famers or NFL quarterbacks.

Sometimes a signed card featuring your favorite actor or musician can be just as meaningful.

His Favorite Card: A Signed Sylvester Stallone Rocky Card

When I asked Erik about the one card in his collection that he would have the hardest time selling, he had an answer ready.

A signed 1979 ToppsMeet Rocky card featuring Sylvester Stallone.

It's one of his favorite pieces, and he keeps it in a safe deposit box.

What makes this card special is the combination of the character, the autograph, and the difficulty of finding comparable examples.

Erik also discussed trying to upgrade his collection by locating another example with an exceptionally clean autograph.

For collectors unfamiliar with autograph grading, a card can receive separate grades for its physical condition and the signature.

That means two otherwise similar autographed cards can have very different overall appearances.

Erik pays close attention to both.

But the biggest reason he loves the Rocky card is simple.

He enjoys it.

And he's in no hurry to let it go.

How Important Is Card Grading?

Naturally, our conversation eventually turned to card grading.

This is something I have strong opinions about, especially when it comes to authentication.

At Powers Sports Memorabilia, we focus heavily on authenticated and graded cards because we want customers to feel confident about what they're purchasing.

Erik shares that concern.

He explained that when buying vintage cards, he's particularly careful about altered or trimmed examples.

He's also encountered counterfeit modern inserts, including cards designed to resemble popular Downtown and Kaboom releases.

His preference today is to purchase graded cards for his personal collection.

We also discussed the differences between grading companies.

Erik likes the appearance of vintage cards in SGC holders, particularly because the black border can make certain cards stand out.

He also appreciates Beckett holders for some thicker cards and pop culture pieces, while recognizing PSA's popularity.

One point we agreed on was that collectors sometimes become overly focused on the numerical grade.

A PSA 8, PSA 9, and PSA 10 can sometimes have very small visible differences.

For someone building a personal collection, the appearance of the card and confidence in its authenticity can be more important than chasing a particular number.

Grading isn't perfect, and authentication opinions can occasionally differ.

But it's an important tool for collectors who want additional protection against counterfeits and alterations.

The One Piece of Memorabilia Erik Wishes He Had Kept

I asked Erik whether there was anything he had sold that he regretted.

His answer brought us back to where his collecting journey began.

Rickey Henderson.

Erik once owned Henderson's game-worn Los Angeles Dodgers jersey from his final major league season.

The jersey was authenticated and connected to a game in which Henderson scored a run.

Eventually, Erik sold it at the National.

He had hoped to replace it with a Henderson Oakland Athletics jersey, since Henderson is most closely associated with the A's.

But that replacement never happened.

Looking back, he wishes he'd kept the Dodgers jersey.

The story stood out to me because it wasn't simply about owning a famous player's jersey.

Rickey Henderson was the player who inspired Erik's first major card purchase as a teenager.

Decades later, he still feels that same connection.

That's what makes collecting personal.

Why Autograph Quality and Inscriptions Matter

Since Erik has been a longtime Powers Sports Memorabilia customer, we also spent time discussing autograph signings.

He has submitted everything from traditional rookie cards to unusual vintage pieces and pop culture collectibles.

One example was a 1981 Larry Bird matchbook cover that he had signed and encapsulated.

Erik enjoys finding items that most collectors would never think to have autographed.

He's also particularly interested in inscriptions.

An inscription is additional writing an athlete adds to an autograph, such as a nickname, championship reference, award, or personal message.

For Erik, inscriptions make an item more distinctive.

He mentioned a Myles Garrett rookie card that he had signed with a special "Godzilla" inscription written in Japanese.

That particular card attracted attention from a dedicated Garrett collector because it was different from the autographs typically available.

But Erik also understands that inscriptions can make signings more complicated.

Athletes may mishear instructions, misspell words, or struggle with certain requests.

And even when everything is spelled correctly, the wrong pen can ruin the appearance of an otherwise beautiful autograph.

Why Choosing the Right Pen Is So Important

One of the more interesting parts of our conversation involved paint pens and autograph placement.

Erik showed me a Gene Simmons KISS card that he had submitted through another signing company.

Unfortunately, the silver signature didn't turn out the way he had hoped.

