If 1976 is going to be remembered for something it’s not going to be a pleasant memory for Yankee fans because they got swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series but if we as sports card and memorabilia collectors have been around for almost a half century the Cranston Sports Card Show™  launched its inaugural venue and has emerged itself as the oldest Charity run Sports Card show in North America. 

“If you were there in 1976 and coming back today like some dealers and fans you are now eligible for a senior admission discount and I was one of them that was there,” chuckled promoter Mike Mangasarian.

The times have changed and so has the hobby but the core experience of having fun has not been lost since the show started.

“They add the modern era of collecting with stars such as Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Ronald Acuna, Jr. to make the show a near even mix of vintage and modern offerings,” stated Promoter Mike. “At the February show we had a few super collectors that flew in from the West Coast from the state of Washington. It was exciting to know the boundaries of the shows reach in the collector base have no limitation.”

This Columbus Day Weekend marks the 50th show in the show’s history because it wasn’t until 2022 that the annual Super Bowl show turned into a semiannual event and what is the headline for this celebration?

“For the last two years I have been trying to find a location in Cranston where the show’s roots are to celebrate because the Cranston Sports Card Show™ has gotten so big to 150 tables that it’s hard to find a location that can accommodate its needs,” Mangasarian said. “So for the first time in 30-plus years the show is coming home to Cranston and will be held at the Cranston West High School Gymnasium, 80 Metropolitan Ave, Cranston RI 02920.  

The show now supports four charities which are the two churches in the Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston, Sts Vartanantz Armenian Church, in Providence, RI, The Cranston School Dept Athletic Fund, and the Sisters of the Poor, Pawtucket, RI.  On top of all this is another charity run business present at the show from Buffalo, NY called Cards for a Cure LLC that gives you a chance to buy into a high end collectible pack of cards called “Charity Packs” at a below market cost that supports cancer and diabetic patients. The pack is sealed but the possible contents of a pack are printed and made visible to the collector in different sport categories such as baseball, football, basketball, etc. More often than not you get to pull an autographed jersey or cap redemption card and the redemption is made immediately at their booth which is run by Mark Ridall

What you can expect to see for purchase besides modern and vintage sports cards will be RI Reds hockey memorabilia, incredible autographs, vintage equipment in all sports, graded cards, Pokémon, pennants, sports figurines, sports games, non sports cards, tobacco cards, wax boxes and packs, hobby supplies, vintage photo’s, yearbooks, programs, ticket stubs, regional issues, comic books, Lego’s and a whole lot more.

Continued features of the show will be the Silent Auction were dealers that do not have enough space on top of their table get an opportunity to put a few items into the silent auction with a minimum bid and a “Buy it now” option for the collector.

A program introduced at our last October Show with much success was our dealer “I Don’t Want to go Home With It” blowout specials feature which, throughout the day, a vendor submits a form about merchandise to be announced over the loudspeaker system of a special he was having that described the item, the new low price, and his table number. The vendor was given 10 minutes exclusively for his announcement before another special was announced so to not cause collector chaos on the show floor for specials.

Another unique offering at the show that very few shows do if any will be an event program offered to each paid admission for free that will list every dealer by what they sell and where they are so if you collect only graded cards they will all be listed as who has them and where you can find every one of these dealers on the floor. 

Keep in mind that the good time that you have at the Cranston Sports Card Show this Oct. 7 & 8 will assist six charities financially so everyone wins!

Date: Sat. Oct. 7 & Sun. Oct. 8, 2023. 

Time: Saturday 9-5 (Early Bird admission 8am), Sunday 8:30 – 2:30 

Where: Cranston High School West Gymnasium, 80 Metropolitan Ave, Cranston, RI 02920

Admission: is $6 each day & $8 for a 2 day pass. Say, “Put me on your mailing list” and get a $1 discount off your admission on non discounted pricing. Discounted admission for seniors 65 & older, Veterans, and children 12 and under is $3, Children 5 and under are free. Discounted 2 day admission tickets are $5 for both days. A very special popular feature being offered for the fifth time will be a $20 early bird admission for 8a.m. on Saturday for collectors who would like to get on the show floor before the doors open to the public. 

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