ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A two-day trading card show at the Westside Community Center drew collectors and local fans this weekend.
Benji Lucero said his interest in Chicago sports began when he was 8 years old.
“I’m a big Bears fan, so Bears, Bulls, Cubs, I just do that. And it’s just great to get to the shows and see that the hobby’s still alive and that there’s kids still collecting,” said Lucero.
Lucero now has more than 10,000 cards in a collection he estimates is worth about $20,000.
“So with the card shows that go along it’s kind of by the season so right now football is big and baseball is kind of ending so a lot of people will buy baseball they’ll buy football and then when we do shows like in the spring it’s usually basketball and usually baseball starting up again,” said Lucero.
According to Business Research Insights, sports cards made up 45% of the global trading card market in 2025.
The industry is projected to reach more than $13 billion by 2035, and some local collectors said they have turned their interest into more than a hobby.
19-year-old Quentin Santos said his collection started with one card. He now estimates he owns nearly 30,000 and has turned the hobby into a business.
“But when I started actually doing card shows, yes, that’s when I started realizing, okay, this can be a business, a way to make money, and that was about when I was 13 years old,” said Santos.
Collectors said the appeal goes beyond money, whether they are looking for a favorite athlete or a rare Pokémon card.
“It’s just an interesting hobby. It’s a great community. When you’re looking for stuff, a bunch of the people are willing to come out and help you find what you’re looking for. It’s just a nice group of people to talk with and kind of just nerd out with,” said Derek Lavassar.