The issue wasn't simply that the autograph was disappointing.

It was that he felt the company hadn't taken the time to address the problem afterward.

We discussed how different card surfaces, footballs, photos, and other memorabilia require different types of pens.

Some markers work beautifully on one surface but poorly on another.

Silver markers, in particular, can become inconsistent after repeated use.

That's why we spend so much time helping customers choose pen colors, autograph locations, and inscriptions.

You often get only one opportunity to have an item signed.

Taking a little extra time before the signing can make an enormous difference in the finished piece.

Erik was kind enough to share his appreciation for our team, including Jack and Natalie, and the care they put into customer submissions.

Hearing that feedback from someone who has spent decades around athletes, dealers, and collectors means a great deal to us.

Has the Sports Card Hobby Become Too Focused on Money?

Toward the end of our conversation, I asked Erik a question I've been thinking about for a while.

After more than 30 years in collecting, what bothers him most about the hobby today?

His answer was immediate.

Too many collectors are focused on flipping cards instead of enjoying them.

Erik sees younger collectors walking around shows checking recent sales on their phones.

There's nothing inherently wrong with knowing what a card sells for.

But he worries that some collectors have turned the hobby into a constant exercise in buying something for $95 and immediately trying to sell it for $105.

The actual card almost becomes irrelevant.

Instead of collecting a favorite player or building a collection around something meaningful, the focus becomes the next transaction.

Erik believes that approach misses much of what makes collecting enjoyable.

He compared sports cards to miniature works of art.

A card can capture a specific athlete, moment, season, or memory.

You can hold it, display it, share it with friends, and pass it down to your children.

That experience is difficult to measure with a recent sales comparison.

And I agree with him.

There's nothing wrong with selling collectibles.

We operate a sports memorabilia business, after all.

But collecting should still be fun.

If you love a particular player or card, you shouldn't automatically walk away because someone wants a few dollars more than the last recorded sale.

Sometimes the enjoyment of owning something is worth more than finding the absolute lowest price.

What Erik Thinks About the Future of Card Shows

Erik also shared some concerns about the number of card shows taking place around the country.

Today, collectors can find shows almost every weekend in many markets.

That's great for accessibility, but Erik wonders whether the industry risks becoming oversaturated.

He compared the situation to the junk-wax era, when enormous quantities of trading cards were produced.

His concern isn't that card shows are bad.

It's that too many poorly attended events could eventually make the experience less enjoyable for collectors and dealers.

He praised established events such as the Dallas Card Show and Front Row Card Show for their organization and treatment of dealers.

And he believes the growing popularity of trading card games may help support the broader hobby.

Ultimately, he hopes the industry continues growing without losing the personal connections that made it special in the first place.

Collect What You Love, Not What Everyone Else Is Buying

Of everything we discussed, one theme kept coming up.

Erik collects what makes him happy.

Sometimes that's a vintage baseball rookie card.

Sometimes it's a signed Rocky card.

Sometimes it's a rare hip-hop collectible.

And sometimes it's a game-worn high school football jersey from an athlete he watched grow up.

His collection doesn't necessarily look like anyone else's.

And that's exactly the point.

After more than three decades in the hobby, Erik has figured out something that I think more collectors should remember.

You don't need to own the same cards everyone else owns.

You don't need to chase every new release.

And you don't need to make money on every purchase.

Find players, entertainers, teams, or moments that mean something to you.

Learn about the history behind the items.

Take care of your collection.

And most importantly, enjoy it.

That's what collecting is supposed to be about.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this conversation with Erik Richards.

He's had some incredible experiences in the sports world, built relationships with major athletes, and assembled a collection filled with items most people will never encounter at a typical card show.

But what stood out most wasn't any particular card or autograph.

It was his appreciation for the hobby itself.

Even after 30-plus years, Erik still gets excited about discovering something unusual, finding a new autograph opportunity, or adding a meaningful piece to his collection.

That's the kind of enthusiasm that keeps sports card collecting interesting.

And whether you're just getting started or you've been collecting for decades, I think there's something we can all learn from his approach.

Collect what you love. Enjoy what you own. And don't forget to have fun along the way.

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